Chapter Eighty: You Have... That Scent
Sannoh's possession. Holding a massive advantage, they naturally chose the most stable tempo suppression.
Fukatsu Issei slowly controlled the ball forward, nearly treading the eight-second violation line before crossing halfcourt.
He stopped steadily atop Yosen's three-point arc, body leaning slightly forward, ball-protecting hand naturally raised. His gaze calmly swept the entire court as offensive time silently elapsed.
Fukui Kensuke, defending him, already had beads of sweat forming on his forehead. He didn't dare blindly press—or rather, he'd already suffered plenty at Fukatsu Issei's hands.
This seemingly unremarkable guy was Sannoh's championship team captain. The instant any opening appeared, his scoring efficiency matched that "ace" Sawakita Eiji's perfectly.
"SWISH!"
After consuming roughly half the shot clock, Fukatsu Issei delivered a precise lob inside. Kawata Masashi received steadily in the low post.
"Sannoh's actively seeking interior position offense?" Yagami Sorato's gaze sharpened, analyzing the court situation intently.
Sannoh's terror lay in having virtually no weak points between perimeter and paint. They could attack comfortably from any direction—the type of opponent giving anyone headaches.
The instant Kawata Masashi caught the ball, Kawata Mikio entered the paint. His massive frame stood like a wall beneath the basket.
"Dammit!"
Murasakibara Atsushi couldn't budge this monster with full effort. Though he could slip around using speed, the instant he slid to help—
"Swish!"
Kawata Masashi's minimal pump fake shook helping Okamura Kenichi. Immediately his wrist flicked—the basketball traced a low arc, dropping cleanly through.
Two points.
Sannoh 70 - Yosen 48
In less than two seconds while Murasakibara Atsushi was screened, Kawata Masashi had already completed the offense.
Yagami Sorato and Sendoh Akira exchanged glances. Murasakibara Atsushi, who'd given Ryonan such headaches in the practice game, was being contained this easily by Sannoh.
Honestly, Sannoh's offensive pattern was absurdly simple—yet unsolvable.
Kawata Masashi looked like a completely different caliber of center!
"Speaking of which, I heard when Kawata-senpai first entered high school, he was only 165cm before growing 25cm in one year," Sendoh Akira said. "As his height changed rapidly, his position constantly shifted too."
"From guard to forward, then to center. Having experience at all positions makes his individual technique extremely comprehensive."
"In his second year, he was already called the strongest high school center in Japan."
"Using guard and forward technique to play center... against guys relying purely on physical gifts, that's domination." Yagami Sorato spoke gravely.
Sendoh Akira's words reminded Yagami Sorato of something.
Perhaps because Ryonan defeated Shohoku, and Shohoku beat Sannoh in the original timeline, Yagami Sorato had subconsciously underestimated this champion team's true strength.
However, competitive sports were never simple win-loss calculations.
Just like the NBA—last-place regular season teams could upset league leaders. Playoff "eighth seed miracles" happened. A single game's result was determined by countless variables: ability, mentality, condition, even luck.
Setting aside that game's outcome and calmly examining Sannoh Industrial's strength revealed an extremely terrifying team.
Interior: Kawata Masashi, who could completely dominate Akagi Takenori on both ends.
Wing: Sawakita Eiji, who before Rukawa Kaede's awakening, crushed him from technique to talent.
Backcourt: Fukatsu Issei, two-way threat competing with Maki Shinichi on the national stage.
Sannoh's loss to Shohoku had many reasons: Sawakita Eiji's early complacency, Coach Domoto's key-moment developmental decisions, Fukatsu's offensive "disappearance"...
However, if Sannoh won, the reason was singular—
Their strength was simply that overwhelming.
Yosen's offense. Facing Sannoh's 3-2 zone, after several perimeter passes, the ball still went inside to Murasakibara Atsushi.
The instant Murasakibara Atsushi caught it, Kawata Mikio immediately entered the paint, positioning between him and the rim. He didn't jump—just stood with raised arms, attempting maximum disruption.
