Everyone on Toshigawa's team slumped onto the bench, their chests heaving. Sweat ran down their faces, and their jerseys clung to their damp skin.
"Dammit!!"
Noboru slammed his water bottle onto the floor. The plastic rattled against the wood, and water spilled across the polished surface.
Takahiro lowered his gaze to the court.
I knew something like this would happen. But...
He released a slow breath through his nose.
I didn't think they'd be this tough... even with three of their starters sitting out.
Hayato wiped his face with the hem of his jersey. His eyes remained fixed on the opposing team's bench.
"Even without Kayano and Kogure, we're still helpless."
He lowered his head.
"And if Keichiro were here..."
Hayato's fingers curled into fists against his knees.
"They'd destroy us."
Shino slumped at the end of the bench, his shoulders hunched. His hands trembled against his knees.
I'm so useless...
His gaze dropped to the floor.
Is there even anything I can do? We're going to lose...
Shino blinked several times. He pressed his lips together and swallowed.
Yukio rose from the bench and clapped his hands together.
The sound drew everyone's attention.
"I know the score looks bad, but..."
Yukio looked around at his teammates.
"The game's not over. It's only the first quarter, and as long as there's time left, we still have a chance."
"So wipe those gloomy expressions off your faces and get focused! We can still do this!"
"Who said anything about giving up?"
Hayato pushed himself off the bench and stood upright.
Noboru ran a hand through his hair, his fingers catching on the damp strands.
"Ugh... It's so frustrating. We're burning through all this energy, only to turn the ball over."
He leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees.
"You guys are holding me back! You better have some kind of strategy, Fukazawa."
"Well, I wouldn't exactly call it a strategy..."
Nanaho glanced at Tetsuo, who sat beside her.
"But it's the best chance we've got."
Kogure stood along the sidelines, his eyes fixed on the scoreboard.
Just as I expected.
He placed his hands behind his head.
They don't stand a chance of making it to the Inter-High.
"Does everyone understand what they need to do?"
Nanaho drew another line across the game board with her marker.
Noboru rubbed the back of his neck.
"Uh... I don't really get it."
Nanaho stopped drawing.
"How can you be confused? Just run toward their basket."
"Oh... Okay. I'll just do that."
Noboru nodded.
Nanaho capped her marker.
"We've got six minutes left in the first quarter. Let's make them count!"
"Yeah!!"
The players answered in unison.
"Tetsuo, you're in. Shino, sit down for now."
Shino lowered his head. His fingers tightened around the edge of the bench.
Nanaho leaned toward him and patted his shoulder.
"It's okay, Shino. Don't get discouraged. You only started learning the game recently, and you did well. Watch closely and learn from the match."
Shino lifted his eyes toward her before looking to the court.
Haruko's mouth opened slightly.
Can they really close the gap?
Her gaze shifted to the scoreboard.
They're down by fourteen...
As Yukio stepped onto the court, Ryuu approached him. The corners of his mouth lifted.
"So, you came back for more, huh?"
Yukio met his gaze.
Hayato tapped Yukio's shoulder.
"You should inbound the ball."
Yukio turned toward the baseline and took his position.
The Toshigawa players spread across the court. Their opponents moved with them, each defender keeping a close eye on his assigned player.
"Alright... Break!"
Yukio slapped the ball above his head.
Noboru and Takahiro sprinted down the court.
"Go cover them! Deny them the ball!" Eiji called.
Hayato cut toward the left side. Eiji mirrored his movement, but Tetsuo stepped into his path, forcing him to slow down.
Hayato continued toward Yukio, raising both hands.
"Yukio!"
Yukio passed the ball.
Hayato caught it cleanly.
Tetsuo sprinted down the court.
Eiji turned and chased after him.
Hayato swung his arm, sending the ball spinning through the air. Tetsuo leaped and caught it.
He caught it! What will he do now?
Haruko held her breath.
Tetsuo landed with the ball in his hands. He took a single dribble before jumping into the air. His wrist flicked forward. The ball spun toward the net as Tetsuo held his follow-through.
Ryuu shoved past Takahiro, his shoes squeaking against the court.
Damn it! He's strong!
