Chapter Seventy-Nine: The Shifting Landscape
June 10th, morning, outside Kanagawa Station.
"Kiyota, why are you tagging along?" Maki Shinichi's stride remained steady as he glanced helplessly at his overly energetic underclassman.
"Obviously necessary!" Kiyota Nobunaga's hands clasped behind his head, speaking righteously. "That guy's a shooting guard, right? At nationals, the one assigned to mark him might be me—the genius Kiyota!"
"Advance scouting of future opponents is strategic planning!"
"You didn't even make Kanagawa's Top Three First-Years." Maki Shinichi sighed lightly. "Are you qualified to be his opponent?"
"Urgh... s-so what?!" Kiyota Nobunaga protested with pouted lips. "Give me more time and I'll definitely—"
His words cut off as his gaze caught several familiar figures.
"Hmm?"
"Huh?! That red-haired monkey! And... Yagami?!"
In one corner of the bullet train waiting area, Sendoh Akira leaned lazily against the wall, waving toward them: "Yo, Maki-senpai. Morning."
Nearby, Yagami Sorato nodded slightly in greeting: "Maki-senpai."
"Yagami, Sendoh—looks like we're thinking alike." Maki Shinichi nodded, returning the greeting. "Whose game are you planning to watch?"
"Hey! Old man! Can your eyes only see those two? Can't you see this genius Sakuragi Hanamichi?!" The ignored Sakuragi Hanamichi immediately jumped out indignantly.
"Red-haired monkey! Shouldn't you be training honestly in the gym instead of slacking off here?" Kiyota Nobunaga immediately targeted him.
"Hmph! Wild monkey, YOU'RE the one who needs more training!"
Requiring no outside intervention, Sakuragi Hanamichi and Kiyota Nobunaga automatically paired off upon sight, bickering noisily as they shuffled aside to begin their routine "simian debate."
"We're heading to Akita Prefecture. Both finals teams happen to be acquaintances," Sendoh Akira said naturally.
"Oh? Akita means Sannoh?" Maki Shinichi considered. "Who's the other team?"
"Yosen. Like Kaijo this year, they have a first-year from the Generation of Miracles." Yagami Sorato picked up the explanation.
"Same caliber as Kise Ryota? That team can't be underestimated either." Maki Shinichi felt somewhat wistful. In his graduating year, powerful first-years seemed to emerge from everywhere across the nation.
"What about you two? Where are you headed?" Sendoh Akira asked.
"Ever heard of Aichi's Star?" Rather than answer directly, Maki Shinichi posed a counter-question.
"Morohoshi Dai?" The name almost escaped Yagami Sorato's lips.
"Oh? You actually know about him?" Maki Shinichi looked at Yagami Sorato with slight surprise.
"Only heard the name and some rumors. Morohoshi-senpai's status in Aichi seems like yours previously, Maki-senpai—the prefecture's acknowledged number one." Yagami Sorato scratched his head awkwardly. Damn, he also found that matchup quite interesting.
"Previously...?" Maki Shinichi murmured without arguing. "Morohoshi and I were good friends in middle school. This time I'm going to watch his finals."
"You're all here!" Two figures approached rapidly from not far away.
"Hey, little Sorato, little Hanamichi." Kise Ryota flashed his signature brilliant smile, greeting enthusiastically.
"Don't address me like that." Yagami Sorato frowned, tone cold.
"Blond monkey?" Sakuragi Hanamichi replied absently before turning back to continue arguing with Kiyota Nobunaga.
"B-blond monkey...?" Kise Ryota's smile instantly froze—clearly never called that before.
"Pfft." Kasamatsu Yukio couldn't suppress his laughter.
"Where are you going?" Yagami Sorato asked the Kaijo pair. "Tokyo's tournament already finished, right?"
"Yeah, but the results were interesting. I want to see old friends." Kise Ryota smiled.
Midorima Shintaro's Shutoku High had been defeated by Seirin High in the semifinals—which Kise Ryota found very interesting. As for the finals victor being Aomine Daiki's Touou Academy—that didn't surprise him at all.
