Chapter 160: No Problem
"Ayako, are the halftime stats compiled?"
"Yes, Coach Anzai. I've printed them out and distributed them to all the players." Manager Ayako Inoue responded immediately.
Near the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, inside a basketball training facility's viewing room, the massive projection screen displayed the frozen image of Ryonan versus Rakuzan's halftime buzzer.
Unlike their usual practice of watching games live at the arena, Coach Anzai had deliberately arranged for them to analyze the match here—allowing for pauses, replays, and real-time tactical breakdowns.
This was an exceptionally rare opportunity.
Even an idiot like Sakuragi Hanamichi wasn't clamoring to attend the game in person, though he still muttered things like "a genius must experience games amid the loudest crowds" while slouching in his seat with his characteristic careless posture.
"That moron!" Akagi Takenori clenched his fists, restraining the urge to punch him twice.
Meanwhile, Mitsui Hisashi, Miyagi Ryota, and even Rukawa Kaede all understood how valuable Coach Anzai's instruction truly was. Each wore expressions of serious concentration.
"Ho ho ho..." Coach Anzai's signature laugh filled the room, loosening the tension slightly. "No need to be so tense. We're not the ones playing out there right now."
For a long time, Anzai Mitsuyoshi had nearly lost his passion for basketball. Coming to teach at the unremarkable Shohoku High School had been, in part, a way to let himself fade into obscurity.
But the basketball gods had seen fit to show him Sakuragi Hanamichi and Rukawa Kaede—two players with talent surpassing even his former protégé. Add to that the fact that Ryonan, also from Kanagawa, had somehow reached the national championship finals. That long-dormant heart couldn't help but stir once more.
"First, examine both teams' primary statistics. Pay special attention to players you might face directly in future matchups." Coach Anzai instructed.
"Yes, sir!" The Shohoku players responded in unison.
Ryonan vs. Rakuzan - First Half Player Statistics:
Ryonan High School: Sendoh Akira 9 points 9 assists, Yagami Sorato 25 points 8 assists, Uozumi Jun 4 points 12 rebounds, Fukuda Kicchou 4 points 4 rebounds, Ikegami Ryoji 4 points, Aida Hikoichi 6 points
Rakuzan High School: Akashi Seijuro 12 points 8 assists, Mibuchi Reo 23 points 1 assist, Nebuya Eikichi 4 points 10 rebounds, Mayuzumi Chihiro 6 points 6 assists, Hayama Kotaro 2 points 2 assists
After giving the players a moment to review, Coach Anzai spoke slowly. "Since we've already faced Ryonan and the broadcast mentioned them, let's focus on analyzing Rakuzan's performance."
"For any high school point guard, Akashi's numbers represent exceptional efficiency and versatility—high scoring efficiency with solid assist totals." Coach Anzai's gaze shifted to Miyagi Ryota. "But we watched Rakuzan play Yosen yesterday. For someone of Akashi Seijuro's caliber, this first-half performance is far from ideal."
Miyagi nodded thoughtfully. "The scoring looks fine, but eight assists—compared to his playmaking yesterday, that's really not much."
The implication was clear. Precisely because the passes he delivered weren't converting into points, Akashi Seijuro was "forced" to shoot more himself. That situation inherently indicated a problem.
"Under these circumstances, Rakuzan's offensive firepower is being carried by Mibuchi Reo..." Mitsui Hisashi pressed his lips together. As a fellow shooter, he could sense just how formidable his counterpart was.
Successfully getting shots off against Ryonan's defense was no simple feat. Mibuchi had gone 11-for-18 shooting, including 5-for-7 from three-point range, scoring 23 points in the half—second only to Yagami Sorato.
"That third-year Mayuzumi Chihiro performed quite well too—6 points and 6 assists. He's clearly a key piece of Rakuzan's offense." Kogure Kiminobu observed.
"Rather than that, shouldn't we say the other two guys aren't pulling their weight?" Miyagi pointed at Rakuzan's remaining starters. "This muscle-bound guy got completely tied up by Uozumi-senpai on offense and only managed 4 points. That Hayama Kotaro had it even worse—just 1-for-6 shooting. Yagami completely shut him down on both ends."
Hearing Miyagi's analysis, both Akagi Takenori and Rukawa Kaede stirred slightly.
"Obviously only I can stop that Yagami guy." Sakuragi declared carelessly.
