The next day.
News of a 100-point difference in the preliminary matches spread through Kanagawa like an unannounced hurricane.
At first, no one believed it.
No one wanted to believe it.
But when photos from the venue began circulating—scoreboards frozen at impossible numbers, players standing beneath them like defeated shadows—even the most skeptical were forced to accept reality.
Ryonan High School had crushed its opponents.
Brutally.
Cleanly.
Shohoku High School – Basketball Gym
A heavy atmosphere hung over the gym.
"A hundred points…?"
Yasuda Yasuharu blurted it out before he could stop himself.
Kogure Kiminobu adjusted his glasses, brows knitted tightly together.
"This can't be fake, right? A 100-point difference… how is that even possible?"
Ayako stood to the side, arms crossed, expression grave.
"I've already confirmed it," she said. "The news is real."
She paused.
"And in both matches yesterday—Ryonan's captain didn't play at all."
The air froze.
At the mention of Ryonan, Sakuragi Hanamichi clenched his fists, teeth grinding.
"Akashi Seijuro… and that Sendoh bastard… damn it! Next time we meet, I'll crush them!"
Takenori Akagi remained silent.
But the basketball in his hands creaked softly.
His grip had tightened until his knuckles turned white.
He looked up at the ceiling, complex emotions surging beneath his steady exterior—shock, pressure, and a sense of unease he refused to voice.
This year's Ryonan…
They were stronger than he had imagined.
Even though Kanagawa had increased the number of qualifying slots to three, Shohoku's road forward was still brutal.
Kainan—the undisputed king, led by Shinichi Maki.
Shoyo—methodical, disciplined, commanded by Fujima Kenji.
Those two mountains were already hard enough to climb.
Now Ryonan had risen—announcing its presence with sheer violence.
If Shohoku encountered them in the elimination rounds…
Akagi lowered his head, staring at his sweat-soaked palm.
For the first time in a long while, his confidence wavered.
And unbidden, an image surfaced in his mind—
Akashi Seijuro.
The first-year who had replaced Uozumi.
For reasons Akagi couldn't explain, Ryonan felt more dangerous this year than even Kainan or Shoyo.
A clear, slightly playful voice suddenly broke the silence.
"Ryonan's captain? You mean the kid who replaced Uozumi?"
Everyone turned.
Miyagi Ryota leaned casually against the hoop, one hand in his pocket, the other spinning a basketball.
Small in stature, sharp-eyed, a foxlike grin tugging at his lips.
Shohoku's starting point guard.
Ayako nodded.
"Yes. I've gathered all his information."
She flipped open the thick stack of files in her hands, pages worn from repeated reading.
"Akashi Seijuro. First-year. On the day he joined Ryonan, he led the freshmen to defeat the upperclassmen—Uozumi and Sendoh included."
The gym grew quieter.
"During that match, Akashi and Sendoh played multiple one-on-ones. Sendoh was completely suppressed."
She lifted her gaze.
"Two days later, Uozumi challenged him personally—and lost. That same day, Akashi Seijuro became Ryonan's captain."
She closed the file.
Silence.
The three first-years stood frozen, mouths agape.
"…Three days," one of them murmured. "He became captain in three days?"
Cold sweat broke across their backs.
A sense of suffocation spread through the gym.
Just then, a voice cut in sharply.
"Hey. What's with those faces?"
A man stepped forward from the sidelines.
Short dark-blue hair.
Sharp eyes.
A faint scar along his chin.
Mitsui Hisashi.
"Are you guys really that scared of some first-year?"
Kogure frowned.
"Mitsui, don't underestimate him. This year's Ryonan is—"
"Enough."
Akagi's voice dropped like iron.
"Our focus isn't Ryonan," he said firmly. "We beat the opponent in front of us first."
The discussion ended there.
Shoyo High School – Basketball Gym
Golden sunlight streamed through the tall windows, illuminating the polished floor.
Fujima Kenji stood by the sideline, holding the latest match report.
Ryonan 139 — Yanagishita 36
"Hundred points…" he murmured. "Ryonan, huh."
Hanagata Toru paused mid-stretch.
"If it were us," he said confidently, "we could do 200."
Fujima smiled faintly.
"Point differences mean nothing," he replied calmly. "Crushing weak teams doesn't define strength."
He closed the report.
"A strong team is measured by who they can suppress."
His eyes sharpened.
"If Ryonan truly has that level…"
"We'll meet them eventually."
Kainan Da Fuzoku – Basketball Gym
117 — 44
The scoreboard glowed brightly.
Another crushing victory.
Kainan had dismantled their opponent within ten minutes, the rest of the match little more than procedure.
Maki Shinichi controlled the pace like a general.
Jin Soichiro rained down threes like cold arrows.
When the final whistle sounded, Kainan left the court calmly.
Victory was routine.
Kiyota Nobunaga jogged over, eyes shining.
"Captain Maki! I heard Ryonan won by 100 points!"
Maki didn't even look up.
"Is that so."
"…You're not curious?" Kiyota asked.
Maki finally raised his eyes.
That gaze alone froze Kiyota in place.
"Since you're so energetic," Maki said calmly, "500 sprints. 200 free throws."
"NO—!"
Kiyota collapsed instantly.
Maki turned away, a faint smile flickering at the corner of his mouth.
Across Kanagawa.
Whispers spread.
Fear spread.
And though Akashi Seijuro never appeared—
His shadow already loomed over every court.