Sawakita held the ball at the top of the arc, his eyes calmly scanning Shohoku's defensive layout as he searched for the optimal breakthrough route.
As for Nango in front of him—
Sawakita never believed he could keep up with his first step.
Which meant the real question wasn't whether he'd get past Nango—
But what would happen after.
Big Kawata had no intention of entering the paint. He lingered near the baseline mid-range area, ready to receive a pass at any moment. Akagi, who was defending him, stayed rooted near the basket, clearly prepared to help at the first sign of danger.
On the opposite side, Little Kawata was locked in a fierce struggle with Sakuragi at the edge of the restricted area, and Sakuragi looked far too busy to offer help defense.
Good.
Sawakita lowered his stance further.
After a simple fake, he dropped the ball and exploded to the right—
Nango's left.
Here it comes! Just like I thought!
Nango instantly turned, his left foot slamming firmly into Sawakita's path. As his right foot followed, their bodies collided.
Using his overwhelming physical strength, Nango forcibly shoved Sawakita's breakthrough route outward.
At the same time, he stuck close—glued to Sawakita's left side.
The pressure was suffocating.
If Sawakita tried to shoot now—
It would almost certainly be blocked.
Fukatsu's mouth fell open slightly.
"He… kept up with Sawakita's first step?! How is that even possible?!"
Even Sawakita himself was stunned.
He guessed my route?
But he didn't panic.
And he certainly didn't pass.
He still intended to finish this possession himself.
Sawakita shoved Nango with his left arm, then stomped hard and rose into the air with a slight fadeaway, forcing the shot at high speed.
"It's not that simple! Get down here!"
Nango stepped forward, his left arm whipping toward the shooting point.
Sawakita's pupils shrank.
He rushed the release.
"Another pull-up jumper by Sawakita!"
Commentator Fujiwara shouted excitedly.
"Can it go in?!"
Even Sawakita wasn't confident.
"Rebound! Hurry!"
Clang!
The ball struck the right side of the rim and bounced sharply toward Akagi.
Nango instantly turned and sprinted upcourt, Sawakita trailing a step behind him.
For the first time—
Sawakita's shot had missed.
"Hmph," Nango Chiyuo muttered softly from the stands.
"Of course it did."
Akagi secured the rebound cleanly. Just as he prepared to launch a fast break, Big Kawata violently waved his arms, disrupting the passing lane and killing the transition opportunity.
With no choice, Akagi handed the ball to Rukawa Kaede to bring it up.
As players raced back, Sawakita steadied himself and spoke seriously to Nango.
"That was impressive. You actually managed to defend one of my shots. You've got real potential."
Nango rolled his eyes.
He hated that tone.
But Sawakita continued, seemingly talking to himself.
"I didn't expect my final game in Japan to bring opponents like you and Rukawa Kaede. In the future, you two will dominate Japanese basketball. So I need to crush you here—completely—so you'll live in my shadow."
"Only then," he added calmly, "can I go to America without regrets."
America?
Rukawa Kaede, dribbling to the top of the arc, heard every word.
Nango frowned, scanning Sawakita up and down.
Is this guy suffering from some serious main-character syndrome?
"You talk too much," Nango said coldly.
"Have you bought your plane ticket yet?"
Sawakita subconsciously replied,
"Not yet. Why?"
"Then don't," Nango said flatly.
"Stay in Akita. You're going to lose."
"Heh," Sawakita laughed.
"You blocked one shot and you're already arrogant?"
"Whether I'm arrogant or not—"
Nango turned sideways and shouted,
"Rukawa!"
The pass came.
The moment Nango caught the ball, his stance dropped.
No wasted movements.
He put the ball down and charged straight at Sawakita's left side.
Sawakita reached for a steal again—
But Nango slammed him away with his forearm.
Failed.
All Sawakita could do was turn and chase, watching Nango tear forward at full speed.
Nango leapt from inside the free-throw arc.
His right arm rose high.
From the side, his body resembled a fully drawn bow—
Power compressed to its absolute limit.
Very few dared to contest such a jump.
But Big Kawata shoved his younger brother.
"Go."
Little Kawata didn't even realize he'd been sacrificed.
He jumped.
At 210 centimeters, he towered over most players—
But his vertical leap was pitiful.
In front of Nango's full extension—
It was nothing.
The scene was like thunder crashing into a mountain.
And the mountain was about to collapse.
Nango slammed into Little Kawata—
Yet his body didn't stop.
Instead, he continued forward.
If Nango were asked what it felt like—
Soft.
Little Kawata was nothing more than a giant human cushion, absorbing the impact completely.
BOOM!!!
Nango smashed the ball through the hoop over Little Kawata's head.
Little Kawata stumbled back two steps—
Then collapsed onto the floor.
A 210-centimeter dunk.
Nango had shattered his own record.
The arena froze.
Mouths hung open.
No one spoke.
Then—
The stadium exploded.
"That's insane!"
"Is he really a high school student?! He's only sixteen?!"
"Forget last year's Sawakita—can even this year's Sawakita do that?!"
"What are the media saying? Morishige Hiroshi is the future of Japan? Then what is THIS guy?!"
If Nango's three-pointers had made people remember his name—
This dunk made him the center of the entire court.
Even Sannoh fans began to waver.
Sugiyama finally snapped out of it and turned to Coach Tangze.
"Coach… even if it's early, we should make contact with him."
Coach Tangze wiped the cold sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.
"Yes. We must."
The game wasn't even over—
Yet the university scouts had already locked onto their future target.
As Nango jogged back on defense, he passed Sawakita.
He pinched his thumb and forefinger together, squinted one eye, and taunted:
"Try harder. You almost stopped me—this close."
"You—!"
Sawakita's face darkened completely.
"You bastard… Fine. You've done it. You've pissed me off."
"Prepare to die!"
"Idiot," someone muttered.
Little Kawata lay on the floor, instinctively flinching, expecting a scolding.
Instead—
"Are you okay?" Big Kawata asked.
Little Kawata froze.
Seeing his brother's concern, his eyes immediately welled up.
"I-I'm fine… It's just my butt hurts a bit…"
Big Kawata relaxed—
Then roared instantly.
"Idiot! Don't cry!"
"Mmm—!"
Little Kawata hurriedly wiped his eyes and clamped his mouth shut.
Coach Domoto swallowed hard.
His mouth felt dry—yet he couldn't stop salivating from stress.
He had thought Little Kawata would seal the paint.
Instead—
Nango had dunked straight over him.
My adjustment… was meaningless.
Is there truly no one who can stop him?
Coach Domoto's headache only worsened as Nango's form reached terrifying heights.