Chapter 118 Rukawa's Frustration
The basketball rolled out of the blankets, gleaming faintly in the moonlight.
It hovered eerily in mid-air, slowly making a circle.
Hanon exclaimed in delight, "I think I can fly!"
Rukawa's fox-like eyes narrowed slightly: "Don't mess around—"
It's too late.
Whoosh—!
"Ouch!" The basketball hit Miyagi squarely in the forehead.
"Clang!" The rebounding ball knocked Mitsui flat on his back.
Finally, with a "snap," it landed squarely on Sakuragi's underwear.
Rukawa Kaede's pupils dilated.
The dormitory fell into a deathly silence.
Sakuragi, legs crossed, asked in a trembling voice, "W-older sister?"
The basketball was silent for two seconds, then suddenly screamed: "I'm not clean anymore!"
Rukawa Kaede's face turned ashen. He snatched the basketball and frantically wiped it with disinfectant wipes.
disinfect!
Thorough disinfection is essential!
Mitsui rubbed the back of his head, trying not to laugh: "This is definitely the most bizarre way for siblings to recognize each other..."
Miyagi was laughing so hard he was rolling on the ground: "Hahahaha!"
Hanon's face turned bright red: "Shut up!!!"
Rukawa Kaede expressionlessly stuffed the basketball into his pajamas, hugged it tightly, and climbed into bed.
...warm.
…like embracing the sun.
"Go to sleep," he said coldly, quietly bringing his face closer to the basketball.
"Hey! Fox! That's my sister—!" Sakuragi roared.
"It's basketball now." Rukawa closed his eyes, his tone indifferent.
...turning it into a basketball...wouldn't be bad either.
At least... it won't suddenly disappear.
National Tournament - Final Four!
Shohoku VS Hakata Sho!
—The audience erupted in cheers—
[Hey, hey, that female coach from Shohoku...could she already be...?]
[Look at the bench! That photo... is it a funeral portrait?!]
[What is this? A basketball game in a funeral parlor?!]
The Hakata Commercial University players kept glancing sideways as they drifted towards Shohoku's bench.
On the bench in Xiangbei, there is a photo of Hana when she was six years old.
The little girl was missing two front teeth, but she smiled brightly, completely unaware that she was being placed on the bench as a "mascot".
"Namo Sanmu..." Mitsui clasped his hands together and prayed devoutly, "I'm willing to trade Miyagi's height for a perfect 100% accuracy today..."
"Damn it!! I can hear you!!" Miyagi roared in fury, jumping up and down.
"You homewrecker!! How dare you steal my sister's embarrassing photos!!" Sakuragi grabbed Mitsui by the collar.
Rukawa Kaede, expressionless, held the basketball and muttered to himself:
"...This one is better."
Stroking the surface of the ball with my fingers,
"...at least you won't lose a front tooth."
At Hakata University of Commerce, things are in complete chaos.
"Are they... performing some kind of evil ritual...?" Team member number 5's voice trembled.
"That guy with the poker face...did he just flirt with the basketball?!" Number 7 tugged at the captain's sleeve in alarm.
At that very moment—
"Hehehe..."
Coach Anzai's signature laugh rang out.
In a daze, Hanako in the photo seemed to be smiling too.
"Two, two Coach Anzai!!"
Player number 6 completely broke down, exclaiming, "One Anzai is on the field! The other rests in peace in a photograph!!"
Hakata University of Commerce coach: "What a lively team..."
—The whistle blew to signal the end of the warm-up.
"Play according to plan," Coach Anzai pushed up his glasses. "Let them see... Shohoku's true strength."
"yes!!"
The team members quickly formed a circle, their palms overlapping.
"us--"
"It's the strongest!!!"
Sakuragi suddenly poked his head out from the crowd and whispered, "Hey, you stinky fox, my sister's still not awake?"
Rukawa held the basketball in one hand, shook his head with a blank expression.
Mitsui hooked his arm around Sakuragi's neck and grinned, "When she wakes up—"
"We'll see you beat Hakata Merchant to a pulp!!!" Sakuragi's eyes blazed with fury.
Beep—!
The referee blew the whistle, and the basketball was tossed high into the sky.
The game begins!
Akagi and Hakata No. 4 leaped into the air simultaneously, their bodies colliding violently in mid-air—
Bang!!
With a half-hand advantage, number 4 slammed the ball hard towards number 7!
[Xiangbei bench]:
"Back up—!!"
After receiving the ball, number 7 instantly accelerated, and the entire Hakata team quickly deployed their attacking formation.
Snap!
A sharp bounce pass pierced the defense from Miyagi's feet!
"Oh no—!" Miyagi turned around abruptly, but—
A red afterimage suddenly appeared!
"Hahaha! That's genius foresight!!"
