Chapter Sixty-Two: Shohoku vs Kaijo
"Did we... really lose?" Kiyota Nobunaga stood frozen in place, his eyes filled with bewilderment and disbelief. "Maki-senpai..."
Maki Shinichi's large hand pressed down on his junior's head, cutting off any further words of frustration.
"That's enough. Line up." Maki's voice wasn't loud, but it carried clearly to every Kainan player's ears. "Remember—this is absolutely not our endpoint."
"LINE UP! Thank you for the game!"
From the stands, Akagi Takenori's expression was grave. "Has Ryonan's strength... truly surpassed Kainan?"
From the flow of the match, Kainan had been suppressed by Ryonan's rhythm from start to finish. This team that had stood at Kanagawa's peak for years had actually lost. This result likely exceeded the expectations of the vast majority of spectators present.
Akagi Takenori had suspected it might be possible, but still found it hard to believe.
"Hmph, what's so strange about that?" Sakuragi Hanamichi suddenly stood up, hands on his hips, wearing an expression that said "it should've been obvious." "They're the team that crushed us Shohoku into submission! Only opponents of this caliber are worthy of being defeated by this genius himself!"
"Hey, Sakuragi, where are you going?" Kogure Kiminobu quickly asked.
"The game's over. Should I just sit here daydreaming?" Sakuragi walked toward the exit without looking back. "This genius's time is precious!"
"That idiot." Rukawa Kaede coldly spat out three words, then also stood up and left in a different direction.
"Rukawa Kaede!"
"I'm going to practice."
"I'm leaving too."
"Mitsui! Miyagi! Why are you both joining in?!"
"You bastards! You bunch of teamwork-lacking idiots!" Akagi Takenori roared at their retreating backs. "Our game is this afternoon! Don't you dare mess around! If anyone's late or shows up exhausted, I absolutely won't forgive them!"
Watching those problem children scatter in different directions, Akagi Takenori sighed helplessly. "Honestly, every single one of them is a handful."
At the other end of the arena, Kaijo High School's players also noticed the commotion from Shohoku's side.
"These are the guys we're facing next?" Kise Ryota lazily propped his chin on his hand, glancing over with minimal interest. "Looks like it'll be a boring game."
He'd been completely fired up watching Ryonan and Kainan battle, but seeing that disorganized bunch who looked more like street punks than basketball players, Kise suddenly lost all enthusiasm.
"Hey! Take this seriously!" Kasamatsu Yukio immediately scolded him.
"I wanna play Ryonan again soon! Gotta show 'em the results of my special training!" Hayakawa Mitsuhiro suddenly pumped his fist, shouting with fierce determination—though his words came out garbled.
"Huh? What the hell are you mumbling about?" Kasamatsu Yukio couldn't make sense of his unclear pronunciation.
"I said—I'm gonna seriously defeat them!" Hayakawa suddenly leaned in close, speaking at lightning speed.
"Don't get so close!" Kasamatsu Yukio's patience snapped as he punched Hayakawa in the face, pushing him away. "You're so annoying! Talking that fast and unclear—who can understand you?!"
"Forget about him, Kasamatsu," third-year Moriyama Yoshitaka elegantly brushed back his hair, lowering his voice. "Look at the stands—west side, third row, far end. See her? She's here..."
"What? One of our old rivals?" Kasamatsu Yukio instinctively became alert.
"It's a super cute girl!" Moriyama's eyes lit up, instantly entering his mode. "I've decided—today I'm fighting for that angel!"
"Are you an idiot?! Fight for Kaijo! Dammit!" Kasamatsu Yukio's roar practically became Kaijo's background music.
"Kasamatsu-senpai, look—" Kise Ryota suddenly held up an elegantly wrapped bento box with a grin. "A gift from one of my fans! Can I eat this for lunch? ...Though, I wonder if there's anything weird inside?"
"Just eat it and drop dead already!" Kasamatsu felt his blood pressure skyrocketing.
"Damn it, everyone's like this. Let me concentrate for once." He pressed his forehead, feeling mentally exhausted.
In that chaotic moment, Kasamatsu Yukio's gaze inadvertently met Akagi Takenori's from Shohoku.
Their styles were completely different—one a point guard, the other a center—but in that instant, both read something identical in the other's eyes: managing a group of "problem children" is genuinely exhausting.
A tacit understanding between team captains, transcending team allegiances, was quietly established in that single moment.
Two o'clock in the afternoon.
Naturally, Ryonan's players hadn't left. After all, the winner between Shohoku and Kaijo would be their finals opponent. Kainan's players had also stayed—though they'd lost one game, their Inter-High journey continued.
The arena's lights focused once again on center court. The brief lunch break hadn't cooled the tension in the air—if anything, the impending match made it even heavier.
"Kanagawa Prefecture Preliminary Tournament, Top Four Match Two—Shohoku High School versus Kaijo High School. The game officially begins!"
"Please treat us well!"
The two teams had no prior history, so the players didn't exchange words.
Shohoku's starting lineup: Point guard Miyagi Ryota (168cm/59kg), shooting guard Mitsui Hisashi (184cm/70kg), small forward Rukawa Kaede (187cm/75kg), power forward Sakuragi Hanamichi (189cm/83kg), center Akagi Takenori (197cm/93kg).
Kaijo's starting lineup: Point guard Kasamatsu Yukio (178cm/66kg), shooting guard Moriyama Yoshitaka (181cm/67kg), small forward Kise Ryota (189cm/77kg), power forward Hayakawa Mitsuhiro (185cm/77kg), center Kobori Koji (192cm/74kg).
