Slam Dunk:Starting with perfect copy

The Match: Ryonan vs. LuoanLuoan initiated the attack with a serve from the backcourt. Aida Shusuke swiftly brought the ball to the frontcourt. After a series of rapid passes, the ball landed in Takai Akihiro's hands again.

Ryonan had fully tightened their defense, rendering Shiramizu Rin's pick-and-roll tactics ineffective. Left with no choice, Takai Akihiro resorted to his signature "swinging left and right" maneuver. However, Sendoh,

anticipating the move, stood firm and denied him a clear path for a breakthrough.

As the shot clock ticked down, Takai was forced to attempt a contested shot over Sendoh. The basketball hit the rim with a loud "bang" and bounced off.

Yuzumi aggressively secured the rebound and passed it to Uekusa, who wasted no time pushing the ball forward. Once in the frontcourt, Uekusa threw a long pass to Uesugi Kenichi and casually prepared to watch the play unfold with his hands in his pockets.

Kenichi Uesugi caught the pass, but Takai Akihiro and Fukaohara immediately closed in, determined to deny him another quick shot. Despite their tight defense, Uesugi wasn't fazed. Using their bodies to his advantage, he dribbled forcefully to the right, feigning a breakthrough attempt.

Naturally, Takai and Fukaohara adjusted their positions to block him, cutting off his route. Just as they surrounded Uesugi, thinking they had him cornered, a startling realization dawned on them.

Where's the ball?

The basketball, which should have been in Kenichi Uesugi's hands, was gone!

As it turned out, Uesugi had anticipated this very situation. Activating his "Eagle Eye," he had already analyzed the court and spotted an unguarded Sendoh behind his defenders.

With precision and confidence, he executed a behind-the-back pass to Sendoh's location.

"This guy actually dared to pass the ball to a spot he couldn't even see!" Takai exclaimed in disbelief.

"Is he really that sure of himself?" Fukaohara added, feeling helpless.

Sendoh caught the pass cleanly, but Shin Takahashi from Luoan quickly reacted, stepping up to defend. Even Uesugi was mildly impressed.

"Wireless switching? Interesting," Uesugi thought. "This junior of Coach Taoka seems quite capable. But can Shin Takahashi really stop Sendoh?"

Sendoh didn't leave them waiting for an answer. Using his strength, he leaned into Takahashi, spun left with a swift turn, and left his defender in the dust. He charged straight to the basket and finished with a powerful dunk!

The scoreboard lit up: 51–32.

The gap widened to 19 points as the first half concluded. All of Luoan's hard work to close the gap seemed futile.

Second Half: Ryonan's DominanceRyonan, fueled by Kenichi Uesugi's leadership, grew more unstoppable as the game progressed. They scored consistently, while Luoan lost their initial momentum and crumbled under the pressure. The score difference continued to widen rapidly.

When Uesugi scored another elegant shot over Fukaohara, the scoreboard read 95–47.

Luoan High School's fate was sealed—they had no chance of a comeback.

As the clock ticked down, Uesugi approached a dejected Fukaohara.

"Now," Uesugi said with a smirk, "I don't think you'll ever forget the name Ryonan."

Fukaohara looked up, his face etched with frustration and defeat. He opened his mouth as if to respond but found himself at a loss for words. Uesugi's words were true. The name "Ryonan" would remain in his memory, an unshakable reminder of this humbling defeat.

ReflectionsCoach Taoka Moichi watched from the bench, visibly pleased with the team's performance. Not only had they crushed the opponents who underestimated them, but they also demonstrated immense potential for the future.

Glancing at Coach Kasahara of Luoan, Taoka noticed his former junior's somber expression. Kasahara had underestimated Ryonan, assuming they could be controlled with ease. Instead, it was his team that had been completely outclassed.

As Ryonan's lead extended, Taoka considered substituting in his bench players. However, he refrained—after all, Luoan hadn't made any substitutions, and doing so might seem disrespectful.

Despite the Luoan players' earlier arrogance, Kasahara himself had maintained a respectful demeanor throughout. Taoka remembered how Kasahara had supported him in arranging this practice match, and for that, he was genuinely grateful.

On the other side, Coach Kasahara sat slumped on the bench, visibly disappointed. Losing a practice match wasn't the issue—it was the way his team had fallen apart under pressure. Their arrogance and lack of resilience when trailing were glaring weaknesses.

"If this mentality persists in the qualifiers," Kasahara thought grimly, "we won't even make it to the national competition."

Post-Match ApologiesAs the final buzzer sounded, Ryonan celebrated their emphatic 99–49 victory. It was not just a win but also a strong start to their journey.

After the game, the Ryonan players stepped out of the locker room to find Coach Kasahara waiting with the entire Luoan team. Bowing deeply, Kasahara spoke.

"Senior, I deeply apologize for our actions before the game. I've brought my team to apologize as well."

The Luoan players echoed in unison, "Please forgive us!"

Taoka placed a hand on Kasahara's shoulder and said, "It's all trivial. I was never upset about it."

The Ryonan players exchanged knowing glances. They remembered Taoka fuming in the locker room, ranting about "teaching Luoan a lesson." But now, he wore an air of magnanimity, pretending none of it had ever bothered him.

Kasahara raised his head, his tone earnest. "It's not just an apology. You've shown us our true level. For too long, we've lived in the illusion of being kings of the Kyoto area, ignoring the fact that the overall competition there is weaker.

"Today, you've helped us see ourselves clearly. Thank you for this valuable lesson."

Taoka nodded sagely. "Every setback is an opportunity to grow stronger."

As the teams parted ways, the atmosphere between them shifted. Ryonan had earned respect through their dominance, while Luoan learned humility in defeat.

This wasn't just a game—it was a turning point for both teams.