Chapter One Hundred Eight: Ryonan vs Touou
"Game over!"
"101-96, Ryonan wins! Congratulations on earning their ticket to the National Tournament!" The announcer's excited voice ignited the arena.
"Thank you very much for the game!" Both teams lined up, bowing respectfully.
"YEAAAHHH!!"
Ryonan's bench erupted in ecstatic roars. Substitute players surged onto the court like a tidal wave, screaming with joy.
"We won! We're going to Nationals!" Aida Hikoichi charged onto the floor, jumping excitedly.
"You're getting way too hyped." Yagami maintained his cool exterior, though the corner of his tightly pressed lips twitched slightly, his eyes also flickering with exhilaration.
"When it's time to celebrate, you gotta shout it out!" Uozumi slapped Yagami's shoulder. "Reaching the National Tournament as a first-year is something to be damn proud of."
Sendoh wore a relaxed smile, exchanging high-fives with Ikegami, Koshino, and other teammates.
Fukuda surveyed the entire court, closing his eyes to savor the crowd's attention. The whole Ryonan squad basked in joyful atmosphere.
On the other side, Shutoku's players finally hung their heads, faces full of frustration.
"Lift your heads!" Coach Nakatani stepped forward, patting each player's shoulder individually. "You fought until the final moment. There's nothing to be ashamed of!"
---
Post-game interview area. Shutoku High's Coach Nakatani Ryo faced the media's microphones, his expression calm.
"This was an excellent game." Coach Nakatani stated. "Ryonan is an extremely powerful team. They deserved this victory. As for Shutoku's players... they performed outstandingly today. Whether tactical execution or mental toughness, both were impeccable."
"So what do you believe was the primary reason for the loss?" a reporter asked sharply.
"The ultimate defeat—responsibility lies entirely with me." Coach Nakatani's gaze swept toward Coach Taoka Moichi, who was receiving congratulations nearby. "My tactical arrangements and on-court adjustments showed errors. I failed to better respond to Ryonan's changes."
"However, this was undoubtedly a game where our players gained enormous growth. I believe at the Winter Cup, no team will be able to stop our advance."
"!!!"
As his words fell, subtle commotion rippled through the assembled reporters.
Those familiar with Coach Nakatani knew him as a pragmatic, rigorous coach who never made empty promises.
Yet now, directly after experiencing defeat, he displayed such firm conviction about the Winter Cup. This accountability and vision moved more than a few reporters.
Just then, among the press crowd, Aida Yayoi's phone vibrated urgently in her pocket. She glanced at it, walking slightly away to answer.
"Yukinari? Did the Shohoku game finish too?"
"Yayoi-san, Shohoku lost." Takahashi Yukinari's voice came through the line.
"I see..." Aida Yayoi wasn't surprised, though her tone carried faint regret. After all, Shohoku was also a Kanagawa team—just one win away from Nationals.
"What was the score?"
"121-110." Takahashi reported.
"Sounds like Shohoku fought hard too. How did Akagi and Rukawa perform?" Aida Yayoi felt impressed, quickly formulating her article angle mentally.
"No, it wasn't like that." Takahashi's tone carried indescribable gravity. "Throughout the entire game, Shohoku was suppressed by Touou. And Touou's ace, Aomine Daiki—"
"Only played the first half."
"What?!" Aida Yayoi couldn't help raising her voice. Noticing surrounding attention, she nodded apologetically, lowering her voice. "What happened in the game?"
"At halftime, the score was 76-51. Touou led by a full twenty-five points." Takahashi continued.
Seventy-six points in one half?!!
Aida Yayoi's grip on the phone tightened sharply, her fingertips slightly cold.
"Aomine scored forty points in the half. Nobody could limit him..." Takahashi added.
"Wh-what? Forty points in a half?!" Aida Yayoi couldn't suppress her shock again.
Images of Shohoku's impressive prefectural tournament run flashed through her mind. Akagi, Rukawa and company—that Shohoku team fell behind by such a massive margin at halftime?!
Just how strong was this Aomine Daiki?
Taking a deep breath, professional instinct suppressed her churning thoughts. She spoke quickly into the phone: "Understood, Yukinari. Send me detailed game notes by email."
"Will do, Yayoi-san." Takahashi confirmed. "Coming to dinner tonight? My sister says she wants to grab drinks with you after work."
