The next day.
Sunlight spread across the streets and alleys of Japan as usual.
News reports and articles on Shohoku versus Sannoh were finally published.
The story hit like a giant rock thrown into a still lake, sending shockwaves far and wide.
The basketball storm only grew stronger, quickly and thoroughly sweeping through the entire basketball world of Japan.
At the center of it all was the name Aoi Kunisaku, shining like a brilliant star in the basketball sky, now famous across the whole country.
These match-report papers and magazines reached the hands of basketball team coaches and players from every major high school like trusted messengers.
Anyone flipping through these issues would find that each one had dedicated a full-page spread solely to Aoi Kunisaku.
It focused on how he, like a ferocious lion, crushed the entire Sannoh team by himself, without a trace of fear.
It also detailed Aoi Kunisaku's jaw-dropping Super High-Speed Dribble and his unique Formless Shot.
His free-form playstyle overwhelmed the opponent's defense and threw off their offensive rhythm.
Every line of text made it clear that the title of "Unstoppable Scoring King" was no exaggeration—Aoi Kunisaku truly deserved it.
…
Kanagawa Prefecture · Ryonan High School · Basketball Gymnasium.
The rubber court gleamed under the cold lighting.
Taoka Moichi leaned against the metal frame of the scoring table, fingers idly rubbing the magazine's cover.
When he first heard Shohoku beat Sannoh yesterday, he had brushed it off as a rumor.
Sannoh had been the undisputed champions for years. There was no way Shohoku could topple them just like that.
But now the article in front of him proved otherwise.
The color spread showed Aoi Kunisaku mid-air, holding the basketball one-handed in a Slam Dunk, taking up half the page.
Below it, the bold black letters read: "Tore Through Sannoh's Defense Alone." The words stung his eyes.
His Adam's apple bobbed as he forced down a dry gulp. His gaze swept across the headline "1V5 Crushing Offense," and his pupils contracted violently, as if they might burn a hole in the page.
"This can't be real…" he mumbled unconsciously, years of coaching knowledge churning in his mind.
So many legendary players had hesitated in front of Sannoh's power.
But this Aoi Kunisaku shattered Sannoh's myth completely.
Phrases like "Super High-Speed Dribble tore apart the defense" and "Formless Shot never missed" stabbed at his vision like steel needles.
The next second—
Taoka Moichi suddenly slammed the magazine shut and let out a long breath.
He realized the entire basketball landscape of Kanagawa—and maybe all of Japan—was about to be rewritten.
…
Kanagawa Prefecture · Shoyo High School · Basketball Gymnasium.
Light poured through weathered windows, casting shadows on the wooden floor.
Fujima Kenji stood silently at the center of the court. He held a newspaper tightly, eyes locked on the page, unmoving.
Beside him, Hanagata Toru also noticed the report and couldn't hide his disbelief.
"I can't believe they actually beat Sannoh."
Fujima Kenji slowly raised his head and looked at Hanagata Toru with a deeply emotional expression.
"Yeah. It's unbelievable."
As he spoke, Fujima Kenji couldn't help but recall the image of their loss to Toyotama last year. A bitter smile curled at the corner of his lips.
"Shohoku is no longer the same team as before. They stepped on Sannoh to rise. They might be the strongest high school team in the country now," Fujima Kenji said softly, a mix of respect and resignation in his tone.
…
Osaka Prefecture · Toyotama High School · Basketball Gymnasium.
"They really did it." Minami Tsuyoshi stared blankly at a newspaper, his mind drifting back to their match against Shohoku not long ago.
Just remembering that terrifying figure made Minami Tsuyoshi shudder involuntarily.
Kishimoto Minori stood nearby, a deep scowl on his face. His eyes were filled with envy, jealousy, and frustration—but not defiance.
In their last match with Shohoku, Kishimoto Minori had been completely defeated.
He knew there was no resisting overwhelming power. Aoi Kunisaku had left a lasting shadow in his heart.
"Now I actually feel sorry for Shohoku's future opponents," Kishimoto Minori muttered, a sly grin forming on his lips.
"Even Sannoh got crushed. The other teams aren't even on their level. Can't wait to see what happens when they face Shohoku," he continued, eyes gleaming with excitement.
…
In a hotel somewhere in Hiroshima.
The basketball team of Aiwa Gakuen sat in a room together.
