Pak—
A heavy thud echoed clearly across the noisy gym.
Akagi Takenori and Takasago Kazuma's palms smacked into the ball at nearly the exact same moment.
Their clash of strength was evenly matched, every spectator locked onto the tension between them.
For a moment, it looked like a stalemate.
But in the next breath, the balance suddenly shifted.
Everyone stared wide-eyed as Akagi Takenori's hand gradually pushed down Takasago Kazuma's arm.
Takasago's face turned red. He gave it everything he had, but no matter how hard he fought back, he couldn't stop the tilt.
Shock flickered in Takasago's eyes. He couldn't believe it.
'At the prefectural tournament, Akagi didn't have this much strength. How did he improve so much in such a short time?'
But there was no time to think.
In the end, Akagi Takenori won the tip-off.
Pak—
With the ball in his control, Shohoku seized the first possession.
Miyagi Ryota grabbed the ball cleanly.
His eyes swept the court like a hawk, analyzing both teams' positioning in an instant.
Shimizu Kanon's words from the pre-game strategy session echoed clearly in his mind.
"If Kainan wins the tip, they'll go all-in on a quick pass offense. They'll try to blitz us before we're set. If we win the tip, Maki Shinichi will immediately go for a steal on the ball-handler to control the pace."
With that prep fresh in his head, Miyagi turned toward Maki's direction.
His chest tightened.
Just as expected, Maki Shinichi was already closing in fast—less than two steps away.
Startled, Miyagi instinctively stepped back to create space.
At the same time, he flicked his wrist and quickly dished the ball away without hesitation.
Maki arrived right in front of Miyagi a second later.
He froze for a moment, surprised by the quick pass.
He hadn't expected such a clean, decisive move.
He had reacted immediately, yet the opponent slipped right past him.
Whew—
Miyagi let out a long breath, relaxing just slightly.
That was close.
Without Shimizu Kanon's warning, he probably would've been picked.
On the other end—
Rukawa Kaede caught the pass cleanly.
His eyes turned sharp like a hawk's.
His steps shifted quickly, breaking through Kiyota Nobunaga's defense like a streak of black lightning.
Kiyota's face twisted in panic.
He spun around to chase, gritting his teeth as he cursed,
"Damn you, Rukawa Kaede!"
Dribbling like a bullet, Rukawa tore through the court, arriving just outside Kainan's three-point line.
He scanned the court.
There were no defenders in front of him—
But Shimizu Kanon's stern warning rang clearly in his mind.
"Rukawa-san, once you get the ball, remember—if Maki Shinichi isn't in the paint, no matter what, do not shoot a three. Even if someone is in the paint, go inside and score."
She never explained why, but he hadn't ignored it either.
So Rukawa didn't hesitate.
He pushed forward, charging into the paint like a thunderbolt.
No good.
Maki Shinichi and Jin Soichiro saw what was happening.
Their faces changed.
"Shit!" they shouted.
They immediately turned to recover.
If Rukawa had gone for a three-point shot, positioned left and right as they were, they would've had a great chance to contest the shot the moment it left his hands.
But he didn't.
The unexpected drive left them out of position.
They had no choice but to abandon their assigned marks and sprint back.
Takasago Kazuma was waiting under the rim.
Eyes locked on Rukawa's every move, fully focused on defense.
But Rukawa didn't slow down.
His gaze sharpened.
He faked once—just enough to throw Takasago off-balance.
Takasago shifted his weight the wrong way.
Rukawa took that fleeting moment and sprang up, both hands lifting the ball to the rim.
Just then—
Maki Shinichi came flying back.
He stomped hard and exploded upward like a fired arrow.
His arm stretched out, aiming for the ball in Rukawa's hands.
Rukawa's pupils shrank.
Alarms blared in his head.
At that critical instant, Shimizu Kanon's voice echoed again—crisp and clear—through his mind.
"The only unpredictable factor for Kainan is Maki Shinichi. With Saku-chan not playing, if you want to handle him, you'll have to rely on teamwork. Trust your teammates at the right moment."
Rukawa Kaede's eyes flickered, then he quickly made a decision.
He pulled the ball back.
Maki Shinichi, who thought he had a clean block, suddenly changed expression.
His pupils shrank.
