"Oh? You still have time to joke around? Seems like you're pretty relaxed right now."
Oliver responded with a casual smile.
"Well… how should I put it…"
Sendoh shrugged nonchalantly, his trademark grin still on his face.
"It was a bit tricky earlier. After all, we're going up against a university team—they're on a completely different level compared to regular high school players."
He glanced at Oliver and added, "If I were playing alone, it would've been difficult... but now..."
Sendoh's smile deepened as he gave Oliver a knowing look.
"Now that I've got another expert by my side, things might turn out differently."
Anyone who's played basketball knows that you can gauge an opponent's skills the moment they step onto the court. A player's strength is often evident through their rhythm, posture, and the way they handle the ball—even just by watching them dribble a few times.
Sendoh's expression turned serious, his thoughts becoming more focused.
The Oliver standing in front of me is definitely no ordinary player. This guy's a seasoned master.
"I feel a little embarrassed hearing that," Oliver replied modestly. "Whether we win or not still depends on how well you perform, Sendoh."
As Sendoh studied Oliver, Oliver was also sizing him up.
I didn't get a clear view of Sendoh's true strength from that last play.
It only took a few seconds from the moment I snatched the ball to making that layup. During that time, he didn't even move much—he was just screening off defenders for me.
Back when I used to watch the anime, it was hard to truly understand his offensive power. Now that I'm on the same team as him, I want to create more scoring chances for him. It'll also help us match up better against Ryonan in the future.
Time to experience firsthand the genius of Akira Sendoh.
"Beep!"
The referee blew the whistle to resume the game.
Their opponents hesitated slightly during the inbounds pass but still pushed the ball toward the inside line.
"No way... that was just a fluke... this short guy can't be that fast…"
The player with the ball kept muttering nervously to himself, clearly rattled by the explosive speed Oliver had just shown.
"It's dangerous to let your guard down on the court..."
Without a sound, Sendoh appeared behind him like a shadow.
"Ugh! Sendoh?!"
Startled by the sudden appearance, the player's dribbling rhythm broke for just a second—but that's all it takes for a top-tier player to strike.
Bang!
Sendoh's hand shot out and cleanly knocked the ball away before sprinting toward the basket with a fluid motion.
"What a steal!"
"Nice one, Sendoh!"
It was obvious Sendoh was no stranger to this wild basketball court—many in the crowd knew him. His graceful yet powerful play drew cheers from every corner.
---
"Is that guy Akira Sendoh? I've heard of him..."
Qianhua turned her head, eyes locked onto the active hedgehog-haired player on the court. The cheering from the surrounding spectators had piqued her curiosity.
"I heard he's the undisputed ace of Ryonan High School, with incredible individual skills."
"That's right!!" Hikoichi chimed in proudly, joining the conversation.
"Sendoh-senpai came from Tokyo. When he was just a first-year in high school, he was already a more well-known 'genius player' than Kaede Rukawa!"
"Even more famous than Kaede Rukawa...?" Qianhua gasped.
In her mind, Rukawa was already among the top-tier basketball prodigies. If this guy was even more well-known, his abilities must be terrifying.
Big brother…
Though she had been stunned by Oliver's incredible speed earlier, Qianhua knew full well what her brother had been through over the years.
Now that he's teamed up with such a powerful player... I just hope he won't get hurt.
Clenching her fists tightly, she prayed silently from the sidelines.
---
"I won't let you score again!"
"That's it, Sendoh!!"
Two defenders rushed toward Sendoh, trying to trap him and steal the ball.
But with a calm smirk, Sendoh stared straight into their eyes, then passed the ball with a flick of his right hand—fast, fluid, and precise—to Oliver, who was positioned outside the three-point line.
"What!?"
Their opponents were stunned.
He didn't even slow down or look at his target before passing??
"Great pass!"
Oliver caught the ball smoothly, aligned himself with the basket, and jumped—going straight for a three-point shot.
His form was fluid, like water running downhill. However, this time, he deliberately tilted his shot slightly to the left, ensuring it wouldn't go in.
He glanced at Sendoh out of the corner of his eye.
Let's see what you'll do with this, Sendoh.
Whoosh!
As soon as the ball left Oliver's hands, Sendoh launched into motion. Without hesitation, he dashed to the optimal rebounding position under the basket.
"Ohhh! Sendoh-senpai! Are you going for the rebound?!" Hikoichi shouted with excitement.
"No... He's going to—"
Yayoi's eyes widened.
Having followed Sendoh's career closely, she knew he wouldn't let go of any opportunity to score.
Sure enough, even though the ball was clearly off-target, Sendoh wasn't going for a rebound.
With a powerful push from his legs, he soared into the air like a rocket, catching the ball mid-flight with both hands and slamming it directly into the hoop.
BANG!!
Alley-oop slam dunk!
"What the hell!!!"
The entire court exploded with excitement. No one had expected to see such a spectacular alley-oop in a casual street game.
Sendoh's timing and ball sense were so precise, he could read Oliver's intentions from a single glance.
---
"Sendoh is... so handsome…"
"Sister?! Sister!"
Yayoi's eyes turned to hearts, and she swooned on the spot. Hikoichi rushed forward to catch her just in time.
"Come on, sis. The game just started again. You can't be passing out already."
"Wow... Sendoh-san..."
Yayoi was clearly still in dreamland, mesmerized by that stunning dunk. She didn't even register her brother's voice.
Seeing her infatuated expression, Hikoichi could only shake his head in exasperation.
"Seriously… You're supposed to be a reporter. How are you going to write your article if you can't even stay on your feet after one dunk?"
He helped her sit down on a nearby bench.
Meanwhile, other spectators were still buzzing with excitement over the play.
---
"Did you see that?! That hedgehog-haired guy dunked it mid-air! A real alley-oop! I never thought I'd see one in person!"
"I know, right?! It was amazing! Judging by his appearance, he's still in high school, right? If he's this good now, imagine what he'll be like in the future!"
"Hey, don't just focus on the guy who dunked. That shorter dude who passed the ball—he's got something too. Did you notice? His pass wasn't a shot—it was meant to set up that dunk!"
"Their chemistry is insane. They must have practiced this before. Otherwise, that play wouldn't have been executed so perfectly."
---
At that moment, a subtle force stirred in the background—the skill "Shining Star" that Oliver had equipped had begun to take effect.
Skill Effect: When activated, this skill naturally attracts the attention of everyone around you.
"Now that you mention it…"
The crowd gradually shifted their focus.
All eyes turned to Oliver's back as he jogged back on defense.
"Wait a second… could it be… that whole play was planned by him?"
Their excitement didn't fade—it grew.
They weren't just watching basketball anymore.
They were witnessing something magical—the birth of an unbeatable duo whose chemistry on the court was only beginning to bloom.
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