Sakuragi quickly intercepted the pass and surged forward with the ball! Hakata's number 9 dove to intercept, but in the instant he closed in—
"Fertile land—!!"
Bang!
A long, ground pass that spanned the entire field landed precisely in Miyagi's hands!
Number 7 gritted his teeth and chased back, but—
"whispering sound!"
Miyagi suddenly stopped and spun around! In the air currents created by his jersey, number 7's vision was completely out of reach!
Whoosh!
The basketball swished off the backboard and went into the net!
2:0!
"Aya! Did you see that?!" Miyagi looked smugly at the sidelines, only to be met with a disdainful glare from Ayako.
[Hakata Coach: Heh... not a bad opponent.]
Hakata Shoudai's ball rights
Number 7 inbounds the ball from the baseline, instantly traversing the entire court! Hakata's number 4 receives the ball steadily, fakes out Mitsui, and drives straight into Shohoku's paint!
Akagi lowered his body and spread his arms wide, "Don't even think about it—!!"
Number 4, however, stepped into the penalty area the instant—
Left! Right! Step back!
—Whoosh!
Beyond the three-point line, the basketball arced perfectly and swished through the net!
2:3
[The audience erupted: Wow!]
Mitsui whistled and raised an eyebrow, saying, "Hey, a center shooting a three-pointer? That's a foul, isn't it?"
Miyagi rolled his eyes: "You're an archer yourself, and you have the nerve to criticize others?"
Sakuragi stood with his hands on his hips, his eyes fixed on number 4, and sneered, "Hmph! It's just good luck!"
Rukawa silently walked towards the finish line, his gaze sharp!
...Again.
Xiangbei counterattacks!
Miyagi caught the ball at the baseline, grinning mischievously: "Hey, don't think this little trick will work forever!"
Smack! Smack!
The basketball moved swiftly between his fingers. Just as Hakata No. 7 was about to close in, Miyagi had already dodged past him with a change of direction!
"So fast!" came an exclamation from the Bodo bench.
Mitsui quickly ran to an open spot and stretched out his hand beyond the three-point line: "Ryota!"
Unexpectedly, Miyagi suddenly made a behind-the-back pass—
Whoosh!
The basketball traced an uncanny arc, flying precisely towards Rukawa, who was cutting in from the weak side!
Aerial Showdown—
The moment Rukawa received the ball, Hakata's number 4 had already moved into position to cover!
The two collided violently in mid-air!
!
Rukawa forcefully twisted his body, and in the instant he lost his balance, he tossed the ball toward the basket—
Whoosh!
4:3
[Girl: Ahhh! Rukawa-kun is so handsome!]
Sakuragi jumped up and down in anger: "You stinky fox! You could have passed it to me!"
Mitsui walked over, rubbing his shoulder: "Hey, give this three-point shooter a chance to shine, will you guys..."
Akagi stood under the basket, watching the Hakata players return to defense, and said in a deep voice, "Don't be careless, the game has only just begun!"
The game was close.
In the ensuing offensive and defensive battles,
Bodo scored frequently thanks to their tight teamwork.
Shohoku kept the score close.
Akagi was double-teamed in the paint.
Mitsui is under close surveillance, limiting his room for maneuver.
Miyagi engaged in a speed battle with the opposing point guard.
The last attack of the first half.
"10 seconds left!" the referee signaled, raising his hand.
Miyagi advanced rapidly, then suddenly a no-look pass!
Sakuragi's alley-oop
Beep!
38:37
"First half over!"
The air in the entire stadium was tense.
[Aida Hikoichi frantically scribbled notes: Damn... these Hakata guys play like machines.]
[Taoka: Shohoku has been drawn into the opponent's rhythm...]
[Shohoku bench]
"Huff...huff..."
Akagi, panting heavily, slammed the towel over his head: "Damn it... every time I pull ahead, they catch up..."
Mitsui, supporting himself on his knees, sweat dripping down his face, said, "Their rotation defense... is too tight..."
Miyagi tugged at his wristband in frustration: "I can't predict the passing route at all..."
"You stinky fox!" Sakuragi yelled at Rukawa, "This genius grabbed so many rebounds, why don't you score a few more baskets!"
Rukawa remained silent, his fingers unconsciously tightening.
[Hakata's substitute bench]
The coach calmly tapped the tactical board: "Keep this pace, their stamina won't last until the fourth quarter."
"Yes!" the team members answered in unison, as if they were one person.
[Shohoku locker room]
Ayako handed over the stat sheet: "Our fast break points are less than half of what they usually are..."
With a loud "bang," Akagi's fist slammed heavily onto the locker.
"Everyone, get your spirits up!" Akagi's voice echoed in the locker room. "This is the National Tournament!"
