Chapter Seven

Accompanied by Akagi Takenori's powerful dunk, the atmosphere in the audience once again reached a boiling point.

The crowd erupted with excitement.

"As expected of the captain," one spectator exclaimed.

"Nice job!" another chimed in, appreciating Akagi's impressive display.

After Akagi scored 2 points with a thunderous dunk, the morale of the senior players soared.

Kogure and Yasuda gave a thumbs up and praised their captain's skill and leadership.

Realizing the need to capitalize on their newfound momentum, Akagi bellowed, "Pay attention to the back defense! Let's defeat them in one fell swoop!"

His words resonated with the team, and Kogure and the others responded with determination.

They immediately assumed defensive stances, bracing themselves for the first-year players' offensive onslaught.

Meanwhile, Kuwata and his teammates wore expressions of dejection.

Akagi's emphatic dunk had dealt a heavy blow to their morale. Their spirits dampened, they glanced at Long Yan and Rukawa, their faces clouded with concern.

"The seniors are really stepping up their game," Kuwata muttered.

"I'm not sure if we can handle this," added another teammate, voicing the collective apprehension.

Breaking the silence, Long Yan addressed his fellow first-years.

"Play steadily. The competition has only just begun. Let's not be discouraged. Remember, we don't know who will emerge as the final victor."

"And let's not forget, we're still point ahead," he reminded, injecting a ray of hope into their disheartened hearts.

Hearing Long Yan's uplifting words, his teammates responded with a renewed sense of determination.

They huddled together, their voices growing louder.

"Yes, we're still leading. We can't let it slip away now!"

"The first-years must win!"

With Long Yan's passionate encouragement, the team's morale gradually soared. Each player appreciated Long Yan's efforts to lift their spirits in their own way.

Observing Long Yan's impact, Akagi nodded approvingly. He recognized the significance of Long Yan's role in boosting the freshmen's confidence.

"That's right," Akagi thought.

'Long Yan has completely revitalized the freshmen's morale. With this newfound energy, we will defend our goal with everything we have!'

And so, with renewed determination and a united front, the team prepared to face the challenges that lay ahead.

The competition was far from over, and their ultimate victory remained uncertain.

But one thing was certain—the spirit of teamwork and resilience burned bright within each player, fueling their pursuit of success on the court.

Upon witnessing the situation, Kogure and his teammates felt their fighting spirit gradually surging within them.

"Come on, let's see what these first-year freshmen are truly capable of," Kogure exclaimed, eager to gauge their skills.

The thought of losing to a first-year player filled Kogure with a sense of embarrassment. He couldn't afford to let that happen.

Meanwhile, Ayako, watching from the sidelines, couldn't help but smile as she observed the high morale of the first graders.

"It's clear that Long Yan possesses exceptional abilities," she mused to herself, pleasantly surprised by his performance.

Initially considering him as nothing more than a fool like Hanamichi Sakuragi, she now realized that her expectations had been far surpassed.

Amidst the anticipation, Coach Anzai joined in, his smile widening at Ayako's observation.

"Hohoho, it seems this game is truly about to begin," he remarked.

"Beep!"

The piercing sound of the referee's whistle marked the continuation of the game, resuming the intense competition.

Sasaoka skillfully secured the ball and promptly passed it to Tatsuhiko, who wasted no time in making a decision.

Taking charge, Long Yan advanced with the ball, exhibiting his confidence on the court.

"Hey there, student, was it strength or merely luck earlier?" Kogure swiftly intercepted him, flashing a smile as he engaged Long Yan.

"Why don't you let me try again?" Long Yan taunted, playfully slapping the basketball with his right hand while wearing a mischievous smirk.

Long Yan's words caught Kogure off guard, leaving him momentarily stunned.

At halftime, Kogure couldn't fathom why Long Yan would attempt the same move again so soon.

"No way, let's settle this with a direct confrontation," Kogure denied, though conflicting thoughts raced through his mind.

"It's impossible. That shot earlier was merely luck. So it is incredibly impossible..."

Kogure quietly doubted Long Yan's abilities, attempting to convince himself that the previous success was a fluke.

With measured steps, Kogure began retreating towards the backcourt, wary of Long Yan's next move.

A confident smile graced Long Yan's face as he observed Kogure's cautious retreat.

