Seeing how Nash had completely shut down the third-years, Akagi had no choice but to call a timeout.
Back on the bench, the captain exploded.
"Doesn't it embarrass you to get wrecked by a bunch of freshmen?!" Akagi roared, furious. "Use your full strength if you want to win this game, you hear me?!"
"WE HEAR YOU!!" the third-years shouted back, more from wounded pride than actual conviction.
On the other bench, Nash didn't wait for Ayako to say a word. He stepped into the center, turned around, and spoke firmly:
"Listen up. We're ending this now."
The freshmen looked at him, surprised even Rukawa raised an eyebrow.
"Iishi, stay near the three-point line, but don't shoot. Your job is to pull the defender and create space. Kuwata, cut to the basket whenever I drive. If I see you open, I'll hit you with the pass."
"M-Me? Y-Yeah!"
"Rukawa," he said, locking eyes with him. "You're gonna take on Akagi. But not yet. Wait for the right moment. When I draw him out, you go in."
Rukawa didn't say a word. Just nodded.
Nash adjusted his jersey, exposing part of the tribal tattoo on his neck. His sharp green eyes were laser-focused.
"Don't worry. As long as I'm here, losing's not an option."
Ayako stood silently, watching him in awe.
"He's sixteen… but he talks like he's played in the NBA."
The break ended.
Ayako blew the whistle, and the ball went to Akagi.
This time, the captain showed why he was the anchor of Shohoku. A quick fake threw off Rukawa, he ignored Sasaoka coming in to help and slammed the ball down hard.
16:8
"Let's get this stop! Then we score again!" Akagi shouted, fired up.
The third-years were starting to believe again.
But Nash walked up the court with the ball like he was still in full control.
He crossed half court, and Rukawa signaled for the ball. Nash shook his head slightly and raised a finger.
He faked Yasuda out with a shoulder move, drew two defenders in, and at the perfect moment, dished it to Rukawa wide open on the wing.
Rukawa accelerated, blew past Kakuta, and went straight for Akagi.
"Is Rukawa gonna challenge Akagi?!" someone in the stands yelled.
Ayako held her breath.
BAM!
Akagi stuffed him with no mercy.
"Still too soft" he barked, launching the fast break.
The third-years finished it off with a clean layup.
16:10
Kaede clenched his teeth. From the baseline, Nash glanced at him and said:
"Now."
Rukawa held out his hand. Nash nodded to Iishi to pass it in.
He knew Kaede wouldn't back down.
Rukawa brought it up the left wing. Nash, just like he said, spaced out wide on the right, calmly pulling the defense. Kakuta hesitated for just a second.
Mistake.
Rukawa blew past him with a change of pace, but this time didn't go at Akagi. He stopped and rose up.
Swish.
18:10
"Kaede Rukawa! Kaede Rukawa!!" the girls cheered.
Ayako's eyes sparkled. Sakuragi nearly ran onto the court out of jealousy if Ayako hadn't stopped him.
Next play.
Akagi down low. This time, when he went up to shoot, Rukawa met him head-on.
BLOCK!
Nash was already flying on the break. Midcourt, he looked over his shoulder and shouted:
"Here!"
The pass curved perfectly right by the rim.
Rukawa soared in and slammed it down with both hands.
BOOM!
"That was a crazy alley-oop! What a connection!"
Even Akagi and Kogure were left speechless.
"They play like they've been teammates for years" Kogure said, eyes getting misty.
"After Mitsui left… this team was just mine" he whispered. "But now…"
Akagi placed a hand on his shoulder.
"They've given us a reason to dream of Nationals."
Kogure nodded.
Meanwhile, Nash licked his lips with a crooked smile.
Rukawa walked up to him and silently raised his palm. Nash slapped it without even looking at him, face blank, serious.
That said more than words ever could. For someone like Kaede proud and cold to do that, it meant Nash had earned his respect.
Since the first tip-off, Nash had taken full control.
On defense, he was a nightmare. Every time Yasuda or Kogure tried to set up a play, Nash's relentless pressure cut it off. He stole the ball three times in the first ten minutes — two of those ended in flashy double-clutch layups that had the crowd roaring. Once, after reading a lazy pass, he picked it off and sprinted straight to the rim. Yasuda stepped in to stop him. Nash faked a spin, then took off and hammered a one-handed dunk.BOOM.He hung on the rim with one arm, staring down at Yasuda.
"Who the hell is this guy…?" Ayako muttered, still scribbling stats.
