“Tick!”

Rukawa Kaede's sweat dripped from his tip. Bullfighting is a very physically consuming basketball event. When one-on-one, both offense and defense need to do more movements to attack or deal with the offense. The physical energy consumption of the players is very large. The game between the two has been ongoing for 15 minutes, and Rukawa Kaede has consumed a lot of energy.

"Do you want to take a break?" Mitsui Saki saw Rukawa Kaede's embarrassment. After a day of training, Rukawa Kaede had to face a master like Mitsui Saki. After fighting in one-on-one, Rukawa Kaede's physical strength has actually bottomed out. Mitsui Saki, who practiced for two years more than Rukawa Kaede and entered the developmental stage earlier, was much better than Rukawa Kaede.

"No need." Rukawa Kaede wiped the sweat from her forehead, looked at Mitsui Shou with more serious expression, and her eyes became more firm. He had not given up on his hope of victory at this time, and he still firmly believed that he could turn defeat into victory. Never admit defeat was his Rukawa Kaede's personality.

"Okay." Mitsui Shou nodded and threw the ball to Rukawa Kaede. Rukawa Kaede beat the basketball casually and defended about one meter away from Mitsui Shou. Mitsui Shou looked at the three-point line that was about two meters away from him. After getting the ball, he quickly pulled out the jump shot. The speed was so fast that Rukawa Kaede could not react in time.

Mitsui Sho's position when shooting was still far from the three-point line. Rukawa Kaede never considered Mitsui Sho's three-pointer from such a distance.

"The moment the basketball shot, I knew whether the ball would enter."

"Rukawa Kaede, I won this game!"

The basketball entered the air, Mitsui Shou and Rukawa Kaede said something and walked towards the rest area.

"Swish!" Mitsui Shou had just taken two steps and the basketball went into the net hollow.

“ohhhhhhh, awesome!”

"What a great three-pointer!"

Mu-Kunyan and Akagi Takaki were both amazed. While they were surprised, they were a little envious of Mitsui Shou. Of course, there was still some jealousy in it.

"No...may...can't." Rukawa Kaede said word by word, others stood there, unable to believe that he had lost for a moment. Rukawa Kaede was very hindered when attacking. Mitsui Shou's single defense ability was quite outstanding. He was able to completely suppress Rukawa Kaede's role in a one-on-one bullfighting game, even if he looked around the country.

But unexpectedly, there are such people in public schools like Xiangbei.

"Bang~bang~bang~bang~bang~" The basketball fell to the ground and rolled to the feet of Mu Mu Gongyan. He picked up the basketball and walked to Rukawa Kaede, and said softly.

"Rukawa, don't worry, your skills are already quite good. In Xiangbei, Mitsui Shou is the only one who can surpass you."

"Although we are a public school in Xiangbei, Mitsui's strength is considered a strong man even if it is in the country."

"In Kanagawa Prefecture, less than five people can beat him."

This is how Mu Mu Gongyan comforted Rukawa Kaede. He roughly knew Rukawa Kaede's personality, which was the only thing he thought he could do. Rukawa Kaede ignored Mu Mu Gongyan and turned his head to look at Mitsui Shou, quietly staring at Mitsui Shou's back.

Mitsui Shou was tidying up his backpack on his own. He was very tired after working with Rukawa Kaede for so long. Now he has no intention of mopping the floor to clean the floor. Mitsui Shou actually just wants to go home and have a good rest. After Mitsui Shou had tidyed up his backpack, he noticed Rukawa Kaede's gaze when he wanted to leave.

After a little thought, Mitsui Shou walked to Rukawa Kaede and said.

"From today, you will be the ace player of our Xiangbei High School."

"Although you have never beaten me, I admit your strength and you are qualified to be the new sign of Xiangbei."

Mitsui Shou grabbed the basketball in Mu Mu-Kunyan's arms with one hand, then stuffed it into Rukawa Kaede's arms, and Rukawa Kaede subconsciously took the basketball.

"Come on, I will help you."

Although Rukawa Kaede is not Mitsui Shou’s opponent, Mitsui Shou saw Rukawa Kaede’s future. After his team members left, their Xiangbei High School was able to maintain their position as the top four in the prefecture under Rukawa Kaede’s leadership and had the opportunity to reach the whole country.

Mitsui Shou put all the expectations of the Xiangbei basketball team for the next three years on Rukawa Kaede. After saying this, Mitsui Shou left the stadium without looking back. No matter how Akagi Takaki and Mu Mu Kyonaga shouted, Mitsui Shou quickly left the stadium as if he hadn't heard it.

“…………”

"Senior Mu Mu, who are in Shenqikawa Prefecture who can suppress Senior Mitsui in bullfighting?" Rukawa Kaede rubbed the basketball in his hand and asked curiously.

"In fact, Mitsui has many strong players in the face of the game, but Mitsui rarely plays one-on-one with other strong players. But if you insist on stabilizing Mitsui Shou, it is probably only Shimiya Tano of Ryunan High School."

"Is Shimiya Tiano? It's him."

Before hearing the name, Rukawa Kaede guessed it himself. After all, Shimiya Tano is now a man named the number one high school student in the country by Kanagawa Sports Media.

"Is it physical fitness? I don't know if it's time to come." Rukawa Kaede handed the ball to Mu Mu Gongyan, breathed a few breaths and clenched his fists with both hands, then left the arena, and Mu Mu and Akagi were in a mess in the wind.

"These two guys were obviously dirtying the ground we had dragged, but they even ran away without help." Akagi Takaki said a little angrily.

"Mama~ They should be very tired too, so let's do more." Mu Mu persuaded him, and he looked out the door, as if he was watching Mitsui Shou and Rukawa Kaede leave.

...

Rukawa Kaede was riding a bicycle on the small road home. When he passed by a field, he stopped the car. It was pitch black around him. His home was quite far from the city and lived in the suburbs.

He looked up at the starry sky, and Rukawa Kaede was able to think about the details of the game against Mitsui Shou at night in such a quiet environment. He lost the game, but Rukawa Kaede knew that his biggest problem was not a problem of football skills. He recalled the balls Mitsui Shou scored in his mind.

He knew that every time he would suffer some secret losses in terms of strength, and for the first time he knew that there was such a big difference between high school basketball and national middle school basketball. In high school games, some people were taller, faster and stronger than him, Rukawa Kaede. It seems that it is not possible to conquer high school by relying solely on football skills.

"It's the first high school student in the country!"

"I, Rukawa Kaede, will be the first. If I meet Senior Mitsui again, I will definitely not lose."

On the path between the fields, this boy in the first year of high school confirmed his goal again. After a quick review in his mind, he recognized his strengths and weaknesses. Although he lost with Mitsui Shou, he was lucky that he found his weaknesses, and after making up for these weaknesses.

He, Rukawa Kaede, will become the number one high school student in Neon!

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Chapter completed!