Murasakibara Atsushi's expression darkened. Right hand gripping the basketball, relying on explosive power, he launched directly skyward. At his peak, his chest height already exceeded Kawata Mikio's raised arms. His right arm descended like a battle-axe, attempting to slam through his opponent toward the rim!
However, Sannoh never intended stopping Murasakibara Atsushi with only Kawata Mikio.
As his brother completed positioning, Kawata Masashi leaped from the wing, calmly reading Murasakibara Atsushi's dunk trajectory, targeting above his ball-holding wrist!
"PAP!"
A crisp, loud swat!
Kawata Masashi precisely swatted the basketball away from Murasakibara Atsushi's hands from the side.
"Textbook help defense!" The announcer shouted loudly.
Matsumoto Minoru caught the ball on the wing, immediately delivering to counterattack spearhead Fukatsu Issei.
Yosen's players retreated quickly. Fukui Kensuke, Himuro Tatsuya, and Liu Wei returned beneath the basket, facing Fukatsu Issei and Sawakita Eiji in an outnumbered situation.
"Yosen's recovery is fast. Given Sannoh's tempo-suppression style, they'll probably fall into half-court again..."
As if hearing the sideline crowd's discussion, Fukatsu Issei's speed indeed slowed after crossing halfcourt.
Fukui Kensuke carefully watched his movements, noticing Fukatsu Issei's eyes discretely glancing right toward Sawakita Eiji before his right hand prepared pushing the ball out.
"Tatsuya! Watch out!"
Fukui Kensuke shouted loudly. The instant his attention shifted, Fukatsu Issei's wrist dropped, quickly pulling the ball back. His center of gravity plummeted sharply—a left crossover instantly left Fukui Kensuke behind.
"What?!"
"Such smooth movement..." Yagami Sorato observed carefully.
Sannoh wouldn't rigidly slow tempo—they'd never pass up this offensive opportunity.
"Swish!"
Fukatsu Issei charged into the paint, easily scoring the layup.
Sannoh 80 - Yosen 56
The gap continued widening.
"TWEET!"
"Yosen requests timeout."
Players dragged heavy steps back to the bench area. Murasakibara Atsushi directly collapsed on the bench, roughly covering his head with a towel, isolating all sight lines.
"Substitute me out."
"Huh?" Fukui Kensuke thought he'd misheard, looking dumbfounded at his side. "What did you just say?"
"So I'm saying—" Murasakibara Atsushi drawled, every word dripping with impatience. "I've had enough. I quit. Substitute me out."
"DON'T BE RIDICULOUS, BASTARD!" Fukui Kensuke shot upright. "WHAT ARE YOU THINKING?! SO SUDDEN!"
"SWISH"—Araki Masako stood before him gripping a wooden sword, voice icy: "You—repeat what you just said."
"You mean losing the game doesn't matter?" Okamura Kenichi couldn't help roaring.
"Yeah, nobody can stop those two Sannoh guys anyway." Murasakibara Atsushi pulled off the towel, dismissively scanning teammates. "I can't do it. You guys definitely can't either. Isn't the outcome already decided?"
"WHAP!"
Himuro Tatsuya's fist hammered Murasakibara Atsushi's face before grabbing his collar, roaring: "ATSUSHI, SNAP OUT OF IT! THE GAME ISN'T OVER!"
"That hurt..." Murasakibara Atsushi rubbed his reddened cheek, looking away with disgust. "Plus I hate these passionate clichés most."
"Isn't the situation already clear? We're going to lose."
"YOU—!" Himuro Tatsuya was about to say more when a light laugh from the stands interrupted.
"Pfft."
"You guys?" Yosen's players looked up. Yagami Sorato and Sendoh Akira leaned against the second-floor railing at some point.
"You again, here to provoke?" Fukui Kensuke said warily.
"Ah, no, no." Yagami Sorato waved dismissively while smiling.
Just as Yosen's players' expressions softened, they heard him casually add:
"After all, I have zero interest in such pathetically weak teams."
Sendoh Akira looked at Yagami Sorato with surprise, as if meeting him for the first time. So... this polite underclassman spoke this entertainingly?
