Chapter Ninety-Three: Don't Make Me Laugh
"TWEEET!"
The first quarter ended.
Ryonan 20 - Kirisaki Daiichi 26
"I can't believe they'd go this far..." Takao's voice was heavy as he stared at the court. "Those moves are completely aimed at injuring people."
"Absolutely disgusting." Midorima adjusted his glasses, his expression filled with revulsion.
On the other side of the stands, Sakuragi Hanamichi looked like he couldn't take it anymore. "What the hell are those Ryonan guys doing? Why are they playing so timidly?!"
"Sakuragi, that team they're facing... their moves aren't exactly clean." Miyagi wasn't happy either.
"Of course I can see that!" Sakuragi was indignant. He'd gotten into enough street fights to recognize dirty tactics when he saw them. "But it's just that level! Yagami and Sendoh won't lose!"
With that, Sakuragi suddenly stood up and shouted toward the court. "Hey! Don't lose to trash like that! People will think Kanagawa teams are weak!"
The Ryonan players looked toward Shohoku's section.
"Sheesh. They're more worked up than we are." Ikegami said without humor.
After just one quarter, both he and Uozumi already had multiple bruises. While Furuhashi, Matsumoto, and Hara each had one foul, it clearly wasn't enough payback.
Yamazaki, matched up against Koshino, was the only clean player on Kirisaki's roster. But Koshino's touch wasn't there today—he'd gone just 1-for-5 in the first quarter.
"They're not weak, but they're not that strong either." Sendoh was clearly angry. "Sorato, you ready?"
"Of course." Yagami responded.
Blocking the referee's line of sight to pull dirty moves wasn't easy. They'd already figured out Kirisaki Daiichi's typical tactics and timing.
"Fukuda, when you get in, attack the paint hard." Coach Taoka patted his shoulder. "Stay safe, and show them whose muscles are tougher!"
"Yes!!"
"TWEEET!"
The second quarter began.
Kirisaki's lineup stayed the same. Ryonan subbed out Koshino for Fukuda.
---
Kirisaki Daiichi's possession.
After advancing to the frontcourt, Hanamiya lobbed the ball directly to the right corner where Hara caught it.
"Showing those fierce eyes the moment you check in?" Hara chewed his gum, looking at Fukuda. "Relax your shoulders a bit."
Even though Fukuda was defending seriously, he still got fooled by a simple pump fake.
Hara drove into the paint. Uozumi tried to help, but Matsumoto grabbed his left arm, slowing his movement.
"Swish!"
Hara scored an easy layup right in front of Uozumi.
Ryonan 20 - Kirisaki Daiichi 28
"Did you guys specifically put in a defensive sieve to make scoring easier for us?"
"Hahaha..." Kirisaki's players laughed arrogantly as they retreated on defense.
Uozumi inbounded from the baseline.
Yagami advanced to the frontcourt with the ball, stopping just past halfcourt. He crooked his finger at Hanamiya. "Come on and defend. What are you standing there for?"
Hanamiya stood at the top of the three-point arc, his face dark. He couldn't read his opponent's intentions.
"Man, how boring."
Yagami went straight into his shooting motion and launched the ball!
"What?!"
"From that distance???"
On the sideline, Midorima's pupils contracted. He hadn't expected anyone besides himself to attempt shots from that range.
Hanamiya turned to look.
"Swish!"
Three points good!
Ryonan 23 - Kirisaki Daiichi 28
"Lucky!" Yagami waved his hand casually. "Good thing you don't have a coach, or with that defensive attitude, he'd send you home to sleep."
"That guy's at it again..." The Shohoku players in the stands had a familiar feeling.
---
Change of possession. Kirisaki Daiichi's offense.
"Want to answer back? I'll let you shoot." Yagami stood at the three-point line, arms spread wide, smiling at Hanamiya.
Hanamiya hesitated with the ball, ignoring the taunt. He continued lobbing it to the right corner.
"Fukuda-senpai! Sag off into the paint! Let that guy shoot!" Yagami turned and shouted.
Fukuda didn't hesitate, dropping back to the free-throw line.
"???" Hara's face darkened. "The hell does that mean?"
He rose up and shot anyway.
"CLANG!"
The ball hit the rim and bounced away.
"He actually missed?!"
Uozumi roared under the basket. His back exploded with power, forcibly shoving the clinging Matsumoto back half a step. Taking advantage of the fleeting space, he jumped first, his long arms extending. Using his absolute height advantage, he tipped the rebound precisely toward the perimeter!
"Fast break!!"
"Get back!!"
Yagami and Sendoh both took off!
