Chapter 147: You're Really Easy to Fool
"Fukui, can you hold up?" Coach Araki Masako worried about her player's condition. Even from the sideline, she could feel the oppressive presence Akashi Seijuro radiated.
"It's only been one quarter. Of course I'm fine." Fukui Kensuke looked up with a bitter smile. "Besides, I haven't really accomplished anything anyway."
"That's already quite good." Murasakibara Atsushi suddenly spoke. "Still having fighting spirit after Aka-chin treats you like that—you've already surpassed ninety percent of point guards."
"I can't feel happy even hearing you say that." Fukui rolled his eyes. "And show some respect when talking to upperclassmen, you punk!"
"Anyway, Fukui-senpai can't stop Akashi," Liu Wei thought aloud. "What if we let Himuro try?"
"Though I hate to admit it, I probably can't do it either." Himuro Tatsuya's expression showed slight dejection, though he quickly adjusted his mood. "I think Akashi's drives are so hard to defend not just because of his burst speed, but because he reads the defender's weight shifts."
"Without Aomine's breakthrough ability, it's impossible to shake Akashi one-on-one. So to defend him—or rather, to limit him as much as possible—we need at least a second person."
"Double team?" Okamura Kenichi considered the plan's feasibility.
"Himuro's right. I was thinking the same thing." Coach Araki placed the tactical board before her players.
"Most of Rakuzan's first quarter points came from mid-range and perimeter shots. The biggest threats are Akashi and Mibuchi, then Hayama. Nebuya and Mayuzumi's offensive threats are near the rim."
"So I want to leave the paint to Murasakibara alone. Okamura, expand your defensive range near the free throw line. Once Akashi breaks the first line, you need to step up immediately and delay, forcing him to pass early."
"Yes!" Okamura nodded.
"Mmm." Murasakibara gave a lazy acknowledgment, though his eyes were serious.
"Himuro, Liu Wei—your job is to disrupt your matchup's shots as best you can. Don't worry about those strange passes. After all, the finishing point is right in front of you."
"Yes!"
"Understood!"
Coach Araki wanted to force Rakuzan to finish through Mayuzumi Chihiro, their lowest percentage option. As long as Yosen's offensive efficiency stayed higher, they could maintain their lead.
"On offense, keep running through Murasakibara, but don't just force it. Use more off-ball cuts after screens and baseline movement. Himuro, increase your on-ball offense in the second quarter to relieve pressure on Fukui and Murasakibara."
The whistle blew.
Both teams returned to the court. Play resumed.
Rakuzan's ball. Akashi Seijuro steadily pushed up.
"Sorato, what do you think Rakuzan will do on offense?" Sendoh Akira asked with sudden interest.
Yagami Sorato glanced at him. "How about we say it together?"
"Alright then. Three, two, one!"
"Attack inside!" Both said in unison.
Coach Taoka sat in front, ears perking up. After hearing Sendoh and Yagami's exchange, he fell into thought.
Inside offense was definitely necessary. The tactical battle between both teams would determine when Rakuzan attacked the paint. But Coach Taoka believed it should be in the second half, at least after Murasakibara's stamina depleted enough that he couldn't cover such a large defensive area.
After all, with Murasakibara protecting Yosen's rim, Rakuzan attacking inside meant risking fast breaks. The first quarter had seen them fall behind precisely from failed interior attacks.
Akashi Seijuro paused at the top of Yosen's arc. Fukui Kensuke focused completely on tracking his movement.
"Whoosh!"
The ball flew past Fukui's ear, directly toward the basket.
"What?"
Fukui hadn't reacted at all. The ball pierced through the defense, delivered into Nebuya Eikichi's hands under the rim!
"Finally get to attack inside! Let me try this!" After catching the ball, Nebuya's head heated up, completely forgetting the halftime tactics.
"Bang!"
Nebuya backed down hard toward the basket, colliding with Murasakibara Atsushi.
Didn't budge an inch!
"???"
"???"
Yagami Sorato and Sendoh Akira exchanged glances. This wasn't the interior offense they'd imagined. What was that idiot doing...
Murasakibara suddenly exploded with force, trying to push Nebuya out of the paint before pressuring.
The whistle blew.
"Huh?!" Murasakibara looked unhappily at the referee.
"Rakuzan number eight, traveling!"
"Pfft." After Nebuya raised his hand to acknowledge the call, Murasakibara simply took the ball from his hands. "So you're an idiot."
