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Chapter 71 - Chapter 67: The Dominating Second Half

Chapter 67: The Dominating Second HalfAuthor: Geraint

(3rd Person's POV)

By the time Ichika returned to the gymnasium, the second half had already started—and the score was abysmal.

|Tokyo [21] - [74] Akita|

"What the heck?!"

Nejire arrived behind him and gasped at the scoreboard."You guys are getting crushed!"

Without a word, Ichika quickly peeled off his tracksuit, revealing his jersey underneath. He handed the tracksuit to Nejire.

"Sorry, Nejire-senpai. Can you hold this for me?"

"...Yes."

Ichika sprinted to the sideline and requested a substitution.The referee blew the whistle—he was in.

Thud!

"Ouch!"The captain whacked him on the head.

"Damn it, Ichika! Where were you when we needed you most?!"

"I told you, it was an urgent matter!"

"And you still think we can win?"

Ichika flashed a confident grin."Of course. Let's show them why we're the reigning champions."

"Heh... Let's do it like old times."

Ichika looked around at his teammates. They nodded and smiled at him.

"Let's go!"

Tokyo was on defense. The opponent's point guard dribbled up the court, facing Ichika. Confidently, he tried to drive forward—But just before he could react, Ichika reached in and tipped the ball.

"What?!"

Ichika stole it, then fired a long pass to the other side.

"Huh?!"The opponents were caught off guard. The captain was already waiting, locked and loaded.

He caught the ball at the corner and launched a three-pointer.Swish. Nothing but net.

"Nice pass, Ichika!"

The next play, Ichika stripped the ball again. Another pass. Another corner shot. Another clean three.

"Haha!"

The opposing point guard gritted his teeth and glared.Ichika grinned at him.

"What's wrong?"

"Tch..."

The next drive, the point guard tried to outmaneuver Ichika. He dribbled, found an opening, and rushed past him—Only to realize too late that the ball wasn't in his hands anymore.

"What?!"

Someone else—Ichika—had it. Again.

The captain drained another three-pointer from the corner.

|Tokyo [30] - [74] Akita|

The opponent's shooting guard tried to initiate a play. The center raised a hand, ready for a pass.But Ichika tipped the ball before it could reach its target.

Fast break.Ichika passed.Captain shot.Another three.

"You guys are too late! I'm already on fire!"

|Tokyo [33] - [74] Akita|

Ichika met the point guard at half court.

"I won't let you—huh?!"

The captain snuck up from behind and stole the ball.

"You fell for it, fool!"

Ichika caught the pass, stopped near the three-point line, and prepared to shoot.

The defender panicked and jumped—Only for Ichika to jump into him, drawing a foul.Swish.

"And one!"

Cheers erupted from the bench.

Ichika casually took the free throw—swish.Another clean shot.The opposing point guard looked crushed.

Next play, Ichika intercepted another pass.The captain—three-pointer.Again.

|Tokyo [40] - [74] Akita|

Tokyo was climbing fast.

The opposing coach called a timeout and swapped in the starters.

Back on the court, Ichika approached the captain.

"Captain, I'm going all out. Just give me some space."

"Got it."

The next play, the opponents tried a setup.Too slow.Ichika intercepted the ball again.

He looked up—the captain was locked down. No pass option.

Ichika smiled. He drove forward.Two defenders on him.

He stopped abruptly, dribbled behind his back, jumped, and threw the ball.Another foul.

"Three shots!" the referee declared.

Ichika calmly sank all three.

|Tokyo [43] - [74] Akita|

The opponent tried again, but Ichika was already at half court.He pressured the point guard, who nervously passed to the small forward.

The small forward floated a shot—Bounce. Miss.

Their center grabbed the rebound—But Ichika was already above him, tipping the ball away.

"Ichika!"

A teammate caught the ball and passed it downcourt.

Ichika faced a double team.He faked left—defenders bit.Pass right.Captain corner three—Swish.

|Tokyo [46] - [74] Akita|

"No way..."The crowd was in shock.

The game snowballed.

Desperate, the opponent took rushed shots.They missed.Ichika rebounded.Captain shot.Score.

|Tokyo [80] - [86] Akita|

Only 46 seconds left.

Akita clung to their lead.They passed around to drain the clock.

The center forced a layup—But Ichika appeared above him and swatted it away.

The captain recovered the ball and passed to Ichika.

Double teamed again, Ichika grinned and jumped back.One-handed heave—mid-range.

"WHAT?!"

The ball bounced... bounced again... Swish.

"That was a risky shot!" the captain shouted.

"Haha! I was just confident. Don't worry, Captain—I won't do that again."

"Focus!"

|Tokyo [82] - [86] Akita|

Desperate to hold on, Akita played keep-away again.

But Ichika intercepted—Fast break.Simple layup.

|Tokyo [84] - [86] Akita|

28 seconds left.

Akita passed to stall.The shot clock ticked down.They took a three—

Ichika blocked it.

Nodding to the captain, he caught the ball.With 3 seconds left, Ichika stopped at half court.

The defenders froze.

"Huh?!"

Ichika launched the shot.

The gym fell silent as the ball arced high into the air—Swish.

Buzzer.Referee's whistle.

|Tokyo [87] - [86] Akita|

"Game Set! Tokyo Wins!"

Cheers erupted.Ichika raised his arms, grinning.

"We did it!"

"Yeah!!"

He spread his arms, expecting his teammates to jump on him—

"Ichika-kun!!"

BAM!

Nejire tackled him with a tight hug.

"Amazing! You really did it, Ichika-kun!"

"Nejire-senpai—mmph!"

His face was buried between her chest.

The captain and teammates stopped in their tracks, deflated.

"I guess he was busy—with another girl."

Everyone nodded.

"Wait... isn't that Nejire-chan?"

"What's she doing with that boy?"

"Look—she's smiling?! What kind of sorcery is this?!"

"The Ice Queen... is smiling? That's impossible!"

The gym erupted into whispers and rumors, all centered on Ichika and Nejire.

(To be continued.)

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