Chapter 013: Ba Rung May Man Tri's whole body was faked out by more than 3 meters
Hoshiumi Mì's heart tightened slightly. Although the shot was released, the momentary fluctuation in his mind couldn't be faked.
As expected...
Clang~!
The ball ended up hitting the back of the rim!
It bounced out.
As for Mitsubayashi Koji, his hand looked like it was about to touch Hoshiumi Mì's face, but he suddenly pulled it back at the last millisecond, not even touching a single strand of hair!
Hoshiumi Mì raised an eyebrow.
For a moment, he had subconsciously thought Mitsubayashi Koji was really going to slap him in the face.
Hoshiumi Mì: "..."
A lesson learned.
Missing a shot, Hoshiumi Mì wasn't discouraged in the slightest, nor was he dejected. After all, compared to the 80% of 'Almost Never Misses' from the Future Preview, the current 45% of 'Try Not to Miss' naturally meant he couldn't make every single shot.
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On the other end, Hoshiumi Mì once again faced Mitsubayashi Koji's attack.
A crossover!
A drop step!
A half-spin...
Swat~!
Hoshiumi Mì suddenly reached out his hand!
Mitsubayashi Koji's heart jumped. He had been incredibly careful, yet the guy had still managed to touch the ball!
Damn it!
Was that a prediction?
But regardless, his reaction was so fast!
However, although Hoshiumi Mì touched the ball, this time, thanks to Mitsubayashi Koji's cautious ball protection, it wasn't stripped clean. He awkwardly turned to retrieve the ball and regained possession.
Quickly.
Mitsubayashi Koji used his big man for a pick-and-roll screen. He still couldn't shake Hoshiumi Mì's 'Dance of the Spider's Legs', but this time, he barely managed to protect the ball with his back to the basket and chose to pass out of the post-up.
The Iwai power forward received the pass in time and hit a mid-range shot.
The deficit was back to 12 points.
Hoshiumi Mì inbounded the ball.
Kamomedai steadily advanced. After crossing half-court, Hoshiumi Mì ran around a screen from Imamatsu Shinshu to the left wing, forty-five degrees from the basket, outside the three-point line.
At this moment, he was sideways to the basket.
Behind him, Mitsubayashi Koji was pushing through the defense, in hot pursuit.
Kouchi Masaya's pass flew over!
Hoshiumi Mì caught the ball.
At that moment!
Just as Mitsubayashi Koji closed in, Hoshiumi Mì, while sideways, suddenly executed a quick spin move to drive!
His speed wasn't particularly fast!
Mitsubayashi Koji reacted in time and immediately stuck to him defensively!
But the next second...
Thump~!
Hoshiumi Mì's spin move, the moment his front foot landed, immediately became a pivot point. He instantly turned that fake spin-drive into a step-back!
And as always... the endpoint of this move was outside the three-point line!
So much so that when the rapid dribbling sound echoed!
From Mitsubayashi Koji's perspective, that figure flew back into the distance. In the blink of an eye, he had stepped back to a position a step beyond the three-point line!
...
The ball was already raised high, ready to be shot!
The air!
Fell silent!
All that was left was... a crisp and pleasant sound of the basketball swishing through the net!
"Damn it!"
Mitsubayashi Koji glared angrily.
Hoshiumi Mì just spread his hands.
He completely ignored Mitsubayashi Koji's muttering.
On the contrary, the flames of anger in Mitsubayashi Koji's heart were flaring up.
This year, Tsugawa, who had just become a second-year on the team, had recently guarded every single player in Iwai. That defensive style of strong defense combined with a smiling provocation was quite effective.
Although he couldn't smile in that infuriating way like Tsugawa, he had also figured out his own version: trash talk and small movements, specifically designed to get on his opponent's nerves.
As long as the opponent got angry, their movements were bound to be affected.
But the guy in front of him was different.
Not only did he not get angry at all, but he was smiling, just like Tsugawa did when he was defending.