"You punk!"
Before Nebuya could curse back, Mibuchi Reo patted his shoulder.
"Get back on defense quickly. Don't do anything unnecessary!"
"Damn it!" Nebuya ran sullenly toward Rakuzan's end.
"I don't recall calling for such a stupid offensive approach." Akashi Seijuro said coldly as Nebuya passed him. "There won't be a next time. You'd better remember every instruction I give from here on."
Nebuya's frame stiffened. "Sorry. I understand."
Yosen's ball.
Fukui Kensuke cautiously dribbled past halfcourt. Akashi Seijuro didn't pressure up, instead standing quietly a step inside the three-point line.
"Not coming up..." Fukui stayed alert, calling out a play.
Himuro Tatsuya used an Okamura screen to cut to the corner. Hayama Kotaro quickly fought over the pick.
Fukui passed out. Himuro caught it and faked the shot.
"Not happening!" Hayama took the final step and jumped to contest.
Himuro brought the ball back down, reversed toward the forty-five degree angle, and pulled up without any adjustment!
Mayuzumi Chihiro closed out hard.
"Swish!"
Nothing but net. Three-pointer good!
Rakuzan 23, Yosen 30.
"Beautiful shot, Himuro!" Yosen's bench erupted with enthusiastic cheers.
"Himuro's form is truly gorgeous. The connection between his shot and drives is so smooth and fluid—not just Hayama, even I at the commentary desk got fooled by his fakes!"
Possession changed. Rakuzan on offense.
Akashi Seijuro pushed the ball up. Rakuzan's formation quietly shifted.
Mibuchi Reo and Hayama Kotaro simultaneously cut to the corners, while Nebuya Eikichi and Mayuzumi Chihiro moved toward Akashi at the top.
"No one under the basket? What's Rakuzan doing?" Uozumi Jun looked confused at the court.
"They want to draw Murasakibara out of the paint." Yagami Sorato explained.
However, Murasakibara on the court didn't move.
Akashi dribbled left. Mibuchi stepped up as if to receive. Liu Wei stuck tight from behind.
"Whoosh!"
Akashi flicked his wrist. The ball flew to the opposite side.
Nebuya caught it. Against Okamura's defense, he immediately passed toward the basket.
Mayuzumi Chihiro cut to the rim!
"Hm?"
Murasakibara blocked Mayuzumi, but the ball never stayed in his hands—it flew left.
Mibuchi Reo had used Nebuya's screen to curl back to the left wing at forty-five degrees. Catch, bend, rise, release—one fluid motion.
Okamura's recovery was a step slow.
"Swish!"
Three-pointer good!
Rakuzan 26, Yosen 30.
"Beautiful ball movement!" The announcer exclaimed. "Through continuous interior-exterior passing, Rakuzan created a perfect open three for Mibuchi!"
"Who knew Nebuya had such good high-post screening and playmaking awareness? You really can't judge a book by its cover!"
"???" Nebuya heard the announcer praising him but didn't understand what happened.
"So it can work like that..." Yagami Sorato held his chin thoughtfully. "In that case, Uozumi-senpai should be able to do it too."
Just based on appearance, Yagami felt Nebuya's IQ should be slightly lower, while Uozumi had shown decent playmaking awareness from the post. Though he always struggled understanding off-ball movement, if he just planted himself, no problem!
Yagami considered quietly—Ryonan's offense might have even more possibilities.
Possession changed. Yosen on offense.
Rakuzan's adjustments made the players' expressions grave. This kind of offense that didn't rely on individual ability would be very troublesome in regulation time.
"Definitely Aka-chin's setup..." Murasakibara muttered under his breath as he picked up the ball, inbounding to Fukui Kensuke from the baseline.
Fukui slowly pushed past halfcourt. The instant he sensed Akashi moving, he immediately passed right to Himuro Tatsuya.
But Himuro didn't hold it either, quickly lobbing inside to Murasakibara.
Murasakibara caught it, back to Nebuya Eikichi.
Rakuzan's defense quickly collapsed—Mibuchi Reo abandoned Liu Wei, moving toward the basket. Mayuzumi also rotated from the weak side, forming a three-man trap!
"Pass it, Atsushi!" Okamura Kenichi stood open at the free throw line, hand raised.
