Black Basketball: A false start

Chapter 18 Practice Match (Part )
"In my opinion, the two outside players are just average bastards with a bit of brains." Kaneki Ken said nonchalantly while holding a lollipop in his mouth, "They want to block the ball from the outside, but they are dreaming."

After listening to Kaneki Ken's explanation, Sanada Naoto suddenly understood. He had originally felt that the scene of the second team members making mistakes was full of disharmony. After Kaneki Ken's explanation, he no longer hesitated and signaled to the players, "Did you hear what Kaneki just said? Yamazaki Watari, Imayoshi Shoichi is your opponent, be careful not to let him get close to Hanamiya Makoto. Also, if Hanamiya Makoto comes forward to press, remember to do a good pick-and-roll."

"Yes! Coach!" Yamazaki Wataru nodded in response.

"Fujii Itsuki, don't panic when you're being robbed, and don't make unnecessary passes. Just pass the ball between you, Yamazaki Wataru, and Sugitani Taro."

"Yes! Coach!" Fujii Itsuki, who has the name of the male protagonist but the face of a passerby, said that he understood.

"The rest is up to you, Sugitani."

"Leave it to me, coach. I will definitely beat them." Taro Sugitani made a gesture to show his muscles and said confidently.

Just after Naoto Sanada completed the tactical adjustment, the whistle for the end of the timeout was blown, the players returned to the court, and the game resumed.

"You haven't given up yet?" Hua Gongzhen's face looked as if he had discovered a treasure, and he said excitedly, "It seems that crushing you is the most exciting thing for me!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Hanamiya Makoto was about to rush forward to grab the ball, but before Hanamiya Makoto could make any move, Yamazaki Wataru appeared beside Hanamiya Makoto and blocked a space for Fujii Itsuki.

Fujii Itsuki did not hesitate and rushed to the basket towards the open space. The player who was originally facing Sugitani Taro had to step forward to provide defense. Fujii Itsuki made a beautiful through pass and Sugitani Taro made a layup and scored, breaking the five-minute scoring drought for Teiko Junior High School.

"Yoshi!" Taro Sugitani raised his arms and shouted, and enthusiastically high-fived his two teammates on his way back to defense.

This ball seemed to be played with momentum. On the defensive end, Fujii Itsuki had the courage to step forward and press Hanamiya Makoto, and he and Yamazaki Wataru used the same method to fight back, causing Hanamiya Makoto to make a mistake. Finally, Fujii Itsuki scored a fast break layup.

"That's not good, Shin." As soon as I came to Hanamiya Shin, I looked at the backs of the Teiko Junior High School students retreating and said in a playful tone, "It seems that the opponent has gradually adapted to your net, and you were caught in the opponent's net just now."

"Shut up." Hanamiya Makoto said in a furious and cold voice, "The fact that the prey can adapt to the web only means that it has not been poisoned by the spider. I will not hold back any more."

"Really? Compared to me, you are even less likable." Imayoshi Xiangyi said with a wry smile.

"Stop talking nonsense and pass the ball to me later." After saying this, Hanamiya ran to the front court.

Soon, Imayoshi Shoichi, who had dribbled the ball smoothly across half court, passed it to Hanamiya Makoto as usual, leaving it to him to perform. Hanamiya Makoto looked at Fujii Itsuki, who was still excited about scoring a goal, and a sneer appeared on his lips. He waved his hand to signal everyone to move away, and broke into the inside line with Fujii Itsuki. He took the ball and turned around, and hit Fujii Itsuki on the back of his head with his elbow. Fujii Itsuki fell to the ground, and Hanamiya Makoto threw the ball into the basket.

Taro Sugitani rushed forward to block the shot, but Hanamiya Makoto remained calm and said viciously, "How could you destroy my carefully planned spider web to this extent? Is it as simple as an elbow?"

Tarou Sugitani thought to himself that something was wrong, but he had jumped with all his strength and had no strength to adjust his posture in the air. As expected, he stepped on Hanamiya Makoto's foot after landing. There was a click and Tarou Sugitani felt a sharp pain in his foot. The piercing pain made Tarou Sugitani break out in a cold sweat.

"Beep, beep, the game is suspended." Seeing that someone was injured again, the referee on the sidelines immediately blew the whistle for a timeout. The people from Teiko Junior High School could no longer bear it and rushed forward to push and shove with the people from Kiri First Junior High School.

"What? Is this all the Tokyo district tycoon is capable of? If you can't beat them in basketball, you beat them up?" Hanamiya Makoto saw that the situation was about to escalate, and not only was he not afraid, he even taunted him crazily, "Come on, hit me! There are cameras above the gymnasium. If you dare to hit me today, all officials of the Sports Management Committee will receive a video tomorrow. It turns out that the so-called Tokyo district tycoon, Teikou Junior High School, is just a group of thugs who rely on force."

Everyone on the court was a little hesitant. At this time, a Teiko player pointed at Hanamiya and said indignantly: "We are all people who love basketball. Don't you think it's too despicable for you to play basketball in such a dirty way?"

"Ah? Basketball? Passion?" Hanamiya Shin said with a grim smile, "Who cares about that? All I enjoy is the pleasure of stepping on you like ants on the ground!"

"Although I don't really like basketball, that long-haired guy is so annoying. I really want to crush him, Yanzi." Hanamiya was so arrogant that even the usually gentle Murasakibara Atsushi couldn't stand it. "He's obviously no different from a mediocre person."

"Yes, Murasakibara, I really want to blow their heads off." Kaneki Ken's anger reached its peak at this moment.

The quarrel on the field continued, and the wailing of Taro Tani and Itsuki Fujii echoed in Kaneki Ken's ears. Seeing that Sanada Naoto was thinking of giving up this practice match, Kaneki Ken knew that he could not sit there any longer.

"You're right, Hanamiya Makoto-senpai." Kaneki Ken's resonant voice echoed in the stadium, interrupting everyone's quarrel. "Things on the court should of course be resolved on the court, right? Hanamiya Makoto-senpai."

Hanamiya Makoto stared closely at Kaneki Ken in front of him, and saw that his tall figure and short golden hair looked particularly eye-catching in everyone's eyes.

"Ah, you're absolutely right, kid." Hanamiya's voice was as cold as the Arctic glaciers, and his smile was filled with undisguised malice, "Things on the court, of course, must be resolved with basketball."

"That's what you said, Hanamiya Shin." Kaneki Ken had a cold smile on his face. This time, he didn't even call him senior. "In that case, let me and Murasakibara Atsushi have a good exchange with the senior. What do you think, Murasakibara?"

"Yes, Ken." Murasakihara Atsushi found a hairband from somewhere and tied up his long hair, then walked slowly to Kaneki Ken and said. Under the light, his originally lazy expression became unusually serious.

(End of this chapter)