The flames of battle reignited on the court.
Shohoku on offense.
Miyagi Ryota dribbled past half-court, fingers flashing as he signaled a play.
"Akagi-senpai!"
The ball was lobbed precisely into the post.
Akagi Takenori planted himself hard against Uozumi, back to the basket.
Two mountains of flesh collided violently.
"Uozumi! I'm paying you back—with interest!"
With a furious roar, Akagi spun forcefully and exploded upward—
Gripping the ball with both hands for a thunderous "Gorilla Dunk"!
But...
At the very instant he rose into the air.
A massive shadow swallowed the lights above.
Uozumi Jun.
The giant of Ryonan—who had just been toyed with by Juro and mocked by Sakuragi—now burned with a blazing desire for redemption.
"Don't get cocky, Akagi!!"
Uozumi roared, his long arm swinging down like an executioner's axe.
"BANG!!"
A sharp, explosive crack echoed through the arena.
The ball was slammed hard against the backboard—pinned in place as if welded to it.
A brutal chase-down block!
Pure violence. Raw, unfiltered violence!
"WOOO!! CAPTAIN!!"
Ryonan's bench erupted instantly, towels spinning like propellers.
"Beautiful, Uozumi-senpai!!"
The ball ricocheted out—
And as if guided by fate, landed right in the hands of Sendoh Akira on the perimeter.
Transition—instantaneous.
But Sendoh didn't rush.
One hand on the ball, he dribbled across half-court at an unhurried pace.
That familiar smile still hung on his face—
Yet deep in his eyes lay a cold, unfathomable abyss.
Juro's humiliating dunk had awakened Ryonan.
Especially Sendoh.
If the system had been cracked…
If their teamwork had been cut apart…
Then they'd return to the most primal, savage form of basketball.
Rukawa Kaede stepped up immediately.
He lowered his center of gravity, those dead-fish eyes gleaming like an unsheathed blade.
"I'm going to beat you."
His voice was low—
But carried an unyielding resolve.
Sendoh stopped.
Looking at the fiercely determined freshman, his smile tilted slightly, calm and composed like a veteran.
"Sure."
"Then try and stop me."
Before the words even finished—
"Thump!"
The ball slammed the floor.
Sendoh moved.
No fancy fakes—just a simple between-the-legs dribble.
Left to right.
The rhythm was flawless—like the ball was part of his body.
Rukawa's pupils shrank.
His body instinctively slid right to cut off the lane.
But in that 0.01-second shift of balance—
Sendoh suddenly stopped.
Between-the-legs pullback.
The ball snapped back to his left hand like it had springs.
Rukawa's balance faltered for just a moment—his ankle letting out a strained protest.
Just a split second—
But for Sendoh, that was all he needed.
Step-back.
Jump.
His body stretched midair—textbook perfect.
Rukawa lunged with everything he had, fingertips just inches away from the ball.
But those inches...
Might as well have been a chasm.
Sendoh flicked his wrist softly.
The ball arced high, a perfect rainbow.
Spinning. Falling.
"Swish!"
A soft sound—like music.
The net rippled.
Nothing but net.
Three points!
57:49.
The gap shrank to eight.
"Nice shot!!"
"Sendoh! Sendoh! Sendoh!!"
Ryonan's cheers nearly blew the roof off.
Sendoh landed without celebration—
Just casually flicked his wrist and winked at Rukawa, looking both irritating and effortlessly cool.
"Still need more practice, Rukawa."
Rukawa clenched his jaw, fists tightening with sharp cracks.
The fire in his eyes burned even brighter—like it might bore holes straight through Sendoh.
Possession switched.
Shohoku ball.
Makino Juro casually received the inbound.
He glanced at the scoreboard, then at Sendoh retreating on defense, clicking his tongue.
"Still hanging on, huh."
Dribbling lazily, he strolled upcourt like it was his own backyard.
Just past midcourt—
A figure blocked his path.
Sendoh Akira.
This time, he ignored Rukawa. Ignored everyone else.
His eyes locked solely onto Makino Juro.
The floor spread open.
Everyone instinctively cleared out.
This was a conversation between aces.
No extras allowed.
"Nice three just now."
Makino Juro stopped two steps beyond the three-point line.
Holding the ball loosely in one hand at his side—
Arrogance overflowing.
"But that's about it. Barely passing."
Sendoh said nothing.
He simply spread his arms, dropping low.
His eyes locked onto Juro's shoulders—unwavering.
Every instinct screamed—
This man was the most dangerous monster on the court.
"What, no response?"
"Playing it cool?"
Makino Juro grinned, flashing white teeth.
That wild, feral aura—belonging to Aomine Daiki—surged out from his very bones.
"Then let me show you…"
"What real despair looks like."
The moment the words fell—
Makino Juro moved.
No warning.
Like a supercar launching from zero—
Explosive acceleration in an instant.
"Thump!"
Ball and body fused into one.
A hard drive to the right!
Sendoh reacted instantly, sliding to cut him off.
His defensive positioning was perfect—
Right on Makino Juro's path, like a shadow that couldn't be shaken.
For a normal player, that alone would've forced a stop—
Or a turnover.
But Makino Juro wasn't normal.
He was broken.
Faced with the block—
He didn't slow down.
Instead…
He jumped?
From a full step beyond the free-throw line?
Who jumps from there to attack the rim—what is this, flying?!
"Idiot!"
Uozumi roared from the paint, charging in like a furious gorilla to help.
But in the next second—
Everyone froze.
Jaws dropped.
Makino Juro wasn't heading toward the rim.
In midair, his body arched backward to an extreme degree.
His right hand gripped the ball high above his head.
His entire form stretched like a fully drawn bow—
Explosive tension radiating from every muscle.
This wasn't a shot.
Not a layup either.
Even though he was using Aomine Daiki's template—
And playing an unorthodox style.
With enough physical power…
With enough monstrous bounce…
Turning the ball into a weapon wasn't exclusive to anyone.
Under thousands of eyes—
Makino Juro glided through the air.
At the peak—
His wrist snapped.
Like swinging a battle axe that could split the heavens.
He hurled the ball...
Yes, hurled it...
Straight at the rim!
A scoring method that defied basketball fundamentals—
And even basic physics!
The ball became a blazing orange meteor.
Howling through the air, tearing it apart.
It soared past Sendoh's raised arm.
Past Uozumi's horrified gaze—
And slammed straight toward the basket!
"BOOOOOOM!!!"
At the moment it went in—
The sound exploded.
Not the crisp swish of a clean shot—
But a violent roar, like it would tear the net apart, crack the floor, and shatter the entire hoop.
Meteor Slam Dunk!
END OF CHAPTER
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The King Of Slacking Off - MrBehringer's Secret
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