Chapter 137: The Night Before
July 6th. Evening. The inn where Ryonan was staying.
The basketball team sat gathered in a wide tatami room, snacks and drinks scattered across the low table between them. The television at the front of the room was playing recorded footage of that morning's Court B quarterfinal.
The frame was frozen on Fukatsu Kazunari's final basket, six seconds still on the clock, Toyotama's players already broken long before the buzzer.
Sannoh Industrial 132, Toyotama 88.
Coach Taoka clicked pause. The room went quiet.
The players had already been carrying the weight of the Touou-Rakuzan game in their chests all afternoon. Seeing what Sannoh had just done made the feeling heavier.
"Forty-four points." Ikegami Ryoji's expression had gone serious. "That's a pretty overwhelming gap."
Yagami glanced at him. He had a feeling the silence just before that comment had been Ikegami doing the math.
"Something on your mind?" Ikegami caught the look and fired one back. "What's that expression for?"
"Nothing." Yagami kept his face straight. "I was just thinking the game was essentially over in the third quarter."
"Yeah, that's fair." Koshino Hiroaki nodded. "Once the lead hit forty Sannoh pulled half their starters, and in the fourth they pretty much stopped contesting shots."
"Wait, so the actual gap between them is even bigger than this?" Hikoichi raised his hand, the shock still not fully gone from his face.
"From this game alone, yes." Coach Taoka's voice was measured. "But I want to be clear about something first. Toyotama is not a weak team."
"You've all had two games in this tournament now. You should have a feel for the level of competition here."
"Sannoh scoring 132 points is impressive, but that number isn't the point. Toyotama may have had the weakest defense among all eight quarterfinal teams."
"But the reason Toyotama reached this stage in the first place was elite offense. Before this tournament they were averaging over 120 points a game."
"So what actually broke them," Sendoh said, his expression sharpening, "was Sannoh's defense."
"Exactly." Coach Taoka nodded. "Sannoh has two statistics in their frontcourt and backcourt that don't get talked about enough."
"Interior: Kawata Masashi leads the entire tournament field in help defense efficiency. His blocks per game rank third behind Murasakibara Atsushi and Morishige Hiroshi."
"Perimeter: Fukatsu Kazunari's steals per game rank second in the field behind only Akashi Seijuro."
The more clearly the picture of Sannoh Industrial came into focus, the heavier the air in the room became.
"With the Generation of Miracles entering high school, the conversations around the top positions have gotten louder. Kawata, Sawakita, and Fukatsu are all in those arguments now." Coach Taoka's voice carried in the still room. "But put those rankings aside. Every one of them operates at a level that's simply beyond what high school should look like."
"Center, forward, guard. Every team we have faced in this tournament, even teams that had a Generation of Miracles player, had one dangerous area. One point that could break things open."
"What we are facing tomorrow—"
He paused. When he continued, the weight in his voice had changed completely.
"Is a team where every critical position is filled by a player of that caliber. They are complete."
Hikoichi had come into this evening's meeting feeling roughly the same as he had before any other match. Every opponent Ryonan had faced had looked overwhelming from the outside, and yet Yagami and the upperclassmen had found a way every time. He had trusted that pattern.
But the way Coach Taoka was speaking now was unlike anything he had heard from him before. And looking around the room, it wasn't only him. Even Koshino and Ikegami, who had been through everything, were wearing expressions he had never seen on their faces.
The room was silent enough to hear breathing.
Coach Taoka drew a long breath. His tone shifted.
"I'm not telling you all of this just to crush you under the pressure of it. I'm telling you because I want you to find what you are capable of inside exactly this kind of difficulty."
"Tomorrow's crowd will be at least as large as today's Touou-Rakuzan game. The difference is that this building may be completely swallowed by Sannoh's supporters."
"They are the defending champions. They are the team people call kings. And our best national tournament result is standing right here, right now. In most people's eyes, we are a dark horse that got lucky, a backdrop that exists to be run over."
"But—"
Coach Taoka stood up. His voice hit the room like a clap of thunder.
"Don't you forget. From the very first day we set foot on a court in Kanagawa, we have been carrying the goal of standing at the top of this country inside our chests!"
"Every step we have taken. Every game we have fought. All of it has been for this."