But Murasakibara seemed not to hear. He backed down powerfully. Nebuya was forced half a step back by the force. Then Murasakibara pivoted on his left foot, spinning toward the baseline with explosive speed, slamming the ball one-handed through the rim!
"Smack!"
"BOOM!"
From the wing, Mayuzumi helped but only managed to slap Murasakibara's forearm.
The whistle blew.
"Rakuzan number five, shooting foul! Basket counts, one free throw!"
"Hmph!"
Murasakibara glared hard at Mayuzumi. Free throw made.
Rakuzan 26, Yosen 33.
"Geez, that guy's still terrifying." Ikegami Ryoji recalled unpleasant memories.
"Yeah, but I'd really like to face him again." Uozumi Jun's words shocked everyone. Before, his eyes had seemingly only held the name "Akagi Takenori," but since reaching nationals, his horizons had greatly expanded.
Six minutes into the second quarter, Fukui Kensuke—stable for half the period—got picked by Akashi Seijuro again.
Fukui tried to immediately foul Akashi to stop Rakuzan's fast break.
Instead, Akashi seemed to predict even that move, easily avoiding Fukui before passing.
"Oh, what a terrifying guy!" Sendoh clicked his tongue.
"Fast break!"
After catching it, Hayama Kotaro sprinted like a cheetah. Himuro Tatsuya chased relentlessly.
Both charged ahead nearly simultaneously. The instant Hayama entered the paint, he lobbed it off the backboard—
"Bang!"
The ball bounced off the glass. Hayama rose, caught it in midair, contorted to avoid Himuro's contest, and finished with the reverse!
"Swish!"
Two-pointer good!
Rakuzan 38, Yosen 43.
"How's that!" Hayama asked smugly.
But Himuro completely ignored him, immediately grabbing the ball and firing it hard from the baseline.
Liu Wei jumped high to catch it, immediately lobbing inside. Murasakibara received it, bent his knees and prepared to explode upward—
"Smack!"
Just as Murasakibara gripped the ball about to rise, Akashi Seijuro appeared under Yosen's basket, tipping the ball away from below.
"???"
Akashi controlled possession. Rakuzan launched the counter!
"Get back!!!" Fukui Kensuke shouted while he and Liu Wei simultaneously trapped Akashi.
Akashi pushed forward, his pace unhurried. The instant before they could close, without even looking at them, his wrist flicked.
"Whoosh!"
The ball went through Fukui's legs, bounced off the floor, precisely delivered to the lead man among three trailing figures from the weak side.
Mibuchi Reo!
He caught it, planted for the adjustment, rose, released!
"Watch out!"
"Smack!"
Murasakibara actually chased from behind, swatting the ball violently away!
But Akashi Seijuro precisely predicted the first rebound. He controlled it, took two forward steps and casually tossed it skyward.
"Swish!"
Layup good!
Rakuzan 40, Yosen 43.
"Akashi again! In the blink of an eye, one offensive play and one defensive stop rapidly closed the gap!"
"Damn it, were we too hasty?" Himuro said unwillingly. They'd wanted to counter quickly but instead got exploited.
"Don't worry about it! Focus on the next play!" Okamura consoled. Right now, stabilizing was most important.
Possession changed. Yosen on offense.
Fukui's dribbling carried a tense edge. When Akashi pressed up, like a startled bird, he immediately passed right.
Himuro Tatsuya caught it at the right forty-five. Looking flustered, without any adjustment, he immediately faked rising.
"This rushed?!" Hayama jumped to contest.
Himuro's expression changed. He quickly gathered, smoothly driving one step before pulling up at the free throw line.
His motion flowed like water, elegant as dance.
The ball traced a flat arc—
"Swish!"
Nothing but net.
Rakuzan 40, Yosen 45.
"You were acting again?!" Hayama stared furiously at Himuro.
Rather than being fooled by the shot fake, he'd been deceived by Himuro's expression.
"Can't help it. You're really easy to fool." Himuro smiled.
Possession changed. Rakuzan on offense.
After shaking Fukui, Akashi didn't penetrate inside. Instead, he pulled up directly for three.
"Swish!"
Made it!
Akashi Seijuro still maintained one hundred percent shooting!
Two minutes left in the half. Akashi's stat line: five-for-five shooting, twelve points, ten assists, three steals!
Rakuzan 43, Yosen 45.
"Kotaro, you also have one last chance." Akashi said coldly as he passed Hayama Kotaro on defense.
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