Although Nadaka Hikaru's shot was blocked by Akagi, Mike managed to grab the loose ball.
Seeing the shot clock winding down, Mike drove straight in, determined to finish the possession himself.
He wasn't intimidated by Akagi in the slightest. After all, he'd faced taller, stronger opponents back in America. This was just Japan—Akagi wasn't particularly tall by his standards.
With Mike's athleticism and skill, his confidence wasn't misplaced. But sometimes, confidence changes everything—for better or worse.
Akagi, still fired up from his previous block, focused intently on Mike's every move. He didn't jump immediately but waited, reading the rhythm of Mike's approach. The moment Mike reached the peak of his leap—when the ball was fully exposed—Akagi exploded upward.
"Haah!" Akagi roared, his right arm slicing through the air like an iron hammer.
A bead of cold sweat trickled down Mike's temple. "What?!"
SLAP!
Akagi delivered another emphatic block, sending the ball flying out of bounds.
"AHHHHH!!!" Akagi's roar thundered across the court.
Two consecutive blocks—one of them against his American opponent—sent adrenaline surging through his veins. He couldn't hold back the primal roar that followed.
"Akagi… that's rare," Kogure chuckled at his captain's uncharacteristic outburst.
"Gorilla…" Sakuragi muttered, wide-eyed. For once, Akagi didn't look like a gorilla—he looked like King Kong.
Kakuta licked his dry lips, visibly thrilled. "Two blocks in a row… Captain's unbelievable!"
Shiozaki nodded. "Look at them—both Ryokufu players are completely stunned."
Mike Okita couldn't comprehend what was happening. Facing a Japanese high school team, he'd been stuffed twice in a row. The whole situation felt unreal.
As for Nadaka Hikaru, his confidence had evaporated. Though he was a traditional big man like Akagi and Uozumi, he simply couldn't match Akagi's power or presence. That previous block had silenced him completely.
The game wasn't even halfway over, but Eri's emotions were already on a roller coaster. She fumed,
"Shohoku's just a regular public school—how can they have so many incredible players? Is Coach Anzai's charm really that strong?"
Damn Akagi! Damn Rukawa Kaede!! Damn Nango!!!
Wait…
Nango?
A bold idea suddenly flashed in her mind. She began turning it over rapidly, completely forgetting the game's score. If her plan worked, it didn't matter if Ryokufu lost—this was just a practice match.
Katsumi Ichiro inbounded to Keiji, who began setting up the offense.
Passing to Nadaka Hikaru was no longer an option—the block had shattered his confidence, and he wasn't even asking for the ball. He stood silently at the edge of the paint, no longer attempting to post up.
Mike, though still moving off the ball, was clearly avoiding Akagi's zone, which meant his interior threat had vanished. Ironically, this made Rukawa's defensive job much easier.
With both of Ryokufu's main options neutralized, Keiji had no choice but to take matters into his own hands.
Facing Mitsui's defense, he lowered his already low stance even further, changing rhythm to create a small opening. He drove in but, remembering Mike and Nadaka's fates, wisely pulled up from the free-throw line.
The shot was clean. Swish! A much-needed basket for Ryokufu.
Shohoku took possession again. Nango, reading the situation, passed once more to Sakuragi.
This time, Mike was the one defending him. But Nango noticed how Mike's energy had dropped since being blocked, so he decided to let Sakuragi attack him directly.
The momentum from the last play and Akagi's spectacular defense had inflated Sakuragi's confidence. He grinned arrogantly.
"Foreigner! Let me show you the terror of Genius Sakuragi!"
"You wish! I'm not letting you score again!" Mike snapped back, his pride on the line.
Sakuragi received the ball and immediately began backing down.
How is this possible?!
Mike's body trembled as he felt himself being forced backward step by step. He couldn't comprehend the sheer power Sakuragi was exerting.
What is natural talent?
Sakuragi was natural talent personified. His physical ability already surpassed that of most athletes, and after joining Shohoku, he'd been training daily under Akagi's brutal regimen.
He'd even started extra strength training sessions on his own, determined to bench 100 kilograms as soon as possible.
With his stubborn personality and monstrous potential, his growth had become explosive—and Mike, being more of a perimeter player, simply couldn't match him physically.
I can't let him score again!
Mike pushed back with all his might, but it was futile. Sakuragi sensed the resistance falter, spun smoothly, and finished with a clean, effortless layup.
"Beautiful!" Nango clapped, genuinely impressed.
Akagi's eyes widened in surprise. He ruffled Sakuragi's hair and grinned.
"Well done, Sakuragi!"
"Gorilla actually praised him?"
"Did I just see that right?"
"Is Ryokufu really this weak?"
"Did that foreigner eat something bad today?"
The Sakuragi Gang—who had just arrived late due to Ryokufu's huge campus—rubbed their eyes in disbelief.
"Sakuragi's performance just keeps improving! He's become an indispensable force for Shohoku!" Haruko said proudly. After all, she was the one who had discovered him.
"Hahahaha! This is the power of the Genius Sakuragi Hanamichi!" Sakuragi laughed triumphantly, basking in the cheers.
SLAP!
Mike slammed the ball against the floor, catching it again with both hands, his face dark with fury.
"Damn it!!!"
His humiliation had reached the breaking point.
The Ryokufu players exchanged glances. It was the first time they'd ever seen Mike lose his composure like this. Shohoku's strength had pushed even the easygoing American to his limit—and the game was far from over.
The Tsurumi Brothers advanced together once more. This time, Mike aggressively posted up at the right wing, calling for the ball.
The brothers exchanged a silent look. Seiji pursed his lips, and Keiji passed the ball over obediently.
I can't let him get it! If he scores again, that idiot will never shut up!
Rukawa focused intensely, locking eyes on Mike. His entire body tensed as he prepared to intercept.
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