"Hah—!"
Kobori Kōji's muscles tensed as he blocked Akagi Takenori's lower body like a wall of meat, preventing him from jumping!
"Don't even think about grabbing this rebound!" Kobori growled through gritted teeth, veins bulging on his forehead.
Hayakawa Mitsuhiro saw the chance and leapt. "Nice one, Kobori!"
Just as his hand was about to touch the falling ball—bang!
A red figure shot up like a cannonball, arriving first despite starting later!
Sakuragi Hanamichi's head nearly brushed the net; under Hayakawa's stunned gaze, his hands had already secured the ball.
"Hahaha! See this genius's jumping power? The rebound is my domain!" Sakuragi laughed arrogantly. After landing, he bent his knees for a second jump. "Now watch this genius's handsome shot!"
"Idiot! Pass it!" Rukawa Kaede ran in from the wing.
"Shut up, Stinky Fox!" Sakuragi ignored him and stubbornly jumped to shoot.
The ball traced a stiff arc and clanged off the front rim.
"As expected, he's a total amateur!" Hayakawa mocked as he prepared for the rebound.
But a shadow cut into the paint—Rukawa Kaede, using Akagi's screen, slipped past Kise like a ghost. His timing was perfect as he soared up when the ball bounced.
Bang!
Rukawa slammed the ball in with his right hand, the rim shaking violently.
After landing, he glanced coldly at Sakuragi. "If you can't make such an easy shot, go sit on the bench, idiot."
"Bastard Fox!" Sakuragi snapped. "If this genius hadn't grabbed that rebound—"
"Idiot," Rukawa cut him off and walked away.
Akagi wiped his sweat. "Sakuragi, nice rebound. But next time—"
"I know, Gorilla!" Sakuragi scratched his head. "Next time I'll pass to someone in a better spot… yeah, right! This genius will score something even cooler!"
Ayako held her forehead. "These two problem children…"
Over at Kaijo, Kise picked up the ball with a smile. "Kobori-senpai, that box-out was great~"
"Cut it out!" Kobori slapped his head. "Next time I won't give that red-haired kid a chance!"
Hayakawa gritted his teeth. "Damn… getting put back on by that expressionless guy…"
"Let me get those points back, senpai!" Kise called for the ball. Moriyama passed to him.
"Hey, hey, that's a scary look~" Kise narrowed his eyes under his bangs as he sized up Rukawa.
Rukawa breathed heavily, lowering his stance. "Less… talk…"
Kise noticed immediately. "How long can you keep this up?"
Rukawa's expression shifted—he thought he'd hidden it well.
Kise smirked, crossed over, and the ball thudded off the floor.
Rukawa slid laterally, but Kise snapped the ball back left, shaking him off half a step and accelerating past.
Mitsui abandoned his man to help. "Don't think you're getting through!"
Kise's lips curved. He feinted a gather; Mitsui bit and jumped.
"Oh no!" Mitsui realized too late—Kise had already blown past him.
Rukawa lunged from the side, but Kise slipped the ball behind his back.
"Don't score in front of me!" Akagi loomed over him.
Kise pulled back between his legs, then fired a laser pass to the perimeter.
"Moriyama-senpai~"
Moriyama caught it and shot.
Swish!
"Beautiful pass!" Moriyama cheered.
Kise backpedaled, winking at Miyagi. Rukawa's chest heaved, sweat dripping.
Mitsui tugged his wristband. "Damn… he can copy Miyagi's passes after seeing them once."
Sakuragi shouted, "Stinky Fox, can you even guard him? If not, let this genius do it!"
Miyagi clamped his mouth. "Idiot! Not now!"
Akagi slammed the stanchion. "Calm down! Miyagi, double-team Kise next time."
Rukawa protested, "Captain—"
"It's decided!"
Miyagi dribbled across half-court and passed to Rukawa. Rukawa attacked instantly, driving like an arrow to Kise's right. Kise matched him stride for stride.
Mid-drive, Rukawa crossed between his legs and suddenly rose to shoot.
"Rukawa! Don't force it!" Akagi shouted.
Too late—Rukawa had jumped.
"Looking down on me?" Kise roared, leaping to contest.
His fingertips grazed the ball. It clanged off the rim.
"Rebound!" Akagi and Kobori roared, wrestling under the basket.
But Sakuragi shot up faster than both.
"Ha! This genius's rebound!"
He slapped the ball outward like a cannon shot—right into Rukawa's hands.
"So noisy. Shut up, idiot!"
Kise's pupils shrank—Rukawa jumped even higher than before.
Swish!
Rukawa landed silently.
Mitsui spoke. "You…"
"Shut up. The game's not over."
Kaijo inbounded. Kasamatsu noticed Kise staring at Rukawa's trembling calf.
Akagi called timeout and grabbed Rukawa. "Listen, right now—"
"Let go," Rukawa rasped. "I can still play."
Akagi forced him to look at the scoreboard. "This isn't something you win by stubbornness alone!"
Rukawa whispered, "I just… can't accept failing again like before…"
The bench fell silent.
Anzai hesitated… then nodded.
Back from timeout.
Kise sighed. "You still won't rest?"
Rukawa just took his stance.
Kise blurred past him. "You can't keep up with half my speed now."
Rukawa's legs felt like lead as Kise scored easily.
Miyagi rushed over. "You okay?"
Rukawa nodded.
Moments later, Rukawa stopped near midcourt, legs trembling violently.
He collapsed.
"Rukawa-kun!" Ayako ran onto the court.
Sakuragi pulled off his knee pad and froze—Rukawa's calf was cramping badly.
Kise stepped forward, but Kasamatsu stopped him.
The gym fell silent.
As Rukawa was carried away, a single tear slipped from his eye.
In the locker room, the doctor checked him while Sakuragi punched the wall. "Damn it… that Stinky Fox…"
Akagi gripped his shoulder. "Now it's our turn. For him… we fight to the end."
When play resumed, fire burned in the eyes of Shohoku's five.