"The ball goes in!!"
Oliver's accurate three-pointer made the whole court erupt in cheers, especially from Sakuragi's Gang, who were on the verge of a collective frenzy!
"Awesome, bean sprout boy!!"
"That was a killer pass, Hanamichi! Beat 'em up!!"
"Yohei, come on! What are you even doing out there?!"
For Sakuragi's Gang, Oliver may have been an outsider, but right now, he was firmly on Sakuragi's side. That made him one of them—and they would back him with everything they had.
"Good pass, Sakuragi!"
Oliver jogged over and held out his hand for a high five.
"Hmph!!"
But Sakuragi turned away with a loud scoff.
"What's wrong now?"
Oliver blinked in confusion.
"You're seriously asking what's wrong?!"
Sakuragi pointed a trembling finger at Oliver's forehead.
"You only scored because of my rebound, but everyone's cheering for you! What's the deal with that?!"
His face was twisted in outrage.
"It was obviously thanks to my genius that we got that point!"
Oliver blinked, then chuckled.
"Ah, so that's what's bugging you."
He reached out and patted Sakuragi on the back.
"You're overthinking it, idiot. Everyone knows I couldn't have scored without your rebound. You're the reason that play worked."
He nodded toward the crowd lining the court.
"If you don't believe me, look for yourself."
Sakuragi turned in the direction Oliver pointed. Several girls on the sidelines cupped their hands to their mouths and shouted.
"You were amazing, red-haired guy! That rebound was top tier!"
"You're so cool! I think I'm in love!"
Sakuragi's face flushed beet red. Seeing his flustered expression, the girls burst into laughter.
"See? Everyone gets it. Without your rebounds, we wouldn't stand a chance."
Oliver gave him another reassuring slap on the shoulder.
"Only a genius like you can help us win, Sakuragi-san."
Boom!
Oliver's words exploded in Sakuragi's brain like a supernova.
Genius... I'm a genius... Only I can help us win...
His chest puffed up with pride, and he burst into his signature triumphant laughter.
"Really? Really?! So we won because of me, huh?!"
"Don't worry! Leave all the rebounds to me from now on!"
Oliver chuckled, watching Sakuragi bask in his own vanity. Despite how over-the-top he could be, Oliver knew he meant every word.
Even with the system's support, rebounding wasn't Oliver's strength. He lacked the raw power needed to dominate under the basket. Sakuragi's physicality was essential—he was truly the key to victory.
"Beep!"
The coach blew the whistle. The game resumed.
Their opponents brought the ball up the court. Oliver crouched into a defensive stance, eyes locked on the ball handler.
But the opposing team was deflated.
Earlier, they had relied on Oda's rebounding strength to counter Oliver's sharp play. But now that Sakuragi had shown his own terrifying ability under the boards, even that strategy seemed unreliable.
"Tanaka! Catch!"
Under pressure from Oliver, the ball handler panicked and passed to Tanaka.
Mito, already watching like a hawk, stepped in and intercepted the pass cleanly.
"Nice one!!"
Oliver grinned and dashed toward the basket.
"Look at you, Yohei! Finally proving you're not just a pretty face!"
Sakuragi's Gang went wild with cheers.
"Shut up, already!"
Mito laughed and ran up the court with Oliver. Though not a basketball player, Mito had sharp instincts. With the panicked pass and poor positioning, the steal was easy for him.
"Mito! Take the shot!"
Oliver had a man on him, so he waved to Mito to shoot.
"Eh? Me?!"
Mito blinked, surprised.
He was planning to dish the ball to Oliver, who could definitely score. But now he was being asked to take the shot?
"Don't overthink it! Let it fly!"
Oliver raised his fist.
"We got the ball—why not shoot? Just enjoy the game, Mito!"
That was Oliver. Winning mattered, but enjoying basketball mattered just as much.
He didn't want teammates who played like machines. He wanted friends who loved the game.
"Thanks, bro!!"
Mito's heart swelled with emotion.
He had always been dismissed as a thug, just like the rest of Sakuragi's Gang. No one trusted him. No one but Oliver.
Mito gathered himself, jumped, and released the shot.
It wasn't textbook perfect, but it was full of spirit.
"Bang!"
The ball rattled against the rim, spun once, and dropped in.
2-1!
"YES!! You lucky punk!!"
"Finally doing something useful, Yohei!"
Sakuragi's Gang showered him with praise.
"Yohei, you jerk! Stop hogging the spotlight!"
Under the basket, Sakuragi pouted and stamped his foot.
"You should've hit the backboard! Let me grab the rebound next time, genius-style!!"
"Hahaha, my bad, my bad."
Mito made a mock bow.
He looked at Oliver and gave him a nod. That trust had sealed it—Mito now saw Oliver as a real friend.
"Beep!"
Whistle. Game on again.
"Alright... time to end this."
Oliver wiped sweat from his brow.
He had already used several system skills in this match: Sonic Dash, Accurate Shooter, and Magic Pass. His stamina was nearly depleted.
He only had one more burst left in him.
This next play had to work.
"Sonic Dash, start!"
The moment the opponent served the ball, Oliver streaked across the court like a blur and snatched it away!
"No way!"
"Stop him!"
The other team scrambled to recover, but Mito stepped up again, blocking their path.
"Mito! You jerk!!"
"Hehe..."
Mito grinned.
"Not getting past me this time."
"Sakuragi!!"
Oliver shouted as he raced forward.
"Block Oda for me!!"
"Got it!!"
Without fully understanding the play, Sakuragi threw himself in front of Oda, locking him down.
"Damn it!!"
Oda tried to pivot left, then right, but Sakuragi mirrored every move, shutting him down.
Veins bulged on Oda's forehead. He couldn't believe this.
Was he really being held back by a rookie?
Was Oliver right?
Was this guy actually a basketball genius?!
"Thanks, Sakuragi!!"
Without resistance in his path, Oliver drove into the paint, planted his foot, and jumped with everything he had.
One last skill—his final burst of strength.
The system-enhanced leap sent him soaring.
Fly!!
He exploded into the air, gripping the basketball like a comet blazing through the sky.
"BANG!!"
The dunk shattered the silence as the ball slammed through the hoop. Oliver hung from the rim, chest heaving, eyes burning.
For a moment, the whole court went dead silent.
Mouths gaped. Time stood still.
So... so cool...
Even Sakuragi stared up at Oliver, completely dazed.
He had no words.
Only awe.
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