Slam Dunk: Sakuragi learned from Kawamura Eiki's experience

In the stands, the four members of Sakuragi's group jumped up almost simultaneously, looking at Sakuragi's position with worried expressions.

On the sidelines near the Shohoku bench, a black shadow moved faster than anyone else.

Yuri Yanai jumped up from her seat next to the bench. The dry towel she had been holding for Sakuragi was now thrown to the ground.

After Sakuragi was maliciously fouled and thrown to the ground by Maki Shinichi, her eyes changed in that instant. The shell of a well-behaved young lady burst open, revealing the big sister who made all the delinquents in the neighborhood tremble with fear beneath.

"damn it……"

She squeezed out those three words through gritted teeth, and the moment her 172cm long legs took a step forward, Ayako, who reacted the fastest, pounced from the side and grabbed her waist tightly with both hands.

"Yanai! No! Players who are not in the game cannot play!"

Ayako's voice was fast and urgent, her entire weight was on Yanai, and her sneakers screeched on the floor.

"If you go up there, Sakuragi and the others will get a technical foul... no, they'll be ejected from the court, or even suspended! Calm down!"

"Damn it..." Yanai's eyes were still fixed on the red figure that had fallen on the court, and her shoulders were shaking.

It's anger, the kind of anger that comes from seeing the most important person in your life being bullied and not being able to beat the bully to a pulp on the spot.

Yasuda rushed over from behind to help grab her arm, and the two of them dragged her back two steps, Yanai's shoes kicking wildly in the air.

"Calm down, calm down, Sakuragi's alright..."

Yanai paused for a moment, then turned to look at the court.

on the field.

Sakuragi Hanamichi jumped up from the floor, his face full of anger, and was about to rush towards Maki Shinichi to beat him up.

Kogure Kiminobu rushed forward from the side and grabbed Sakuragi tightly with both hands. Kakuta Satoru pounced from the other side and clung to Sakuragi's left arm.

Kogure's glasses were askew on his chin, but he didn't bother to fix them and used all his strength to drag Sakuragi backward.

"Sakuragi! Don't be impulsive!" Kogure's voice was urgent and low. "If you make a move, you'll be ejected! If you're ejected, we'll be out of players! A game we could have easily won will be over."

The words "sent off the field" were like a bucket of ice water poured on the back of Sakuragi's head.

His body stiffened for a moment, then his clenched fist slowly loosened, and the muscles in his shoulders gradually relaxed.

"...Okay." Sakuragi's voice was still a bit hoarse, but he patted Kogure's hands that were holding him. "Let go, Glasses-kun. This genius is fine."

Sidelines.

Supported by Ayako and Yasuda, Yanai saw Sakuragi's fist loosen. Her body relaxed as well. Ayako felt the body in her arms, which had been taut like a bowstring, finally soften, and tentatively loosened her grip.

"Yanai, listen to me," Ayako's voice was still panting, "If you rush in, not only Sakuragi, but the entire Shohoku basketball team will be suspended, do you understand? Don't fall for it!"

Yanai stood on the sidelines, her chest heaving violently. A few strands of her long black hair, loosened during the struggle, clung to her cheeks, and the murderous intent in her eyes hadn't completely faded.

Ayako glanced at the now-calm Yanai, then at Sakuragi walking towards the free-throw line on the court, and a helpless smile appeared on her lips.

"I have to say... these two guys really are like family."

Seeing that Sakuragi calmed down quickly, Maki Shinichi felt a little disappointed.

That's right, he did it on purpose, taking a gamble to provoke Sakuragi. If Sakuragi really couldn't hold back and punched him, getting ejected from the game, then Hainan would have a real chance to catch up and even a slim chance to turn the tide.

But now that Sakuragi has calmed down, it's basically certain that the game is over.

However, the points that need to be caught up must still be caught up. In the round-robin format of the semifinals, when teams have the same number of wins and losses, the point difference becomes the decisive factor for qualifying for the national tournament.

Sakuragi stepped to the free-throw line, received the ball from the referee, and patted it.

Then he made both free throws.

Cheers erupted from the Shohoku bench. Sakuragi turned and ran back, but as he passed the sidelines, a voice called out to him.

"ikebana."

Yuri Yanai stood on the sidelines, not saying a word, but staring intently into Sakuragi's eyes.

