Hiroshima Central Gymnasium.
After the game ended, waves of people flowed out from inside like a rising tide.
In the bustling crowd, a group wearing Meihou High School team uniforms stood out sharply.
The Meihou coach remained silent, his eyes a little dazed, as if lost deep in thought.
Morisige Hiroshi walked behind him, his face full of boredom and a hint of disappointment. He curled his lips and said, "That Shohoku isn't all that. The one I wanted to see never even got on the court."
Hearing that, the Meihou coach turned to glance at him, then slowly replied, "That's exactly what makes Shohoku scary. Kainan has always been strong. They're regulars in the national Final Four, and this year they're even stronger than last year. And yet, they still lost to Shohoku. That means our upcoming match won't be easy."
Morisige Hiroshi looked at the coach with a confused face and asked, "Coach, are you saying we can't beat Shohoku?"
The coach paused for a moment, then shook his head and said, "I never said that. Whether or not we beat Shohoku depends on your performance. What, did today's game shake your confidence?"
Truthfully, he wasn't feeling all that sure himself. Shohoku's strength had exceeded his expectations.
He knew if they wanted to win, their biggest hope lay in Morisige Hiroshi.
But Shohoku wasn't as simple as they looked. Putting aside Aoi Kunisaku, who could 1-on-5, even today's starting lineup had players stronger than anyone on Meihou.
Thinking that, he sighed silently in his heart.
Still, as a coach, he knew better than to crush his players' morale before the match.
Morisige Hiroshi answered confidently, "I've always had confidence! Old man, I'm gonna crush everyone on Shohoku."
The Meihou coach smiled and said, "Is that so? Then I'm counting on you."
Even though he was still worried inside, Morisige Hiroshi's confidence gave him a bit of relief.
He really did hope the kid could pull off a miracle.
…
On the other side—
Shohoku locker room.
"We did it! We actually beat Kainan!" Kogure Kiminobu shouted with excitement, unable to hold back his cheers.
The rest of the team wore the same expression—faces lit up with joy, eyes gleaming with the thrill of victory.
Ayako looked around at the cheerful group. Her heart was full. She squinted a little, and with a warm tone said, "You were all amazing today. We really beat the mighty Kainan."
Thinking back on how far they'd come, how hard it had been, it was unbelievable that they'd won without Aoi Kunisaku.
For Akagi Takenori and the others, this victory meant everything.
Even though they relied on Shimizu Kanon's strategy this time, it was still their own effort and points that won the game.
Winning through their own strength—it was a feeling none of them had ever had before.
Mitsui Hisashi smirked and said confidently, "This proves we've gotten stronger."
Miyagi Ryota nodded hard in agreement. "Yeah. Shohoku isn't what it used to be. We've all grown."
After countless practices and games, every Shohoku player had improved. Now, they could truly go toe-to-toe with the strongest teams.
Sakuragi Hanamichi stood with hands on hips, grinning smugly. "Told you! As long as I'm here, everything's fine."
He looked like he was taking full credit for the win.
Kogure Kiminobu adjusted his glasses and said seriously, "Still, we wouldn't have won so smoothly without the intel and strategy from Shimizu Kanon."
Everyone nodded in agreement. Their hearts were filled with gratitude—and even more with respect.
The Shohoku locker room was buzzing with joy. Everyone was riding high on the thrill of victory.
But over in the Kainan locker room, it was a completely different scene.
A heavy cloud of gloom hung over the Kainan locker room, pressing down on everyone inside.
The lighting was dim, and a misty haze seemed to fill the air, making it feel hard to breathe.
Each player sat silently, their faces drained, showing a mix of sadness, guilt, and frustration. Their emotions felt frozen in time.
No one knew how long this silence had lasted. It was like the outside world didn't exist. Like they'd been forgotten.
Maki Shinichi sat alone in a corner, a white towel draped over his head, hiding his face.
That fierce, sharp aura he had on the court was completely gone. No one could see his expression, or guess what was going on inside his head.
Time ticked by.
No one spoke. No one moved.
Then, with a soft creak, Takasago Kazuma pushed the locker room door open and walked in.