"My boy…?" Haruko whispered, mesmerized.
Offensively, Nash and Rukawa were flowing like clockwork. Nash drew defenders in and freed up Kaede, who scored mercilessly. The duo was lethal.
Meanwhile, the third-years were doing their best to keep up, but Akagi and Kogure were limited by Nash's smart, suffocating defense. He was always one step ahead, cutting off passing lanes, shutting down options.
End of the first half: 35 - 28, freshmen up.
Ayako blew the whistle as everyone panted hard. Sweat dripped like rain.
On the seniors' bench, Akagi clapped his hands together.
"Let's go! This ain't over! We're taking the second half! I don't care if we need thirty points!"
"Yeah!" Kogure and Yasuda answered, eyes blazing.
On the other side, though, the vibe was different.
Kuwata and Iishi looked completely gassed. The physical pace was killing them. Only Nash and Rukawa still looked composed though Rukawa was clearly more tired now.
Nash drank some water, wiped the sweat off his tattooed neck, and stood up before anyone else.
Then, without asking permission, he spoke up.
"All right. Listen up," he said loud and clear, full of authority. "I know you guys are out of gas, so stick to this setup."
He looked each one of them in the eyes, starting with Kuwata.
"Kuwata, if your defender keeps beating you on the cuts, just stay in the corner. If he loses focus, cut to the rim. I'll get you the ball."
"Iishi, no more dumb shots. Your new job is to pull your man and make space for Rukawa."
"Sasaoka, I don't care if you don't score. I need you to grab every rebound like your life depends on it."
Everyone nodded, tense. No one dared argue.
Then Nash turned to Rukawa with a sharp, calculating stare.
"You just follow my lead. We're winning this."
Rukawa didn't say a word. He stood up, tightened his headband with a cold look, and gave a subtle nod.
Ayako blew the whistle again. The jump ball between Akagi and Rukawa was intense. This time, Akagi tapped it first.
Yasuda ran in, passed to Kogure easy layup. 35 - 30.
Nash calmly brought the ball up. Faced with Yasuda, he faked, went between the legs, then stepped back and pulled up.
Swish.38 - 30.
The game hit a new level. Possession after possession, both teams traded blows. Nash distributed and scored. Rukawa finished with ferocity. The seniors answered with experience, but couldn't crack the first-years' tight tactics built on Nash's control and fire.
50 - 42. Tie again.
In a key play, Rukawa got blocked by Akagi. The ball flew off.
Nash caught it mid-air and shouted:
"RUKAWA!"
He slammed the ball off the backboard with pinpoint accuracy.
Rukawa, already mid-jump, caught it and dunked it with both hands.
The gym exploded.
That's when Sakuragi couldn't take it anymore.
"I WANNA PLAY TOO!!! I CAN DO THAT TOO!!"
He tried to run onto the court, but Akagi stopped him.
"No! You haven't even finished your basic training!"
"I ALREADY MASTERED IT, YOU DAMN GORILLA!"
Ayako stepped in.
"Captain, he's improved a lot. Why not let him try a few minutes?"
Kogure backed her up too.
In the end, Coach Anzai made the call.
"Let him try."
"Kuwata, out. Sakuragi's in," Akagi said, defeated.
Sakuragi threw on the jersey in a flash and sprinted onto the court, yelling:
"Get ready to witness the genius of Sakuragi!"
Nash looked him up and down.
"Sakuragi," he said with a sly smile, "just do whatever you want. Every rebound — offense and defense — is yours. I don't want Akagi touching a single one. Got it?"
"I'm gonna crush the gorilla!!"
Game on. Yasuda passed to Kogure…
But Sakuragi came flying outta nowhere and clumsily intercepted it.
Haruko screamed with joy.
Sakuragi ran straight for the hoop, ignoring everyone, bouncing wild but somehow effective.
"MY TIME HAS COME!!"
He jumped, yelling:
"WITNESS THE DUNK OF GENIUS SAKURAGI!!"
Akagi was waiting.
"DON'T YOU DARE!!"
BOOM!!
Sakuragi slammed the ball right on Akagi's head. The captain went down.
Silence.
Then chaos laughs, screams, pure madness.
Nash crossed his arms, smirked and muttered:
"At least he's not boring."
Suddenly
Coach Anzai blew the whistle loud and clear.All players froze.
"Nash-kun, no need to keep playing. You've shown more than enough."
Nash looked up, nodded with a smile.
Anzai blew the whistle again, stroking his chin as he stared at Nash now seated on the bench.