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Inside a basketball arena in Tokyo.
All the participating teams from the Tokyo area have gathered here.
Teiko's team stands at the front of all the other teams.
As you can see, Ryu and the others all look listless.
To avoid the strange looks from others, Ryu stands behind Murasakibara, holding Karupin.
Aomine Daiki is almost asleep.
Murasakibara Atsushi looks completely exhausted.
Ryu stares blankly at the ground.
Only Akashi Seijuro and Midorima Shintaro seem relatively normal.
Momoi Satsuki chuckles to herself.
How much time has passed?
Finally, the opening ceremony ends.
"I feel like I've lost several years of my life," Aomine Daiki says weakly.
"Finally, I can eat snacks!" Murasakibara Atsushi says, munching on a snack.
"Murasakibara, don't eat snacks in public," Midorima Shintaro says, frowning.
Akashi Seijuro, however, remains silent, maintaining a smile.
The Akashi family's teachings instilled in him proper decorum at all times and in all places.
"By the way, Ryu, why are you bringing your cat to the competition?" Murasakibara Atsushi's question piques everyone's curiosity.
They all know Ryu always takes Karupin with him wherever he went.
But now he is bringing it to an official competition too.
Wasn't that a bit too obsessive?
Ryu replies with a smile, "Because Karupin brings me good luck."
That is the only explanation he can give.
Otherwise, there is really no way to explain it.
"Alright, now it's time for our first match on the road to the championship," Shirogane Kozo interrupts the banter.
Hearing the head coach's words, everyone's expressions become more serious.
Soon, the group arrives at Teiko's locker room.
Momoi Satsuki, holding a notebook, addresses the group. "Our first opponent is Kochi Middle School. Kochi Middle School doesn't have any particularly outstanding players; their overall strength is in the lower-middle range. Even so, don't underestimate them."
Nijimura Shuzo says, "Alright, let's show them the fresh blood of Teiko!"
"Yes!" Ryu and the others stand up and say in unison.
At this moment, most of the stands in the stadium are already full.
The moment the Teiko team steps out of the tunnel, the entire stadium erupts in gasps.
"Look, it's Teiko!"
"Teiko's out!"
"That's the middle school's No. 1 power forward, Nijimura Shuzo."
"We don't recognize those five people. Are they the rookies this year?"
"Their hair looks weird."
"Why is that person holding a cat?"
"Why would someone bring a pet to a tournament? Is that person even a player?"
Listening to the cacophony of voices and discussions about their team, Ryu and the others instantly feel immense pressure.
"This is the National Tournament!" Ryu is experiencing this atmosphere for the first time.
This feeling is truly strange.
Aomine Daiki is visibly nervous.
Midorima Shintaro's hand trembles slightly as he adjusts his glasses.
Akashi Seijuro's expression is calm; it is impossible to tell if he is nervous or not.
Murasakibara Atsushi, meanwhile, is engrossed in eating snacks.
But upon closer inspection, he eats his snacks much faster than usual.
Momoi Satsuki and Shirogane Kozo, who witness all this, simply smile and say nothing.
It's normal to be nervous facing such a situation for the first time.
Shirogane Kozo starts the five-man Ryu team.
It is to help them quickly adapt to the atmosphere and pressure.
This way, they can grow faster.
The assistant coach then addresses the group. "Nijimura, you lead the second and third-year students onto the field first; let the first-year students get used to the atmosphere of the game."
"Okay," Nijimura Shuzo grins, revealing a row of white teeth.
The coach from Kochi sighs. "Sigh, I didn't expect our first game to be against a strong school like Teiko. Looks like we'll have to wait until next year."
Ryu looks around while petting his cat. "The players on the other side don't seem very motivated!"
Momoi Satsuki remarks from the side, "After all, they're just a weak team. Facing a super-strong team like Teiko is probably a bit of a stretch."
Everyone nods in agreement.
"What? Giving up before it even starts? How boring," Aomine Daiki says disappointedly.
Midorima Shintaro reminds him, "Don't be careless. Anything can happen before the match is over."
Akashi Seijuro agrees. "Shintaro is right. In any case, we must do our best to crush our opponents."
Murasakibara Atsushi takes a bite of his delicious stick and says, "Just win, that's all that matters!"
Everyone can tell that although they say they will go all out, they do not take the opposing team seriously at all.
It isn't that they look down on them, but the gap between the two sides is too obvious.
You can feel it from their aura.
The opposing team is too weak.
Soon, the whistle blows to start the match.
Every member of the Teiko first team is very strong.
They are a top-tier team nationwide.
Dealing with a completely unknown school is a piece of cake.
Under the relentless bombardment of the second and third-year players, the first quarter ends.
Teiko leads 28-12, a 16-point advantage.
"Akashi, Midorima, Murasakibara, Aomine, Ryu, it's your turn to play."
The assistant coach immediately substitutes Nijimura Shuzo and the other second and third-year players.
Ryu and the others get up and walk onto the court.
After one quarter, Ryu's tension has subsided considerably.
The starting whistle blows.
Kochi inbounds the ball first.
Ryu and the others find their opponents.
Ryu looks at the opponent with the ball.
With a casual swipe, the basketball is stolen from the opponent's hand.
There is no way around it; the opponent is simply too weak.
Ryu successfully steals the ball without even using his The Ice Emperor's Eye.
Ryu quickly dribbles to the opponent's basket and scores a layup.
30 to 12.
"Wow, is that silver-haired guy a newcomer from Teiko? He's amazing."
"His steal was so sharp."
"His speed is incredible too; he got to the opponent's basket in no time."
Aomine Daiki comes to Ryu's side and puts his arm around his neck. "Not bad, Ryu, you actually scored first."
Midorima Shintaro interjects, "It would be absurd if that shot hadn't gone in!"
Ryu smiles. "This is just the first game, and the opponents aren't that strong yet. But it might not be so easy later."
The team returns to their own half of the court.
In the following time, Ryu and the others gradually get used to the atmosphere of the game.
Everyone regains their form.
The Generation of Miracles also showcases their immense talent for the first time.
From the moment Ryu's five players enter the game, they do not allow the opponents to score a single point.
Except for Murasakibara Atsushi, who stays to guard their own basket, the other four practically blow up the opponent's rim.
When the game finally ends, the score is 119-12.
Such an exaggerated point difference shocks everyone present.
Ryu and others outstanding performance also attracts the attention of many schools.
Shirogane Kozo nods in satisfaction upon seeing Ryu and the others return. "Well done! Our next match is in three days; let's head back now!"
Ryu and the others board the bus for the return trip.
On the bus, Momoi Satsuki quietly approaches Ryu and says, "Ryu, how about we go gather information on the other opponents tomorrow?"
"Huh?" Ryu thinks for a moment, feeling it isn't necessary.
However, seeing Momoi Satsuki's expectant eyes, he finally agrees. "Okay."
"Yay, that's great! I knew you'd agree, Ryu!"
Seeing Momoi Satsuki so happy, Ryu also gives her a bright smile.
Although he doesn't know why this girl is so clingy, Ryu does have some feelings for Momoi Satsuki.
After all, she is a stunning beauty to.