Chapter 46 Crazy Palpitations
In the videotape, Kanon spoke to each of the players one by one, and the players listened intently, nodding repeatedly.
The second half of the game has begun.
When Sakuragi stepped onto the court, the game, which was initially a one-sided affair, became interesting.
The sparring partners launched a counterattack and successfully broke the All-Star team's scoring curse.
The Shohoku team rubbed their eyes, staring blankly at the scoreboard: 99:87.
Holding the logbook, Kuwata said, "In the second half, Sakuragi scored 10 points, 12 rebounds, 10 assists, 5 blocks, and 3 steals solely through dunks and layups. His performance was quite well-rounded!"
The members of Shohoku looked at each other in disbelief after processing this astonishing information.
"What? Sangtian, you're not mistaken, are you?!"
"Is this really Sakuragi who has only been learning basketball for a little over a month?"
Coach Anzai calmly pushed up his glasses: "In fact, Sakuragi participated in 3-4 practice matches every day in the United States, and in the following days, he basically averaged a triple-double."
The Shohoku team: "?!"
How did Kanon develop Sakuragi's monstrous physique and extraordinary talent?
The room was filled with the sound of breathing that had not yet calmed down.
The sparring squad launched their absolute counterattack the moment they surrounded Kanon and Sakuragi as they entered the court.
Why Sakuragi was allowed to join the sparring squad, and what role Kanon played there, didn't seem so important. What mattered was—
Through television, the Shohoku team not only saw the newly upgraded Sakuragi, but also the strategist Kanon.
Only then did everyone realize—
This is the real Kanon.
And, the significance of her existence to Shohoku.
...
Coach Anzai gestured to Akagi to play the videotape, "This is a video of last year's Women's Basketball World Championship."
The eyes of the Shohoku team members lit up, a hint of anticipation in their eyes.
Haruko looked Rukawa Kaede over carefully for a few moments.
Rukawa sat up straight, his gaze fixed on the television. The familiar figure didn't appear on the field until the game started, and he lowered his eyes in disappointment.
Sensing his emotions, Haruko lowered her head.
She paid close attention to every move Rukawa Kaede made.
In fact, she had sensed a long time ago that there was an intimate atmosphere between him and Hanon, but she wasn't sure if it was just her imagination.
Hasn't basketball always been the only thing in Rukawa Kaede's eyes?
However, once Hanon appeared, Rukawa Kaede's gaze could no longer be taken off her.
…
The women's basketball games were just as entertaining as the men's, with a smooth flow and a fast pace.
[In the first quarter, Barcelona's glenna was simply unstoppable in one-on-one situations! She scored 8 points early on, showcasing her formidable strength! She truly deserves to be called the closest female player to NBA level! If the US team allows their opponents to score freely, their situation will become precarious!]
The commentator's vivid and engaging commentary, filled with exciting moments, thrilled the entire Xiangbei audience.
In the heat of the game, the US team made a crucial mistake, passing the ball out of bounds... causing a stir among fans.
Then, the commentator's voice was drowned out by the loud commotion, which almost engulfed the entire venue.
The camera pans to the chaotic area, where Hanon is holding the ball, looking at her teammates on the field with a blank expression.
The commentator was ecstatic: "Look! The US player passed the ball to Renie on the sidelines. She's the youngest player in this World Championship, and her shooting percentage is terrifyingly accurate. Is this a hint that she'll be playing?"
Coach Anzai picked up his teacup and said in a low voice, "Last year, Hanon represented the United States in the World Championship and won the Most Valuable Player award at the Women's Basketball World Championship."
At the scene, a large number of audience members could be seen holding banners with "Renie" and "R God" on them, or holding up light sticks.
The incredible support from the crowd left the Shohoku team in awe.
So, she is Renie?
Every label she carries is so dazzling—MVP, scoring champion, assist champion, All-NBA First Team, All-Defensive First Team, steals champion…
She was wearing a black jersey, and the skin exposed outside the jersey was covered with scars and bandages, making her look both sunny and broken for no reason.
