Chapter 92 : VS Shenshinkan High I - Kagami's Sudden Explosion

"Okay, everyone! This is our final revenge! Last year, we couldn't even win for once against those three Tokyo Kings. But this time, we are stronger than ever! We have already won against Seiho and Shutoku, two Tokyo Kings in a row! And now, facing Senshinkan, kill them and grab the ticket to the National Tournament!"

"YES, COACH!"

It is just another ordinary Friday for any people outside of the Tokyo Gymnasium. But not for the Seirin High basketball team, which would face their do-or-die game against Senshinkan High. Riko tried to not emphasize the urgency to win to go to the national tournament to prevent too much pressure on the players. Instead, she poured oil to the revenge that is burning in their players' eyes, reminding them about their humiliating loss last year so they could go crazy this game.

And it seems to be successful, as she could see the seriousness on the second-year players' faces. Even Koganei who usually cracked a joke in a serious moment like this is not in the mood to do that, decided to shut his mouth and watch his teammates warming up intently.

Riko sighed, knowing what Koganei might be thinking right now. She turned her head from him to Senshinkan's bench and observed them warming up too. To be exact, her eyes landed on the Senshinkan player with jersey number #2, Natsuo Oda.

-Little flashback-

"Natsuo Oda," Riko spoke in the scouting session a day before the game. "With so many senior players graduated last year, he is probably Senshinkan's best player and their backbone right now. If I could describe him, he would be the better version of Furihata-kun."

Furihata startled for a second. "Me?"

"Yeah." Riko nodded. "Oda is fast, accurate, and smart on the court. His on-the-spot judgment last year always managed to kill our momentum. His defense is also tough. What makes me say he is the better version of Furihata-kun is because his playing style is a bit similar, a control freak and perfectionist."

Furihata rolled his eyes at the chuckle he heard from his teammates while thinking inwardly. This is the first time he heard anyone describe himself like that. Is that a good thing or bad? He shook his head, trying to snap his thought and get his focus back on Riko.

"However, he has one nasty habit, which could make us suffer if we are not careful. The senior members have already known about this, especially Koganei, right?"

The first-year players looked around at their senpai confusedly, especially when they saw the fierce gaze from Koganei when the ever-goofy senpai nodded his head, his fists clenched tightly.

"Because the first year didn't know about it, I would say it so that you can remember and be careful about him." Riko ignored Koganei's reaction and just continued her explanation. "He likes to target one of the players on the court, and once he landed his eyes on one of you, he would never let you go. He would always try to single you no matter what, keep trash-talking to break your mind, and would keep scoring on the targeted player just to spite it in their face. Last year, it was Koganei who was targeted by him, and he managed to score 43 points out of 138 points they scored, and we lost almost 100 points in that game."

The first-year players looked at their senpai with dumbfounded expression, couldn't believe that their senpai who always looked so strong would suffer that kind of humiliation.

"But that was in the past!" Riko clapped her hands, gaining her players' attention, especially the second year who experienced that disaster game last year. "Right now, I believe we are stronger than them. You are stronger than last year, and you also have a strong kouhai behind you. Let's wash away this shame tomorrow!"

"Yes, Coach!"

-End of the flashback-

Even though Koganei didn't show anything, Riko knows, out of all her players, he was the one affected the most by the humiliation last year. Hell, if not for Kiyoshi talking to him, he even wanted to stop playing basketball because of that.

That's why Riko decided to give him the opportunity to be one of the starters in this game, replacing Kuroko as the small forward. Not only for revenge, it would also boost Koganei's confidence and raised the second-years' morale.

She just hopes Koganei didn't waste this opportunity and showed her and all of the players his growth.

--------------------------------------------------------------

Five minutes later, the game is finally about to start, with Kagami and Senshinkan center, Narita, standing in the center of the court, ready for the tip-off. And unsurprisingly, with his explosive jump, Kagami overpowered the second-year center and tipped the ball straight to Izuki.

"Red is on fire today," Furihata commented from the bench. Kuroko nodded lightly in agreement with him.

"Yeah.. Watching his favorite player win a ring really boosts his spirit. I heard him mutter a while ago about trying to do a chase-down block like Lebron did in his last game. And Alex-san's promise to buy everyone an all-you-can-eat Yakiniku also affected him a bit. That's why his condition right now is understandable."

Furihata narrowed his eyes slightly. Yeah, after Alex announced that she won about 120,000 dollars, she promised the team free Yakiniku if they could win this game, adding more motivation for the players to do their best. But Furihata knows, getting too excited could lead them into a dangerous state.

