Thump—! Thump—!
Takenori Akagi and Uozumi soared almost simultaneously, their towering figures—both nearly two meters tall—freezing in midair.
Wham!
Their palms struck the basketball at the same time.
Veins bulged on both players' foreheads as their arm muscles tightened like steel cables. For an instant, neither side gave way.
The crowd held its breath.
Then—
Takenori Akagi's pupils contracted sharply.
The power in his arms surged.
"What—?!"
Uozumi's eyes widened as the force transmitted through the ball knocked his hand aside. Before he could react, Akagi snapped his wrist, flicking the ball with explosive strength.
The ball shot toward Miyagi Ryota.
Miyagi, already crouched low, knees bent and hands ready, caught it cleanly and burst forward in one smooth motion, slicing through Ryonan's first defensive line.
Shohoku struck fast—and hard.
In the paint, Akagi anchored himself like a pillar, his back braced against Uozumi's pressure. He gritted his teeth, feet unmoving as if rooted to the floor.
The pass arrived.
Akagi caught the ball above his head, eyes locked on the rim, and rose powerfully.
Uozumi slid in front of him, arms raised.
Akagi didn't hesitate.
He went straight through the defense.
Clang—!
The ball thundered through the net.
Ryonan 0 – Shohoku 2
The hoop still swayed as Akagi landed.
"Good!" he roared, clenching his fist—half celebration, half provocation.
Uozumi turned slowly, his expression unchanged, but a fierce light burned in his eyes.
So that's how it's going to be.
Possession switched.
Ryonan responded immediately.
The moment Sendo received the ball, he surged into Shohoku's half, fingers dancing over the dribble. His sharp gaze swept the court, reading every movement.
Rukawa Kaede stuck to him like a shadow.
Then—
Sendo stopped abruptly, knees bending deep, before snapping into a sudden change of direction.
Rukawa was shaken off in an instant.
With a casual flick behind his back, Sendo sent the ball arcing through the air.
Koshino Hiroaki caught it cleanly as he cut into the paint.
Mitsui Hisashi lunged, arms raised.
Koshino twisted midair, slipping past the block, and released the ball with a soft touch.
Swish.
Ryonan 2 – Shohoku 2
The tie came just as quickly as Shohoku's opening strike.
From there, the pace exploded.
Back and forth, offense and defense collided in rapid succession.
Rukawa Kaede showcased his raw dominance.
Beyond the arc, Mitsui's pass threaded the defense and landed in Rukawa's hands. Sendo closed in instantly—
—but Rukawa was already moving.
A sharp crossover, a low center of gravity, and he burst past Sendo like a gust of wind.
Uozumi rose beneath the rim.
Rukawa twisted midair, avoided the block, and slammed the ball home one-handed.
Clang!
The basket rattled violently.
From the stands—
"Rukawa Kaede—I love you!!"
Three girls in ultra-short cheer outfits screamed at the top of their lungs, their voices cutting clean through the arena's noise.
Even the referees glanced over.
The game, however, never slowed.
Mitsui darted around the perimeter, shaking free just long enough.
Miyagi spotted him.
The pass came.
Mitsui planted his feet, leaned back slightly, and released.
The ball traced a perfect arc.
Swish.
A clean three.
Ryonan refused to yield.
Uozumi dominated the paint, locking horns with Akagi. Rebound after rebound, he asserted his presence, turning strength into precision.
After Akashi's special training, Uozumi's power no longer lagged behind Akagi's.
They were equals now.
Sendo orchestrated fast breaks with ease, drawing defenders before threading impossible passes. Ikegami finished cleanly. Koshino punished every defensive lapse.
Half the first half vanished in a blur.
The tension thickened.
Then—
Ikegami blocked Mitsui's shot.
The rebound flew into his hands.
Without hesitation, he fired the ball forward.
Straight to Akashi.
Miyagi Ryota pounced instantly, dropping his stance, arms spread wide, eyes sharp.
The court seemed to slow.
Thump.
Thump.
Thump.
Akashi dribbled calmly—almost lazily.
Not fast.
Not flashy.
Just precise.
The entire court's attention narrowed to the two point guards.
"So strong…" Miyagi muttered. "Is he really a first-year?"
Akashi shifted left.
Then right.
Two simple movements—yet Miyagi's balance wavered.
In that instant, Akashi lifted the ball and sent it sailing overhead.
A pass?!
Miyagi jumped—but too late.
The ball landed in Sendo's hands.
By the time Shohoku reacted, Sendo was already in the paint.
Layup.
Score.
Miyagi frowned deeply.
That's it? That's all?
"He's… ordinary?" Miyagi thought. "Not unbeatable at all."
On the bench, Coach Taoka watched calmly.
He wasn't worried in the slightest.
He knew better.
Akashi continued this "ordinary" rhythm—clean passes, controlled tempo, no excess movement.
And yet—
Every crucial moment belonged to Ryonan.
As the clock ticked down—
30 seconds left.
Shohoku attacked.
Miyagi penetrated and kicked the ball out to Rukawa on the wing.
Sendo rushed him.
Rukawa leaned back and fired a contested jumper.
Clang—bounce—bounce—
The ball dropped.
Ryonan 45 – Shohoku 47
Ten seconds remained.
Akashi advanced the ball again—this time faster.
Miyagi braced.
Akashi exploded.
A sudden acceleration, a clean shoulder drop—
Lightning through the gap.
He crossed half-court and glanced at Uozumi.
That was enough.
Uozumi stormed into the paint.
Akashi lofted the ball high.
Too high.
Too fast.
Uozumi rose like a giant, caught it midair, and slammed it down with unstoppable force.
Clang!
Ryonan 47 – Shohoku 47
Beep!
The whistle sounded.
The first half ended—dead even.
Yet everyone could feel it.
This balance…
was only temporary.