The stadium was hushed, the initial murmurs still fading, when the rhythmic sound of footsteps suddenly echoed.
Thump… thump… thump… thump…
From the player tunnels, the rhythm grew clearer, faster, almost electrifying. Soon, Ryonan and Shoyo's players emerged, stepping into view one by one.
"They're out… Ryonan and Shoyo!"
"Their momentum… incredible! I can't wait to see them play."
"What will the final result be? I'm so excited!"
The crowd erupted, spontaneous cheers mingling with organized chants from the dedicated cheerleading squads.
Shoyo's cheerleaders, clad in green, formed a tight corner in the stands. At the front, the captain raised his arms, directing the group:
"Shoyo… Shoyo… Shoyo…
Fujima… Fujima… Fujima…
Victory… Victory… Victory!"
Ryonan's squad, initially sparse and quiet, had grown over time. With Akashi Seijuro's rising fame, more supporters joined, filling sections of the stands in white, shouting in unison:
"Ryonan… Ryonan… Ryonan…
Sendo… Sendo… Sendo…
Akashi… Akashi… Akashi…"
The two teams stood at opposite ends of the court, their gazes meeting across mid-court. Tension radiated like an invisible current.
Shoyo's side.
Fujima Kenji stood at the front, back straight as a spear, gaze unwavering. Though narrowly defeated by Kainan earlier, years of consistently ranking second in the league had honed a fearless aura. Each player exuded unyielding tenacity, their eyes burning with quiet determination.
Ryonan's side.
Akashi stood at the front, face expressionless, his heterochromatic eyes scanning Shoyo calmly, revealing nothing. The Ryonan team's aura was tightly bound, spreading outward like a coiled rope. Akashi himself combined a gentle aura with an icy indifference, creating an unsettling presence that made spectators instinctively grip their cheer sticks.
Both sides withdrew their gazes and returned to their benches. Pre-game warm-ups began.
In the stands, Shohoku's players watched, frowning.
"The atmosphere… it feels so heavy," muttered Kogure Kiminobu.
Takenori Akagi nodded. Mitsui Hisashi, eyes narrowing at Akashi, muttered under his breath:
"That guy… he's the reason we lost."
Yet, upon reflection, Akashi's performance had been average. Mitsui couldn't fully comprehend how Ryonan had hidden their strength.
"Did Ryonan even use full strength against us?" he suddenly asked, earning surprised looks from the Shohoku team.
Miyagi Ryota's gaze locked on Akashi. Let's see what else you've got. He knew he wasn't a match for Fujima Kenji's court vision, nor could he handle Akashi's ability to anticipate every move. Frustration mixed with curiosity. He was eager to see what sparks would fly when these two point guards—one methodical, one seemingly all-seeing—clashed.
Time passed, and warm-ups ended. Players gathered at center court.
Ryonan Starting Lineup:
Center: Uozumi (#5, 3rd year)
Small Forward: Sendo (#7, 2nd year)
Power Forward: Fukuda Kiccho (#13, 2nd year)
Shooting Guard: Koshino Hiroaki (#8, 2nd year)
Point Guard (Captain): Akashi Seijuro (#4, 1st year)
Shoyo Starting Lineup:
Center: Hanagata Toru (#5, 3rd year)
Power Forward: Shoichi Takano (#8, 3rd year)
Small Forward: Mitsuru Nagano (#7, 3rd year)
Shooting Guard: Kazushi Hasegawa (#6, 3rd year)
Point Guard (Captain): Fujima Kenji (#4, 3rd year)
Uozumi and Hanagata locked eyes. Their heights similar, their presence dominant. One was Ryonan's inside pillar, the other Shoyo's key paint defender. The tension between them radiated immediately.
"Your Shoyo era ends today," Uozumi said with confidence.
Hanagata's gaze sharpened. "Don't think your Ryonan progress is enough to provoke Shoyo. Our legacy in Kanagawa isn't just talk."
Uozumi smirked. "I don't claim to do it alone. But…" He raised his thumb, pointing behind him. "Our captain will."
Hanagata followed his gaze. Akashi. From the first moment, he hadn't been able to read him. Ordinary in appearance, yet every glance carried an almost supernatural sense of control.
"Then we'll see if he truly can," Hanagata muttered.
The referee stepped to the center, basketball in hand. Beep!
The ball soared into the air. Whoosh…
Uozumi and Hanagata bent their knees, launching themselves like arrows toward the tip of the jump ball.
Ryonan versus Shoyo. The game officially began.