Rukawa swung the ball behind his back in a smooth motion, then executed a graceful hook pass.
The ball flew toward Mitsui Hisashi, who was standing unguarded beyond the three-point line.
Jin Soichiro, who had already moved into the paint, saw this and his face changed.
He stopped abruptly, turned fast, and tried to contest the shot.
But the distance between them was too far.
He had no chance of interfering.
Mitsui caught the ball smoothly.
Without hesitation, he set his feet and fired toward Kainan's hoop.
Whoosh—
The ball traced a beautiful arc through the air.
Under the eyes of the entire crowd, it dropped clean into the hoop.
Swish—
A crisp net snap.
Perfect.
Shohoku 3 – 0 Kainan.
On Kainan's bench—
Takato Riki watched Shohoku's offense, frowning slightly.
Everything looked normal on the surface—no obvious flaws or errors.
Still, something felt off.
A strange unease crept into his chest, as if something dangerous was silently closing in.
But now wasn't the time to dwell.
Maybe it was just coincidence.
He focused back on the match.
The game resumed.
Possession went to Kainan.
Maki Shinichi dribbled with both hands, slicing through midcourt like a black whirlwind, storming into Shohoku's half.
Miyagi Ryota stepped up without hesitation, firm gaze, braced for defense.
Maki gave him a quick glance, lips curling into a confident grin.
Then—
He shifted directions in a smooth, rapid crossover and easily blew past Miyagi's defense.
But something was odd.
Miyagi's face didn't show panic or frustration.
He looked… calm.
Like this had been the plan all along.
'What's going on? Did he just fail to react… or…?'
The thought flashed in Maki's head.
No time to figure it out.
His only goal: get points on the board for Kainan.
Meanwhile, Miyagi's eyes flashed with sharp intent.
He spun around and quickly followed behind Maki's drive.
At that moment, Shimizu Kanon's earlier advice echoed in his mind.
"Miyagi-senpai, you can't beat Maki Shinichi head-on. Let him drive past you on purpose. Stick to him from behind and cut off every passing lane. That'll leave him with only one option—to force a shot. That'll increase our chances of a successful block. Of course, sometimes it won't work. But if this happens again and again, the pressure on them will multiply."
Maki reached Shohoku's paint fast.
In front of him stood Akagi Takenori, arms spread wide, as if waiting for this exact moment.
Maki immediately pulled the ball back, his eyes scanning side to side like a hawk, looking for a pass.
He moved his arms, ready to send the ball to Takasago Kazuma on the far side.
But before he could release it—
His pupils shrank again.
A hand suddenly appeared in the passing lane.
It was Miyagi Ryota.
He had read the play and cut off the route.
'No way… did this guy already predict I'd pass there?' Maki thought in shock.
He turned to look at Jin Soichiro, who was outside the arc.
But Jin was locked down.
Mitsui Hisashi had him completely sealed off.
No room to pass.
Maki had no choice.
He had to shoot.
His eyes hardened.
He leapt into the air, rising toward the rim as Akagi challenged him.
"Raahhh!"
Akagi roared and jumped too, aiming for the block.
In midair, Maki showed off his elite skill.
He twisted mid-leap, shifting the ball with a reverse layup and dodging Akagi's hand.
Clang—
The ball hit the rim and dropped through.
Maki scored.
The scoreboard updated:
Shohoku 3 – 2 Kainan.
"Damn it…"
Akagi bit down in frustration, angry he hadn't stopped that shot.
But then he remembered Shimizu Kanon's advice.
He forced himself to calm down.
He knew the game had just begun.
He couldn't let one mistake shake him.
The match continued.
Those first few possessions seemed normal.
Just a typical back-and-forth.
No one suspected a thing.
Shohoku and Kainan clashed fiercely.
Fast transitions, back-and-forth buckets.
One scored, the other answered.
Neither team backing down.
But as the clock ticked on—
A few sharp eyes noticed something strange.
Like Takato Riki.
His gaze picked up on the subtle signs.
His frown deepened.
That uneasy feeling kept growing.
He noticed sweat pouring steadily from Maki Shinichi's forehead.
His breathing was still steady, but this clearly wasn't normal.
Usually, even after playing a full first half, Maki's sweat levels would just about reach this point.
But now, the game wasn't even halfway through.
