Chapter 11 Sakuragi Takes the Stage
The ten-minute halftime break passed in a flash.
As the second half began, the atmosphere inside the gym tightened like a drawn bowstring.
Ryonan continued to hold the advantage. The score swung back and forth, but every time Shohoku closed in, someone in Ryonan answered back — and at the center of it all was Sendoh Akira, smiling lazily as if the pressure meant nothing. His smooth control of the game made Shohoku's pursuit frustratingly difficult.
Five minutes into the half, tension hung thick in the air.
On Shohoku's bench, Coach Anzai quietly adjusted his glasses.
In his slow, gravelly voice, he spoke:
"Sakuragi… warm up."
"Y-Yes, Coach!!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi's eyes lit up. He sprang from the bench and began running side-steps and stretches beside the court, cracking his shoulders and legs loose with exaggerated enthusiasm. Despite the theatrics, his movements were sharp — he had learned to take warm-ups seriously.
From the opposite bench, Aida Hikoichi spotted him immediately.
"Coach! Coach Taoka! Sakuragi's getting ready! The red-haired first-year!"
Taoka Shigeaki glanced over, folding his arms.
"…So Anzai finally intends to use him."
His eyes narrowed slightly.
"But he's still just a beginner. Let's see how long his enthusiasm lasts."
Up in the stands, the Sakuragi Army erupted.
"Hanamichi's coming in!!"
"Crush Ryonan!!"
Takamiya, Noma, and Oonan waved their arms wildly, drawing amused looks from nearby spectators.
Sakuragi finished warming up and stood at the scorer's table, breathing steadily. His body felt ready.
The game continued at full intensity.
Then —
Inside the paint, Akagi and Uozumi fought for a rebound.
Two giants collided. Elbows tangled.
In the struggle, Uozumi's arm swung upward.
THUD!
Akagi staggered back.
"Guh…!"
Blood trickled from above his eyebrow. He pressed a hand to his forehead. His vision blurred slightly.
The whistle shrieked.
"Akagi!!" Haruko cried out from the stands.
Shohoku players gathered around. The cut was deep enough to require treatment.
Kogure acted immediately.
"Akagi, go get it checked. We'll handle things."
Akagi gritted his teeth. He hated leaving the court — especially now.
But he knew he couldn't ignore the injury.
Before stepping off, his eyes locked onto Sakuragi.
"…Sakuragi. The paint is yours."
Sakuragi thumped his chest proudly.
"Leave it to the genius!"
Ayako escorted Akagi toward the infirmary.
Coach Anzai looked at Sakuragi calmly.
"Can you manage the center position?"
Sakuragi grinned wide.
"Of course! I'm the tensai Sakuragi Hanamichi!"
Across the court, Taoka's expression sharpened. Opportunity.
"Listen up," he muttered to his players.
"With Akagi out, Shohoku's inside defense drops sharply. Uozumi — dominate the paint. Break their spirit."
Uozumi's eyes burned with competitive fire.
"…Understood."
Sakuragi Enters
Cheers exploded as Sakuragi stepped onto the court.
He took position at center — standing in front of Uozumi Jun, who towered over him by more than ten centimeters and outweighed him significantly.
But Sakuragi stood straight, fearless, glaring upward like a challenger to a mountain.
Shohoku's possession.
Kogure held the ball at the top, scanning.
Sakuragi wrestled for position inside, using his hips and legs — clumsy, but full of raw strength.
"Kogure-senpai!! Pass it here!!"
Kogure hesitated — trusting Sakuragi in the post was risky — but the defense left no better option.
He sent the ball in.
Sakuragi caught it cleanly. Immediately, Uozumi's heavy frame pressed into his back like a steel wall.
Sakuragi swallowed. The pressure was enormous.
Still — he remembered what he'd practiced.
He faked left.
Uozumi reacted, shifting his weight.
Sakuragi spun right — awkward but fast.
He slipped just enough past Uozumi's reach, jumped, and laid the ball off the glass.
Bank — swish.
Two points.
A ripple of surprise ran through the crowd.
"He scored on Uozumi?!"
"That first-year actually pulled it off!"
Sendoh's eyes gleamed with interest.
"…He's fun."
Ryonan's Counterattack
Uozumi was not amused.
"Give me the ball."
Uekusa fed him in the post.
Uozumi backed Sakuragi down with heavy dribbles.
Thump. Thump.
Sakuragi's legs shook — but he didn't collapse. He lowered his stance, digging in.
Uozumi paused.
"…This guy's tougher than he looks."
He turned for a hook shot — textbook center play, using height and reach.
Sakuragi reacted late — but instinct took over.
He jumped with everything he had.
His fingertips brushed the ball —
Smack!!
The ball deflected, not a clean volleyball spike, but enough to throw the shot off line.
It bounced away toward the perimeter.
For a moment, silence.
Then —
The crowd erupted.
"A block?!"
"Sakuragi got a piece of Uozumi's shot?!"
Uozumi landed, stunned.
Not furious — impressed.
"…He's no ordinary beginner."
On Shohoku's bench, Coach Anzai simply smiled behind his glasses.