"Can't do drinks—I've got work tomorrow." Aida Yayoi replied. "But dinner works. Haven't seen her in a while."
After some casual chat, Aida Yayoi hung up. Unconsciously, her gaze drifted toward Ryonan's celebrating group.
Yagami Sorato and Sendoh Akira—Kanagawa's "miracle duo." The upcoming match against Touou would likely be their greatest challenge before the National Tournament.
---
One night passed quickly. The Kanto Regional Finals day finally arrived.
The new tournament format adopted for this National Tournament had sparked controversy from the moment of announcement. Though it ensured teams advancing to Nationals possessed stronger overall ability, making Nationals less likely to feature the prior years' boring blowouts with near-double score differentials, thereby improving competitive quality—
The cost was numerous prefecture teams with unique styles getting eliminated prematurely due to format issues, triggering intense dissatisfaction among regional fans.
Under waves of opposition, rumors had already emerged suggesting the Winter Cup would likely revert to the old qualifying format.
Therefore, this Kanto Regional Finals was destined to be the sole instance of this special format. Absolutely unique.
So though the finals outcome wouldn't affect National Tournament qualification, the title of "Kanto's Number One" was something neither side would surrender at this moment.
---
Touou Academy's locker room.
"What? Daiki still hasn't arrived?" Momoi Satsuki asked frantically.
Touou captain Imayoshi Shoichi sighed helplessly. "Called him several times. He won't pick up."
"That bastard again..." Wakamatsu Kosuke's face showed fury.
"I'm sorry, I'm so sorry! This is all my fault!" Momoi apologized to the team. "He's been practicing properly recently, showed up on time yesterday. I got careless... Should've dragged him here with me!"
"I-I'll call him right now!"
"Can't deal with Aomine's lazy attitude. Figure yesterday's opponent disappointed him, so he..." Imayoshi sighed.
"That asshole!" Wakamatsu threw several punches at empty air. "Thought he'd reformed. Turns out he's still the same!"
Coach Harasawa Katsunori looked toward Momoi. "Any luck reaching him?"
"No good. Still nothing..."
"Damn, no choice then." Imayoshi stretched lazily. "Guess we start without him. We'll hold it as long as we can."
"But Ryonan won't be easy opponents." Coach Harasawa frowned. "If Aomine doesn't show—"
"Yo."
A voice interrupted their conversation. Aomine Daiki pushed through the locker room door.
"What're you guys talking about?"
"Aomine!"
"Seriously, don't make everyone worry every single time!" Momoi stamped her foot. "You've been looking forward to facing Yagami-kun, right? Can't believe you'd still be late today..."
"That's why I warmed up in advance." Aomine removed his sweat-damp street clothes, changing into his uniform.
"I've been waiting for this day since back then." Aomine's face broke into an excited grin. "Finally getting to face that guy in an actual game. I'm going to crush him with everything I've got!"
---
Ryonan High's locker room.
"Everyone ready?" Coach Taoka asked with serious expression, his gaze slowly sweeping across every face in the room.
Ryonan's players looked toward their coach, eyes determined.
"Everything that needed saying, I already covered last night analyzing Touou and Shohoku's game footage. Won't repeat it here." Coach Taoka crossed his arms, standing ramrod straight. "I'll emphasize one point—the Touou we're facing is quite possibly the strongest team we've encountered so far."
Yagami rolled his neck slightly. Quite unusually, besides excitement, he felt a trace of nervousness.
In the corner, Sendoh couldn't help recalling his encounter with Aomine. From the game footage, the guy proved even more formidable than he'd initially expected.
"I know we already have our National Tournament ticket in hand." Coach Taoka's tone suddenly intensified, hammering into every player's heart. "But the thought 'losing doesn't matter'—not even a single shred of it better appear in anyone's head!"
Uozumi's massive fist clenched tight, his thick arms tensing. Ikegami and Koshino instinctively straightened their backs.
"Since our goal is dominating Nationals, no matter the opponent, we have only one objective!"
"Absolute victory!"
"YES!!!"
The deafening roar exploded instantly. The locker room air ignited completely with surging fighting spirit.
---
Both teams entered the court for warmups.
"Yo. Been a while." Aomine greeted Yagami.
Touou's other players looked shocked. So Aomine actually knew their opponent's first-year ace? And he was being... polite?
"Looks like you're better prepared this time than last." Yagami said gravely.
