Sekiro High vs Kadooka Junior High - Part3

"I'm glad you're back, Akira... I was getting exhausted," Kaigo said as he headed to the bench.

"I wanted to play more," Renji added, joining him.

With the substitutions, Sekiro's defense improved dramatically. Although Renji was a formidable attacker, he often left gaps in defense. In contrast, Takeo excelled at covering these empty spaces. Akira and Kaigo were on another level entirely. Akira, in particular, could be considered the best defender on the team, boasting more blocks than Mitobe and an unparalleled knack for intercepting and stealing the ball. His stats for these skills were higher than those of everyone else on his team… combined.

A fan cheered loudly, "Look at this guy Akira! He's everywhere!"

Another spectator, impressed, commented, "I've never seen a defender read the game like that. He's a game-changer."

A third rebuked them. "He's doing this against our school. Are you supporting your opponent?!" He started beating a drum and shouting. "Hey! Spaghetti Head! Your luck is going to run out and Kadooka is going to get you!"

Spaghetti head?! —Akira looked angry at the boy— I'm gonna teach him a lesson.

In a scene that felt almost rehearsed, Akira capitalized on a sloppy pass in front of the basket, grabbing the ball and scoring effortlessly with a layup. When play resumed, Makito failed to notice that Akira hadn't yet returned to defense, resulting in a turnover. Using the same one-handed crossover dribble he had used earlier, Akira swiftly bypassed the player who had replaced him, scoring another layup. Within less than ten seconds on the court, Akira had added 4 more points to Sekiro's tally.

"Hey coach, this guy is killing us, there is nothing we can do?!" A guy on the Kadooka bench replied.

Kadooka's coach sighed, trying to figure out what to do. "He's fast, and is probably the best dribbler that I've ever seen in this age… And also a beast defending… I can't lie to you, I don't have a plan."

The score was now 52-30. The faces of the Kadooka players reflected their mounting anxiety. They clutched the ball with trepidation, double-checking every pass to ensure Akira was not nearby.

"Bastard... He's killing our rhythm. Is there anything I can do to stop him?" Makito thought, frustration mounting.

Raising his hand, Makito signaled for a one-on-one isolation against Akira. The stands erupted with anticipation, though some murmured doubts about Makito's chances.

"Fair against that blonde? He's on fire today..."

"Shut up! Makito is our best player. If he thinks he can do it, he can!"

"That's ridiculous..." Daichi scoffed from the bench.

"Like this?" Kazuya asked, puzzled.

"You freshmen don't get it... An isolation play puts immense pressure on the player. If Makito fails, the team's morale will drop. It's a high-risk, high-reward situation. Makito's skilled, no doubt—he beat us last year. But those two months were enough for me to notice something crucial…"

Makito attempted his most reliable move—a sprint followed by a step-back to create space for a shot. However, Akira remained steadfast, denying any opening. Makito struggled to find space, his frustration growing.

"If I pass now, I'll lower the team's morale... I need to score. I need to create some space..."

Suddenly, Makito saw an opening. He jumped, confident in his shot.

"The form of my shot is perfect... Akira is still on the ground..."

But as the ball left Makito's fingers, Akira soared up, casting a shadow over the light. Not only did Akira block the shot, but he also snatched the ball with one hand.

"It's impossible..."

"Akira doesn't lose one-on-one battles," Daichi commented, awe evident in his voice.

I didn't want to kill the spirit in the first few minutes, but I love crushing games at the end.

With no defender in front of him, Akira sprinted toward the basket. Makito turned to watch, helpless. Akira took a deep breath, crouched low, and with all his strength, leapt skyward.

"I've been waiting to do this in an official match for a long time!"

With both hands, Akira executed a powerful dunk, hanging briefly before letting go. The arena fell silent. Dunks at the junior level were rare in Japan, and for a freshman, it was almost unheard of. Everyone stared in astonishment.

What a feeling... Winning an isolation and dunking—Japan is rewarding me so much.

Akira raised his arms in an 'X' formation, celebrating his point. The match atmosphere shifted dramatically, Makito's confidence shattered, and Sekiro's lead grew insurmountable. There was no hope for Kadooka to mount a comeback.

At halftime, the scoreboard displayed a commanding lead: 74-34 in favor of Sekiro. On the Sekiro bench, a victorious atmosphere prevailed. The team playfully ruffled Akira's hair, celebrating his contributions.

Yamamoto surveyed the Kadooka bench and thought, "These kids have given up. Makito, who defeated us last year, is completely defeated and not even looking at the court. This match is over. My strategy has failed. There's no one who can steal the spotlight from this kid."