Takato Riki looked up at the electronic scoreboard.
As he did, his eyes widened in shock.
Shohoku 24 to Kainan 15.
Without realizing it, Kainan had fallen 9 points behind.
Takato didn't hesitate.
He immediately signaled to the referee for a timeout.
Tweet—
The whistle blew.
Kainan had called for a timeout.
...
On Shohoku's bench—
Everyone came off the court dripping in sweat.
Shimizu Kanon greeted them with a gentle smile and encouraging eyes.
"You all did great. You've worked hard. Kainan's probably already picked up on our plan, so they'll definitely make adjustments next."
She paused, gathered her thoughts, then continued.
"But don't worry. I already have the next strategy ready."
Akagi Takenori, Miyagi Ryota, Rukawa Kaede—everyone listened closely.
Their eyes were full of respect and trust.
In this moment, their admiration for Shimizu Kanon deepened.
Just like she'd predicted before the match, everything was falling into place.
Piece by piece, all under her control.
Her analysis of Kainan's tactics, her arrangements for Shohoku's players—everything had been spot on.
They knew it clearly—without her careful guidance, their usual style wouldn't have been enough.
Shohoku might've already fallen behind instead.
...
On Kainan's bench—
The atmosphere was heavy.
Takato Riki frowned, voice serious as he addressed the team.
"Shohoku's targeting us. It's obvious. Their goal is to keep piling pressure on Maki."
He turned to Maki Shinichi, who was wiping sweat from his face.
"How's your stamina? Do you need a break?"
Maki gave a faint smirk.
Confidence flickered in his eyes as he replied,
"I'm fine, coach. I didn't expect them to set me up from the first play. But their tricks end here. I'm not going to let them have their way."
Takato nodded, satisfied with his toughness.
Then he turned to the rest of the team.
"From now on, we're changing our offensive strategy. Shift focus to the perimeter. Jin, you'll lead the attack. Maki will support you and create more open shots."
Maki Shinichi and Jin Soichiro answered in unison.
"Understood!"
Takato then looked at Kiyota Nobunaga.
"Kiyota, listen. Don't try to go head-to-head with Rukawa. With your current ability, you're not his match. Focus on working with your teammates. Use the team's strength."
"Huh?! But—"
Kiyota pouted, clearly annoyed.
He opened his mouth to protest, but ended up swallowing his words.
He fumbled for a bit, then reluctantly gave in.
He knew in his heart—he still couldn't beat Rukawa one-on-one.
Finally, Takato turned to Takasago Kazuma and Muto Tadashi.
"Takasago, do everything you can to pin down Akagi. Keep him stuck in the paint. Don't let him move out freely. Muto, as for Sakuragi Hanamichi—he's improved, but still raw. If you get a chance, draw a foul from him. Disrupt Shohoku's rhythm in the paint."
Takasago and Muto both replied loudly,
"Yes!"
...
On Shohoku's bench—
Shimizu Kanon was hunched over her notebook, scribbling quickly, focused and sharp.
After a few moments, she looked up with determination.
"Mitsui-senpai, you'll be our main attacker now. Kainan's been struggling inside. To give Maki a breather, they'll definitely shift to outside offense."
Mitsui Hisashi gave a firm nod.
A sharp glint flashed in his eyes.
"Leave it to me. I'll show them who the best sharpshooter in Kanagawa really is."
Shimizu Kanon turned to Miyagi next.
"Miyagi-senpai, your job is to screen for Mitsui-senpai and keep the defenders off him."
She paused.
A conflicted look flickered across her face.
Then, after a brief hesitation, she added,
"In a critical moment, you can foul. Even if you foul out—it's okay."
"Huh?!"
Everyone looked confused.
Foul out? And it's okay?
It sounded like she was asking him to self-destruct.
The bench fell into awkward silence.
No one could understand what Shimizu Kanon was thinking.
Ayako finally broke the silence.
"Kanon-chan, why? If it's just about blocking interference, there's no need to foul. Let alone five fouls. If that happens, Ryota would have to leave the game."
Shimizu Kanon didn't explain much. She just spoke firmly.
"I have my reasons for asking Miyagi-senpai to do this. But please believe me—if it's for the team's victory, it's worth it."