"Very well, senior. Prepare yourself to face criticism from your captain," he retorted, unbothered by Kogure's skepticism.

Gripping the ball firmly with both hands, Long Yan positioned himself with unwavering confidence, ready to take the shot.

Although Kogure's subtle movements didn't go unnoticed, Long Yan remained undeterred.

Hearing Long Yan's confident words, Kogure couldn't help but furrow his brow, his mind filled with questions.

"Could it be that this guy truly possesses such extraordinary abilities?" he pondered, a lingering sense of doubt nagging at him.

Nevertheless, Kogure's hesitation didn't hinder Long Yan from executing his plan.

With deliberate motion, Long Yan gradually raised his hands, the anticipation building within the arena.

As Akagi observed Long Yan's actions, his expression turned stern, disappointed by what he perceived as reckless behavior.

Rukawa, too, couldn't help but feel intrigued.

He regarded Long Yan as somewhat of a lunatic, questioning whether he could truly pull off his move.

"Hey boss, do you really want to fight? What's going on here?" one of the teammates asked, confusion evident on his face.

Ayako, who had been praising Long Yan just moments ago, was now taken aback by his sudden change in behavior.

She had her hands on her face, as if in distress.

"I take back what I said earlier. He's just like Hanamichi Sakuragi, a fool,"

Coach Anzai stand up from his chair with a frown.

Observing Long Yan's actions, it became apparent that he was not someone who cared about what he did.

'This first year had an intriguing personality', Coach Anzai thought.

Amidst the confusion and speculation, Long Yan suddenly jumped, recreating his first shot, and threw the basketball towards the basket.

"Shual"

The ball made a satisfying sound as it hit the center of the net.

"Huh? Did it actually go in?" Kogure questioned, his eyes widening in disbelief.

"Another three-pointer! He scored again?" Yasuda exclaimed, unable to comprehend what he had just witnessed.

The others stand there in shock, holding their heads in their hands.

Akagi, who had initially planned to jump and compete for the rebound, found his heart racing as he watched the ball perfectly swish through the net.

He stared at Long Yan from a distance, his eyes filled with astonishment.

"Hey, hey, hey, it's true,"

Rukawa focused all his attention on Long Yan.

'It looks like I need to have a one-on-one duel with him,' he thought to himself, intrigued by Long Yan's abilities.

The rest of the team, initially dumbfounded by the shot, soon erupted in excitement.

"Wow! The ball went in!"

"Long Yan is unbelievably powerful!"

In that moment, any doubts or skepticism they had about Long Yan vanished instantly. They looked at him with admiration and envy.

Meanwhile, off the court, Sakuragi's eyes widened with envy as he watched Long Yan's remarkable performance.

"Long Yan, you did an amazing job, although you're still a little behind this genius!" Sakuragi exclaimed, his competitive spirit kicking in.

As long as Long Yan didn't pass the ball to Rukawa, Sakuragi believed it would be a perfect play.

At the same time, Ayako blushed, feeling embarrassed as she recollected the changes she had made to Long Yan just moments ago.

Thankfully, no one was aware of her involvement. But just as she was about to sigh in relief, Sakuragi nudged her on the shoulder.

"Sister, I heard everything."

"Hanamichi Sakuragi!! Keep training!" Ayako scolded, slapping a cardboard over his head, momentarily forgetting his presence beside her.

Coach Anzai couldn't help but admire Long Yan's steady goal-scoring abilities.

"Nice shooting, excellent technique, hohoho," praised Coach Anzai as he watched Long Yan sink two consecutive ultra-long three-pointers.

The coach's anticipation for Long Yan's performance grew even stronger.

Curious, Long Yan turned to his senior and asked, "Hey, senior, tell me, is it pure strength or just plain luck?"

After successfully scoring, Long Yan playfully patted Kogure, who was left in disarray by his incredible shooting skills.

With a quick exchange of camaraderie, he swiftly gathered his teammates, urging them to return to the defensive end.

"Don't just stand there in a daze! Get back on defense and shut down their offense!"

Long Yan rallied his team, motivating them to swiftly regain their defensive positions.

Energized by Long Yan's extraordinary display, the rest of the team sprinted back, their spirits soaring with excitement.

The possibility of defeating Captain Akagi and his team seemed more attainable than ever before.