This possession didn't need any more tactics—Maki simply had to take the ball and drive.
With his score, the gap narrowed to just two points. A single possession. The situation was becoming clear, and Kainan could already see the dawn of victory.
"Uozumi! Hold your ground! Don't foul!" Sendoh, who had been roaming freely all game, sprinted back to the paint, ready to intercept.
"Damn it!" Echizen raced after Maki, desperately trying to make up for his mistake.
As soon as Maki crossed into the three-point line, the attention of the entire Ryonan defense collapsed on him. The corners of his mouth curved upward as if to say: I knew you'd react this way.
With perfect timing, he swung the ball out. Jin, who had been patiently waiting, caught it in rhythm and fired.
Swish!
That three-pointer was like a blade piercing straight into Ryonan's chest, spilling fresh blood.
Coach Taoka clutched his head in regret. Was substituting Uekusa for Echizen a mistake? Damn it…
The pressure that Ryonan had just relieved came crashing back, heavier than before.
"Whooo!" Kiyota was literally bouncing like a monkey now.
"Hainan! Hainan! Hainan!" The chants of Kainan's supporters shook the stands.
A one-point game—anyone's victory. But on the floor, the momentum clearly tilted toward Kainan.
"Jin's stability is terrifying. You can't relax against him, not for a second. He's practically a shooting machine." Mitsui, himself a deadly shooter, felt goosebumps rise on his arms. If it were him, he believed he could've nailed the shot—but sitting on the bench made the tension far worse.
Nango narrowed his eyes thoughtfully. Is this the pull of the original story? Even with all of Ryonan's efforts, are they still destined to fall short?
Kogure swallowed hard, the tense atmosphere pressing down on him. He hesitated, then muttered, "What should they do now?"
What to do?
Rukawa stared at Sendoh intently. He wanted to see how this man—this leader—would respond.
Sendoh took a breath and whispered, "This is troublesome…" But his eyes showed no sign of surrender.
Clap! Clap! Clap! He patted each of his teammates on the back and said with a smile, "It's too early to give up. We haven't lost yet."
"Sendoh…" His confidence instantly steadied everyone's nerves.
Uozumi slapped his shoulder and roared, "That's right! We still have a chance!"
Even the usually silent Fukuda and the steady Ikegami nodded firmly.
Echizen, weighed down by his earlier mistake, seemed hesitant. Sendoh leaned in and said, "Don't overthink it. Let's just focus on winning this game first."
Echizen lifted his head, determination flashing in his eyes, and nodded vigorously.
Seeing their spirits reignite, Sendoh grinned. "Alright, let's get ourselves a basket first."
"Roar!"
Uozumi prepared to inbound. Kainan pressed full court. With no option, Sendoh himself ran to the baseline to take the ball.
The moment he caught it, Maki glued himself on. Every breath, every step—contested.
One minute forty seconds remained. If both sides used their clocks fully, there'd only be two possessions each. Every basket was life or death.
For once, Sendoh turned aggressive. Accelerating hard, he dribbled along the sideline, shielding the ball with his left arm. Maki matched him stride for stride.
On the bench, Coach Kōzu signaled. "Kiyota! Next dead ball, you're in for Miyamasu."
"Yes!" Kiyota sprang up, itching to get on.
Miyamasu's three had been huge, but his shaky defense was a liability. Kiyota's energy and athleticism were needed now.
Back on the court, Jin saw an opportunity and moved to double-team Sendoh, leaving Ikegami alone.
Sendoh noticed with the corner of his eye. Just before the trap closed, he abruptly switched hands and feinted a pass toward Ikegami. Maki froze for an instant—just enough. In that heartbeat, Sendoh spun, slipping perfectly between both defenders.
Nango's eyes lit up. "Brilliant!"
Coach Kōzu's stomach sank. Not good…
Maki recovered instantly, chasing. Sendoh soared near the paint. Takasago rose with him, arms stretched wide.
But Sendoh twisted in mid-air, switched hands, and banked in a reverse layup.
The crowd erupted. But Kainan wasted no time celebrating—they stormed right back on offense.
Maki again targeted Fukuda. A quick glance to Kosuge, and the screen was set.
Sendoh anticipated and adjusted his stance.
But Maki pulled the same trick—rejecting the screen and darting the other way. Straight into the lane.
Uozumi faced the same split-second decision: commit or hold? He glanced at Sendoh, then chose patience.
Maki finished the layup, then glanced at Uozumi curiously. Something about him felt… different.
Coach Kōzu grimaced. No dead ball, no timeout. He wanted to sub out Miyamasu badly, but couldn't.
And Ryonan knew it.
Last time you went at Fukuda. This time… Miyamasu's the target.
Sendoh dribbled past half, guiding Maki toward Echizen and Miyamasu. Echizen caught on instantly, stepping in to set a screen.
Maki's eyes flicked nervously between the pick and the threat of another fake. But this time, the screen was real. Sendoh brushed past cleanly.
Full throttle, he swept into the lane. Takasago lunged to stop him but ended up grabbing his arm. Whistle! Two free throws.
Finally, the dead ball. Kiyota ran in for Miyamasu with only thirty seconds remaining.
Sendoh exhaled deeply, stepped to the line, and steadied himself.
First free throw—good.
Second—also good.
Three-point lead. Kainan felt the squeeze.
Takasago prepared to inbound. Ryonan answered with a full-court press. Sendoh shadowed Maki relentlessly, arms flailing, smothering every passing lane.
The seconds bled away.
5…
4…
3…
2…
1…
At the last instant, Kiyota broke free, catching the pass and sprinting into the frontcourt.
A layup? Impossible. They needed three.
He handed off to Jin, using his body to shield Ikegami. Jin rose. Ikegami stumbled on the screen.
Swish! Deadly, perfect. Tie game. Nine seconds left.
Overtime—or a miracle?
Ikegami quickly inbounded before Kainan could regroup. Sendoh took it, Maki right on him. A feint left, a burst right, and he was free.
Kiyota raced to cut him off at the three-point line. Sendoh rose, firing as Kiyota's hand smacked his shooting palm.
No whistle!
The ball arced—off the glass, off the rim—
And then—
"THUD!"
A giant hand slammed it home. Uozumi! With one arm, he boxed out Takasago, and with the other, hammered the put-back dunk!
"YESSS!!!" Uozumi roared, his patience and sacrifice finally rewarded.
"AAAAHHHH!!!" Ryonan's bench exploded, swarming their captain.
On the sideline, Coach Taoka slumped, tears in his eyes. "We… finally won…"
Kainan's players were frozen in disbelief. Just like that, their dream was over. Eliminated.
Maki clenched his jaw, forcing composure. He walked to Kiyota, who was holding back tears, and pulled him close. "We'll start over in the Winter Tournament."
In the press box, Aida Yayoi smiled warmly for her senior.
Beside her, Nakamura blurted out, "Miss Aida, what about this headline: 'For the first time in 17 years, King Kainan misses Nationals—Kanagawa's skies have changed!'"
Yayoi whacked him with her notebook, laughing. "Idiot, that's way too long!"
The crowd still buzzed in disbelief. The outcome had been guessed at—but the way it happened? Nobody could've imagined it.
-------------
Support me at patréon com/DaoOfPeeking