Rukawa Kaede stood just outside the three-point line, ready to receive the ball.
Nango, standing inside the arc, dribbled twice and passed it over. Then he casually tugged up his pant legs, spread his arms, and settled into a defensive stance.
American-style one-on-one rules.
Only three dribbles allowed.
No time limit.
But with Rukawa Kaede, a time limit was unnecessary—he would never stall.
Rukawa bent forward slightly, gripping the ball in front of his knees. Nango didn't crowd him, maintaining a calculated distance.
A three-pointer was technically available.
But Rukawa hesitated.
Nango's defensive pressure was suffocating.
His left hand hovered low, his right hand raised high, perfectly positioned to contest a shot.
It felt as if the moment Rukawa lifted the ball, Nango's palm would descend.
The spectators shared the same thought.
If they were standing across from Nango…
How would they attack?
Most arrived at the same answer.
Drive first. Look for a chance later.
Rukawa straightened, shifting the ball to the left side of his body. His right foot probed forward, then retreated. His hands and eyes moved in rhythm, searching for an opening.
Nango mirrored every motion, never losing balance.
"This guy's defensive stance is textbook," Fukatsu said quietly to Kawata.
"Flawless. Almost identical to yours."
Kawata nodded, but added in his heart:
More than posture—his physical conditioning is terrifying.
Even if he gets beaten, he can recover instantly.
Rukawa's brows tightened.
No openings.
He had no choice but to force it.
"Clap!"
The ball slammed to the floor and sprang back up.
Akagi crossed his arms.
"Is he trying to win with speed?"
Mitsui shook his head.
"That won't work. Nango isn't slow at all."
Sure enough, Nango slid laterally and cut off Rukawa's path, his chest square, ready to apply contact.
"Clap!"
Rukawa suddenly changed direction.
Nango stretched out a long leg and stayed attached from the side, his raised right hand hanging over Rukawa's vision like a guillotine.
Moroboshi Dai frowned.
"He's already used two dribbles and still hasn't shaken him."
Maki spoke calmly.
"Under this morning's rules, he'd be forced to shoot."
"Clap!"
Third dribble.
Rukawa had no choice but to gather.
He bumped Nango with his shoulder, used the recoil to rise, and released the ball before reaching the peak of his jump.
Nango instinctively reached up—
Missed.
Both players turned their eyes to the rim.
"Clang!"
Back iron.
"Tch…"
Rukawa clicked his tongue.
Nango retrieved the ball, walked to the free-throw line, and asked casually,
"Again?"
Rukawa returned to the three-point line.
"Again."
Nango passed it back.
"Huh? They're not switching possessions?" Sendo muttered.
Uozumi scratched his head.
"So is Rukawa practicing offense… or is Nango practicing defense?"
"Both," Fukuda replied simply.
Nango resumed his stance.
Rukawa caught the ball and immediately went into triple-threat, then attacked decisively.
No hesitation.
No setup.
He couldn't afford to think.
Nango moved with him.
"Clap!"
Rukawa planted after just one dribble and rose for a pull-up long two.
His back heel hovered near the three-point line.
Fadeaway.
High difficulty.
But it worked as a surprise.
Nango was half a beat late.
This shot depended entirely on Rukawa.
"Clang!"
Front rim.
The ball bounced high, then fell off.
"So close…"
Several spectators sighed.
Rukawa showed no reaction.
Next one will go in.
He had already found the path.
Sakuragi grabbed the ball and tossed it back to Rukawa.
Rukawa stayed in an attacking stance.
No intention of giving it to Nango.
Nango lowered his center of gravity, smiling faintly.
So eager to score on me?
Not happening.
Rukawa jab-stepped.
Nango didn't bite.
Rukawa drove.
"Clap!"
Twice to the right.
Then cut left.
Still nothing.
Nango clung to him like a shadow.
"Clap!"
Third dribble—
Nango suddenly reached in and poked the ball loose.
Rukawa instantly stopped, slid his body between Nango and the ball, and recovered it.
Nango didn't press.
He simply followed and said with a smile,
"That counts as one dribble. You can only shoot now."
Rukawa glanced at his position.
Two steps outside the arc.
Not his range.
What angered him even more—
Nango stepped back.
Giving him space.
Not even pretending to contest.
He looks down on me?!
Rukawa rose and fired.
Nango's eyes followed the ball calmly.
Not enough power. His form changed.
"Clang!"
Miss again.
Three straight bricks.
If Nango truly wanted to, he could keep Rukawa scoreless all afternoon.
Unless Rukawa suddenly caught fire.
Speed alone wasn't enough.
Against a larger defender whose speed and agility kept up, a smaller player would suffer—especially under limited-dribble rules.
Sakuragi passed the ball back to Nango.
Nango immediately returned it to Rukawa, motioning to continue.
Rukawa stared at the ball.
Then at Nango.
"This is boring."
He turned, dribbled away, and walked toward an empty half-court.
He was going to practice by himself.
If he couldn't break Nango inside…
Then he would extend his range.
Long-range shots.
Fast release.
Nango watched him leave, then turned toward Sakuragi with a smile.
"So? Did you learn anything?"
Sakuragi frowned.
"You defended him so hard he couldn't score at all. What am I supposed to learn from that?"
Nango froze.
He rubbed his nose awkwardly.
"…Good point."