The whistle blows, signaling the start of the game.
"Go, Mitobe!"
With his height, Mitobe easily grabs the ball and quickly passes it to Hiroshi. Sekiro High charges forward, launching their attack.
"I don't want to be obvious, but..."
Hiroshi throws the ball to Akira, who immediately faces double coverage. He fakes a move, causing both defenders to stumble and lose balance.
They're nervous, but they probably don't think I can hit a three-pointer.
Akira jumps, and with the defenders unable to react in time, he releases a clean shot right off the bat. The ball flies straight toward the hoop and swishes through.
Sekiro High 3 - 0 Kamata West.
"Nice shot, Akira!" the bench cheers.
"Thanks for the pass, Hiroshi," Akira says, giving the veteran a quick fist bump.
"I was wide open!" Daichi complains to Hiroshi, slightly irritated.
"Well, it looked like he was pulling the ball from my hands," Hiroshi shrugs.
The game resumes as Sekiro High locks down their defense, keeping the Kamata West team on the ropes.
Flashback to the team's practice session:
"Our defense will always be zone-based," Coach Yamamoto explains.
Zone? He doesn't want to switch it up based on the opponent?
Hiroshi raises his hand. "Coach, we've always done man-to-man defense, switching to zone only when facing teams with heavy rotations. Why the change?"
"Well... actually, we're setting a trap. Our zone will always have a 'weaker' side," Coach emphasizes, making air quotes with his fingers. "We're going to lure them toward Akira."
"Why him? Doesn't it just overload him?" Daichi questions.
"No, you might not notice it from within the court, but Akira's greatest weapon is his ability to force turnovers, snatching the ball when they least expect it. That changes the entire flow of the game."
"So, basically...?"
"We're creating a Bermuda Triangle of plays."
End of Flashback.
The Kamata West players are clearly trying to work around Sekiro High's defense.
The point guard from Kamata West pushes forward, looking for an opening. He passes the ball to one of the twins, but just before it reaches him, the twins exchange a quick glance. One of them cuts toward the basket, anticipating the ball.
"Here it comes!"
Akira is right in the middle, watching carefully. As the ball nears, he reacts in a split second, snatching it with his left hand, his body already in motion.
"What?!"
Too predictable.
Without wasting any time, Akira slips the ball through the legs of the twin who made the pass, then sprints down the court. He digs in, low to the ground, and jumps higher than anyone expects, his face nearly touching the rim.
They think they can intimidate me? Let me show them what real basketball looks like.
With the force of a hammer, Akira slams the ball through the hoop, hanging from the rim as the crowd goes wild.
"What?! I thought it was a myth he could dunk! That's insane!"
"A rookie? Dunking?! That's ridiculous!"
"I call him my brother... But man, he's so far ahead, I don't even know if I can keep up." Daichi says from the bench, still stunned.
"Don't worry, Daichi! We'll catch up to him!" Kazuya says, turning to Daichi. He expected Daichi to have a look of disbelief, but instead, Daichi is grinning, more motivated than ever.
The whistle blows, resuming the game as Kamata West tries to respond to Sekiro High's overwhelming start, even if they have no answer for Akira's explosive plays
The Kamata West players push forward, quickly passing the ball on the strong side of the defense. Avoiding at all costs Akira, It's clear they're uncomfortable with the zone defense, but they stick to their strategy, trying to find openings.
Akira watches. They're going to try it again... They always fall back into the same pattern. Time to put on a show.
The point guard from Kamata West dribbles to the side, and under pressure from Renji and Hiroshi, throws a long pass into the paint. One of the twins, exploiting the movement, cuts in from the strong side of the defense.
"Now!"
The pass is perfect. The twin catches the ball mid-stride, already prepared to take the layup. The crowd begins to cheer, anticipating the points.
But before he could even rise... a golden blur flashes like lightning.
Akira, having anticipated the move, springs into action, leaping with precision. In a single motion, he swats the ball with incredible force, sending the twin crashing to the floor.
The gym erupts.
"WHAT?! Did he just block that?!"
"Unbelievable! He came out of nowhere!"
"Akira's a beast! That was insane!" Kazuya yells from the bench, completely amazed.
The twin lies on the court, his pride shattered, his body still recovering from the hit.
"That was clean," Akira mutters under his breath, a grin on his face as he watches the Kamata West player struggle to get up.
Sekiro High quickly transitions to the offense. Hiroshi passes to Akira, who, with a look of pure confidence, speeds toward the basket. Kamata West's defense is scrambled, trying to catch up, but it's no use.
Akira, with impeccable timing, fakes one of the defenders and sinks a smooth three-pointer from the corner.
Sekiro High 11 - 0 Kamata West.
The gym roars in excitement, while the Kamata West players begin to show signs of frustration. Akira's not even sweating, his mind focused and sharp, knowing exactly how to break them down.
"Get it together!" The coach from Kamata West shouts, but his players look defeated, out of sync, and unable to cope with Akira's onslaught.
"Let's keep it going!" Akira shouts to his teammates, leading the charge as Sekiro High dominates. Every pass, every shot, every move is a show of pure talent.
Minutes pass, and it becomes clear that Kamata West has no answer for Sekiro High's intensity. Akira's defense, his control of the game, and his ability to score at will have them on the ropes.
With less than two minutes left in the first half, Kamata West finally manages to make a small move. They score a basket on the strong side of the defense, but it's no more than a consolation.
Sekiro High 22 - 2 Kamata West.
"How are we supposed to beat these guys?" one of the Kamata West players mutters, frustration written all over his face.
Akira looks at him, his eyes cold and calculating. You're not going to beat me. Not today.
As the clock ticks down, Sekiro High adds another basket, this time from Renji's quick fast break, and the half ends.
Sekiro High 24 - 2 Kamata West.
The gym is alive with energy. The Kamata West players, stunned and humbled, head to their locker room, while Sekiro High exchanges confident glances.
Akira leans against the wall, smiling to himself. One half down. Just gotta keep this up...