A ONCE IN A LIFETIME OPPORTUNITY

As the game continued, Kayano passed the basketball to Kogure. As soon as he received the ball, Yukio stepped up to guard him. Kogure then feinted to the right, causing Yukio to react, and he dribbled in the opposite direction before pulling up for a mid-range shot that swished through the net.

"Kogure-senpai, nice shot!!" shouted some first-year Yokonan female students.

"Kobayashi-kun, you can win this, I believe in you," said a girl from the stands.

On the next possession, Hayato passed the basketball to Takahiro, who assumed a triple-threat position. "I have to score now. If I don't, we'll be at a disadvantage in the final minutes," he thought to himself, before shooting a near-jump shot that banked in off the backboard.

Kayano dribbled between his legs, then behind his back, changing his pace and exploding towards the hoop, passing Hayato. "God dammit, I hate to admit it, but he's good. Way better than me for sure," thought Hayato to himself, as Kayano shot a floater that swished cleanly through the net.

The next possession was for Toshigawa, and Yukio drove strong to the hoop. He then went for a layup, but was interrupted by Ryuu, who attempted to block him. As if he were a gymnast, Yukio changed his mind mid-air and performed a reverse layup, avoiding Ryuu's hand, and the ball swished through the net.

"That was amazing!! This game is intense," said Kanae, watching in awe.

"Did you get that, Airi?" she asked immediately after.

"Yes, I've gotten everything," said Airi. "We're all set for the video as well," added Yuri.

"I honestly didn't expect them to make a comeback against this school. They truly are going to represent our school well," said Kanae, smiling.

"Yukio has improved drastically since the last time we played. Will he be a threat to us this season? No, I doubt it. One man alone can't carry a team," Keichiro thought to himself.

Kayano then passed the basketball to Ryuu inside the post. Takahiro guarded him, using all his strength to keep him in check. "I refuse to let this bastard stop me," Ryuu thought to himself angrily, as he bounced the basketball powerfully on the floor, causing Takahiro to stagger back due to their difference in strength. Ryuu then spun off of Takahiro and shot a floater that swished cleanly through the net.

On Toshigawa's possession, Tetsuo dribbled to the other half, where he was met by Kogure.

"Show me what you're made of, Tetsuo," said Kogure, smiling.

Tetsuo crossed through his legs and got by Kogure easily this time. However, Kogure immediately caught up with him.

Tetsuo made a sudden stop and shot a fadeaway two-pointer, which Kogure contested but failed to block. The ball swished through the net, tying the score once more.

"You got me there. Honestly, wasn't expecting that from you," said Kogure.

Kayano passed the basketball to Ryuu in the paint, and Takahiro guarded him once more.

"This old-looking dude may be basic, but he has strength behind him," Ryuu thought to himself.

"Don't force it, pass the ball out," said Kayano as Manabu set a sudden screen for Kogure.

"Yukio, switch!" shouted Tetsuo, who quickly registered the situation and reacted accordingly.

Ryuu passed the basketball to Kogure, leaving both Tetsuo and him in a one-on-one situation.

Kogure spun around with a reverse pivot and got by Tetsuo. Tetsuo reacted and got back in front of him, but Kogure faked a pass to Manabu on his first step. Tetsuo reacted, but Kogure used his second step in the opposite direction, which surprised Tetsuo and gave him a sense of nostalgia.

"This feels so familiar, when did this happen?" he thought to himself as Kogure dunked the basketball.

"Kogure-senpai, you're so cool! Please go out with me!" confessed a girl from the crowd.

"Oh my God, nice dunk, bro!" shouted a student.

"Rings a bell yet, Tetsuo?" said Kogure, smirking. "You taught me that technique when we were kids. It's called the Euro step, a move your father taught you when he came back from America."

"I don't remember teaching you that," Tetsuo said bluntly.

"I see. It can't be helped," said Kogure. "I'll just have to beat you. Maybe then I'll jog your memory," he said as he ran back on defense.

On the next possession, Hayato dribbled the ball up court. He tried to get past Kayano with a crossover, but with quick hands, Kayano stole the ball. He then dribbled quickly to the other side of the court and scored a layup.

"Nice one, Kayano!" said Coach Arimoto.

"Dammit, that mistake could cost us this game," thought Hayato.

"Don't worry, we'll get it back," Yukio said, patting him on the back.

Yukio set a screen for Takahiro, who cut to the hoop. Hayato then passed the basketball to Takahiro, who easily beat his defender and scored a floater.

Kayano passed the ball to Manabu, assuming a triple-threat position. He faked a shot, causing Tetsuo to jump to block.

"A fake? He got me," Tetsuo thought to himself, as Manabu shot a two-pointer that swished through the net.