"Idiot. When have you ever stopped him?" Rukawa shot back mercilessly.
"Damn fox, what did you say!" Sakuragi glared. "Every time you get beaten down, and then this genius has to save the team!"
"Where's the saving?"
"Bastard—"
"You two—!"
"Thud!" Akagi's iron fist manually muted them both.
"Everyone's analysis is spot-on. Rakuzan's deficit stems primarily from two of their three stable scoring options being forcibly suppressed, while Akashi is struggling to change the tide even against Sendoh's defense."
"Even more critically, Ryonan's role players capitalized on their limited opportunities. Hikoichi's two three-pointers were absolutely crucial—essentially stopping Rakuzan's comeback attempt at a pivotal moment."
"Uozumi... and Ryonan..." Akagi clenched his fists. This year represented Shohoku's greatest hope—and his final year of high school.
Their opponents would never simply wait around for Shohoku to grow and surpass them.
"Overall, while the point differential remains manageable, Ryonan completely controlled the first-half tempo. They successfully forced Rakuzan into isolation-heavy offense, and Rakuzan still hasn't found a way to break through."
Coach Anzai looked at each player. "So then—when you face Ryonan next time in our prefecture, confronting a situation like this, how would you think? How would you respond?"
The Shohoku players fell silent in the viewing room. To reach nationals, Ryonan was an obstacle they absolutely could not avoid.
Coach Anzai contemplated the same question. He'd begun to sense vaguely that the key to breaking through still lay in the matchup between Akashi Seijuro and Sendoh Akira.
Though Akashi Seijuro was a point guard who consistently organized the offense, Coach Anzai could clearly feel the disconnect between him and his team.
"The team doesn't exist for you—you exist for the team." These were words he'd once said to his former student, Tani Ryuji.
In reality, high school players—particularly those blessed with extraordinary talent—who truly understood this principle could be counted on one hand.
"Sendoh."
Before the players returned to the court, Coach Taoka called Sendoh Akira aside.
"So far, you've done an excellent job containing Akashi. Originally, I planned to have you and Yagami temporarily swap defensive assignments in the second half to preserve your stamina..."
Sendoh smiled. After all, if the coach had truly intended that, he wouldn't be bringing it up only now.
"Forty minutes." Coach Taoka's voice dropped. "Can you hold out until the end?"
Sendoh glanced at Yagami Sorato's eager silhouette, then smiled casually. "Of course. No problem."
Really no problem?
Sendoh thought to himself—well, at least until he ran completely out of gas, he'd stand between Akashi and Yagami.
"Tweet—!"
The third quarter began. Both teams returned to the court.
Ikegami Ryoji re-entered for Ryonan, while Rakuzan made no substitutions.
Ryonan's ball.
Coach Taoka naturally wanted to maintain the first-half matchups. Even just preserving the current point differential would put Ryonan in an excellent position.
Rakuzan, however, had no intention of complying.
As Sendoh advanced into the frontcourt, he noticed Rakuzan's defensive formation had shifted. Akashi Seijuro now personally marked Yagami Sorato, while Hayama Kotaro picked up Sendoh.
"Switching assignments?" Sendoh raised an eyebrow. Though he could still harass Akashi defensively, on offense his opponent had decided to stop playing along.
"Daiki and Atsushi had favorable impressions of you." Akashi's voice came from beside Yagami.
"How flattering." Yagami flashed him a brilliant smile.
"But I despise you." Akashi stated without emotion. "Everyone who tries to defy me—I will destroy them all."
Here we go again.
Yagami rolled his eyes. He wondered if there was some specialized institution for treating psychological issues among high school sports club members. Maybe he could sign up the Generation of Miracles guys as a group—might even get a discount.
Sendoh tested a drive against Hayama's defense and found it less effortless than expected.
"Zip!"
The ball flew toward the right corner. Fukuda caught it and immediately attacked, driving baseline hard past Mayuzumi and finishing with a powerful dunk!
Ryonan 54, Rakuzan 45.
The lead stretched back to nine!
"They'll fight desperately to close the gap! Everyone stay focused on defense and extend this lead!" Uozumi shouted, sprinting back on defense.
"Yes!" Fukuda's response rang out with particular volume.
Transition. Rakuzan's ball.
After receiving the inbound, Akashi didn't push the tempo—he controlled the rhythm methodically across halfcourt.