"Sannoh is an opponent we were always going to have to face sooner or later. Even if it wasn't them, Rakuzan, Touou, someone like them was always going to be standing in our way—"
"Coach." Sendoh Akira's voice cut in quietly, stopping the speech mid-stride.
Sendoh turned his head slightly and looked at Yagami beside him. There was something lazy and sharp at the same time in his expression, the kind of smile that held complete certainty underneath.
"You don't need to say any more."
"We've been ready."
This was the first time in three years he would share a court with Sawakita Eiji again. How much distance was between them now? He didn't know. He didn't need to know.
Because when the opening whistle sounded, there was only one thing to do.
"Coach." Yagami stood as well, looking directly at Taoka Moichi. "We have already tasted what it feels like to lose. Once was enough."
"You two—" Coach Taoka felt the room change around him before he finished the thought.
"You know, it's a shame Touou didn't pull it out today." Something faint and sharp crossed Yagami's eyes. His tone was genuinely regretful. "Now we can't be the ones to knock them out and settle the score ourselves."
"Hm. Glad I'm not the only one who felt that way." Fukuda Kicchou muttered.
"Of course you're not." Uozumi Jun was on his feet before anyone registered the movement. A shadow spread across a significant portion of the tatami. "If we're going to stand at the top of this country, the right way to do it is by beating every strong team out there."
"I'm not satisfied with the Final Four no matter who the opponent is." Ikegami said, clearly thinking of a specific press interview.
"I want to go further with everyone!" Uekusa Tomoyuki called out.
"I'm not scared!" Koshino straightened. "Pass me the ball."
"I want to be part of it too," Hikoichi said, his voice firm. "We're going to win."
The pressure hadn't gone anywhere. It was still there, heavy as a mountain. But underneath it, something hot and clear was running now like current through rock.
Coach Taoka looked at the faces in front of him and said nothing more. He nodded once, hard.
Ryonan was ready.
At the same hour, in a hotel room across the city, the Sannoh Industrial players were watching Ryonan's match footage for the last time.
"Sendoh Akira. Second year. 190 centimeters. Nominally a small forward, but effectively plays one through three. Well-rounded technique, exceptional court vision, capable of taking over scoring in critical moments."
"From the prefectural qualifier through the Meiho Industrial game, he's averaging 28.1 points, 10.8 assists, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.8 steals."
"Those are some solid numbers," Matsumoto Minoru said. "And 2.8 steals? That's better than Fukatsu in some games, heh."
"He's a good player." Fukatsu Kazunari said it without any irritation. "Wasn't he one of Sawakita's connections?"
"Yeah, I'm actually pretty interested in playing him." Sawakita Eiji leaned forward. "When you push him into a difficult position, the game gets more interesting."
"He's one of Kanagawa's best. That kind of complete skill set is hard to guard." Kawata Masashi rubbed his chin. "Fukatsu, Matsumoto. Have you found a clear weakness?"
Both of them studied several possessions in silence.
"I know." Sawakita said with full seriousness.
"Sawakita?" Kawata looked over. "Go ahead."
"Sendoh runs cold early. He needs time to find his rhythm, and he's very tempo-dependent. If you push the defensive intensity to maximum from the very start, you can disrupt his touch before he's settled. And on the defensive end, his focus level early in the game isn't what it is later. He's the type that gets more locked in as the game goes on."
"That actually tracks. His steal numbers are concentrated in the second half." Matsumoto nodded.
"Then go after him hard from the opening whistle. Since he scores better in rhythm, if he starts getting comfortable you can consider using a foul to break his momentum." Kawata summarized it cleanly.
"Understood." The Sannoh perimeter players answered together.
"Yagami Sorato. First year. 190 centimeters. Point guard, but effectively plays one through three as well. Both his defense and offense operate above elite level. His improvement rate is rapid. Don't let the year fool you into underestimating him."
"Season averages: 32.2 points, 7.8 assists, 3.0 rebounds, 2.1 steals, 1.4 blocks."
"In the Kanagawa final he scored 50 in a single game. Against Aomine Daiki in the Kanto Regional Final he put up 30. Beyond the scoring, his defense is strong, his basketball IQ is exceptional, and his turnover rate is extremely low."
"Sawakita. His overall numbers at this stage aren't below yours as a first-year." Kawata raised an eyebrow.