"Well, let's just hope they didn't get too excited and do something reckless. Riko-senpai would eat us alive if that happened."

And for that, Kuroko agreed too.

-----------------------------------

"Senpai, here!"

Kagami asked for the ball, standing in a high post while using his elbow to prevent Narita from getting too close to him. Izuki saw his position as favorable, so he passed the ball to the red-haired boy. However, right after Kagami gets the ball, another Senshinkan players come to double-team him.

'A double team? Tch, amateur.'

Kagami tried to force himself to drive forward. But when the corner of his eyes caught the sudden movement in the corner area, his hand reacted quickly, sending the ball over two Shensinkan players' heads.

"Nice pass, Kagami-kun!"

Kiyoshi who cut from the backdoor grabbed the ball easily, taking advantage of the double-team on Kagami to score in an open situation.

*Splash!*

"Nice one, Kiyoshi!"

"Keep it up!"

"EVERYONE, RUN!"

When all the Seirin players are still celebrating the last play, they suddenly heard a familiar shout from the Senshinkan's side. It was Oda who was about to throw the ball, ready to do the infamous 'Red run' play from Seirin.

Yeah, since the first time, Furihata did it with Kagami, there are a lot of teams who tried to imitate this play. And many have proven its usefulness, considering how easy it is. It only needs several players to run toward the opponent's side when their offense is over, and one initiator to pass the ball from their own area. But since the ones who popularized this play are Kagami and Furihata, nobody knows this strategy better than them.

"DAMN! DEFENSE!"

"GO BACK! QUICK!"

When his teammates are still trying to get back into their positions, the red-haired power forward had already run back toward Seirin's own side, his eyes are tracking two players who are in the open position.

'Okay, which one of you will shoot? Which one, which one.... There you are!'

Right when Narita, Senshinkan's center is about to pass the ball to the shooting guard, Saki, Kagami extended his arms toward their direction, threatening to cut the pass.

"DAMN!"

Narita who saw the sudden steal attempt gritted his teeth, retreating his hand, and decided to go forward with a euro-step layup. But that was what Kagami wanted him to do as if the shooting guard had the ball, it would be hard for him to close the distance and stop the shoot from coming. But if it was a head-on fight like this, he would receive it with open arms.

"Come here!"

When he saw Narita jump, Kagami did the same, showing his explosiveness in front of the center. Narita tried to fool Kagami by doing a jelly layup. But when their bodies bumped with each other, he lost his stability in the air, and a moment later,

*SLAP!!!*

"OOOOOH!!!"

"NICE BLOCK, KAGAMI-KUN!"

But Kagami didn't stop just like that. When he saw the rebound go in Koganei's direction, right after he landed on the floor, he sprinted forward, taking advantage of the chaotic situation to sneak into Senshinkan's defense.

"SENPAI!"

Koganei who saw his movement understands what Kagami wanted to do. So, when he was about to be blocked by one of Senshinkan's players, Koganei bounced the ball to Izuki who also has a tacit understanding with Kagami, and a second later, the ball went straight to Kagami's hand.

"Nice pass, Senpai!"

Kagami grinned a little before he took a jump from the spot near the free throw area, ignoring the crowd in front of him. Unsurprisingly, someone also did the same, but it was from Senshinkan.

"DON'T THINK YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT HERE!"

It was Oda who initiated the last transition and hasn't gone forward who tried to stop him. But instead of backing down and doing some tricks, Kagami did what he thinks he is the best at, overpowering Senshinkan's ace in the aerial battle.

When both players touched the ball at the same time in the air and the contest turned into a strength battle, Kagami grinned excitedly, adding his other hand to the ball to add more force. Oda gritted his teeth, trying to resist Kagami's attack. But it was proven useless, as a second later, he found himself falling to the floor, with Kagami hanging on the rim while staring at him coldly.

*BAAAAMM!!*

A two-handed dunk! Kagami posterized Oda! And not just that, he did it after overpowering Narita and blocking his shoot a few seconds ago!

Kagamis is on fire today!

"Nice play, Kagami-kun!"

"Keep it up!"

When all the Seirin players celebrated Kagami's last play, Kagami's eyes suddenly meet Oda's who is still on the ground. And in a second, they both realized, it was the beginning of the confrontation between the ace of Seirin and Senshinkan High.

-------------------------------------------

Author note :

If you want to support me more, you can visit my Patreon page on patreon(.)com/ZetaFaes

You can also read this fanfiction up to chapter 112 on that page. Thank you! :)

-Zeta Faes-