Ayako felt both sorry for and admiring: "R-God? Oto-chan's face has already reached godlike status visually!"
Haruko: "Your jersey looks amazing on you, sister!"
Rukawa Kaede caught his breath, his heart aching with a bittersweet feeling.
It's not the jersey that's attractive, it's her.
It transcends age and appearance, exuding a vigorous and tenacious vitality.
It's so captivating that you can't take your eyes off it.
In the second quarter, the commentator actively guided the team, and the entire stadium erupted in deafening applause to welcome this phenomenal player onto the court.
Hanon had the ball and was immediately marked closely by Glenna. She flicked the ball backward with her fingertips, leaned back, and then spun around to get past Glenna's right side.
The speed was too fast; after several shifts in weight, the entire series of movements was completed in just one second.
[The US team takes the lead, Renie easily beats her opponent with a beautiful, dreamlike footwork, and finishes with a gliding layup! Great shot! Her speed and penetration are outstanding, her skills are unparalleled on the court!]
The atmosphere at the scene was completely ignited the moment she appeared.
The Shohoku team gasped in shock!
Dreamlike footsteps?
No way!
She performed these professional-level moves with almost too much ease.
Rukawa Kaede stared intently at that unrestrained figure, her calm yet swift attack so fast that the videotape could only show her running silhouette.
Coach Anzai said, "Miyagi, Kanon is hailed as the strongest combo guard in history. You need to watch carefully."
Miyagi replied with a serious expression, "Yes!"
Hanon possesses perfect timing, a variety of breakthrough and passing techniques, and the ability to control the overall situation and connect the team, always delivering unexpected and fatal blows to the opponent.
Barcelona responded in kind, Glenna attempted a three-pointer from the corner, but Renie leaped up from behind her and delivered a thunderous block!
"pretty!"
Wow! A giant hot pot!
Ayako and Haruko hugged and screamed, "That's so cool!"
Oh my god!
How could there be a girl as beautiful and cool as Kanon in the world!
She gets so fired up when she plays!
Hearing the passionate commentary on TV and the cheers of his teammates, Rukawa Kaede couldn't hear a thing. He was only staring at Kanon's figure with an almost fanatical gaze.
[Barcelona has got this! Glenna and her teammate executed a brilliant play, faking a shot and then passing to the cutting center, who easily slotted the ball in.]
Renie receives the ball, only managing to get a half-body width past Glenna before suddenly stopping and shooting. Glenna immediately gets up to block Renie's shot, but—
However, with a slight flick of her wrist, Hanon sent the ball flying straight towards the shooting guard standing outside the three-point line in the corner like a cannonball.
"well done!"
"Amazing! Does she have eyes in the back of her head?"
"Another wingman for self-help!"
The stands around the stadium erupted in cheers.
Hanon has excellent anticipation skills in defense and is very clear about when to challenge and cut the ball.
She distributed the ball freely, using her ball control to completely revitalize the team's offense, and the US team smoothly caught up in the score!
Renie's performance continues: a fake move to shake off the defender, followed by a steady mid-range jumper! Team USA begins to take the lead.
The game was so intense that when Hanon tried to cross the ball under the basket, she was immediately tackled to the ground by the opponent.
The audience gasped in surprise. Before the whistle blew, Hana immediately stood up and caught up with her teammates.
Just when everyone thought it was an accident, Barcelona went completely berserk, repeatedly pulling Hana down from mid-air when she attacked the basket.
The commentator exclaimed incredulously: "Am I hearing things? The referee didn't blow the whistle at all, not even once?"
The Xiangbei team members were furious, their eyes blazing with anger.
Rukawa's eyes reddened, and he clenched his fists.
Once Hanon enters the restricted area, the opponents try every means to pull her down and prevent her from getting close to the basket.
To put it more brutally: since you can't kill him, beat him to death.
In the eyes of teenagers, basketball is a sacred and noble battlefield, a place that carries friendship, passion, enthusiasm, and youth.
It was so dark where they couldn't see it.