So annoying!
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On the other end, the Iwai point guard dribbled the ball past half-court, his eyes locked on Mitsubayashi Koji.
This time, Hoshiumi Mì didn't stick to Mitsubayashi Koji tightly.
This time, Hoshiumi Mì didn't stick to Mitsubayashi Koji, leaving a step of distance, his eyes occasionally glancing towards the perimeter on the other side.
The Iwai point guard saw this and thought he was trying to prevent a pass to the outside.
He immediately let his guard down and passed the ball towards Mitsubayashi Koji. But at that moment, Hoshiumi Mì suddenly burst forward like a cheetah, his lateral speed unbelievably fast!
He then leaped into the air, intercepting it mid-air!
Only then did the Iwai point guard realize he had been completely fooled. The guy's glances towards the perimeter earlier were all an act! To make him think he was distracted!
In reality, his attention hadn't left Captain Mitsubayashi for a single second!
Hoshiumi Mì successfully stole the ball and immediately dribbled towards the frontcourt!
However... compared to his swift lateral footwork on defense, his speed while dribbling and pushing the ball was more than a step slower. Behind him, a figure was in hot pursuit!
It was Mitsubayashi Koji!
He was stuck to Hoshiumi Mì, like a hound that had locked onto its prey!
Without the defensive effect of 'Dance of the Spider's Legs' on offense, Hoshiumi Mì's speed was slightly inferior. He had just crossed half-court when Mitsubayashi Koji caught up, constantly reaching in from the side, desperately trying to disrupt his dribble.
"Don't go!"
Hoshiumi Mì glanced to the side. Kouchi Masaya was rushing to catch up. It was actually a good two-on-one opportunity, but unfortunately, under Mitsubayashi Koji's tight pressure, it was difficult to pass the ball with one hand.
Hoshiumi Mì: "..."
If that's the case... then I won't pass.
He dribbled towards the three-point line and suddenly came to a screeching halt!
Swoosh~!
Amidst the sound of cutting through the wind!
His movement suddenly froze!
A sudden stop for a three-pointer during a fast break was also clearly beyond Mitsubayashi Koji's imagination!
He gathered the ball!
Jumped!
Mitsubayashi Koji couldn't react in time. His vision gradually lowered, until it was parallel with Hoshiumi Mì's knees. His whole body was faked out by three meters!
Thud~!
He landed flat on his butt!
At the same time, Hoshiumi Mì flicked his wrist and released the shot!
The motion was still silky smooth!
The ball left his fingertips, spinning backward as it flew towards the basket!
Swish!
Nothing but net!
The deficit, narrowed to 6 points!
The Kamomedai students in the crowd cheered and applauded endlessly!
Step~
Step~
Step~
Hoshiumi Mì strolled towards Mitsubayashi Koji, looking down at his tightly furrowed brow and stiff expression.
Mitsubayashi Koji looked up and met Hoshiumi Mì's gaze. The moment their eyes met, he could clearly see a faint... glee, excitement in the other's eyes!
Seeing this, the Iwai coach hastily called another timeout.
It had only been a little over two minutes since the last timeout!
The deficit had shrunk from 12 points to 6!
But in the Kamomedai Junior High gym, once the opponent's momentum was up, it was difficult to suppress it again. Thus, when all the Iwai players gathered around, the coach pointed at Hoshiumi Mì from afar and said to Tsugawa Tomoki:
"You guard him!"
Hearing this, Mitsubayashi Koji couldn't help but feel a little dejected. Clearly, the coach no longer trusted his defense. But he also knew that under his defense, that guy had just hit two more threes and made two steals.
In just two short minutes, he had been completely exposed.
If he were the coach, he would have made the switch too.
At the same time.
Tsugawa Tomoki glanced at Hoshiumi Mì from afar, his signature 'Tsugawa smile' appearing on his lips as he nodded firmly.