Although Nango found Hyuga Yuichi's trash talk unbearable, he managed to stay calm. After crossing half-court, he stopped at the top of the arc to organize the team's offense.
"Guard Inoue tightly! Don't let him get the ball! Stick to him—stick to him!" Hyuga Yuichi barked commands as he defended Nango, constantly directing his teammates' movements.
Nango was all too familiar with this kind of coordination—he did the same at Shohoku. It was the classic trap: bait the opponent into driving, then collapse with a double-team in the paint.
Shohoku had Akagi holding down the inside. Nittaidai had Hayato, a towering 205 cm defender.
But Nango wasn't intimidated. He had plenty of ways to score. He lowered his stance and suddenly accelerated, preparing to break through.
"Not so fast!" Hyuga Yuichi cut him off cleanly. "You think I'd let you pass that easily? Don't be naïve, kid!"
Standing at 188 cm, Hyuga Yuichi wasn't as muscular as Nango, but his balance and speed made him a formidable defender.
Nango frowned. Seeing no clear opening, he began retreating, intending to pass the ball to Endo for a one-on-one play—
"Front him!" Hyuga shouted instantly. "He's passing to Endo—cut it off!"
His teammates reacted right away. Endo's defender stepped forward, completely blocking the passing lane.
Coach Kawasaki let out a quiet sigh. "He said he wouldn't bully him, but he's playing like it's the national finals…"
Wow… he reads the court fast.
Nango couldn't help but respect Hyuga Yuichi's awareness. In just fifteen seconds, he'd dismantled three of Nango's offensive options.
But instead of getting frustrated, Nango's lips curved slightly. As a point guard, he lived for these kinds of challenges. Outsmarting opponents like Hyuga was exactly what made basketball exciting.
With ten seconds left on the shot clock, Nango could have called for a screen—but he didn't. He wanted to score this one himself, to set the tone for the rest of the game.
He locked eyes with Hyuga.
This kid wants to go solo, Hyuga thought. Then I'll shut him down myself!
"Give it up, kid! You're not getting past me!" Hyuga taunted. "Just pass the ball already!"
But Nango tuned him out completely. His focus sharpened to a single point—the basket.
With lightning speed, he crossed over and drove right. Hyuga stayed glued to him, refusing to bite.
Then, suddenly—Nango stopped dead. Hyuga lurched forward from the momentum, and in that split second, Nango stepped back and rose for a jumper.
He didn't even need to look.
Swish!
Perfect release. Perfect form. Perfect shot.
From the sidelines, Tanaka burst out laughing. "Hahaha! Yuichi! Weren't you going to humiliate him? How'd it turn around on you?!"
Hyuga's face darkened. "Shut up! That was just a lucky shot!"
"Sure it was!" Tanaka teased, smirking. "Nice one, Lucky Fluke Yuichi!"
Hyuga clenched his fists, gritting his teeth. Fine. I'll let my game do the talking.
He brought the ball up the court and called for Hayato's screen again. Using the pick beautifully, he slipped into the mid-range area, sidestepped the rotating center, and pulled up—
Swish!
Another clean hit.
Through these exchanges, Nango quickly analyzed Hyuga Yuichi's style—fast, precise, technically skilled, and extremely confident. His shooting touch was deadly, and his playmaking ability was top-tier.
He was, in short, the ideal floor general—like Fujima, but taller, stronger, and far more vocal.
"Stay tight on your man! No easy shots!" Hyuga commanded again.
"Got it!"
Even though most of his teammates were substitutes, they were still Nittaidai players—disciplined and fundamentally sound. Under Hyuga's direction, their defensive rotations sharpened instantly.
With their energy reignited and their ace leading the charge, the defense became suffocating.
For two straight possessions, Nango's team couldn't find a good look. They were forced into isolations, and Nango had to shoulder the scoring himself.
Meanwhile, on offense, Hyuga orchestrated perfectly timed screens with Hayato, creating seamless opportunities—either pulling up for mid-range shots or driving to draw defenders before dishing out assists.
Every possession was efficient. Every play hurt.
The score gap began to shrink rapidly.
This isn't working…
Nango quickly approached Endo. "Senpai, can I post up? I can use my strength to change their defensive matchups."
Endo glanced at him briefly, voice calm but dismissive. "No need. Just pass to me later."
Nango expected as much. The gap between high school and college—both in age and pride—was massive.
"Alright…" he said quietly.
To Endo, it wasn't arrogance—it was confidence. He didn't believe a first-year high schooler needed to take charge.
When Nango passed him the ball, Endo came off a screen but couldn't find space to shoot. He moved to the left wing, and Nango handed off the ball. Hyuga was already waiting for him.
Now, it was Nittaidai's two aces, face to face.
Hyuga grinned. "Come on, Endo! Don't hold back—I won't!"
Endo smirked. "After all this time as teammates, you still think you can provoke me? Save your breath."
With that, he backed down Hyuga, using his superior strength to push him closer to the paint. Then—swiftly—he spun and hit a fadeaway jumper.
Swish!
"See? No matter what you say, it's still going in." Endo shrugged casually.
"Hmph. Big talk," Hyuga replied, smiling, though his eyes grew sharper.
Both of them were now fully serious.
Hyuga commanded his team with precision, turning their movement into a symphony of coordination. Endo responded by relying on his raw skill, breaking through defenders and scoring relentlessly.
The scoreboard began to swing back and forth as both aces went at each other, their rhythm pushing everyone else to their limits.
The substitute team clawed closer and closer.
Watching from midcourt, Nango's eyes followed the two intensely.
This… feels familiar.
Their clash—it's just like Shohoku and Rukawa Kaede.
He smiled faintly, a spark of realization flickering in his chest.
Maybe… here, I can find the answer I've been searching for.
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