"What in the world are you doing out there?!"
The coach pointed toward the court, his gaze sweeping across the players seated on the bench.
"You call that playing basketball?! Don't tell me you can't even handle a weak team like Toshigawa!"
The players flinched. Sweat trickled down their temples.
"I'm seriously disappointed in you guys."
He folded his arms.
"If you keep playing like this, I'll kick every single one of you off the A-team! Am I making myself clear?!"
"Yes, Coach!" the Yokonan players shouted in unison.
Arimoto nodded.
"Good. We're going full-court press. Keep your eyes on number four. He's their point guard."
He turned toward Eiji.
"I want you to shut him down."
"Yes, Coach."
Eiji stretched his arms.
"I'll make sure he doesn't get a chance to touch the ball."
Arimoto's mouth curved into a faint smile.
"Let's see what they can do without him."
He turned his back to the players.
"Manabu, start warming up. You're going in."
Manabu's hands stopped on his knees. He blinked, then pushed his glasses up the bridge of his nose.
"M-Me? But, Coach..."
"Make sure you carry out my instructions on the court."
Arimoto glanced over his shoulder.
"I expect nothing less than a hundred points before this game ends."
"Yes, Coach!"
Manabu pulled off his warm-up shirt in one swift motion and tossed it aside. He rolled his shoulders before stretching his arms and legs.
"Well, what do you know? Coach is actually giving you some playing time," Yanagi said.
He leaned closer to Manabu.
"Remember, the cameras are on. Don't screw this up."
"Shut it," Manabu said.
Nanaho turned toward her players, who sat on the bench with water bottles in hand.
"Great work so far."
"Hah! Of course! We're the best!" Noboru said, running the back of his hand across his chin.
"Y-Yes... I suppose so."
Nanaho placed a hand on his back.
"That'll show them not to underestimate us. Now they'll have no choice but to take us seriously."
Hayato bent forward, resting his hands on his knees.
"Let's hope that's not the case."
Yukio glanced toward Arimoto.
"Substitution!"
The referee's call rang across the court.
Toshigawa's players immediately turned toward the scorer's table.
"Huh? Isn't that... Manabu?" Hayato muttered.
"It's that guy from earlier... The one who led us to the locker room."
Nanaho's mouth parted slightly.
"This is it."
Manabu took a deep breath. Behind his glasses, his eyes shifted toward the court. He stepped across the sideline, received the ball, and passed it to Eiji.
Eiji caught it and began dribbling up the court.
Hayato slid into position, moving his hands.
Eiji raised a hand.
"Hayato... Screen on your left!"
Takahiro's voice rang out.
"Right... Thanks."
Hayato pivoted sharply as Ryuu moved into position beside him.
Eiji shifted the ball to his left hand and dribbled around the screen, slipping past Hayato.
Crap... He broke through!
Hayato lunged after him, but his hands swiped through empty air.
I have to stop him...
Shino stepped into the key, blocking Eiji's path to the basket.
Eiji's lips curved into a faint smile.
He flicked the ball to his left.
Manabu caught it outside the three-point arc.
"Don't let him shoot!"
Shino rushed toward him and jumped, extending his arm.
Manabu rose into the air. His glasses stayed in place as he flicked his wrist.
Swish!
The ball passed cleanly through the net.
The scoreboard flickered.
Yokonan High 5 – Toshigawa Academy 4
The crowd erupted into applause.
"Nice shot, Manabu!" someone shouted from the bleachers.
Shino's hands trembled at his sides.
"Yukio, pass the ball!"
Hayato sprinted toward the ball. Eiji moved in front of him, matching his steps and cutting off his path.
Hayato clicked his tongue.
"Damn! What the hell is this?!"
He tried to push past Eiji, but his chest collided with the other player's shoulder as he rushed forward.
The Yokonan players advanced up the court.
One positioned himself behind Takahiro.
Another stepped in front of Shino.
Manabu collided with Noboru, blocking his path.
Noboru clenched his fist.
"Bastard."
Sweat slid down Yukio's temple as he pivoted, his eyes darting between his teammates. Ryuu mirrored his movements, keeping his hands raised.
The corner of Ryuu's mouth curled upward.
"What's wrong? Can't get the ball past us?"
Three... four... five.
The referee's whistle pierced the air.
"Five-second violation! Yokonan's ball!"
Applause broke out across the stands.
As soon as Eiji received the inbound pass, Ryuu moved into position, setting a screen for Manabu.
Manabu sprinted around the three-point arc and raised his hands.
Eiji flicked the ball toward him.
Shino stepped forward, his arms outstretched.
Manabu caught the pass. He shifted his non-pivot foot, brought the ball above his head, and bent his knees.
He's shooting again!
Shino lunged into the air, extending his arm.
Manabu lowered the ball, bounced it once, then planted his feet and released the shot with a flick of his wrist.
The ball spun toward the basket.
Swish!
The net snapped as the ball dropped through.
This is bad...
Nanaho's fingers tightened around her clipboard.
"God damn it! He made another one! He's really starting to piss me off!" Noboru shouted, slamming his fist into his palm.
