The moment both teams emerged from the players’ tunnel, the noise inside the arena exploded.
Sakuragi Hanamichi stepped onto the court beneath the dazzling white floodlights.
The first thing he did was scan the stands.
Almost instantly, he found her.
She wore a light-colored blouse and a dark skirt, blending naturally into the sea of school uniforms around her.
Yet to Sakuragi…
She stood out immediately.
The corners of his lips lifted into a grin as he raised a hand and waved.
Yanai Yuri smiled and waved back, her slender fingers gently fluttering in the air.
Sakuragi’s smile widened even further.
Nearby, Takamiya Nozomi held up a handmade support sign with “Sakuragi” scrawled across it in crooked letters, shaking it with all his strength.
Ohkusu stood on a chair, letting out shrill whistles that pierced the arena.
Noma clapped until his palms turned bright red.
Yohei simply swung around the bottle filled with steel balls.
The four of them shouted at the top of their lungs like four monkeys whose tails had just been stepped on.
Unfortunately…
Sakuragi didn’t even spare them a glance.
His eyes were fixed on one person—and one person alone.
Ohkusu nearly ground his teeth in frustration.
“That idiot doesn’t even notice us!” In the VIP section, Coach Taoka Moichi sat with his arms crossed, calmly surveying the court.
His objective today was obvious.
Rukawa Kaede.
Tomigaoka Middle School’s Number 11.
The genius who had already caught his attention during last year’s tournament.
Yet during warm-ups, another figure unexpectedly drew his gaze.
A splash of vivid red.
Among a sea of black-haired players, Sakuragi’s crimson pompadour was impossible to ignore.
Coach Taoka narrowed his eyes as he watched the redhead practice his shots.
Catch.
Bend.
Jump.
Release.
The entire shooting motion flowed together seamlessly.
Elbow angle.
Wrist snap.
Fingertip release.
Everything was textbook perfect.
Coach Taoka’s eyebrows rose ever so slightly.
His fundamentals were excellent.
Still…
He couldn’t help curling his lip.
Young people these days…
Why dye your hair bright red?
And that ridiculous pompadour…
what kind of hairstyle is that?
With a silent snort, he shifted his attention back toward Rukawa Kaede.
Much better.
Quiet.
Simple.
Far easier on the eyes.
Across the arena, Akagi Haruko sat with her classmates.
From the moment Rukawa Kaede stepped out of the tunnel, her eyes never left him.
Her heart skipped a beat.
It happened every single time.
Ever since she had first watched him play in last year’s Prefectural Tournament…
She had been captivated.
It wasn’t simply because he was handsome.
Though he certainly was.
It was the way he played.
His concentration.
His composure.
The strange feeling that once the basketball reached his hands…
Everything changed.
It almost felt like magic.
She couldn’t explain it.
She only knew…
She couldn’t look away.
“Haruko!
Look!” “Rukawa Kaede’s here!” Her classmate excitedly grabbed her arm, nearly digging her fingernails into Haruko’s skin.
“I know…” Haruko replied softly.
Her eyes never shifted.
An entire section of the stands belonged to Tomigaoka Middle School’s female supporters.
Matching uniforms.
Matching headbands.
Matching cheering sticks.
They looked as organized as a military formation.
“Rukawa!” “Rukawa!” “Rukawa!” The cheers rose in endless waves.
From the instant Rukawa appeared…
The screaming never stopped.
Dozens of girls shouted his name together.
The deafening chorus echoed throughout the gymnasium, making the air itself seem to vibrate.
Watching from the opposite side, the four members of the Sakuragi Army wore increasingly sour expressions.
Takamiya lowered his sign and frowned.
“So noisy.” “What’s there to scream about just because some guy can play basketball?” Ohkusu nodded immediately, sounding as though he’d swallowed an entire lemon.
“Exactly!” “When Sakuragi dunks, nobody cheers like that!” Noma folded his arms.
“They’re just too inexperienced.” The three exchanged a glance.
Then all turned toward Sakuragi simultaneously.
“Sakuragi!” “Crush that Rukawa!” Takamiya cupped his hands around his mouth and shouted with enough force to startle even himself.
“Show him who the real ace is!” Ohkusu jumped to his feet, face turning beet red.
“Go!” “Posterize him with one of your dunks!” Noma waved both arms wildly.
Only Yohei remained seated.
He quietly watched Sakuragi warming up.
Then he glanced toward Rukawa.
Finally, he looked at the fanatical cheering squad.
The game hadn’t even begun…
Yet somehow…
He already knew today was going to be entertaining.
Warm-ups came to an end.
The referee blew the whistle three times.
Both teams returned to their benches.
Coach Takeda stood before his players.
“Remember what I told you before the game.” “Number 11.” “Rukawa Kaede.” “The moment he touches the ball…” “Double-team him.” “If two defenders aren’t enough…” “Send three.” “Don’t give him room to drive.” “Don’t give him room to shoot.” “Don’t let him get a comfortable possession.” “Now…” “Get out there.” At center court, the referee stood between the two jump-ball players, holding the basketball in one hand.
Sakuragi Hanamichi crouched into position.