"BASTARD!"
Fukui Kensuke roared upward. Yagami Sorato remained indifferent, only looking toward Murasakibara Atsushi.
"Kid, you haven't grown even slightly? Truly disappointing."
"Yagami, what are you doing here?" Murasakibara Atsushi lifted his head, asking with displeasure.
"Obviously scouting potential strong enemies at nationals." Yagami Sorato spoke matter-of-factly before his expression turned slightly mocking. "Oh, don't misunderstand—I mean Sannoh, not you guys."
"You—" Okamura Kenichi clenched his fist, ready to explode.
"But you guys shouldn't be this weak, right?" Yagami Sorato's smile vanished, looking coldly at Yosen's players. "Especially you, Murasakibara Atsushi—you didn't practice any technique after last scrimmage?"
"Then when facing someone taller and stronger, you immediately want to quit?"
"SHUT UP! WHAT DO YOU KNOW?!"
Surprisingly, the first to snap wasn't Murasakibara Atsushi but Himuro Tatsuya, who'd just punched him. Though furious at Murasakibara himself, hearing others criticize him was completely intolerable!
"Atsushi, he—"
"Muro-chin." Murasakibara Atsushi interrupted Himuro Tatsuya. Though Yagami Sorato kept mocking him, he sensed a different undertone. "You have... Aka-chin's scent."
"...Don't use such weird descriptions." Yagami Sorato snorted coldly. "You colorful guys—I'll defeat you one by one. All of you."
"Whew—"
Murasakibara Atsushi took a deep breath. "Masako-chin, got a hair tie?"
"Call me COACH!" Araki Masako glared. "What do you need it for?"
"Well, since the game isn't over... I should get serious too."
The timeout-ending whistle sounded. Both teams returned to court.
Murasakibara Atsushi walked onto the floor. His originally lifeless eyes had refocused. Something dormant within his massive frame seemed awakening.
Yagami Sorato watched his figure, lips unconsciously curving slightly. This game's trajectory was finally becoming interesting.
"Sendoh-senpai, could you stop looking at me like that?" Yagami Sorato suddenly turned his head, tone carrying helplessness.
Since his confrontation with Yosen began, Sendoh Akira had stood aside, arms leisurely draped on the railing, wearing that "discovered something fun" expression.
"Ahaha," Sendoh Akira laughed lightly, eye corners crinkling with amusement. "I just think you're far more interesting than I imagined."
He paused, gaze sweeping past Yagami Sorato toward the court, tone relaxed yet meaningful: "Maybe being opponents would be more interesting than teammates."
"That requires cleaning up all these guys first." Yagami Sorato didn't hide his competitive intent toward Sendoh Akira. "As for losing that one-on-one to you, Sendoh-senpai—I've never forgotten."
Hearing this, Sendoh Akira released a light laugh without answering.
But his animated eyes already said everything—he equally anticipated that day's arrival.
Yosen's possession.
Fukui Kensuke pushed past halfcourt.
"Your kid seems revived, huh?" Fukatsu Issei stepped up defensively.
"Huh?" Fukui Kensuke cautiously protected the ball. The opponent suddenly chatting definitely meant trouble.
"Honestly, good thing he only dunks. Otherwise we'd really struggle handling him." Fukatsu Issei spoke to himself. "But looks like you're still planning him as offensive core. Got some change?... huh."
"If it doesn't suit ending with 'huh,' DON'T FORCE IT!" Left-wing Matsumoto Minoru couldn't help shouting at Fukatsu Issei.
"Weird guy."
Fukui Kensuke silently cheered Matsumoto Minoru's retort before observing inside. In that instant—
"PAP!"
Fukatsu Issei's ghost-like hand precisely stripped the ball!
"WHAT?!"
"GET BACK!"
Fukatsu Issei led the charge. Matsumoto Minoru and Sawakita Eiji flanked—three fast-breaking in sharp formation.
All Yosen desperately retreated. Fukatsu drove to the free-throw line, eyes scanning left-right as if distributing, before suddenly accelerating straight toward the basket!