Ryuu burst out laughing and clapped Eiji hard on the back.
"That number six is an amateur!"
Arimoto's mouth curved into a smile.
"That's it, everyone.Show them why Yokonan is one of the top teams in the area."
Arimoto glanced toward Haruko.
She's a coach, sure, but there's no way a high school girl can out-strategize me. I've got twenty years of coaching experience under my belt. My team has some of the best players in the country.
His gaze returned to the court.
They don't stand a chance.
Takahiro threw the inbound pass to Shino.
Manabu, already crouched in a defensive stance, darted forward and swiped at the ball.
Shino stumbled backward. The ball slipped from his hands.
Manabu snatched it and dribbled toward the three-point line.
Takahiro stepped forward to intercept him.
Yukio and Noboru sprinted back on defense.
Manabu flicked a pass to Eiji.
"Hayato!"
Hayato lunged forward.
Eiji shifted the ball to his left, forcing Hayato to twist his body. Before Hayato could recover, Eiji crossed to the right and bounced a pass toward Ryuu.
Ryuu caught the ball and drove straight toward the basket.
He jumped, extending his arm toward the rim.
The ball struck the backboard.
It dropped through the net.
On the next possession, Yukio dribbled up the court.
Manabu and Eiji stepped forward in unison, closing in on him near the half-court line.
Yukio pivoted, his teeth clenched as he searched for an opening.
Manabu reached out and slapped the ball away.
It bounced once against the hardwood.
Eiji caught it on the move and sprinted toward the basket.
He leaped and laid the ball against the backboard.
What are they going to do? At this rate, they'll...
Haruko gripped the edge of the bench, her gaze shifting toward Tetsuo, who sat a little farther down the same bench. His face remained expressionless as he watched the game.
"Catch!"
Hayato threw a long pass down the court.
"Okay, I got it!"
Noboru reached up, his fingers stretching toward the ball.
Manabu jumped.
His hand closed around the ball before Noboru could secure it.
"Damn it!"
Manabu sprinted down the court, dribbling as Noboru chased after him.
As he reached the three-point line, Manabu planted his feet and leaped into the air.
Noboru's breath caught. He jumped, his eyes locked on the ball.
This sucks! I have to make up for losing the ball... You ugly four-eyes bastard!
Noboru's hand brushed against Manabu's back just as the ball left his fingertips.
The ball spun high into the air.
Manabu twisted slightly in midair, his eyes following its trajectory. Just before his feet touched the floor, he turned toward Noboru.
A smirk spread across his face.
The overhead lights reflected off his glasses.
The referee's whistle blew.
The ball dropped cleanly through the net.
"Pushing foul! Black, number ten!"
The referee pointed toward Noboru.
"You can't be serious! That was all ball! Why you—"
Noboru stormed toward the referee.
Yukio grabbed his wrist.
"Hey, calm down, Noboru. We'll get it back."
"Tch... Yeah, right."
Noboru yanked his arm free.
Manabu walked to the free-throw line. Toshigawa and Yokonan players took their positions along the lane.
He bounced the ball twice, bent his knees and released the ball with a flick of his wrist. His arm remained extended as he watched its trajectory.
Swish!
The scoreboard flickered.
Yokonan High 16 – Toshigawa Academy 4
The crowd erupted.
"A four-point play? Not bad, freshman."
The corner of Kogure's mouth lifted.
"Yeah. I got lucky when I scouted him," Arimoto said.
He glanced toward Manabu.
"His junior high coach never knew how to use him. But look at him now! He's running the entire game, and he's only been with me for a month."
"Five-second violation!"
The referee's whistle blew.
Yokonan regained possession.
Eiji threw a pass over Hayato's outstretched hand.
Ryuu caught the ball, took two quick steps, and launched himself into the air.
Yukio jumped both arms raised.
This is payback!
Ryuu cocked the ball back and slammed it through the hoop.
The rim rattled violently.
Yukio winced as he lost his balance. His back hit the hardwood with a heavy thud.
The crowd erupted.
"Nice dunk!"
Shino froze near the three-point arc.
"N-no... Captain..."
Takahiro gripped the hem of his jersey and wiped the sweat from his face, his other hand resting on his hip.
"No way... He actually dunked on Yukio like that?"
Ryuu leapt down from the rim. His sneakers squeaked against the hardwood as he landed.
"All of you are trash!" he shouted.
Yukio stared up at the gym lights.
Takahiro and Hayato stepped forward, extending their hands.
"Yukio, don't mind him! We're still in this!"
Sweat dripped from Hayato's headband onto his face.
Yukio glanced at their outstretched hands before grasping them. Takahiro and Hayato pulled him to his feet.
Nanaho rested her chin on her hand.
What do I do...? I can't let the game keep going like this.
"Fukazawa-senpai," Tetsuo muttered.
Nanaho turned toward him.
"Yeah. I know what I have to do."
She rose from the bench.
"Timeout! I said timeout!"
The referee's whistle pierced the gym.
"Timeout! Toshigawa Academy!"