Shohoku Locker Room.
After arriving at the locker room, the Shohoku players began their individual preparations.
It was unclear whether it was because Sannoh was being overly cautious or if their nervousness was simply hard to suppress.
They had arrived much earlier than usual for today's game.
At this moment, another game was taking place on the court where Shohoku and Sannoh would soon face off.
The teams playing were Kainan vs. Umamiya.
According to the schedule, Shohoku and Sannoh would make brief appearances during the halftime of the ongoing game, to announce the teams for the next match and also serve as a basic warm-up before the actual game.
As for the outcome of the Kainan vs. Umamiya game, no one really cared.
Shohoku didn't care, and neither did Sannoh.
Aoi Kunisaku, in particular, couldn't have cared less.
He didn't even need to guess; he knew Kainan would win.
After all, Kainan had Maki Shinichi.
Of course, that wasn't because he thought Maki Shinichi was particularly strong, but simply based on the basic understanding of a defeated opponent.
In Aoi Kunisaku's eyes, Maki Shinichi's strength was just average.
But he also knew that this was just his opinion.
In reality, the wild nature within Maki Shinichi had already pushed him past most other players.
There were very few who could truly overpower Maki Shinichi.
Even if Umamiya had a player with awakened wild instincts, from an overall strength perspective, the other players on their team likely wouldn't be able to match Kainan.
Time passed quickly, and the first half of the Kainan vs. Umamiya game was nearing its end.
Meanwhile, the Shohoku and Sannoh players began leaving their respective locker rooms and marched toward the court.
Before long, Shohoku's players filed out of the player tunnel.
At the same moment, Sannoh's team appeared at the opposite player tunnel.
At first, the scene was relatively calm.
However, as soon as the referee blew the whistle signaling the end of the Kainan vs. Umamiya match, the players from Shohoku and Sannoh prepared to make their appearance.
The entire arena seemed to be set ablaze in an instant, bursting with cheers and shouts that shook the air like a nuclear explosion.
"They're here…"
"Go, Sannoh…"
"Again, this year will be yours…"
"Sawakita Eiji…"
"Fukatsu…"
"We came all the way to Hiroshima just to see this match."
"Sannoh… Sannoh… Sannoh… Sannoh…"
...
Each piercing scream, every passionate cheer, each intense shout greeted the former champion. The atmosphere felt like a tide, continuous and overwhelming, flooding the arena like a river breaking its banks.
Shohoku's players were stunned.
Hearing the audience shout for Sannoh, it felt like a heavy mountain had pressed down on their hearts.
Miyagi Ryota looked up in shock, his brows furrowing as he gazed at the audience. "This…"
Kogure Kiminobu's mouth dropped wide open, his eyes behind his glasses nearly popping out, filled with disbelief. "What's going on?"
Mitsui Hisashi swallowed hard, a bead of cold sweat appearing on his forehead. "This doesn't feel like a warm-up at all."
Akagi Takenori kept up a facade of calm, but his trembling lips betrayed the complex emotions churning inside him—whether it was nerves, fear, or excitement, he couldn't tell.
Ayako quickly covered her charming mouth, looking at the scene with disbelief. "Oh my god! I had imagined something like this, but seeing it for real is still a huge shock."
Inoue Ayako, calm as ever, wore a faint smile and said, "This must be the power of the champions."
On Kainan's bench.
Listening to the loud cheers from the audience, they felt as though a shadow had fallen over them.
Kiyota Nobunaga looked at Shohoku with a trace of sympathy. "How pitiful! Not a single person is cheering for Shohoku."
"Go, Shohoku…"
His words had barely finished when an almost inaudible yet sharply piercing sound cut through the air.
Kiyota Nobunaga's face changed abruptly, and he quickly turned his head, angrily scanning for the source of the earlier cheer. "Who was that? Why didn't they cheer earlier? Only after I spoke? They're doing it on purpose."
But there were so many people in the audience today.
After searching for a while, his eyes nearly exhausted, he couldn't find the culprit and gave up.
...
Soon, both teams began their warm-up.
Swish…
Swish…
Swish…
Sannoh moved in a well-organized fashion, each shot made to perfection.
They rotated, each player taking their shot one after the other, and in a continuous sequence of dozens of shots, not one missed, showing their high shooting accuracy.
Suddenly, a tall and imposing figure jumped high, holding the basketball tightly with both hands, facing away from the hoop. Then, with immense force, he slammed the ball backward into the hoop.
Bang…
The deafening sound of the dunk echoed through the gym, shaking the entire hoop as it violently swayed up and down, creaking loudly.
"Sannoh… Sannoh… Sannoh…"
In an instant, the crowd was once again ignited, waves of cheers and shouts echoing one after another, continuing without end.
Tch…
"What's so impressive about that?" Sakuragi Hanamichi, seeing this, frowned and muttered, his face showing defiance.
He then picked up a basketball, walked to the center line, and positioned himself.
The noise Sakuragi Hanamichi made immediately drew the attention of everyone in the arena.
Sannoh's players also exchanged confused looks, not understanding what the red-haired guy was trying to do.
Suddenly, Sakuragi Hanamichi shouted loudly, holding the ball with one hand. He didn't even dribble, but instead took off running straight toward the hoop.