"But…" Ayako tried to speak, but Miyagi Ryota interrupted her.
He looked at Shimizu Kanon and said seriously,
"No matter what, she's the top commander of the team right now. I'm a little unsure too, but I still trust her. Besides, she said 'in a critical moment.' It's not like I'm gonna foul right away."
Since even Miyagi said that, the others couldn't argue anymore.
They suppressed their doubts and chose to trust Shimizu Kanon's arrangement.
Aoi Kunisaku had been quietly listening nearby.
He took in Shimizu Kanon's words and everyone's reactions.
With his deep understanding of basketball tactics and his knowledge of his teammates' abilities, he immediately figured it out.
Miyagi Ryota was matched up against Maki Shinichi on the court.
Maki's strength wasn't something Miyagi could handle easily.
If Maki tried to interfere with Mitsui Hisashi's shots, Miyagi wouldn't be able to stop him through regular defense.
In that case, the only real option was to foul.
Miyagi was fast. If he combined that with strategic fouling, then stopping Maki wasn't impossible.
Properly timed fouls might come with some free throw risks, but they'd effectively break the offense and disrupt rhythm.
And even if Miyagi really did foul out, it wouldn't be a problem.
Aoi Kunisaku suddenly realized something.
A deep gleam flashed in his eyes.
He had a feeling he knew Shimizu Kanon's next move.
Maybe the real all-out attack from Shohoku would start only after Miyagi fouled out.
Miyagi's "sacrifice" was just one piece in a larger strategy.
As that thought hit him, Aoi couldn't help but smile.
At that moment, Shimizu Kanon turned to Sakuragi Hanamichi.
Her eyes held a soft, gentle smile.
"Sakuragi-kun, you've only got one job next."
"Huh? What is it?" Sakuragi Hanamichi tilted his head, totally confused.
Shimizu Kanon smiled slightly and said,
"Just don't get fouled out. That alone will count as a win."
"Huh? What the heck?"
Sakuragi looked even more lost.
"Why would I get fouled out?"
Shimizu Kanon patiently explained,
"Just be careful. If the other team tries to draw a foul from you on purpose, you might get taken out."
Hearing that, Sakuragi instantly got serious.
His eyes filled with determination.
"Don't worry! No way I'm fouling out!"
He even patted his chest, looking proud and confident.
Next, Shimizu Kanon looked to Akagi Takenori.
She spoke with a serious tone.
"Captain Akagi, they might target you on defense next. But don't worry about it. Just focus entirely on the rebounds."
Akagi nodded.
He didn't ask why.
He trusted Shimizu Kanon completely.
He knew she had her reasons, and all he needed to do was carry out her orders.
At last, Shimizu Kanon looked at Rukawa Kaede.
She said calmly,
"Rukawa-kun, your next task is to piss off their number 10 as much as possible."
Rukawa stared at her, completely confused.
His head was full of question marks.
Not just him—everyone on Shohoku's bench looked puzzled.
They looked at each other, unsure what was going on.
Shimizu Kanon didn't explain further. She just said,
"Just remember. Do whatever it takes. Make him mad."
Rukawa was still a bit lost but nodded anyway.
He chose to trust Shimizu Kanon.
Shimizu Kanon checked the time, then looked up.
Her gaze was firm.
"That's it. It's on you guys now. Let's go…"
...
Tweet—
The referee blew the whistle.
Timeout over.
Players from both teams got up from the bench and returned to the court with steady steps.
On the surface, everything looked the same as before.
The players took their positions.
The crowd stayed fired up.
The tension and intensity still filled the air.
But no one knew—
Underneath that calm surface, a massive storm was quietly brewing.
Takato Riki stood courtside, gently waving his folding fan.
That confident, all-knowing smile appeared on his face again.
His eyes were sharp.
He was already calculating the next tactical setup in his mind.
He hoped Kainan would rebound after adjustments and flip the situation around.
Meanwhile, Shimizu Kanon sat quietly on Shohoku's bench.
Still looking harmless and gentle.
But there was a quiet confidence in her eyes.
She looked calm on the outside, but inside her mind was like a crystal-clear mirror.
She could see the direction of the game perfectly.
And above Shohoku's bench—
That demonic face, sharp-fanged and grinning with eerie delight, had never disappeared.