He looked at his teammates' dejected faces and let out a helpless sigh.
Thinking back on that game, Kainan had been suppressed at every turn. Shohoku's tactics left them with no room to fight back. From beginning to end, they never had the upper hand.
"Anzai… really is incredible." In Takasago Kazuma's heart, he still believed their defeat was at the hands of Anzai Mitsuyoshi.
He slowly swept his gaze across the team, eyes carrying a hint of encouragement and hope. Then he spoke. "Maybe it's not the best time to say this, but I'll say it anyway. Our journey isn't over yet. First place is out of reach, so let's aim for third. Let's win that third-place game!"
…
That afternoon—
The match between Meihou High School and Hakata High School also came to a close.
Just as everyone on Shohoku expected, Meihou High School won the final game.
With that, Shohoku's opponent in the finals was set.
Final: Shohoku High School vs. Meihou High School.
Third-place Match: Kainan High School vs. Hakata High School.
The final would be held the day after tomorrow, which was also the last day of the tournament.
By dusk—
Soft light filtered in through the window of the room at Chidori-sou Inn.
Shohoku's players sat together, casually chatting. Naturally, the topic turned to the upcoming final.
Kogure Kiminobu leaned lightly against the windowsill, looking out at the scenery as it slowly sank into evening. His face carried a hint of worry. "Meihou High School is just as strong as Kainan. Their strength isn't something to underestimate. It won't be easy to beat them."
Hearing that, Sakuragi Hanamichi stood up at once, eyes filled with determination. He shouted, "Hmph! I don't care how strong they are. With me, Sakuragi Hanamichi, around, I'll knock them all down!"
Miyagi Ryota smirked and teased, "Your build doesn't even come close to that Morishige guy. Don't go flying when he runs into you."
"Oi, Miyagi! You looking down on me or what?!" Sakuragi pointed at Miyagi Ryota, full of displeasure.
Miyagi's face darkened immediately. "Stop calling me Miyagi!"
Mitsui Hisashi lay lazily on the floor, flipping through a magazine without even lifting his head. "From today's game between Meihou and Hakata, you can already tell. That number 15 from Meihou is seriously something else. He practically crushed Hakata on his own. Akagi's gonna have a tough time in the paint next game."
Kogure Kiminobu turned his head to look at Akagi Takenori. "Akagi…"
Akagi kept staring out the window. His eyes gleamed with determination as he spoke with firm resolve. "Just one more step from being number one in the nation. Even if I have to put my life on the line, I'll crush Meihou."
Hearing that, everyone in Shohoku felt a surge of adrenaline. They all quietly made up their minds.
They'd come so far through endless obstacles just to reach this point.
Especially for Mitsui Hisashi and Kogure Kiminobu. They were in their third year.
This was their last shot at the high school championship.
They wanted the title more than anyone else.
In a corner of the room, Aoi Kunisaku sat silently, holding a magazine. He seemed completely unfazed by the team's discussion.
Maybe he heard them. But he chose to ignore it.
Right now, all his attention was fixed on the bikini-clad girls in the magazine. He flipped through the pages with interest, occasionally making some inner commentary.
Time flew by, and just like that, two days passed.
Today was the last day of the national tournament—and the day of the final.
Hiroshima Central Gymnasium was packed and buzzing with noise. The crowd was overwhelming, like a 5A scenic spot during a holiday. It was the busiest it had ever been.
Representatives from nearly every school that could attend had already arrived.
Reporters from major sports outlets and newspapers scrambled about with cameras, rushing around the gym in search of the best angle.
Aida Yayoi was among them, her assistant Nakamura Taizou trailing close behind.
Aida Yayoi raised her camera and began snapping shots of the lively crowd. She couldn't help but exclaim, "This year's tournament is way more exciting than usual. Almost all the big-name schools sent people."
Nakamura Taizou nodded quickly in agreement. "Yeah! It's my first time seeing a basketball final this packed. I didn't expect it to draw so many people."
Aida Yayoi nodded gently and explained patiently, "It's not just because it's the final. It's because it's Shohoku vs. Meihou High School. That's what's drawing all the attention."