"After all, first I gotta collect on that debt you owe me." Aomine's sharp gaze locked onto Yagami. "But you'd better bring me more fun this time."
"Save that talk for after you win." Yagami responded. "I also want to see just how strong you are at full power."
"Naturally. No problem."
---
After warmups finished, both teams lined up.
"Please take care of us!!"
"Now then, the Kanto Regional Qualifier Finals—Ryonan High versus Touou Academy—officially begins!!"
Ryonan's starting lineup: Point guard Yagami Sorato, shooting guard Koshino Hiroaki, small forward Sendoh Akira, power forward Ikegami Ryoji, center Uozumi Jun.
Touou's starting lineup: Point guard Imayoshi Shoichi (180cm/71kg), shooting guard Sakurai Ryo (175cm/59kg), small forward Susa Yoshinori (190cm/80kg), power forward Aomine Daiki (192cm/85kg), center Wakamatsu Kosuke (193cm/85kg).
Touou wasn't a team that excelled at defense. Coach Taoka judged that opening without Fukuda, Ryonan's offensive firepower would still suffice.
At the game's start, the key was whether his players could limit Touou's offensive rhythm.
"TWEET—!"
With the whistle's blast, the referee tossed the ball straight upward.
"SLAP!"
Uozumi won the tip with absolute dominance, batting the ball toward Ryonan's half.
Yagami caught it. The instant he took his first step, Aomine aggressively closed the distance, blocking his path!
"Oh?"
Imayoshi's eyes flickered with surprise. Such proactive defensive attitude from Aomine was extremely rare. He quickly reacted, switching onto Sendoh.
"Opening with Yagami versus Aomine! Both teams' super-rookie aces facing off directly!" Nakamura excitedly locked his camera on the pair, unwilling to miss any detail.
"Swish!"
However, Yagami passed.
Sendoh caught it. Using Ikegami's solid screen, he easily shook Imayoshi's defense, attacking Touou's paint, rising directly for the mid-range jumper.
"Swish!"
The shot dropped cleanly.
[Ryonan 2 - Touou 0]
"Tch. Still prefer avoiding the matchup?" Aomine mocked. "Didn't you say you'd win in a different way?"
Yagami slowly jogged past him, turning his head to ask flatly: "What's wrong? You afraid of losing like this?"
"Heh. Doesn't matter." Aomine's lips twisted into a feral grin. "Do whatever you want."
---
Change of possession. Touou's offense.
Imayoshi advanced with the ball. Yagami blocked his path.
On the court's opposite side, Sendoh stood ready, facing the defiant-eyed Aomine.
"Oh? Opening by switching defensively in surrender?" Imayoshi adjusted his glasses, his gaze carrying amusement behind the lenses. "Though it is the smart play. Forget first-years—looking nationwide, high school players who can stop Aomine one-on-one probably don't exist yet."
He leaned forward slightly, his voice carrying provocation: "Your choice surprised me... but I have to admit, very clever."
Hearing this, Yagami merely glanced at him indifferently, as if only now noticing this opponent: "Who are you?"
"..."
Actively defending yet pretending not to recognize him—despite knowing this was naked provocation, Imayoshi's eyebrow still twitched uncontrollably.
"Stop wasting time. Give me the ball!" Aomine shouted impatiently from the right side.
"Kids these days—" Imayoshi suppressed his emotions. His wrist flicked, delivering a precise pass.
The instant Aomine caught it, his rhythm exploded! Continuous between-the-legs dribbles at extreme speed. After a lightning-quick shoulder fake, he detonated left for the drive!
Sendoh reacted quickly, sliding horizontally to cut him off while keeping his center slightly loose, guarding against instant direction changes.
"BANG!"
But the instant the ball bounced off the floor, Aomine's speed fully erupted. Just one step—and he'd completely blown past Sendoh!
"So fast!!"
Through the shocked exclamations, Aomine had already charged inside the free-throw line. Uozumi immediately stepped out to help.
However, Aomine stopped inside the line, rose, leaned back—his motion flowing without the slightest hesitation. The ball flew from his fingertips, tracing an arc—
"Swish!"
Nothing but net!
[Ryonan 2 - Touou 2]
Aomine landed without even glancing at Sendoh. Instead, his lazy yet sharp gaze swept across Yagami:
"If you bore me, this game ends early."
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