"Not coming over?" Akashi stood at the top of Ryonan's three-point arc, staring coldly at Yagami. Within his heterochromatic eyes, faint light seemed to shimmer.
Yagami felt tempted.
"Let me try first." Sendoh smiled.
Logically, after such a long halftime break, maintaining the Zone state should be impossible. If they trapped Akashi too easily, Hayama might find his offensive rhythm on the wing instead—clearly not worth the trade.
"I didn't give you a choice."
Akashi crouched slightly. The ball moved back and forth before him with low-frequency precision.
"Something's wrong!" The instant Akashi moved, Sendoh sensed danger. The fluidity of that motion—he was still in that state?!
"Bang!"
Akashi's right hand explosively pushed the ball forward and right, his body tilting as he attacked that direction with a powerful first step.
Sendoh reacted quickly, sliding laterally to seal off the right side.
But this was merely the beginning. The moment Sendoh's weight shifted right, Akashi violently yanked the ball back with his right hand while his footwork shifted bizarrely—his body swaying left like a pendulum!
"Damn!"
The amplitude and speed forced Sendoh to violently adjust his center of gravity.
But even that was a feint!
Akashi's true attack came the instant he pulled the ball back a second time!
Leveraging the momentum from his body's sway, he planted his left foot, detonated the ball with his right hand, and the entire sequence resembled a phantom breaking free from its shackles—attacking right once more!
Three rhythm changes. Three weight shifts. All executed in under one second!
Sendoh instinctively followed on defense, his balance completely shattered, his body stumbling.
Akashi drove into the paint!
From the left, Ikegami immediately rotated over to help. Without decelerating even slightly, Akashi executed a supremely economical in-and-out dribble into a between-the-legs crossover, leaving the slightly delayed Ikegami completely beaten.
From a spectator's perspective, Sendoh and Ikegami appeared to suddenly freeze like statues before Akashi!
"Akashi preserved his stamina well in the first half despite the restrictions..." Aomine locked onto his movement. "Ryonan can't stop him anymore."
Uozumi roared as he stepped up from the paint. But the moment Akashi entered the free-throw line, he gathered and rose—not for a floater, not for a high glass finish, but executing a graceful mid-air spin as if suspended momentarily in space before threading the ball through the gap beneath Uozumi's armpit.
"Swish!"
Nothing but net!
Ryonan 54, Rakuzan 47.
A complete one-on-three sequence!
Akashi's entire offensive possession—from initiation to finish—flowed like water, without a single pass, purely shredding the defense through individual brilliance!
"What an unpleasant feeling." Sendoh said helplessly.
This was the third person to give him this sensation. The previous two had been Sawakita Eiji and Aomine Daiki.
"Could you stop him?" Fukatsu Kazunari asked Sawakita with a grave expression.
"Probably... can't, right? But he definitely couldn't stop me either." Sawakita helpfully added Fukatsu's verbal tic for him.
"Bang!"
"Agh—!"
Fukatsu drove an elbow into Sawakita's stomach. "Looks like your mood's recovered."
Transition. Ryonan's ball.
As usual, Sendoh passed toward the corner to Fukuda—currently the biggest mismatch on the court between him and Mayuzumi.
"Watch out!" Yagami shouted.
After confirming Sendoh's passing trajectory, Akashi abandoned Yagami entirely and rotated to help baseline.
Fukuda caught the ball and had just shaken Mayuzumi when Akashi appeared before him.
"That fast?!"
Fukuda startled. Without any thought of underestimating his opponent, he immediately passed to Yagami stepping up as an outlet.
"Too slow."
"Smack!"
Akashi intercepted the pass mid-flight!
Yagami immediately pressured, but Akashi executed a nimble spin to evade both him and Fukuda before attacking in transition!
"He's not passing?!"
Hayama had already crossed halfcourt. Behind him, Akashi showed absolutely no inclination to pass.
Sendoh gritted his teeth and abandoned his mark on Hayama entirely, cutting back to block Akashi's path forward. Yagami chased from behind—a trap was forming.
Akashi stopped hard. Two full steps beyond the three-point line, he rose for a dry pull-up!
"Whoosh—!"
The basketball traced a perfect arc through the air.
"Swish!"
Pure swish!
Ryonan 54, Rakuzan 50.
"Listen well." Akashi passed by Yagami's shoulder. "Your defeat is absolute."