“Since they excel at meticulous planning,” Akagi surveyed his teammates, his eyes burning with fighting spirit, “then we’ll use our purest wisdom—”
"—Completely crush them!!!"
"Well said!" Sakuragi was the first to jump up. "Let's show these robots what true genius basketball looks like!"
He suddenly turned to Rukawa: "Hey, you stinky fox! Is my older sister still sleeping?"
Rukawa nodded, holding the basketball, his fingertips unconsciously tightening.
The atmosphere in the locker room suddenly froze.
Mitsui scratched his soaked hair in frustration: "Damn it!"
Sakuragi suddenly yelled at the basketball, "Sis! Stop sleeping in!!"
The basketball did not react.
Idiot, so noisy.
Rukawa pulled the basketball closer to his chest, his eyes beneath his bangs dark and unfathomable.
The referee's whistle blew from the corridor—
"The second half is about to begin. Players, please enter the field!"
Rukawa stared at the basketball in his arms and said softly, "...We will win."
—The second half begins!
The spectators' eyes followed the ball:
Is this a basketball game?
[It's a battle between iron discipline and primal instincts!]
The scoreboard jumped wildly, and sweat painted a battle map on the wooden floor.
"Whoosh—!"
Mitsui forced a backward leap under the block of number 6, the basketball grazing his opponent's fingertips as it flew away—
A near-perfect arc!
—Hollow insertion into the net!
64:61!
"Back up and defend—!!" Miyagi roared, but Hakata's counterattack was incredibly fast!
Number 7 inbounds the ball from the baseline, a long, cannon-like pass that spans half the court and flies straight to the frontcourt! Number 9 cuts in like a ghost and catches the ball in mid-air—
"Bang!!"
One-handed dunk!
64:63!
There wasn't even time to catch my breath!
Miyagi advanced, dribbled behind his back to shake off number 7, and made a bounce pass to Rukawa who was cutting in!
The moment Rukawa received the ball, number 9 was already right there, sticking to him like a shadow.
The two engaged in a fierce battle in the air!
"Beep—!!"
A foul by hitting the hand!
Rukawa walked to the free throw line with a blank expression.
—Both free throws made!
66:63!
71:68!
71:71!
...
"Damn it... I can't shake him off!" Miyagi gritted his teeth, sweat dripping down his chin.
Hakata Commercial University is like an inescapable plaster; every time Shohoku tries to widen the gap, they manage to bite back immediately!
—The last 5 minutes!
Hakata Commercial University capitalized on a defensive lapse by Shohoku, sinking a three-pointer!
76:78!
—A 2-point lead!
The breathing of the five members of Xiangbei gradually became heavy.
Miyagi gritted his teeth and advanced, quickly passing the ball to Rukawa. Rukawa received the ball, and Hakata's number 6 had already moved into position to cover—
In the blink of an eye!
Rukawa suddenly lowered his center of gravity, pushed off the ground with his left foot, and started moving!
The defender's center of gravity was shifted by half a body length!
The sneakers made a screeching sound as they rubbed against the floor!
Just as the breakthrough was about to be completed—
"Bang!!"
Hakata No. 6 lost his balance and his right shoulder slammed into Rukawa's chest!
"Thump!"
With his black hair flying wildly, Rukawa's back slammed heavily onto the floor with a dull thud!
The basketball flew out of his hand—
The referee held his whistle in his mouth, hesitated for two seconds, and then didn't blow it!
Hakata has launched a fast break, while the entire Shohoku team is still standing there in a daze!
Akagi roared, "Get back on defense!!"
But it was too late—
"Whoosh—"
Three point hit!
76:81!
The point difference has widened to 5 points!
Rukawa remained kneeling on the ground, his bangs falling down and obscuring his eyes, revealing only his taut jawline.
Tick-tock—
The sound of sweat hitting the floor was exceptionally clear.
The stinging sensation in his fingertips made Rukawa realize that his palm was scraped. But this insignificant pain was nothing compared to the burning, oppressive feeling in his chest.
That ball just now...
The moment flashed before my eyes as player number 6's shoulder collided with mine.
That was definitely not a normal defensive move.
The referee's indifference fueled my anger.
"What the hell?!" Sakuragi erupted in fury, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. "That bastard did it on purpose!!"
Mitsui and Miyagi held him back tightly: "Calm down! The match isn't over yet!"
Akagi extended his hand: "Rukawa, are you alright?"
Rukawa slowly got up from the ground, his eyes were terrifyingly cold, but he just silently wiped his hands and said nothing.
The entire Shohoku bench was furious, and Ayako anxiously carried her first-aid kit.
At this very moment—
"Beep—!!"
The referee's whistle suddenly blew.
Rukawa suddenly raised his head and looked in the direction everyone was looking—
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