"Nango, congratulations! You've successfully achieved your goal."
Aida Yayoi winked mischievously with her left eye and extended her right hand.
Nango smiled faintly and was about to shake it when Nakamura suddenly jumped out, exclaiming excitedly, "Nango, your performance was absolutely brilliant! Congratulations on winning the Most Valuable Player award!"
"Haha, thank you!" Nango laughed, clearly amused. He shook Nakamura's hand first, then gently clasped Yayoi's fingers.
After exchanging pleasantries, they quickly got down to business. Nakamura raised his camera, carefully searching for the best angle, while Yayoi took out her recorder and asked, "Let's start with how you feel about winning the championship."
Nango thought for a moment before answering, "I'm very happy. Ever since enrolling, we've been working toward becoming national champions. Now that our efforts have finally paid off, I feel that all the hard work along the way was worth it."
Yayoi continued pressing, "Aren't you excited? After all, you defeated Sannoh Industrial."
"I was at first," Nango replied calmly, "but I've settled down now."
"Oh? Why is that?"
"'You are very strong.' That's something Coach Anzai has always emphasized," Nango said, lowering his head slightly as he organized his thoughts. "And during the game, we truly felt it. Facing a three-time champion like Sannoh Industrial, we realized we were fully capable of competing with them. After that, we just focused on playing our own basketball instead of thinking about anything else."
Yayoi nodded in approval. "Then were you surprised to receive the MVP award?"
Nango smiled awkwardly and licked his lips. "To be honest… yes."
Yayoi and Nakamura both laughed.
"Then how would you evaluate your three opponents—Fukatsu, Kawata, and Sawakita?" Yayoi asked.
How should he evaluate them?
Nango hesitated. It wouldn't be appropriate to simply say that they lost. After some thought, he chose his words carefully.
"Fukatsu has incredibly rich game experience and excellent control over the team's rhythm. Even without the ball, he can organize the offense—it's really impressive."
"Kawata's skill set is extremely comprehensive. It's hard to believe he's a center; he plays more like a small forward."
"And Sawakita… his mid-range shooting is terrifyingly accurate. I tried everything I could, but I couldn't completely stop him."
Yayoi chuckled inwardly. After praising them like that, you still beat them.
She then asked a few more routine questions, and Nango answered each one cautiously, sticking firmly to the principle of offending no one.
As soon as the interview ended, Nango hurried back to rejoin the Shohoku team. Soon after, everyone returned to the hotel to check out. That afternoon, they would be leaving Hiroshima and heading back to Kanagawa Prefecture.
But before that, there was still one more thing to do.
"Cheers!"
With Ayako, the loudest among them, giving the signal, everyone gathered around the table, raised their cups, clinked them together, and drank everything in one go.
This was Shohoku's celebratory lunch. Haruko and Kano were also present, joining as family members of the players.
The cups were filled with carbonated drinks. After all, they were still minors, and the law didn't allow alcohol. But what they drank didn't matter—the atmosphere was what truly counted.
Akagi refilled his cup, then stood and raised it solemnly. "Coach, thank you for your guidance all these years. You've worked hard."
After saying that, he drained his cup in one breath and bowed deeply.
Coach Anzai waved his hand repeatedly, smiling warmly. "This victory is the result of your own hard work. It has very little to do with me."
Mitsui immediately objected. He stood up, bowed, and said, "Coach Anzai, if it weren't for you, I would've gone down the wrong path."
Sakuragi grinned widely. "Mitsui's right! If it weren't for the Old Man, he'd still be a delinquent!"
"Hahahahaha!"
Laughter erupted around the table. Mitsui's face instantly flushed red as he shouted back, "You idiot! Look at your hair—you're the delinquent!"
Sakuragi slammed the table. "Who are you calling an idiot?! I'm the best power forward in the nation!"
"Hmph!" Mitsui snorted. "Then I'm the best shooting guard in the nation!"
"Alright, alright, calm down!" Kogure stepped in as the peacemaker. "Both of you were amazing. Without either of you, we wouldn't have made it this far."
Once the two finally quieted down, Kogure continued with a smile, "Honestly, even now I still can't believe we actually defeated Sannoh Industrial. It still feels like a dream."
"Glasses Guy!" Sakuragi patted his chest confidently. "Three-time champions are nothing special! We'll win three championships too! Right, Nango?!"
"Ah? Yeah…" Nango blinked, caught off guard by the sudden attention. He smiled and nodded vaguely.
Go to Ryokufu… or stay?
Before winning the championship, Nango hadn't seriously thought about this question. But now, he had no choice but to face it.
He silently took a sip from his cup. Beside him, Kano remained quiet, but she noticed everything.
Meanwhile—
Aida Yayoi and Nakamura dragged their exhausted bodies back into the office when they saw the editor-in-chief approaching.
"Yo! Hard work," he said cheerfully. "How are the drafts coming along?"
Yayoi rolled her eyes inwardly. We just walked in and you're already asking for drafts? Big brother, you're pushing us to death!
Nakamura patted his camera and smiled brightly. "We can submit them today! Right, Miss Aida?"
"Eh?!" Yayoi had planned to write them tomorrow, but under the editor-in-chief's sharp gaze, she could only nod reluctantly and shuffle toward her desk.
"Oh?" the editor-in-chief said curiously. "You're quite enthusiastic today, Nakamura."
Yayoi collapsed into her chair and complained, "Of course he is. His beloved Shohoku High won the championship—he's over the moon."
"Hahaha! That's great! Keep that enthusiasm!" The editor-in-chief laughed and patted Nakamura heavily on the back.
Nakamura scratched his head awkwardly, then suddenly remembered something. "Editor-in-chief, can this issue's cover go to Shohoku High School? They defeated the three-time champions, Sannoh Industrial! Readers will definitely be interested!"
"In theory, yes," the editor-in-chief replied slowly. "But did you two get anything special?"
Yayoi pulled out her small notebook and tapped it proudly. "An exclusive interview with this year's MVP. Isn't that special enough?"
"Well done!" The editor-in-chief nodded in satisfaction. "How did you manage that?"
"We interviewed him last time too," Yayoi replied casually. "He's surprisingly easy to talk to."
"I see… it's him again." The editor-in-chief smiled. "Then Yayoi, why don't you write a comprehensive feature on him?"
"Alright…"
Though phrased as a question, Yayoi knew the decision had already been made.