"Huh?" Nakamura Taizou looked confused. He clearly didn't understand what she meant.
Seeing that, Aida Yayoi continued, "Shohoku's rise has been insanely fast. They crushed Sannoh Kogyo, a top-tier team. And with Aoi Kunisaku's sudden emergence, his style of play completely shattered what people thought basketball was. You could even say this tournament is a turning point in the sport. No wonder everyone's watching."
"Look… it's Meihou!"
Someone in the crowd suddenly shouted, drawing everyone's attention.
Aida Yayoi followed the direction of the voice. She quickly spotted a group of people walking from the distance, all dressed in Meihou High School's team uniforms.
A spark of excitement flashed in her eyes. She immediately raised her camera and began clicking away at Meihou High School's players.
After a few shots, she zoomed in on Morishige Hiroshi. She muttered, "Meihou's new ace. He's carried the team this far. I wonder how he'll do against Shohoku."
As she spoke, a mental image of Aoi Kunisaku and Morishige Hiroshi facing off on the court floated into her mind.
But since they played different positions, she couldn't be sure they'd actually go head-to-head in the match.
Before long, Meihou High School's group arrived right in front of her.
Without hesitation, Aida Yayoi stepped forward. Wearing a professional smile, she warmly greeted them. "Hello, everyone from Meihou. I'm a reporter from Basketball Weekly. My name's Aida Yayoi. May I ask you a few questions?"
Hearing it was an interview, Meihou's coach came to a stop.
He thought for a moment, then gave a small nod. "Alright, go ahead."
Aida Yayoi gathered her thoughts, then asked seriously, "What's your view on today's opponent, Shohoku?"
The coach furrowed his brow slightly and thought for a bit. Then he slowly replied, "Shohoku, huh… They're a strong team. But Meihou High School isn't weak either."
She followed up with another question. "Right now, most consider Shohoku's Aoi Kunisaku the 'strongest high school player.' Do you have the confidence to beat him?"
"Well…" The coach looked unsure how to answer at first.
After a brief pause, he said, "Why don't we let our ace answer that one?"
Saying that, he reached over and pulled Morishige Hiroshi forward.
Caught off guard, Morishige Hiroshi looked confused. But he showed no sign of being nervous or uneasy.
He was the type who lived in his own world, and something like an interview didn't faze him at all.
Aida Yayoi turned to him and repeated her question. "Classmate, do you have the confidence to beat Aoi Kunisaku, who's been called the 'strongest in high school'?"
Morishige Hiroshi scratched his head and replied blankly, "Huh? Aoi Kunisaku? What's that?"
Uh…
Aida Yayoi froze. An awkward expression spread across her face.
In her mind, she thought, 'Was that supposed to be an insult?'
Beside her, Meihou's coach could only shake his head in exasperation. He had no way to stop it.
Forcing back the awkwardness, Aida Yayoi continued, "Then do you have anything you'd like to say to today's opponent, Shohoku?"
Morishige Hiroshi tilted his head and thought for a moment. Then he said loudly, "Nothing really. I'm just gonna knock all of them flying."
Huh?!
Once again, Aida Yayoi was stunned. Morishige's blunt and bold answer left her speechless.
Ahem ahem…
The coach quickly coughed twice to cut things off.
"Sorry, we've got some pre-game prep to take care of. That'll be all for the interview," he said apologetically.
He immediately pulled Morishige Hiroshi and quickly headed inside the gym.
The rest of Meihou's players followed behind and entered the gymnasium.
…
On the other side—
Shohoku's team came walking steadily from a distance.
They gave off the calm and confident presence of a team seasoned by countless matches.
The moment Shohoku appeared, the surrounding crowd erupted into deafening screams and cheers.
"It's Shohoku—they're here!"
"The team most likely to win the championship today!"
"That's Aoi Kunisaku! The 'strongest high school player'!"
"Wonder how many points he'll score today?"
"Really hope he plays this time. Don't just sit out like last game!"
…
The cheers and chatter around them were nonstop. Nearly all of it focused on Aoi Kunisaku.