His knees bent.
His arms relaxed.
His eyes locked firmly onto the basketball.
Standing opposite him…
Was Rukawa Kaede.
Tomigaoka had assigned their ace to take the opening tip.
The two stood less than a meter apart.
Sakuragi’s blazing red hair resembled dancing flames beneath the lights.
Rukawa’s messy black hair draped over his forehead, hiding his unreadable eyes.
Their heights were nearly identical.
Their physiques were remarkably similar.
Sakuragi flashed a confident grin.
“They all say you’re incredible.” “Today…” “I’ll show you what real greatness looks like.” “I’m going to beat you.” Rukawa’s eyelashes twitched slightly.
His gaze shifted from the ball to Sakuragi’s face.
He looked at him for barely a moment…
Then calmly returned his attention to the basketball.
A faint snort escaped his nose.
He had heard those words countless times before.
Every game.
Every opening tip.
“I’ll crush you.” “You’re finished.” “You’re nothing special.” Yet once the game ended…
Those same people always fell silent.
Beeeeep!
The referee tossed the ball high into the air.
The orange basketball spun gracefully beneath the arena lights.
Higher.
Higher.
Until…
It reached its peak.
For a split second…
Everything stood still.
Every pair of eyes followed the ball.
Then…
Both players exploded upward simultaneously.
Sakuragi reacted first.
His leap was unbelievably explosive.
His long arms stretched skyward.
His fingers spread wide.
The instant his fingertips brushed the basketball…
He redirected it with a gentle flick.
The ball flew cleanly toward Akiyama.
Rukawa’s fingertips remained just centimeters away.
He had jumped exceptionally high.
Higher than he usually did.
But…
The red-haired boy had jumped even higher.
While still airborne, Rukawa instinctively glanced sideways.
In the corner of his vision…
That brilliant crimson hair rose above him like a blazing flame.
His pupils contracted.
Such explosive lift…
For the first time in an official game…
Rukawa Kaede felt genuine surprise at an opponent’s athletic ability.
There was no time to dwell on it.
The instant he landed…
His knees absorbed the impact.
His feet pushed off again.
He spun around and sprinted back on defense.
Sakuragi had already taken off running.
His strides were absurdly long.
One of his steps covered nearly the distance of another player’s step and a half.
Akiyama secured the tip.
Without pausing…
He launched a long pass downcourt.
The basketball traced a high, flat arc.
Across half court.
Past the free-throw line.
Toward the right side of the basket.
Sakuragi caught it near the free-throw line.
One dribble.
Gather.
One step.
Two steps.
Leap.
Beneath the rim…
Rukawa had already established perfect defensive position.
He had arrived first.
Feet planted.
Arms raised vertically.
Upper body leaning back slightly to absorb the contact.
His positioning was textbook.
He hadn’t surrendered space.
His arms remained straight.
There was no downward swipe.
It was flawless defense.
Sakuragi launched himself into the air.
His body twisted slightly.
His shoulder aligned toward the basket.
The ball rested securely in his right hand while his left protected it.
He looked like a cannonball hurtling straight toward the rim.
The two collided.
Bang!
The collision wasn’t loud enough to overpower the roaring crowd.
But Rukawa felt every ounce of it.
The impact surged through his chest.
Into his arms.
Through his shoulders.
Across his entire body.
His balance shattered.
His center of gravity tilted backward.
His raised arms were knocked aside.
His perfect defensive stance collapsed instantly.
Still airborne…
Sakuragi extended his right arm.
The basketball floated softly off his fingertips.
Swish!
It dropped cleanly through the net.
Sakuragi landed first.
He leaned forward slightly to steady himself.
Then turned his head.
Rukawa Kaede sat on the hardwood floor.
One hand supported his body.
His face remained expressionless.
But his eyes…
Never left Sakuragi.
Something flickered deep within those calm pupils.
His first step…
His jumping speed…
His power…
Even his finishing at the rim…
He’s even stronger than I expected.
The referee’s whistle remained silent.
No defensive foul.
No offensive foul.
It had simply been an overwhelmingly powerful finish in the paint.
The defender had been knocked down.
Nothing more.
The Tomigaoka cheering section suddenly fell silent.
For them…
This had never happened before.
Their ace.
Their invincible Rukawa.
Had been scored on…
In the very first possession.
Akagi Haruko unconsciously tightened her grip on the hem of her skirt.
Across the arena, Yanai Yuri remained seated.
Unlike everyone around her, she wasn’t screaming.
She simply watched Sakuragi…
Her eyes shining brilliantly.
Beside her, Kato Reina leaned comfortably against her chair.
When Rukawa had first appeared, her eyes had sparkled.
A handsome guy.
Definitely my type.
But moments later…
That handsome guy had been knocked flat beneath the basket.
As someone who admired strength above all else…
Rukawa immediately lost several points in her estimation.
Back on the court, Sakuragi exchanged a high-five with Oda before sprinting back on defense.
Rukawa slowly rose to his feet.
His eyes remained locked on the retreating red-haired figure.
For the first time…
A spark of fire ignited within those usually emotionless eyes.
He would repay this.
He would get it back.