Takahiro, who had gone up for a layup, was blocked by Kogure.

Kogure then drove to the other hoop.

"When this scores, they can kiss their chances of winning goodbye," said Coach Arimoto, smiling.

"Slam dunk that ball, Kogure!" shouted a girl in the stands.

Aoi looked on. "Looks like Kogure has a large fan base. I'd be careful if I were you," said a girl from the swim team.

"Haha, very funny," Aoi laughed. "I trust him, and I've known him for years now, even before we started going out with each other."

Kogure reached the hoop, jumped into the air, and went up for a dunk. However, he was interrupted by Tetsuo, who jumped with him and blocked the shot with both hands.

"When did you get here, Tetsuo?" said Kogure, surprised.

"No way, that kid! He was able to block Kogure. The difference between their heights and wingspans alone should have made it impossible for him to compete with Kogure in the air," Keichiro said, standing up, shocked.

"He's definitely no ordinary player. For this whole game, he has done nothing but impress me. He's truly an extraordinary specimen," Coach Arimoto thought to himself.

Tetsuo dribbled the basketball up court again, with Kogure chasing after him. Tetsuo signaled Yukio with his hands, and Yukio, understanding the signal, prepared himself.

Tetsuo threw a lob, and Yukio jumped into the air, catching the ball and dunking it.

"Whoa, an alley-oop!! Toshigawa is a crazy team said a Male student all spiked up. They're full of surprises, despite being a small team," a Yokonan student said to herself impressed.

"In all honesty, this game isn't about defense anymore. It's about who can score the most. Give it your all, Yukio," Nanaho added, as she cheered them on.

"Defense!! Defense!! Defense!!!" shouted Haruko.

"That's the way, Takahashi! Cheer them on!" said Haruko.

On the next possession, Kogure scored a layup. Takahiro set a screen for Tetsuo, and Tetsuo scored a layup.

Kayano passed the basketball to Ryuu, who dunked the basketball.

Tetsuo crossed over and got by Kogure. He drove toward the rim, but Kogure caught up. Tetsuo then made a sudden stop and shot a bank shot that swished.

Ryuu set a screen for Kogure, and Kogure cut to the rim. Kayano passed the basketball to Kogure, and Kogure completed a reverse dunk.

On the next play, Takahiro set a screen for Hayato, who drove and shot a floater that swished. On Yokonan's next possession, Kayano crossed over Hayato and stepped back, shooting a two-pointer that swished.

"This is bad, there is only one minute and thirty seconds remaining, and we are down by four. We can't seem to close the gap," Nanaho thought to herself.

Tetsuo drove strong to the rim and went up for a layup, but Kogure jumped to block. Tetsuo sensed this and changed the ball's position in the air, performing a double clutch that scored.

"Whoa!!! You've got to admire number eleven's mad skills!" shouted a student.

"The game is down to a two-point difference!! We need to stop them on this play, everyone. Play hard and don't stop until you hear the whistle!!" shouted Yukio.

"This is it. If we score here, it will be the end of the game," said Coach Arimoto.

"Do your best, everyone!!! We can win this!!!" shouted Shino.

Kayano passed the basketball to Ryuu, and Takahiro put pressure on him.

"I will defend our basket. You will not score anymore," said Takahiro, filled with determination.

"God dammit," Ryuu muttered, as he passed the basketball to his teammate. His teammate passed it to Kogure. Kogure tried to shake off Yukio with his dribbling, but Yukio stood firm and played solid defense.

"You won't budge, huh?" Kogure said. "Fine, then," as he passed the basketball to Manabu.

Tetsuo stepped up to guard Manabu, who was hesitant to make a move due to fear.

"What's wrong? Are you too scared to challenge me?" asked Tetsuo.

"Why you... I'm better than you!" said Manabu, as he went up for a three-pointer.

"Manabu, don't!" Kayano shouted from the sideline.

Tetsuo jumped and blocked Manabu's shot.

"No, he stopped me," Manabu muttered to himself.

The ball was heading out of bounds, but Noboru saw this and ran after it. "If it goes out, it will be all over. We'll lose," he thought as he hit the basketball off of Ryuu, making the ball go out of bounds.

"Out of bounds, black ball," said the ref.

"Damn, you bastard!" Ryuu yelled angrily.

Noboru got up off the floor, then smirked at Ryuu and said, "Whose trash now?"

"Nice one, Noboru! Great work!" said Takahiro.

"Good one, Noboru!" said Yukio, letting out a sigh of relief.

"They did it, they stopped Yokonan," said Haruko, feeling happy.

"Give me a timeout!" shouted Nanaho.

"Timeout, Toshigawa Academy," said the ref.