The other Shohoku players got plenty of attention too. But compared to Aoi, they were clearly overshadowed.
It was a completely different reaction from when Meihou arrived earlier.
As soon as Shohoku reached the gym entrance, a group of reporters carrying long and short lenses swarmed around them.
One after another, questions came flying like a barrage of bullets.
"Do you have confidence you can beat Meihou High School?"
"Aoi Kunisaku-san, will you be playing in today's game?"
"Do you have anything you want to say to your opponent?"
"Coach Anzai, do you think Shohoku can win the championship this year?"
"Aoi Kunisaku-san, now that you've become the 'strongest high school player,' how do you feel about it?"
…
The reporters crowded around Shohoku, yelling over each other nonstop. They surrounded the team in layer after layer, forming an impenetrable wall.
Kogure Kiminobu and the other bench players had never faced anything like this before. They stood there, overwhelmed and visibly nervous.
Akagi Takenori, as captain, tried to stay calm. His expression was serious, but the pounding in his chest gave away his tension.
Mitsui Hisashi and Miyagi Ryota were stiff with tension too. Panic flickered in their eyes. Neither knew how to handle the situation, so they stood frozen in place.
Even the usually brash and fearless Sakuragi Hanamichi looked totally lost. A rare blush spread across his face as he stood awkwardly, unsure of what to do.
Ayako swallowed nervously, her body trembling slightly. She whispered to Shimizu Kanon, "Kanon, what should we do?"
Shimizu Kanon remained composed. Her face calm, not the least bit fazed by the chaos.
After all, she'd been to many high-society events with her parents. She had plenty of experience handling situations like this.
As for Aoi Kunisaku…
He seemed to block out everything around him. He ignored the reporters and their questions completely. Calm as ever, he just stood there.
Anzai Mitsuyoshi quickly stepped forward, waving both hands. His tone was polite but firm as he said, "Sorry, sorry. Please save your questions for after the match. We need to prepare right now."
His voice was gentle, but it left no room for argument.
Led by Anzai-sensei, Shohoku finally squeezed their way through the crowd of reporters and headed into the gym.
Along the way, everyone let out a sigh of relief. Their tension started to fade.
Whew…
Once they stepped inside, the whole team relaxed and exhaled deeply.
Kogure Kiminobu wiped sweat from his forehead and said, still a little shaken, "That was the first time I've ever been surrounded by so many reporters. It was really scary…"
His voice trembled a bit, clearly still nervous from earlier.
Mitsui Hisashi tried to play it cool. He snorted and said, "Look at you—acting like it's the end of the world. They're just reporters. What's so scary?"
Miyagi Ryota shot him a sidelong glance and said dryly, "Pretty sure you were shaking just now. Don't act tough."
"You were the one shaking!" Mitsui Hisashi's face turned red. He yelled back defensively, clearly flustered. "I was just annoyed by the noise, that's all!"
Ayako looked over at Sakuragi Hanamichi, half-smiling. "Sakuragi Hanamichi, I think I saw you blushing back there. Didn't think you had a shy side."
Sakuragi's expression instantly froze. His ears turned red, then the color spread all over his face.
He blurted out, flustered, "No way! That's not true! Don't say weird stuff!"
As he shouted, he flailed his arms around, trying to hide his embarrassment.
Shimizu Kanon watched them joking around and smiled sweetly.
Then Ayako suddenly remembered something. She turned to Kanon and asked, "By the way, Kanon, you looked so calm just now. Weren't you nervous at all?"
Shimizu Kanon smiled and explained, "When I was little, I used to go to all kinds of banquets with my parents. I got used to it."
"I see!" Ayako nodded in understanding.
Then, as if another thought popped into her head, she turned to look at Aoi Kunisaku.
He still looked half-asleep. His eyelids drooped like they could close at any second.
Ayako grumbled in her head, 'Seriously, this guy's the same no matter where we are. There's no dealing with him.'
…
The group didn't stop walking until they reached Shohoku's locker room.
Before they played, there was still one more match to be held.
The third-place match: Kainan vs. Hakata.
Only after that would the final championship match begin.