Just as he rose for the layup, a purple figure arrived late but first.
"PAP!"
Murasakibara Atsushi's giant palm swatted, viciously rejecting the ball!
"This guy... how is he so fast?!" Landing, Fukatsu Issei's eyes flashed brief surprise, but his rhythm stayed perfect. He quickly assessed the situation, shouting to following teammates: "Stop him! Prevent the break!"
Fukui Kensuke grabbed the loose ball, preparing to launch—Fukatsu Issei and Matsumoto Minoru had instantly formed a trap.
Under the double-team, Fukui Kensuke struggled protecting the ball. Spotting an opening, he passed out—dissolving the crisis though Yosen's fast-break opportunity had vanished.
However, at least Yosen had established a four-on-three frontcourt advantage.
After receiving, Liu Wei immediately drew Sawakita Eiji's defense before flicking his wrist, delivering to right-wing 45-degree Himuro Tatsuya.
Sannoh's rotation was shockingly fast—Matsumoto Minoru already lunged from behind!
But Himuro Tatsuya's release was faster!
Catch, bend knees, flick wrist—movement like flowing clouds.
"Swish!"
The basketball traced a perfect arc, splashing cleanly!
Three-pointer good!
Sannoh 80 - Yosen 59
"How is that big guy so fast?! Chasing from backcourt for the rejection?!" Incredulous exclamations rose from the stands.
Compared to Himuro Tatsuya's three, obviously Murasakibara Atsushi's defense was key to converting the turnover into points.
"Brother, I'm sorry." Kawata Mikio lowered his head, speaking dully.
"Not your fault. Do your job." Kawata Masashi inbounded. Sannoh calmly organized their counter.
"Yes!" Kawata Mikio nodded, striding with solid steps toward Yosen's half, steadily establishing interior position.
Fukatsu Issei seemed completely unaffected by the earlier block, still leisurely dribbling past halfcourt.
Sawakita Eiji called for the ball on the right wing. Though he hadn't actively attacked this game, since his matchup scored, his habit demanded immediate response.
After receiving Fukatsu Issei's pass, Sawakita Eiji easily shook Himuro Tatsuya before immediately rising for a pull-up three.
"CLANG!"
"CLANK!"
The basketball rattled out.
"Idiot." Kawata Masashi muttered beneath the basket.
Yosen's rebounding suddenly turned fierce. Liu Wei and Okamura Kenichi both crashed inside for position. Ultimately, Murasakibara Atsushi used absolute height to secure the board.
Sannoh retreated quickly. Yosen steadily advanced to the frontcourt.
The ball reached Murasakibara Atsushi's hands again.
"Still letting him attack?"
"This guy's strong, but can't handle the Kawata brothers, right?!" Questioning voices rose from the stands.
Murasakibara Atsushi backed against Kawata Mikio, sensing the pressure from behind before suddenly executing a swift spin cut toward the basket!
"Hmm? He can do that?"
Kawata Masashi immediately collapsed from the right baseline, forming a trap with his brother. Murasakibara Atsushi feinted rising for a power dunk. Kawata Masashi jumped to contest.
However, the next second—"BANG"—Murasakibara Atsushi hammered the ball toward the floor.
The basketball precisely threaded between the Kawata brothers, bouncing to right-side open Okamura Kenichi.
Bounce pass!
"Huh?"
"What?"
"Seriously?"
"That's like... Murasakibara's first active pass?"
This sudden pass caught everyone off-guard. Even Yosen's players froze momentarily.
"OKAMURA-SENPAI!"
Himuro Tatsuya's reminder broke the instant stillness.
Okamura Kenichi snapped back, receiving uncontested in the right paint before rising. He chose the safest method, wrist softly floating the ball toward the backboard.
"BANG"
"Swish!"
The basketball banked cleanly through.
Two points!
Sannoh 80 - Yosen 61
After the timeout, Murasakibara Atsushi's playing style visibly transformed.
"Looks like he learned something new after all..." Yagami Sorato leaned against the railing, smiling with interest.