The timeout ended, and both teams returned to the court.
The score was tied at 55, with just 12 minutes left in the game.
"Huh? I haven't seen this guy before..." Nango's eyes narrowed as he spotted Kainan's new player.
It was Kosuge.
His height was close to Muto's, but his frame was leaner. Probably a shooter, Nango thought. But not as accurate as Sendo or Soichiro. For now, we can let him be.
On offense, Maki immediately called for a pick-and-roll with Kosuge, targeting Mitsui.
But Kosuge's screen was weak—his body too slender to stop Nango, who slipped past him easily.
Even so, Mitsui was already outmatched. His defensive instincts were solid, but against Maki's speed, power, and stamina, he was helpless.
Nango abandoned Kosuge to help Mitsui double-team, but Maki reacted instantly, swinging the ball back to Kosuge.
Without hesitation, Kosuge adjusted and launched a three.
Swish!
The shot dropped cleanly through.
"Nice one, Kosuge!"
"Keep it up!"
Kainan's bench erupted with praise, and Kosuge's confidence surged.
Coach Kouzu's expression eased. Good. Muto's done for, but with Kosuge, we've found our answer. From that moment on, he resolved to groom Kosuge as Muto's replacement.
"This is huge," Aida Yayoi muttered as she scribbled in her notebook:
Hainan's No. 8, Kosuge, buries a three—momentum shifts.
Her assistant, Nakamura, tilted his head. "Miss Aida, why is it such a big deal?"
Yayoi didn't look up. "Kainan's been a one-man show with Maki. They needed another threat. Kosuge hitting from the outside forces Shohoku to stretch the floor. That gives Maki's drives real meaning—and it changes the whole rhythm."
Nango knew she was right. Earlier, he'd figured it didn't matter if Maki scored as long as Shohoku answered on the other end with their own perimeter firepower.
But with Kosuge hitting shots, that equation was gone.
If we want to win, we have to stop Maki himself.
On Shohoku's possession, Nango fed the ball to Sakuragi, who was fired up after scoring twice in a row. Sakuragi banged his body against Kosuge, boxing him out aggressively.
"Hehe, you can't stop this genius!" he declared, puffing his chest.
Kosuge didn't flinch. He simply held his ground, eyes sharp, waiting.
Sakuragi jab-stepped again. Kosuge didn't bite. Sakuragi then drove baseline—exactly what Kosuge wanted. The rookie funneled him toward the help defense.
Sure enough, Takasago closed in.
"Sakuragi! Pass!" Nango shouted.
But Sakuragi's confidence was overflowing. "Watch this bank shot!" he roared, tossing the ball high off the glass.
Clang! The ball rattled off the rim.
"What?!" Sakuragi's eyes bulged. He hadn't realized Takasago's long fingers had barely tipped the shot.
Takasago grabbed the rebound and fired it to Maki.
Shohoku scrambled back, but again, Kosuge sprinted into position, setting a desperate screen. This time, it stuck just long enough.
Mitsui cursed. "They're treating me like the weak link! Damn it!"
Maki bulldozed forward, and Mitsui leapt with everything he had, practically clinging to him. But Maki powered through, rose, and hit the jumper as the whistle blew.
"And one!"
The crowd exploded.
Mitsui collapsed, gasping. "Damn it… this guy's like a truck!"
It was classic Maki Shinichi—power, control, relentlessness.
Nango gritted his teeth. If Maki keeps spamming pick-and-rolls, I can't touch him. We need a switch…
His mind flashed back to the Ryonan practice game—how they'd used Sakuragi as the first wall, with him providing help to stop Sendo.
So who's the wall this time?
Nango's eyes landed on Rukawa. Before Maki's free throw, he tugged at Rukawa's jersey and whispered slyly, "Hey, Kaede, how about guarding Maki?"
Rukawa gave him a cold stare. "Can't handle it yourself?"
Nango bristled. "What are you talking about? He keeps targeting Mitsui with pick-and-rolls. We need a switch or we're screwed. I'm asking for your help."
Rukawa thought for a moment, then smirked. "Fine. But pass me the ball."
Before Nango could answer, he was already walking away.
Nango blinked. Wait… did he just negotiate with me?
Still, the condition was fine. With Rukawa as the spear on offense and Maki neutralized, Shohoku's path would open.
As for Sendo—Rukawa's original assignment—Sakuragi would take him. If nothing else, Sakuragi had endless stamina to throw at him.
Maki coolly sank the free throw.
On the next play, Nango kept his word and immediately gave the ball to Rukawa.
This infuriated Sakuragi. "Nango! Why'd you pass to the Fox?! He can't score!"
"…Idiot," Rukawa muttered.
Across from him, Kiyota slapped the floor and grinned. "Come on, Rukawa! You're not getting past me!"
Rukawa barely acknowledged him. This clown talks too much…
He had two reasons for demanding the ball.
First, he hadn't touched it in far too long.
Second, Kiyota had embarrassed him twice at the end of the first half. And Rukawa Kaede never let an insult go unanswered.
Now, it was time for revenge.
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