At this moment, his eyes gleamed with a sharp, eagle-like intensity, and his entire aura shifted. It was as if he was surrounded by an invisible force.
Hm?
Aoi Kunisaku, who had been lazily watching, suddenly focused, his gaze locking on Sakuragi Hanamichi.
Aoi Kunisaku sensed something familiar from Sakuragi Hanamichi's presence. "This is…"
Inoue Ayako couldn't help but slightly tremble her eyes, staring at Sakuragi Hanamichi, softly muttering to herself, "Did I feel wrong? That feeling just now seemed a bit similar to Aoi-kun's."
Under the astonished gaze of everyone, Sakuragi Hanamichi raced toward the free-throw line. He suddenly jumped off the ground with tremendous force, soaring like a missile.
This scene was like a thunderclap, shocking everyone present.
Sannoh's players widened their eyes, disbelief written all over their faces.
Jumping from the free-throw line?
Even Shohoku's players were stunned.
That was the free-throw line!
How incredible would a jump and hang-time need to be to dunk the basketball from there?
The opponent was just a high school student!
This wasn't a joke.
It was as if, at that moment, time itself stopped in the entire arena.
The next moment...
Boom...
A huge crash.
Sakuragi Hanamichi's basketball slammed heavily into the rim, then bounced off.
At the same time, his body twisted violently, losing balance as he uncontrollably fell backward.
Thud…
Another muffled crash.
Sakuragi Hanamichi landed directly on his back, crashing hard onto the ground.
The entire gym was plunged into a dead silence.
Hahaha...
After the silence, a series of mocking laughs erupted.
"I knew it! There's no way he could dunk!"
"That scared me! I thought he really could dunk from the free-throw line!"
"He's just a clown, he can't do anything! He should just go home!"
"A team that only cares about showing off doesn't deserve to challenge Sannoh. Just go back!"
"With that kind of strength, they are no match for Sannoh."
...
Sannoh's players let out a relieved breath.
For a brief moment, they had actually believed Sakuragi Hanamichi might be able to pull it off!
After they relaxed, they couldn't help but smile wryly.
A dunk from the free-throw line?
He had been thinking too much.
Shohoku side.
Akagi Takenori's face darkened as he quickly walked up to Sakuragi Hanamichi.
Without hesitation, he swung a punch, which landed with a thud on Sakuragi Hanamichi's head. He yelled angrily, "You idiot, what the hell are you doing?"
Ayako sighed, rubbing her forehead, looking at him with disdain, "Honestly, Shohoku's reputation has been ruined by him."
Mitsui Hisashi: "What is that guy even thinking?"
Miyagi Ryota: "Does he even know what shame is?"
Rukawa Kaede: "Sigh... He's really an uncivilized monkey."
The bench players were so embarrassed that they would have gladly buried themselves in the ground. They shuffled awkwardly, their toes digging into the floor, their discomfort palpable.
Whistle...
At this moment, the referee blew the whistle, signaling the end of the warm-up and the continuation of the Kainan vs. Umamiya game.
The Shohoku and Sannoh players left the court, and Kainan and Umamiya's players returned to the court.
However, the next scene left the players of both teams dumbfounded.
The referee couldn't find the game ball.
Just as everyone stood there in confusion, Aoi Kunisaku, about to leave the court, casually called out, "By the way, your basketball."
With that, he casually waved his arm, and the basketball flew behind him.
It was effortless.
The motion was completely natural, as if discarding something insignificant.
It was extremely nonchalant.
Under the gaze of all the players, the audience, and the reporters.
The basketball traced a strange arc in the air, then, perfectly and accurately, landed straight into the hoop.
Swish…
The crisp sound of the net rippling echoed.
While not loud, it was like a heavy hammer smashing into everyone's hearts.
In an instant, the entire arena fell into complete silence.
Everyone stared with wide eyes, mouths agape, in utter disbelief.
Some even rubbed their eyes, wondering if they were seeing things.
The players from both teams stood motionless, as if frozen in time.
Kainan's side was a little better off.
After all, they had seen this kind of thing before.
Maki Shinichi, glancing at Aoi Kunisaku disappearing into the tunnel, quietly muttered, "That guy... really is out of control."
The referee, still in a daze, looked around, his expression full of confusion. His mind was a mess.
Did something just happen?
Of course, Aoi Kunisaku wasn't interested in thinking about what they were all thinking.
When he walked into the tunnel, the once-silent arena was suddenly ignited, erupting in deafening cheers and shouts. The momentum was just as explosive as when Sannoh made their entrance.
"What just happened?"
"Oh my god! Did I see that right? He actually made the shot while turning his back!"
"Could it have been luck? If it was, he's ridiculously lucky."
"Who is that guy? I've never seen him before."
"Look at his jersey number, 9. He's Aoi Kunisaku, the one who's supposed to be able to rival Sawakita Eiji."
"He's amazing, looks really strong."
"Looks like we're in for an exciting match."
...
These cheers and discussions naturally reached the ears of the Sannoh players who had entered the tunnel.
They stopped in their tracks, confused, turning back to look.
What happened?
They looked at each other, puzzled.
The sound didn't seem like it was for them; it sounded more like it was for Shohoku.
They vaguely heard the word "Shohoku" being shouted.