With ten seconds left in the second quarter, Hanon dribbled quickly past defenders, about to pass the ball—
Suddenly, a Barcelona defender reached out and grabbed her jersey, causing Hanon to stumble, and then the defender grabbed her by the neck.
"Bang!"
The noises coming from the television were particularly loud.
Rukawa Kaede jumped up from his seat!
Ishii, standing nearby, was startled by his movement. "Rukawa...?"
Hanon was thrown out; the speed was too fast, and she slid several meters on the ground before crashing into the basketball hoop.
More and more people surrounded her. Rukawa Kaede couldn't see her on the TV anymore, and he even started breathing heavily.
The fans in the stadium also became somewhat out of control, standing up one after another, gradually becoming noisy. Rukawa Kaede heard a large number of fans chanting "Renie".
This feeling of not being able to see or touch anything, of being unable to do anything about it, this deep-seated frustration, surged through my chest.
It's like a damp bathroom; you take a deep breath, using all your strength, but still can't feel your mind clear.
[The situation is a bit bad. Four key players on the US team are injured: the captain has a fractured thumb, the starting power forward has a knee injury, and Renie has countless old injuries.]
She was surrounded by a crowd, and it was vaguely visible that her forehead and cheeks were covered in blood.
Ayako broke out in a cold sweat. "Countless old injuries...? It's alright, it's alright! This happened last year, the injuries have definitely healed by now!"
Time seemed to freeze as emotions such as rage, frustration, and heartache surged through Rukawa's heart.
The second half of the game was still exciting, but the Shohoku players had lost all desire to watch.
Barcelona kept racking up points, launching a strong comeback, determined to catch up in the first half. Every minute of the final is precious, and Barcelona's momentum is very unfavorable for the US team.
Halfway through the third quarter, Hanon reappeared on the court, her forehead bandage a shocking sight.
The television was filled with the excited chatter of people holding up signs.
The video room was so quiet that only heavy breathing could be heard.
Rukawa Kaede's knuckles were turning slightly white as he clenched his fist. He couldn't describe how he felt at that moment, and his face was completely expressionless.
All I feel is tenderness and heartache.
Both teams have made changes to their lineups. The US team has all its starters this time. Speaking of which, Renie's playing style today wasn't very aggressive; he mostly focused on assists. It seems he won't perform too well in this game...
The commentator's initially slightly disappointed voice suddenly took a 360-degree turn:
Wow! A super long-range three-pointer with the center circle logo! Renie, the most familiar player on the perimeter, is back!
The Shohoku team was stunned:
"Wow, she's so accurate with long-range three-pointers during games!"
"No one was blocking the rebound under the basket! It's incredible!"
"After she shot, she didn't even look at the basket, and neither did her teammates; they went straight back on defense!"
The camera lingered on Hanon for a few seconds; she showed no signs of fatigue, and the camera accurately captured her gaze.
With just a fleeting glance, her brilliance shone brightly, her ambition was evident, she looked down upon all things with unbridled arrogance, and her wildness revealed a carefree and unrestrained spirit.
For a moment, Rukawa Kaede's breath hitched, and a frantic throbbing surged through his heart.
...She really suits his tastes perfectly!
Just looking into her eyes through the screen made his chest throb with excitement.
The game continued. Hana received the ball at the top of the arc. Despite the opponent's close defense, she did not hesitate, jumped, and shot!
A beautifully executed fadeaway three-pointer!
Mitsui's eyes sparkled as he excitedly exclaimed, "Beautiful! She feels so hot!"
[Playing only two minutes, she made all three of her shots! Don't forget that Renie is also known as a lethal weapon on the international stage. She used her three-pointers to tell Barcelona, "Since you won't let me play inside, then I'll play on the outside!"]
His domineering, competitive, and never-give-up attitude, along with his various special skills and dashing demeanor, deeply attracted Rukawa Kaede.
Mitsui was sitting diagonally opposite him. He accidentally glanced at Rukawa and suddenly had a strange feeling.
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