Their eyes met, and Sakuragi immediately understood. That look could be summed up in just three words.

"Dry him to death!"

Sakuragi nodded, indicating that he understood.

Shinichi Maki held the ball at the top of the arc, facing Kogure's defense. Maki did not force a drive; instead, his gaze swept over Shohoku's defensive formation.

Kakuta Satoru, the substitute player, is guarding Muto, but his defensive footwork is clearly not keeping up.

Maki passed the ball to Muto. Muto received the ball and, facing Kakuta's defense, broke through in one step.

Sakuragi lunged to help defend from the weak side, but Muto passed the ball to Takasago before Sakuragi could get into position. Takasago received the ball, and Kakuta desperately turned to help defend, but it was too late.

Takasago makes an easy layup.

Shohoku inbounds the ball from the baseline. Miyagi prepares to receive the ball and dribble it across half-court, but a hand blocks his way—Sakuragi Hanamichi's hand.

"Ryota, give me the ball."

Miyagi paused, his brows furrowing. He was about to retort, "What am I, a point guard, supposed to do if I don't have the ball?" when he saw Sakuragi's eyes, eyes burning with a murderous intent.

"All right!"

In the stands, Kenji Fujima and Hanagata were momentarily stunned, then exchanged a glance.

Jun Uozumi stared wide-eyed, his mouth forming an exclamation mark.

"What is he going to do?" Hanagata's voice was full of disbelief.

Fujima couldn't help but recall a scene from the second half of the Shohoku game, where Sakuragi backed him down, driving from the top of the arc to the basket.

On the Shohoku bench, Takenori Akagi was about to stand up.

"What is this guy trying to do!"

A hand pressed down on his arm, pushing Akagi back into the chair.

"Heh heh." Coach Anzai looked calmly at Sakuragi on the court. "Anyway, the outcome is already decided, so let Sakuragi be willful for a bit."

Akagi turned to look at Coach Anzai, opened his mouth briefly, then closed it again.

Sakuragi Hanamichi dribbles the ball across half-court.

Shinichi Maki pressed up from the top of the arc, his defensive stance low, his arms outstretched. His chest was still rising and falling slightly from his previous full-court run, but the fighting spirit in his eyes had reached its peak.

Although victory in this match is hopeless, the point difference must be minimized, as this will affect qualification for the national tournament.

Sakuragi didn't pass the ball; instead, he raised his left hand and waved it at his teammates, signaling them to pull away.

Shohoku's formation spread out like flower petals, leaving the top of the arc open.

One-on-one.

The roar in the stadium reached its peak in that second.

"singles?"

"Sakuragi is going to challenge Maki Shinichi one-on-one!"

"Is he insane?"

The lazy smile on Sendoh Akira's lips disappeared, and he sat up straight.

Aida Yayoi's eyes widened in the press box.

All eyes were fixed on the two figures at the top of the arc.

Maki Shinichi looked at the red-haired man in front of him.

He lowered his center of gravity, adopted a defensive stance, and said, "Come on."

Sakuragi began to test the waters with a crossover dribble.

Then he started backflipping, his shoulder facing Maki Shinichi's chest, especially deliberately aiming for his collarbone and slamming into him relentlessly.

The retort made Maki Shinichi's face change color, and he could only grit his teeth and persevere.

Just when Maki Shinichi was being pushed back and thought Sakuragi was about to turn the tide with a jump shot.

Sakuragi pulled the ball back from his right hand. He stepped back. Pushing off with his right foot, he bounced back two steps, retreating directly to the three-point line.

Maki Shinichi's reaction was incredibly fast. The moment Sakuragi retreated, he pounced on him, pushing off the ground with his feet, leaning forward, raising his right hand high, and stretching his fingers to their limit to block the ball in Sakuragi's hand.

But it was too late.

Sakuragi Hanamichi jumped from beyond the three-point line, raised the ball to forehead height, and snapped his wrist back with a clean and crisp motion.

When the ball left his fingers, it spun quickly and steadily.

Thousands of eyes in the stadium followed the orange basketball as it soared into the air.

Shinichi Maki's palm brushed past the bottom of the ball, missing it by only two inches.

The basketball traced an arc in the air.

Everyone in the stands craned their necks upwards along with the ball, their mouths agape and their breath held.

Time seemed to stretch out.

Then...whoosh.

The white net flips, and three points go in.