Following Sendoh's gaze, Coach Taoka's expression turned serious.
After the middle school basketball league ended, he had extended an olive branch to Oliver, hoping to recruit him into Ryonan. But for some reason, the boy had stubbornly chosen to join Shohoku. After several failed attempts to convince him, Taoka had no choice but to let it go.
Still, that didn't mean he had forgotten. Oliver remained a dangerous factor—one that could no longer be ignored. Shohoku was already narrowing the score gap without him on the court. If Oliver played now, Ryonan's slim lead could disappear in an instant—or worse, be completely overtaken. The team might fall into the exact situation Taoka had hoped to avoid.
How does he compare to Sendoh...?
Coach Taoka seemed lost in thought, then turned to look at Sendoh, whose eyes still burned with anticipation.
"Sendoh," Taoka said, placing a hand on his shoulder, "if Oliver comes onto the court in the next half, I want you to mark him."
He looked at Sendoh intently.
"Can you handle it?"
Sendoh gave a casual shrug and smiled with calm confidence.
"I'll do my best."
As the break ended, both teams returned to the court. From Shohoku's bench, Oliver and Sakuragi stood up, replacing Yasuda and Shiozaki.
"Let's go, Hanamichi!"
"OH!!"
Shohoku's secret weapons were officially entering the fray.
Their appearance immediately caught the crowd's attention.
"Hey! Did you see Shohoku changed their lineup?"
"Yeah! Two weirdos came in. One's kinda short, and the other—pfft! What's up with that red hair?"
"But honestly, the redhead's built like a tank. Wonder if he can actually play?"
As Oliver walked onto the court, his passive skill "Shining Star" quietly activated. Instantly, all eyes were drawn to him. Even Sakuragi, standing beside him, began to attract attention.
"Oh? Hanamichi and Oliver are on the court!"
From the stands, Mito and his crew leaned forward excitedly. Chika stood up and waved.
"Brother! Do your best out there!!"
"Oh!!"
Oliver smiled and waved back. Across from him, Sendoh studied him with growing interest. Just then, Sakuragi stepped forward to confront Sendoh.
"…?"
Sendoh blinked in confusion, his expression blank.
"Sendoh! Remember my name! It's Sakuragi Hanamichi!"
With a wide, confident grin, Sakuragi jabbed a finger at Sendoh's face.
"This is the man who will defeat you today!!"
"!"
Sendoh stared at him in surprise, eyebrows raised.
The crowd burst into laughter.
"Did you hear that? The redhead said he's going to beat Sendoh!?"
"He's got guts, I'll give him that! No clue what his skill level is, though!"
Even Mito and the others couldn't help laughing. They cupped their hands around their mouths and began teasing Sakuragi.
"Huge words, Hanamichi! Just don't drag Shohoku down!"
"You guys…!!"
Veins bulged on Sakuragi's forehead. He pointed furiously at them.
"You're all laughing?! What are you doing here then? You better cheer for Shohoku with everything you've got! If you stay quiet, I'll personally deal with you later!"
"Hahaha! Calm down, Hanamichi! You're the one who better not embarrass us!"
Despite the teasing, Haruko looked at Sakuragi with admiration and silently cheered him on.
"Alright… it's up to us now!"
Oliver gave Sakuragi a pat on the back, motioning for him to take his position.
The moment Oliver stepped onto the court, the system chimed.
> "Ding! Stage mission updated: Win the practice match against Ryonan! (Not completed)"
Winning this match would be the next step in his evolution. Oliver's gaze turned serious.
The ball was in Ryonan's hands.
Beep!
The referee's whistle blew. The second half had begun.
"Okay! Let's move—"
Before the Ryonan player could finish speaking, a blur darted across the court. A pair of hands intercepted the ball mid-pass.
Shohoku's secret weapon #1, Oliver, had made his move!
"Oh my God! That was insanely fast!!"
"What's up with Shohoku's #15!?"
Ryonan's bench was in shock. On the sidelines, Hikoichi puffed up his chest with pride and declared:
"Number 15 is Oliver! He's a transfer student studying at Shohoku. Speed is his trademark! He's proof that height doesn't matter—you can still be a great basketball player!"
His eyes gleamed with admiration as he watched Oliver sprint across the court.
He's about my height… If he can shine on the court, maybe I can too someday…!
"Idiot Hikoichi! He's the enemy! Why are you cheering for him?!"
Thwack!
Coach Taoka gave him a smack on the head and folded his arms angrily. His eyes narrowed as he glared at Oliver dribbling at full speed across the court.
This kid really was dangerous. Ever since that loss at the junior high league finals, Coach Taoka had regretted not using more aggressive tactics to recruit him.
He had tried to lure top talents like Mitsui and Miyagi to Ryonan too. Both had chosen Coach Anzai's Shohoku instead. Even Rukawa, who was scouted early on, declined because Shohoku was closer to home.
At this point, Taoka's dream of building a team with Sendoh, Uozumi, Mitsui, Miyagi, Rukawa, and now Oliver, had completely crumbled. He couldn't help but wonder: Do I just lack the charisma to attract top-tier players?
Still!
Even without those players—Ryonan is strong!
Uozumi had trained like a man possessed ever since being outclassed by Akagi last year. And Sendoh? He was already considered one of the best players in the country.
As long as those two held the line, the national championship was still within reach.
In the stands, Nakamura nearly dropped his camera as he tried to keep up with Oliver's blazing speed.
"Unbelievable… That guy—Oliver—he's got to be one of the fastest players I've ever seen…"
Yayoi, standing next to him, nodded slowly.
"Yes… His speed is terrifying. But basketball isn't just about how fast you run."
She turned her gaze toward the court's center, locking eyes on one player.
"And with Sendoh on our side… Ryonan won't lose."
On the court—
Bang bang bang bang!
Oliver charged forward, dribbling with thunderous rhythm.
"STOP HIM!!"
"We're not letting you through!!"
Two of Ryonan's defenders rushed to block his path, determined to halt his momentum.
Bang!
Oliver's eyes glinted as he quickly pressed his wrist downward.
The ball's trajectory changed in an instant—it bounced between one defender's legs in a perfect nutmeg pass.
Twisting on the spot, Oliver spun past both players, retrieved the ball mid-bounce, and continued his drive to the basket!
"Damn it!!"
"What is this guy's speed!?"
The defenders, tricked and left behind, scrambled to recover. But from behind them, a familiar figure surged forward—even faster.
Akira Sendoh.
Ryonan's ace launched into a full-speed chase.
The stage was set.
A one-on-one showdown was about to begin.
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