From any angle, Kise Ryota could hardly imagine Aomine Daiki losing. After all, he was the Generation of Miracles' ace.
The "aces" from Kanagawa's Final Four teams had coincidentally gathered here. Though their destinations differed, all were obviously preparing for upcoming games.
Of course, one more person remained.
Rukawa Kaede sat properly in seiza position within Coach Anzai Mitsuyoshi's Japanese-style room.
Coach Anzai slowly returned his teacup to the table, asking gently: "So, Rukawa-kun, you came specifically to see me today. Is there something important you wish to discuss?"
"I..." Several figures flashed consecutively through Rukawa Kaede's mind. After slight hesitation, he finally spoke with determination: "I want to go to America."
"America..." That word made Coach Anzai's eyes narrow slightly behind his lenses. For an instant, another figure—similarly gifted with talent yet ultimately lost in a foreign land—crossed his mind. He deliberately slowed his speech: "Planning to study abroad?"
"No." Rukawa Kaede lifted his head, gaze burning. "I want to become stronger. That's all."
"I oppose this!"
Coach Anzai's tone unconsciously turned stern. His originally gentle presence suddenly became intensely oppressive.
"Coach, I—"
"Right now, even within Kanagawa, you fall short of Yagami and Kise, let alone Sendoh and Maki." Coach Anzai looked directly into Rukawa Kaede's eyes, words hammering down. "Under these circumstances, proposing to go to America—isn't this a form of disguised escape?"
"It's not!" Rukawa Kaede immediately countered. Though the same doubt had flashed through his own heart, his pursuit of stronger opponents was genuine—believing America's basketball environment could transform him fastest.
"First try surpassing the opponents before your eyes." Coach Anzai's tone softened slightly yet carried undeniable weight. "In any case, first become Japan's number one high schooler. When that time comes, we can discuss America again."
The bullet train slowly docked at Akita Station. Yagami Sorato and Sendoh Akira followed the crowd out of the carriage, heading directly toward the Prefectural Sports Center.
The arena was indeed packed with voices. They passed through the somewhat dim spectator corridor. The instant they saw the court, deafening noise swallowed them.
In the bright arena, the electronic screen's bright red score stood prominently—
Sannoh 68 - Yosen 48
Yagami Sorato's steps faltered slightly.
"This score..." He muttered softly, brow furrowing unconsciously.
Sendoh Akira also shed his usual lazy expression, gaze turning grave as he looked toward the court.
Yagami Sorato had mentally prepared for Sannoh Industrial's strength, but he'd never imagined that Yosen—possessing Murasakibara Atsushi—would already be down 20 points in the third quarter!
In the stands, Sannoh's cheering section erupted with deafening roars while Yosen's seating area remained utterly silent.
Yagami Sorato carefully observed the court.
Sannoh Industrial's lineup: Point guard Fukatsu Issei (180cm/70kg), shooting guard Matsumoto Minoru (184cm/71kg), small forward Sawakita Eiji (188cm/73kg), power forward Kawata Mikio (210cm/130kg), center Kawata Masashi (194cm/95kg).
Yosen's lineup: Point guard Fukui Kensuke (176cm/67kg), shooting guard Himuro Tatsuya (183cm/70kg), small forward Liu Wei (203cm/87kg), power forward Okamura Kenichi (200cm/95kg), center Murasakibara Atsushi (208cm/99kg).
"Looks like the variable is that guy, right?" Sendoh Akira pointed at Kawata Mikio. "Taller and stronger than Murasakibara."
Murasakibara Atsushi's offensive technique could essentially be called non-existent technique—purely relying on his body to establish position for dunks. Of course, with his height, strength, and agility, that alone already left most teams helpless.
However, Sannoh possessed Kawata Masashi—whose technique ranked first among Japanese high school centers—plus Kawata Mikio, whose height and strength ranked first among high schoolers!
This game showed that despite Yosen having three players exceeding two meters tall, their interior was completely contained!