Vs. Seihō II

The first quarter of the game is still ongoing, and due to Shōgo's outstanding scoring ability, Fukuda Junior High leads Seihō Junior High with a score of 28-20.

Shōgo looked at the determined gaze of Tomoki in front of him and showed a hint of admiration.

Indeed, this is the guy who managed to shut down Ryōta Kise and Taiga Kagami's defense during his freshman year and even held his ground against Daiki Aomine after advancing to the high school division, causing Aomine to commit four fouls.

However, today you're facing me, Shōgo. You won't be able to guard me!

Shōgo received the ball, made a fake move to shake off Tomoki, and dribbled away at high speed.

Tomoki followed closely, determined not to be discouraged and attempting to block Shōgo.

Both of them leaped high, with Shōgo smirking in the air for a brief moment. At that moment, Tomoki's hand landed on Shōgo's back.

The whistle blew, foul by #10 Tomoki.

"Clang!"

The basketball went through the net, and a technical foul awarded one free throw.

At the free-throw line, the basketball spun in Shōgo's hand before gracefully sinking into the basket, earning a point.

And at that moment, the whistle sounded, marking the end of the first quarter.

This small action by Shōgo was no random act. He intended to strike at Tomoki's confidence.

To undermine someone, you must strike them in their strongest area, to shatter their confidence effectively.

Shōgo aimed to put immense pressure on Tomoki, forcing him to carry a heavy burden and weakening his confidence, all while accelerating his energy consumption.

This was Shōgo's ultimate goal. Only by doing so could he score more effortlessly and conserve his stamina.

As the first quarter came to an end, nearly all the players on the court were panting heavily, with most of them only capable of enduring another quarter at most.

In other words, the upcoming game would be a continuous rotation of players—a testament to the drawbacks of this unconventional strategy. Running one-on-one defense across the court consumes an extraordinary amount of energy.

For most players, playing a full game would be impossible. This was the greatest weakness and the deepest lament.

Regaining focus, Shōgo accepted the bottle of mineral water offered by Rina, taking a big gulp that instantly cooled his heated body.

For Shōgo, the physical exertion in the first quarter was akin to a warm-up exercise.

However, for his teammates, it was an exhausting endeavor.

The second quarter began quickly, with only a three-minute break.

Taking the ball, Shōgo looked at Tomoki, who continued to closely defend him, and said something.

"You still haven't told me, what does it feel like to fail to show off?"

"I... didn't... show off..."

Before the last word left his mouth, Tomoki noticed Shōgo had already vanished.

Tomoki was left stunned, standing still for a couple of seconds before turning around to give chase. Yet, it was already too late. The basketball had slipped from Shōgo's hand, and with a "swoosh," it dropped into the net.

Shōgo swiftly moved, reaching the rebound under the basket, and continued to Tomoki's side, repeating the same question.

"Are you not going to tell me how it feels to fail to show off?"

With that, Shōgo darted away, leaving a frustrated Tomoki behind.

As Tomoki chased after him again, Shōgo abruptly stopped, preparing for a jump shot.

In pursuit, Tomoki couldn't stop in time and collided with Shōgo. The basketball floated out of Shōgo's hand as they made contact, falling into the net.

The whistle blew, a successful 2-point shot, and #10 Tomoki was charged with a personal foul. One free throw was awarded.

"Swoosh!"

"Another clean shot" Shōgo smiled as he retreated to defense. Tomoki, on the other hand, had already been substituted off the court due to his foul.

Thus, Shōgo's smile was for a reason: the opportunity to score had arrived.

On the basketball court, the cheers, shouts, encouragement, and applause fluctuated, but they couldn't deter the red-clad player with the number 6.

With #10 Tomoki off the court, no one could stop Shōgo's offensive strides.

However, conversely, Fukuda Junior High, aside from Shōgo occasionally stealing the ball, couldn't prevent Seihō Junior High School from scoring.

This was, in fact, Seihō's coach's cunning plan. Since they had no player capable of guarding Shōgo, there was no need to assign a defender. Instead, they increased their scoring efforts, keeping pace with points and ultimately providing them with a chance to turn the game around.

And in the current situation, exchanging points is the best scenario.

Exhausting Fukuda's players as soon as possible would create the perfect opportunity for Seihō to claim victory.

Those who understood this weren't limited to Seihō's basketball coach; Fukuda's coach, as well as Shōgo on the court, also grasped this concept.

Understanding this, Shōgo began a frenzy of scoring through shooting.

Sweat dripped incessantly, dampening his hair and soaking his once dry and crisp head. It now lay limp on his forehead.

Fukuda's players were nearly all clutching their knees, breathing heavily.

Amidst this fatigued endurance, the sound of the whistle signaled the end of the game.

In the final moments, the basketball found its way into the net, freezing the score.

Fukuda Junior High versus Seihō Junior High, with a final score of 86-72, Fukuda Junior High emerged victorious.

In the resting area, the players cheered, while on the basketball court, others were too tired to move.

Step by step, they walked to the resting area, where Rina handed them mineral water and towels.

Shōgo took a large gulp of water, then poured it over his head. Covering his face with the towel, he slumped into a chair.

The sound of heavy breathing filled the air, like a heavy hammer pounding on the other players.

The teammates, who were initially jubilant, became quiet as they observed the tired state of their comrades.

Waiting for a few of them to catch their breath, the true cost of this eccentric strategy—the immense sacrifice required for victory—became all too apparent to everyone present.

With the recent addition of inexperienced players who had only joined a few days ago, almost every player from Fukuda Junior High had taken the court, most only capable of playing one or two quarters.

As for the exhausted core scoring hand of the team, the player in the #6 jersey, Shōgo, played the entire game. That had to be incredibly draining.

"Alright, players who just came off the court, take a break. The rest of you, pack up, we're heading back."

Coach Kudo, his face filled with excitement, loudly called to his players as they busied themselves preparing to leave.

This game was indeed exhausting. Tomoki from Seihō was truly a thorn in their side. Breaking through his defense required even faster speed and reaction time.

Furthermore, Shōgo had spent some of his energy intentionally targeting Tomoki to make it easier for him in the later stages of the game, waiting until Tomoki was substituted before going all out to score.

It was truly draining, and Shōgo realized that his exceptional endurance wasn't as powerful as he had imagined.

If he were to face Teiko now, his stamina might prove insufficient.

Exhausted, Shōgo, after boarding the bus, collapsed into a chair and fell asleep.

As he dozed off, his head leaned to the side, resting on Rina's shoulder.

Whether it was intentional or not, only the sleeping Shōgo knew.

As for Rina, she quietly turned her head and glanced at the slumbering Shōgo, a gentle smile playing on her lips.