The air in the gymnasium was like ignited alcohol, every inch burning hot.
The 5:0 score was like a red-hot iron, searing Rukawa Kaede's retina.
His knee still ached faintly, and the spot where he collided with Gu Jin earlier throbbed with a dull ache, but none of that compared to the churning in his chest—a flame fiercer than anger, heavier than unwillingness.
Gu Jin once again settled outside the three-point line, the basketball on his fingertips gently rising and falling with his breath.
He looked at Rukawa Kaede, a hint of undetectable surprise flashing in his eyes.
This opponent, who had been using his body to forcefully resist just moments ago, was now eerily quiet.
Rukawa Kaede's shoulders were no longer tense, the swing of his arms had narrowed by half, and even his breathing was much steadier than before.
His gaze fell on Gu Jin's wrist, yet it didn't stop at the wrist—it was as if he had suddenly seen through the superficiality of the dribble, perceiving something deeper.
In that last spin, there was a Subtle, imperceptible pause when Gu Jin shifted his center of gravity.
Rukawa Kaede's pupils suddenly contracted.
That wasn't a mistake; it was a deliberately left opening.
Like a hunter intentionally revealing the edge of a trap, luring the prey to pounce recklessly.
So that's how it is.
Rukawa Kaede's mouth suddenly twitched.
It wasn't an ostentatious smile, just a very slight upward curl of his lips, so quick it felt like an illusion.
(Or maybe his mouth was twitching.)
But the sharpness that erupted in that instant made Gu Jin's dribbling rhythm pause for half a beat.
This guy... Gu Jin was about to move, but Rukawa Kaede's feet were already in motion.
He didn't lunge forward as before, but instead slid sideways half a step at an almost uncanny speed, perfectly blocking Gu Jin's usual breakthrough path.
His arm wasn't fully extended; instead, he bent his forearm, his fingertips hovering an inch above the basketball—maintaining defensive pressure while leaving ample room for reaction.
Gu Jin raised an eyebrow.
This defense had changed.
From the previous 'breaking skill with strength' to the current 'controlling movement with stillness'.
He tried a crossover dribble, the basketball arcing between his left and right hands.
Rukawa Kaede's center of gravity only shifted slightly, his feet seemingly nailed to the floor, his gaze constantly locked on Gu Jin's waist and abdomen—the true core that determined the direction of the breakthrough.
Gu Jin's eyes deepened.
Rukawa Kaede understood.
He no longer fixated on predicting moves but directly locked onto the body's instinctive reactions.
It was like two top swordsmen dueling, finally seeing through the breathing rhythm hidden within each other's stances.
"Bang!"
Gu Jin suddenly accelerated, dribbling with his right hand and charging fiercely to the left.
This time there was no fake move; all his strength was pressed onto the balls of his feet, even his jersey was stretched taut backward by the inertia.
Rukawa Kaede started almost at the same time.
He didn't try to block the path but, using the momentum of Gu Jin's charge, suddenly retreated half a step diagonally backward.
This action defied all defensive common sense—it was equivalent to actively giving up offensive space.
Gu Jin's pupils suddenly contracted.
A trap!
He instinctively wanted to stop and change direction, but his body's inertia was already unstoppable.
In that flash of lightning, Rukawa Kaede moved.
Like a long-prepared leopard, he suddenly twisted his body and accelerated, not forward, but sweeping horizontally past Gu Jin's side.
His right hand shot out like lightning, his fingertips accurately tapping the side of the basketball—not hitting it forcefully, but using a subtle flick along the trajectory of the dribble.
"Whack!"
The basketball instantly broke free from Gu Jin's control, bouncing upward.
Rukawa Kaede's body was already fully extended, and using the counter-force of that flick, he twisted his entire body half a turn in the air, steadily scooping the ball into his arms.
Upon landing, he didn't even look at Gu Jin, quickly retreated outside the three-point line, then tapped his toes and charged directly towards the hoop.
The entire gymnasium was silent for a full half-second.
Then, it completely erupted.
"He stole it?! Rukawa Kaede stole the ball?!"
"Oh my God! What kind of defense was that? He actually dared to actively retreat a step!"
"That reaction speed... it's like he's a different person!"
Akagi Takenori clenched his fists tightly, his knuckles turning white from the effort.
Akagi Haruko, beside him, even forgot to breathe, her cheering stick slipping from her hand, falling to the ground with a 'clatter' unnoticed.
"He did it..." Akagi Takenori's voice was filled with an incredulous tremor, "That kid Rukawa finally calmed down and started playing with his brain."
Gu Jin stood still, watching Rukawa Kaede's retreating figure charging towards the hoop, the sensation of the basketball being taken still lingering on his fingertips.
He lowered his head and smiled, not in annoyance, but with the excitement of meeting a worthy opponent.
"Finally, this is getting interesting!" Gu Jin had always wondered what level the players in Slam Dunk were actually at.
After defeating Kiyota Nobunaga, Gu Jin was actually very disappointed.
The infinitely potential Kiyota Nobunaga in the anime turned out to be as green as an ordinary middle school student.
And today, Rukawa Kaede's initial performance was also underwhelming, but just as he was utterly disappointed, things turned around.
Rukawa Kaede's steal just now—the timing, strength, and angle—was perfectly textbook.
Rukawa Kaede not only saw through his dribbling habits but even anticipated his emergency reactions—this was no longer mere talent, but true 'awakening'.
On the court, Rukawa Kaede had already rushed to the basket.
He didn't rush for a layup but suddenly came to an abrupt stop.
Gu Jin behind him (though still at the three-point line, Rukawa Kaede's peripheral vision seemed to see him catching up) was like an invisible mountain, forcing him to choose the most secure way to finish.
Rukawa Kaede bent his knees and jumped.
No pull-up, no dunk, just the simplest finger roll.
But the wrist control was just right, the basketball skimming the top edge of the backboard, drawing a soft arc.
"Swish!"
1:5.
The sound of the basketball passing through the net, amidst the deafening cheers, was as clear as a knock on everyone's heart.
This shot made Gu Jin look at him with even more admiration; this was right, no matter how flashy a goal, it was not as important as a steady score!
It was like watching the Chinese national team's games; many players could dunk, but they rarely dunked on screen.
Because Chinese players all have a very high basketball literacy, which is that the most stable score is always more important than the most spectacular moment.
Dunking for a score is highly enjoyable, but its success rate is less than two-thirds of a layup.
Rukawa Kaede landed and turned to look at Gu Jin.
His bangs were still dripping, and his breathing hadn't yet stabilized, but the look in his eyes had changed.
No longer the desperate intensity, but a calm, sharp certainty.
Like a knife tempered by fire, finally finding its most suitable edge.
Gu Jin lightly patted the basketball in Rukawa Kaede's direction and tossed it to the referee.
"Not bad. This is getting interesting." His voice was not loud, but it clearly reached Rukawa Kaede's ears.
Rukawa Kaede didn't speak, just re-assumed his offensive stance. But this time, his gaze was even more profound.
Compared to defense, Rukawa Kaede's offense was more aggressive.
Perhaps the game was truly just beginning now.