Fukuda read the play perfectly. After securing the first bounce, he made no adjustments—just fired the ball downcourt toward Sendoh, who'd just crossed halfcourt!
The instant Sendoh caught it, Furuhashi was already in front of him on the chase. But Sendoh executed a smooth behind-the-back dribble into a flowing spin move, his jersey flowing, leaving his defender completely behind!
The frontcourt instantly became a two-on-one situation.
Entering the paint, Yagami raised his hands wide open, ready to receive the pass. Hanamiya stuck tight to him, already calculating how to disrupt this possession with subtle dirty moves.
Just as he concentrated on executing his plan, his peripheral vision caught another figure already airborne—
Sendoh! He wasn't passing?!
Sendoh gripped the basketball, carrying all his momentum, and absolutely posterized the still-reacting Hanamiya, hammering the ball through the rim!
"BOOM!!"
The sudden side collision sent Hanamiya flying out of bounds. He hit the floor hard.
His attention had been completely absorbed by Yagami. He never expected the killing blow would come from Sendoh Akira, Ryonan's seemingly laid-back ace!
"That thick-eyebrowed bastard..."
Hanamiya felt the pain radiating from his back and shoulders, grinding his teeth in a low growl.
"Oh my, you're not hurt, are you?" Yagami walked to the sideline, kindly extending his hand. "Turns out you make an excellent poster. This highlight definitely makes the tournament top five, and it's all thanks to you~"
"Bastard, what do you think you're doing?!"
Kirisaki Daiichi's players rushed to Hanamiya's side, pushing Yagami away.
"Whoa, whoa, no pushing please. If I get scared, I'll call the referee." Yagami held up both hands in an "I'm innocent" gesture.
"So you guys aren't such good boys after all." Furuhashi stared at Yagami with dead-fish eyes. "After pulling something like that, don't expect us to let you off."
"Heh~ Don't make me laugh." Yagami looked at Kirisaki's players with disdain. "You're acting like you care about your teammates. It's disgusting."
Ryonan 25 - Kirisaki Daiichi 28
---
Change of possession. Kirisaki Daiichi's offense.
Hanamiya moved his slightly numb shoulder. Aside from the dull ache, there was no major damage.
But the discomfort was nothing compared to the obsession surging in his heart. As player-coach, rather than subbing out to recover, he felt a far more urgent need—revenge against Yagami Sorato!
Just past halfcourt, Yagami pressed up on defense.
Seeing the mocking expression on his opponent's face, Hanamiya's desire for revenge overwhelmed everything else.
This time, he had no intention of passing. He wanted to finish this personally.
He suddenly lowered his center of gravity. The ball moved rapidly between his legs.
Yagami's defense was airtight, staying glued to him, giving him no breathing room.
"Perfect!"
A cruel smile crossed Hanamiya's face. He faked a drive left. The instant their bodies came close, he executed a sharp pullback to create space.
Yagami reacted instantly, his footwork perfect, still locking him down.
Killing intent rose within him.
Hanamiya changed rhythm again. In the split second of his second forward press, his right elbow suddenly and without warning—using every ounce of strength in his body—whipped viciously toward Yagami's face!
Whether the referee saw it, whether they won or lost the game—none of it mattered anymore. Only one crazed thought filled his mind: he had to see blood burst from Yagami Sorato's face!
However, at the critical moment before the elbow could connect, Yagami's body—as if he'd anticipated it all along—suddenly flew backward, heavily hitting the floor!
"TWEEEEET!"
The referee's urgent whistle pierced through the entire gymnasium.
"That bastard! What the hell was he trying to do?!" Every spectator had seen Hanamiya's action clearly. There were no other players nearby. The facts were obvious!
It was an extremely dangerous move!
Ryonan's players quickly surrounded Yagami protectively.
"Kirisaki number 4, Flagrant 1 foul! Two free throws, Ryonan's possession!"
"Ha... hahaha..." Hanamiya covered his face, laughing maniacally. "I didn't expect you'd pull that kind of move..."
"Next time, I won't let you dodge it..."
While his teammates crowded around him, Yagami used his hand to rub his chin red.
Whether he was actually injured didn't really matter—Hanamiya's action was already enough for the call. But Yagami was thorough. If you're going to sell it, sell it all the way.
Yagami walked to the free-throw line with a slightly pained expression. Both free throws went straight through.
Ryonan 27 - Kirisaki Daiichi 28
Ryonan inbounded from the sideline. Yagami threaded a pass to Fukuda cutting from the right baseline.
"BOOM!"
Fukuda threw down an easy dunk!
Ryonan 29 - Kirisaki Daiichi 28
Ryonan completed the comeback!