"The highlight of this match is undoubtedly the direct showdown between two super rookies—Rukawa Kaede and Kise Ryota!" The announcer's voice echoed through the arena. "This morning we witnessed Ryonan's Yagami Sorato's brilliant performance against champion Kainan. We believe these two rookies will deliver an equally spectacular showing!"
"There are unfamiliar faces on both teams." Ikegami Ryoji scanned both starting lineups before turning to his side. "Hikoichi, time for you to shine!"
"Got it!" Aida Hikoichi immediately flipped open his ever-present notebook, rattling off information: "Kaijo's number 5, Moriyama Yoshitaka, is known for unorthodox three-point shooting and aggressive defense. He averages 3.5 three-pointers per game with 1.7 blocks."
"Wait, what does 'unorthodox shooting' mean?" Koshino Hiroaki curiously interjected.
"His shooting form is... unique," Aida Hikoichi gestured awkwardly. "From my observations, he mainly uses two forms—one resembles a two-handed 'chamber pot push,' and the other is like a quick 'sniper flick.'"
"...There are really such weird forms?" Ikegami Ryoji looked incredulous.
"Ikegami-senpai, the point isn't whether the form is standard—it's that he can actually score using these forms," Yagami Sorato calmly took over. "They're probably bad habits from his early development, but if he maintains a 3.5 three-pointer average, that means we must take this threat seriously."
As Ryonan's defensive specialist who guards shooters, if they faced Kaijo, Moriyama Yoshitaka would likely be Ikegami Ryoji's matchup.
"Unorthodox shooting forms mean conventional defensive strategies might be ineffective," Yagami continued his analysis. "During this game, Ikegami-senpai should carefully observe both his and Shohoku's Mitsui Hisashi's release mechanics."
"Even though Ikegami-senpai defended Miyamasu well—that was partly due to a height advantage. If you want to shut down these two, it won't be easy."
Yagami Sorato analyzed naturally, suddenly realizing his teammates were all looking at him with strange expressions.
"Is something wrong?"
"No, no!" Uozumi Jun and the others quickly shook their heads.
"Understood." Ikegami Ryoji nodded seriously. He suddenly had a peculiar feeling—despite Yagami addressing him as "Ikegami-senpai" with every sentence, it felt more like being lectured by Coach Taoka...
"As for Shohoku's side, worth noting is number 7, Miyagi Ryota..."
"BEEP—!"
Aida Hikoichi had just started his intelligence briefing when the referee's whistle interrupted him.
The referee tossed the ball high. Akagi Takenori and Kobori Koji simultaneously leaped for the tip!
"Smack!"
Akagi Takenori won the tip with absolute dominance, batting the basketball toward Shohoku's half.
Miyagi Ryota's quick hands controlled the ball. Almost the instant he caught it, he spotted Rukawa Kaede cutting like an arrow straight toward Kaijo's basket.
"WHOOSH—!"
"What?!"
The basketball shot through the air like a laser between the players at center court, delivering precisely into Rukawa Kaede's hands!
"Beautiful pass!" Kogure Kiminobu shouted from the sideline.
Rukawa Kaede caught the ball without slowing down, charging into the paint in three strides before launching skyward for a one-handed tomahawk dunk!
"Not happening!"
A blonde figure came from behind, catching up with shocking speed. Kise Ryota reached the defensive position, leaping high from the side to swat fiercely at the basketball!
"Incredible! This is almost identical to the opening play from Ryonan versus Kainan!" the announcer exclaimed.
Just as the dunk was about to be blocked, Rukawa Kaede forcibly pulled the ball back to his waist, then with a flick of his wrist, whipped it backward.
Mitsui Hisashi had positioned himself beyond the three-point line. Catching the ball, he quickly adjusted—bent his knees, rose up, released!
"Smack!"
Moriyama Yoshitaka lunged from the side with a clean block, swatting the ball down!
Kasamatsu Yukio, who'd recovered on defense, quickly controlled the loose ball. Kaijo instantly transitioned from defense to offense!
"Fast break!"
At Kasamatsu Yukio's command, Hayakawa Mitsuhiro charged first toward Shohoku's basket. Kasamatsu didn't hesitate, delivering a full-court pass across the floor!
"THUD!"
Just as the basketball was about to fall into Hayakawa's hands, a crimson figure soared through the air.
"Wh-What?!"
"So high!!!"
"That vertical... is absolutely insane!!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi intercepted the ball mid-air with unbelievable elevation!
"Sakuragi!"
Miyagi Ryota called for the ball. After landing, Sakuragi quickly passed out.
Kasamatsu Yukio immediately applied pressure, but Miyagi Ryota remained unfazed. Receiving the ball, he immediately lobbed it high toward Kaijo's basket.
"HAAAA—!"
Accompanied by a thunderous roar, Akagi Takenori exploded upward, catching the pass in mid-air and viciously hammering it through the rim with a two-handed slam!
"BOOM!!"
The backboard trembled slightly. Shohoku struck first!
Shohoku 2 - Kaijo 0
"Gorilla dunk!" Sakuragi Hanamichi shouted mockingly.
"Akagi, nice slam!" The Shohoku bench erupted instantly, with cheers from supporters rising and falling throughout the stands.
Ryonan's players looked at each other, faces filled with disbelief. Just a few months ago in their practice game, they'd crushed Shohoku by a massive 30-point margin.
But the team before them now—from offensive rhythm to defensive intensity—seemed like a completely different squad.
"Unbelievable..." Ikegami Ryoji murmured. "Is this really the same Shohoku we played before?"
"Of course it is." Yagami Sorato said slowly. He'd originally assumed their finals opponent would be Kaijo, but now it seemed Shohoku's transformation far exceeded his expectations.
With Shohoku at full strength, the outcome of this game had become completely unpredictable.
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