Takahiro gritted his teeth. His arms strained as he pushed against Ryuu's frame.
"Try all you want! This one's mi—"
The ball dropped through the net.
Swish.
The scoreboard flickered.
Yokonan High 18 – Toshigawa Academy 7.
Tetsuo ran back toward his half of the court.
Eiji's eyes widened.
Wait... isn't he...?
"He did it..."
Takahiro released a slow breath. A smile tugged at his lips.
Why am I not surprised?
"Alright, Tetsuo! Five more three-pointers, and we're back in it!"
Hayato's mouth curved into a grin.
"Nice shot," Noboru said.
Yukio turned toward his teammates.
"Get back in formation! Let's stop their next possession!"
"Yes!!!"
Nanaho exhaled and sank onto the bench.
"Finally... they scored. I was really starting to worry back there."
Tetsuo makes it so much easier to bring the ball up the court. With him on the team, they managed to break through Yokonan's full-court press.
Nanaho's fingers loosened around the clipboard in her lap.
We're going to take back the game.
Eiji passed the ball to Manabu.
Manabu dribbled up the court.
He just hit a three. What's everyone so excited about?
Noboru stepped forward, bending his knees and raising his arms.
Manabu dribbled between his legs, then shifted the ball behind his back.
Noboru moved to cut him off at the free-throw line. Manabu stepped back and raised the ball.
Noboru closed in and jumped.
He looked down.
He faked me out!
Manabu leaped into the air and flicked his wrist.
A hand reached above him, slapping the ball out of the air.
Manabu's eyes widened. He looked up.
"No way... How the hell is he jumping that high?!"
"Manabu, quit spacing out! Get back on defense!" Eiji shouted.
Eiji sprinted toward Toshigawa's basket.
Tetsuo scooped up the loose ball and dribbled forward.
Eiji stepped into his path.
Tetsuo spun past him.
No way...
He dribbled toward the basket, Ryuu close behind.
Tetsuo slowed and shifted the ball behind his back.
Ryuu turned to keep up.
Tetsuo stepped back, stopping just behind the three-point line. His wrist flicked as he released the ball.
Ryuu jumped, reaching for it.
The ball passed inches above his fingertips.
Please go in...
Haruko squeezed her eyes shut.
Swish.
The ball dropped through the net, bounced three times against the hardwood, and rolled away.
"Who's that guy?" A Yokonan student asked.
"he's good," another student said.
"Well, what do you know..."
Kayano's smile widened.
"He made another one!"
Nanaho cupped her hands around her mouth.
"Nice shot, Kawaguchi!"
She turned toward Haruko.
"Well...?"
Haruko blinked.
"What?"
"Are you just gonna sit there?"
"Oh, right!"
Haruko pushed herself off the bench.
"Nice shot, Tetsuo-se—"
Her voice stopped.
Heat spread across her cheeks.
Oh no... Did I just call him by his first name out loud?
Haruko quickly sat back down.
"What's wrong?" Nanaho asked.
Haruko shook her head.
"N... Nothing."
Manabu stared at the hardwood.
This can't be... How do they have a player like that?
His fingers curled into a fist.
This was supposed to be my chance to prove myself.
"Manabu, the ball!" Eiji shouted.
"Huh?"
Manabu turned.
The ball struck his hand and bounced loose.
Tetsuo snatched it up.
Manabu took off after him.
Tetsuo drove toward the basket.
Ryuu and another Yokonan player stepped into his path as he approached the hoop.
"This time, I'm stopping you!" Ryuu shouted.
Tetsuo glanced to his side.
He threw the ball toward Hayato.
Hayato caught it and flicked his wrist.
The ball sailed through the air.
Swish.
"It went in! Six more points to go!"
Hayato shot his fist into the air.
"Get back on defense!" Yukio said.
Shino sat on the bench, leaning forward.
"Whoa..."
His eyes widened as he watched Tetsuo return to his position.
"No way... Toshigawa's actually fighting back!" a student in the stands said.
"Keep the pressure up! Let's take the lead!" Nanaho cheered.
The scoreboard blinked.
Yokonan High 18 – Toshigawa Academy 12.