"That same quality of going at things directly in big moments too." Matsumoto added.
"Though he seems less impulsive than Sawakita was back then. The way he plays reads more controlled." Fukatsu said.
Sawakita listened to his upperclassmen's commentary without comment and fixed his eyes on the footage. He had known since Sendoh mentioned him that this wasn't going to be an ordinary first-year. But even so.
"He really is similar to me. I'd say he has the potential to become something special."
"You're only saying that because he reminds you of yourself!" Kawata's arm came around Sawakita's throat in a wrestling hold. "Don't get carried away, you. Wasn't there a girl from another school who sent you a shirt? I saw it. Don't think I didn't."
"I'm being—help—" Sawakita tapped at Kawata's arm. "Also that last part has nothing to do with anything right now."
"Ahem."
Coach Domoto's cough released the hold.
"That first-year is yours to deal with then." Fukatsu said to Sawakita. "He seems to prefer direct one-on-one confrontation more than Sendoh does. Go tell him who Japan's best is."
"Yes!" Sawakita's expression locked in.
"Uozumi Jun. Third year. 202 centimeters. Center. Power-type interior presence, a genuine threat near the basket, wide defensive coverage."
"Season averages: 12 points, 12 rebounds, 3.1 assists, 2.8 blocks."
"Since Yagami joined Ryonan this year, Uozumi's scoring numbers dropped significantly, but his efficiency went up, his rebounding improved with better energy distribution, and his post-passing has been developing upward since the prefectural qualifier."
"Weakness is that his offense is limited in range. Essentially only close-range layups and dunks." Nobe Masahiro said. "Get position in the paint before he gets comfortable and don't let him gather for takeoff."
"Mikiо, keep that in mind. Could be you need to set up under the basket the way you did against Yousen." Kawata said to his younger brother.
"Understood, brother." Kawata Mikio nodded seriously.
"Same principle on defense. Keep the attack away from the paint and most of his threat disappears." Sawakita added. "And since my senpai has a very large face, his range should cover the distance without any trouble."
"My face is large?"
Kawata turned and looked at Sawakita. Sawakita immediately felt the killing intent.
"I—I'm SORRY—"
Kawata sat on Sawakita and pinned his legs.
"What does face size have to do with shooting range!"
"You think I don't know? Someone told you you're the best-looking player in Sannoh history and now you're walking around pleased with yourself!"
"And you keep getting letters from girls at other schools!"
Matsumoto: "Oh, he's crying."
Fukatsu: "He always ends up crying."
Nobe: "Serves him right."
"NOBODY ASKED!" Sawakita howled from the floor. "I'm genuinely in pain, you don't know how strong that ox is!"
Kawata responded immediately with a judo pin, locking Sawakita's upper body flat against the tatami.
"AAAAAH! I give! I give! I'm sorry!"
"Ahem. Ahem."
Coach Domoto's second cough rescued Sannoh's ace once again.
"Fukuda Kicchou. Second year. 188 centimeters. Season averages 20.2 points, 5.1 rebounds. Defensive awareness significantly below average—"
"Ikegami Ryoji. Third year. 183 centimeters. Season averages 6.2 points, 3.1 rebounds. Defensive specialist against perimeter shooters—"
"Koshino Hiroaki. Second year—"
The room worked through the rest of Ryonan's rotation players methodically. When the last one was done, Coach Domoto clapped his hands once and brought the room's attention back to him.
"Ryonan's strength is that they have two ball-handlers who can each initiate offense independently. Their interior and exterior production is relatively balanced, which makes their style genuinely flexible. They can play in transition or grind in the halfcourt."
"On our defensive end, pay particular attention to their pick-and-roll. Both Sendoh and Yagami are dangerous with the ball after a screen. Switching must be decisive and communication must be clear."
"On our offensive end, use our interior advantage. Kawata, establish your post game early, force the double-team, and find your shooters. Sawakita, your one-on-one ability is our primary break-even tool against their defense, but be selective about your moments."
He paused and looked around the room.
"I know none of you need to be reminded not to take any opponent lightly. But I will say it anyway, one final time—"
"On a basketball court, no outcome is guaranteed for either side."
"Which is why from the very first minute tomorrow, we play at one hundred percent."
"SANNOH—"
"WIN!!!" The room answered in one voice.