A stunned silence followed Ragai's dunk. His showboating didn't sit well with everyone.
Teikō Junior High, three-year reigning champions of junior high basketball, weren't used to this kind of audacity.
"Too arrogant," someone muttered.
"Don't even know what school you're from, acting all tough," another voice chimed in.
"You'll regret this," a third added.
The jeers were relentless, but there was a counterpoint.
"So cool!" a girl shouted.
It was true; Ragai's appearance was undeniably striking. His charisma on the court was especially captivating to adolescent girls. Many who had initially focused on Kise Ryōta now turned their attention to Ragai.
Girls made up a significant portion of the crowd, and their enthusiasm didn't go unnoticed by the boys.
The stadium buzzed with energy.
Teikō's second-string coach remained calm after Ragai's dunk. "Seems my judgment was right. He's strong, but the score gap is too large," he observed.
He signaled his players.
Ragai noticed the coach's actions. He understood that even a second-string coach from Teikō was highly professional unlike his own coach, who would undoubtedly react to Ragai's display.
After a brief moment of confusion, Teikō adjusted their strategy following their coach's instructions.
A sense of shame washed over them.
They, players of Teikō Junior High, had been humiliated on their home court by a player from an unknown school. It was inconceivable.
Though they were the second string, within Teikō, outside of it, they were strong enough to be starters on any other team.
Their anger intensified, fueled by the noisy crowd.
The point guard who had just faced Ragai had a grim expression.
"I was careless. Let's show these nobodies what Teikō is really about," he growled.
"Yeah, we were holding back, giving them some face, but that's clearly unnecessary now," another player agreed.
Ragai, though some distance away, heard their words.
He wasn't angry, but excited, a mischievous glint returning to his eyes.
He thrived on two things: the resistance of the weak and the challenge of true strength.
"Finally, some fun before Kise shows up," he thought.
...
On the next possession, Teikō passed to their point guard.
Ragai didn't pressure him, waiting at the three-point arc.
The point guard used a variety of dribble moves, showcasing solid ball-handling skills, his eyes fixed on Ragai.
He attempted to penetrate, but Ragai wouldn't allow it.
Ragai didn't need to steal; his presence alone made the point guard hesitate.
Embarrassed by his earlier boasting, the point guard called for a pick-and-roll, their center screening Ragai.
Ragai's teammates reacted swiftly, providing coverage.
Their teamwork was impeccable, honed by countless repetitions of this play. They expected the center to roll to the basket for an easy layup.
"Heh, you're a third-rate team. A little bit of brains is all it takes to fool you," the point guard thought, already envisioning a successful play. "This is how a point guard plays, learn from this."
But Ragai anticipated this.
Metavision activated, granting him a God's-eye view of the court.
The game became a pattern in his mind, and he predicted the ball's trajectory 0.5 seconds ahead.
This was enough time to intercept.
Snap!
A clean steal.
"Here we go again," Ragai murmured, a familiar feeling washing over him.
His teammates, used to his uncanny steals from practice, showed no surprise.
The audience, however, was baffled.
It seemed Ragai knew where the ball was going before it was even passed.
Teikō's coach frowned.
"He predicted that? He's not just reckless; he has a high basketball IQ."
The intercepted player's expression shifted from arrogance to stunned disbelief.
He had no time to react.
Ragai was already driving to the basket.
The defender fought back, but the familiar despair returned.
Though he didn't fall this time, Ragai's speed was overwhelming.
Bang! Another dunk.
Ragai turned to his now-defensive opponent.
"Is that your 'brain play'?" he taunted.
"You're lucky. Study hard; there aren't many opportunities like this."
The opponent's face contorted.
"What are you so cocky about? We still have the lead, 12 to 24."
Ragai ignored him; it was getting boring.
...
Whistle!
The first quarter ended in stunned silence. The scoreboard showed 22:26.
After Ragai entered the game, Teikō scored only one point.
Ragai's dominance was clear, even a timeout couldn't stop the tide.
Shiji's players escorted Ragai off the court for a rest.
Passing the Teikō bench, Ragai looked at Kise Ryōta.
A smirk played on his lips.
"You're just sitting there? Ready to lose at home? If you're scared, call in the other main five," he challenged.