Time seemed to freeze at that very instant.
Taken off guard, Akagi Takenori's nearly two-meter-tall frame swayed violently, his eyes almost popping out of their sockets. The confusion in his gaze was instantly replaced by tears triggered by sheer pain—and a shock so intense it short-circuited his brain.
His mental CPU… completely fried.
"Hiss!"
The entire arena inhaled sharply in unison, many instinctively clutching their foreheads as if feeling phantom pain themselves.
"Ahh!!"
Ayako shrieked and covered her eyes, unable to look.
"That idiot!"
"Is he trying to murder the captain?!"
Miyagi Ryota froze mid-step, the corners of his mouth twitching uncontrollably.
On Akagi's forehead, a massive red bump visibly swelled at an alarming speed—practically steaming.
And Sakuragi Hanamichi wasn't much better off. His forehead was just as red, but he gritted his teeth and forced on a tough-guy expression—like a man who'd rather die than admit pain.
"Y-you bastard…"
Clutching his forehead, Akagi's face twisted in agony as he stared at Sakuragi, eyes blazing as if he wanted to eat him alive.
"Have you lost your mind?!"
Sakuragi released his grip and took a step back.
Under the stunned gaze of everyone present, he slowly raised his right hand and flashed a big "V" sign.
His face radiated smug pride—as if he'd just completed a masterpiece.
"Heh heh heh…"
Sakuragi turned toward the dumbstruck Ryonan players, then toward the petrified Shohoku bench, and loudly declared:
"Did you see that, mortals?!"
"This is the genius Sakuragi Hanamichi's—Ultimate Technique: Physical Awakening of the Gorilla!"
Then he suddenly spun back, his face nearly colliding with Akagi's, his booming voice rattling Akagi's eardrums:
"Well?! You awake now, Gorilla?!"
"It's just a little ankle pain! Why're you acting like some wimp, dragging your feet?!"
"This genius is about to crush Ryonan into the ground!"
"If you, the captain, dare to hold us back—I'll take care of them myself!"
"Got it?!"
Akagi froze.
The throbbing pain in his forehead pulsed like electric currents through his nerves.
But what hit harder… were Sakuragi's words.
A wimp?
Dead weight?
He—Akagi Takenori—
Had just been lectured… by a complete novice who'd only been playing basketball for three months?
A surge of fury, mixed with humiliation and the sting of having his weakness exposed, erupted violently within him.
His ankle pain?
Irrelevant.
Right now, Akagi just wanted to kill someone.
"Sakuragi… Hanamichi…"
His voice emerged like something crawling out of the depths of hell, thick with killing intent.
Slowly, he lowered the hand covering his forehead, revealing the ridiculous yet rage-filled bump.
His face was so dark it looked like it could drip ink.
"You've got some nerve, kid."
Sakuragi was still grinning foolishly.
"Hahaha! No need to thank this genius, it's just my—"
Before he could finish the word "duty"—
Akagi's massive palm was already raised high, slicing through the air with a fierce whoosh as it came crashing down.
"DONK!!!"
An even louder impact than the earlier headbutt exploded through the court, like a gong being struck.
"Awooo!!!"
Sakuragi let out a soul-piercing wail, instantly crouching down and clutching his head, tears streaming down his face.
And atop his head—
A bump of identical size and redness rapidly swelled into existence.
"This is your return gift, idiot."
"My Iron Fist of Love. Take it and don't mention it."
Akagi withdrew his hand, blowing lightly on his knuckles with a cold snort.
"Pfft"
On the bench, Makino Juro finally couldn't hold it in anymore. He covered his face with a towel, shoulders shaking violently.
"These two… they're a perfect pair. Full marks for that physical therapy."
The brief chaos passed.
The referee shot them an exasperated warning look, signaling for the game to continue.
At this point, only three minutes remained in the first half.
On Ryonan's side, Coach Taoka watched the farce unfold, a sneer curling on his lips.
"Hmph. Internal conflict?"
"Akagi's shaken, Sakuragi's out of control—even fighting on the court."
"Shohoku is falling apart! This is our chance!"
With a confident sweep of his hand, Taoka roared:
"Now! They've lost their formation—crush them in one go!"
"YES!!"
Ryonan's morale surged.
Uozumi Jun, in particular, felt reinvigorated. Seeing the ridiculous bump on Akagi's head, he couldn't help but sneer:
"Akagi! Looks like your own teammates don't respect you!"
"Getting beaten by your own side while injured—why not just sit out and save yourself the embarrassment?"
Sendoh calmly advanced with the ball, a faint smile on his face.
But...
As they crossed into Shohoku's half, something felt… off.
Akagi Takenori stood beneath the basket, sporting a swollen bump.
Sakuragi Hanamichi stood at the edge of the key, also with a matching bump.
Their appearances were equally ridiculous—like a pair of circus performers.
But their expressions…
Were exactly the same.
Twisted.
Savage.
Faces that screamed: I'm in a terrible mood—cross me and you're dead.
The confusion in Akagi's eyes had vanished, replaced by blazing fury.
Half directed at Sakuragi.
Half at Ryonan.
Sakuragi, baring his teeth, looked like a feral dog guarding its food.
"Hey, Monkey Boss."
Sakuragi pointed at Uozumi, his voice dripping with menace.
"You seemed pretty happy just now, huh?"
Akagi said nothing.
But those bell-like eyes locked tightly onto the advancing Sendoh and Uozumi.
Every muscle in his body tensed—like a fully drawn bowstring.
"Come at me."
Akagi growled, his voice no longer wavering, but carrying a suffocating pressure.
"Don't get cocky, Monkey Boss!"
Sakuragi shouted along, riding Akagi's momentum shamelessly.
Uozumi froze for a split second, shaken by their aura.
Internal conflict?
This wasn't a breakdown—
This was two powder kegs exploding at once!
Sendoh frowned slightly.
But with the arrow already nocked, he flicked his wrist and lobbed the ball high into the paint.
"Whatever you're trying—it won't matter!"
Uozumi caught the ball and roared, ignoring Akagi as he forced himself up for a dunk.
The instant he jumped—
Akagi moved.
This time, there was no hesitation.
No concern for his screaming ankle.
Because right now—
The pain in his forehead, and the fire in his chest, completely drowned out the injury.
"GET—DOWN!!!"
With a thunderous roar, Akagi launched himself upward, both hands crashing down like battle axes.
At the same time, Sakuragi sprang up beside him like a coiled spring, shouting wildly:
"Fly Swatter!!!"
From left and right...
Two massive hands slammed down onto the basketball simultaneously.
A brutal double-team!
Double Demons at the Gate!
"BOOM!!!"
A violent collision of power erupted midair.
Uozumi felt an overwhelming, irresistible force crash into him—the ball was instantly smacked clean out of his hands!
"What?!"
His pupils shrank as he lost balance, stumbling upon landing.
The basketball shot toward midcourt like a cannonball—
And was snatched cleanly by the already sprinting Miyagi Ryota.
"Fast break!!!"
END OF CHAPTER
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The King Of Slacking Off - MrBehringer's Secret
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