Every one of them had a cloud over their faces. The air was so heavy it was hard to breathe.
The reason was simple: Aiwa Gakuen's next opponent… was the now unstoppable Shohoku High School.
Shohoku's unprecedented victory over Sannoh Kogyo hit Aiwa Gakuen like a bombshell, bringing immense pressure.
Moroboshi Dai sat quietly in a chair, clutching a basketball magazine tightly in his hands, eyes locked onto the Shohoku report.
His gaze was heavy. His brows were tightly furrowed, as if he were searching for a strategy.
"Our next match is against Shohoku. What should we do?"
"Shohoku's that strong… can we really beat them?"
"That number 9 from Shohoku is just too powerful. We're no match for him, and the rest of their team isn't easy to deal with either."
"Feels like this one's gonna be really tough."
…
The players spoke one after another, their voices filled with doubt about facing Shohoku. The room was thick with negativity.
Listening to his teammates, Moroboshi Dai grew uneasy.
He suddenly stood up and shouted, "What are you all doing?! The match hasn't even started and you're already giving up? No matter how strong they are, we can't just throw in the towel. If Shohoku can beat Sannoh and create a miracle, why can't Aiwa Gakuen? Believe in your own strength! Show them what Aiwa Gakuen is made of!"
His voice rang with strength, stirring everyone's hearts.
The players straightened up, brushing off their fear. Their eyes lit with renewed resolve.
Yeah. Shohoku might be strong, but Aiwa Gakuen wasn't a team that would go down so easily.
Shohoku had Aoi Kunisaku. But they had their own star.
Seeing their attitude change, Moroboshi Dai let out a satisfied smile.
But no one noticed the unease behind that smile.
He knew very well how terrifying Shohoku's strength was—especially Aoi Kunisaku.
He couldn't take on Sannoh's entire team alone.
Forget Sannoh, he couldn't even do that against most other teams.
But as captain, he couldn't let the others see his fear or hesitation.
Whatever the outcome, he had to lead the team with everything he had.
…
Inside the hotel where Kainan stayed.
Soft light spilled over the tatami mats, creating a calm, quiet atmosphere.
Kainan's players sat together, holding a weekly magazine with Shohoku's report on the cover. Their expressions varied.
Kiyota Nobunaga stared at the glowing praise in the article and muttered with a tinge of envy, "Shohoku's next opponent is Aiwa Gakuen, right? Who do you think's gonna win?"
Muto Tadashi didn't even pause. "Come on, obviously Shohoku. With the way they played, Aiwa Gakuen doesn't stand a chance."
Shinzou Ichirou nodded slightly. "Yeah, I think so too. Shohoku's full of momentum right now. Especially that Aoi Kunisaku… his power is terrifying."
Maki Shinichi's eyes gleamed with a sharp light. His voice was firm. "As long as that guy's on the court, Shohoku won't lose. Aoi Kunisaku's strength has already surpassed what you'd expect from a high schooler."
Hearing that, Kiyota Nobunaga let out a long sigh and collapsed backward onto the tatami. "Yeah… figures. If this keeps up, we'll probably run into them again."
The room fell into an odd silence at his words.
No one said anything. They were all quietly thinking about the possibility of facing Shohoku again, and how they might deal with it.
After a long moment, Maki Shinichi broke the silence. "Even if we do meet them, it'll be in the finals. For now, we need to focus on beating our next opponents."
Right then, Coach Takato Riki entered the room, sweeping his gaze over the team. "That's right. This year might be our best shot at the title—or our worst. Sannoh's fall gave us an opening. But it also means an even taller mountain now stands in our path."
He paused, then continued, "Shohoku's strength took everyone by surprise. Luckily, we're not in the same bracket. If we do meet, it'll be in the finals. Until then, let's take out every team that stands in our way. Show them that Kainan is a true title contender!"
"Yes!" the Kainan team shouted in unison, full of fighting spirit.
…
Meanwhile, every team in the national tournament had seen the articles about Shohoku—especially the detailed reports on Aoi Kunisaku.
The one who took down the former "strongest high school player," Sawakita Eiji. The one who crushed all of Sannoh by himself. He had become the hot topic.
From this moment on, Aoi Kunisaku's name echoed across the entire nation. There wasn't a soul who didn't know it.
Thanks to his astonishing performance in the match against Sannoh, he had officially secured the title of "strongest high school player."