I want to reach 20 paid subscriptions on Patreon this week to complete this novel, as it has been over a month since the last subscription.
patreon.com/ayan41x
----
Above the packed stadium,
on the giant electronic screen,
the words "Toho Kotei Gakuen VS Kaijo High School" appeared before everyone's eyes.
The reporters were already on high alert, ready for action.
Their goal was to record every exciting moment of the day.
The fans were seated at both ends, creating a balanced atmosphere.
Discussions and cheers filled the air.
Everyone was imagining what kind of exciting game was about to unfold.
The first encounter between the Generation of Miracles since the Winter Selection Tournament was about to begin.
It was the focus of everyone's attention.
Although many had already witnessed the Generation of Miracles clash during the Summer League, they still looked forward to it, remained enthusiastic, and waited.
This was the charm of basketball, and a testament to the strength of the Generation of Miracles.
Besides, besides the team currently playing, most of the other teams had arrived, waiting for the game to begin.
This naturally included Seirin, who had just finished their match.
"Wow... there are so many people in this arena! It's comparable to the crowds in the US."
At the entrance to the stands.
Seirin and their group arrived.
Alex was among them.
She was immediately stunned by the sheer number of people.
Kagami, standing beside her, was exasperated and corrected her.
"It's comparable, don't get it wrong, idiot."
Alex didn't seem to care and continued speaking.
"It's pretty much the same thing!"
As she spoke, she noticed several people around her wearing school uniforms like Seirin, and asked.
"Are they basketball players like you?"
Kagami followed his gaze and nodded.
"Yes! They're players from other schools, but most of them have already been eliminated."
Alex replied.
"This match is really popular! Is it that weird duel you guys were talking about?"
Hearing her words, the Seirin members all twitched their lips.
What the hell weird duel?
Kagami sighed, facepalming.
"It's the Generation of Miracles duel."
Kuroko's attention was fixed on Karupin in Alex's arms.
After thinking for a moment, he asked.
"Um... excuse me, is this your pet?"
The Seirin members had already noticed Karupin in Alex's arms.
They also felt a strange sense of familiarity with the cat.
Kagami asked, puzzled.
"Alex, do you have a cat?"
Alex shook her head.
"Oh, no, no, no, this cat isn't mine. I'm looking after it for a cool guy. He said he has a match to play, so he wanted me to take care of it."
Looking after it?
A cool boy?
A match?
Could it be…
The Seirin members looked at each other, seemingly with a thousand words stuck in their throats.
Kagami and Kuroko couldn't help but ask excitedly.
"Did that person say who he was?"
Seeing Kagami and Kuroko's anxious expressions, Alex nodded somewhat puzzled.
"He said his name was Ryu, and he's a really handsome, cool guy!"
Kagami and Kuroko exchanged a glance.
Kagami murmured.
"It really is Ryu…"
Alex nodded upon hearing Kagami's words.
"Yes, How… do you guys know this person?"
Kagami took a deep breath.
"It's not a matter of knowing him or not."
Hyuga Junpei also spoke up.
"No wonder this cat gave me a familiar feeling; it really is Ryu's cat!"
Kiyoshi Teppei tilted his head thoughtfully.
"I remember this cat's name is…"
"Karupin."
Kuroko answered, casually patting its head.
Karupin glanced at Kuroko sideways.
It naturally recognized him.
'You clueless brat, take your disgusting dog-smelling hands off me.'
Because Kuroko had adopted "Number Two" (a dog's name), it naturally carried the dog's scent.
Karupin was a cat, and while it didn't mind the smell, it instinctively had a strong aversion to dogs.
Aida Riko then explained.
"The match we're watching is Ryu match. He's known as the strongest high school player and the Summer League champion."
"Ah…"
Kagami echoed.
"And his opponent today is Kise Ryota, one of the Generation of Miracles, who is on par with him."
"The strongest champion?"
Alex's pupils contracted, and she said with some surprise.
She hadn't expected that cool boy to be so strong.
Although she wasn't optimistic about Japanese basketball, she knew Kagami's strength.
Besides, her other apprentice, Himuro Tatsuya, was also in high school in Japan.
Neither of her apprentices were champions.
That meant they had been defeated by that 'Ryu' during the summer.
Having that kind of strength was quite impressive.
Alex commented inwardly.
A short while later.
The Seirin team found a place to sit down, waiting for the match to begin.
As soon as they sat down, they heard the murmurs of the surrounding audience.
"I still vividly remember the match between Toho Kotei Gakuen and Kaijo! The duel between Ryu and Kise Ryota was truly spectacular; both were ridiculously strong. I wonder who will win this time."
"Is that even a question? Of course, Ryu will win. He's known as the strongest high school player."
"It's hard to say. I think everyone in the Generation of Miracles has the potential to compete for the championship. Who knows, things might change during the Winter Selection Tournament."
"Anyway, it's a match worth looking forward to."
Listening to the discussions around her, Alex became even more curious about the match.
"Looks like everyone's really looking forward to this match! This has piqued my interest too. Let me see the strongest basketball team in Japan!"
Hearing her words, Kagami suddenly retorted.
"Then you'd better be prepared; you might be shocked."
Kagami didn't elaborate.
He couldn't explain it either.
Even in the United States, he had never seen anyone as strong as the Generation of Miracles.
Each of them was like a monster, outrageously strong, utterly unreasonable.
Squeak…
Squeak…
Aaaaaaah…
Just then.
The audience suddenly cheered and roared.
All eyes were fixed on the open doorway below.
"It's finally here, the Generation of Miracles!"
"Toho Kotei Gakuen... Toho Kotei Gakuen... Toho Kotei Gakuen..."
"Kaijo... Kaijo... Kaijo..."
The scene was deafening with cheers even before the players arrived.
Alex was also stunned.
"Oh... I didn't expect both teams' players to be so popular."
Kagami said with a hint of envy and jealousy.
"Hmph, of course, I'll definitely beat those two."
Step...step...step...
Step...step...step...
The players from both sides stepped out of the tunnel simultaneously.
Instantly, the audience erupted.
"Ryu...Ryu...Ryu..."
"Kise...Kise...Kise..."
Hearing the deafening shouts from above.
Ryu and Kise simply maintained faint smiles, gazing at each other across the distance.
It was as if two streaks of lightning, one gold and one silver, shot towards each other, finally colliding and converging in the center.
The aura of the players preceded their arrival.
Such a scene would naturally go unnoticed by the average person.
However, those with sufficient skill paled, their hearts filled with shock.
This naturally included Alex in the stands.
Her pupils contracted, her smile vanished, and her expression instantly turned serious.
This kind of aura...
She rarely saw it even in the professional arenas of the United States.
"I'm sorry, it seems I had some misunderstandings about Japanese basketball before."
No one cared about her words now.
Kagami asked Kuroko beside him.
"Kuroko, do you think Kise can defeat Ryu this time?"
Kuroko was silent for a moment before speaking.
"I don't know. Although Kise lost to Ryu last time, Kise isn't someone who gives up easily."
Kagami nodded in agreement.
At this moment, in the stands...
All eyes were on the sidelines.
Toho Kotei Gakuen and Kaijo High School began their warm-up.
Ryu and Kise met in the center of the court.
They smiled and looked at each other.
Ryu admired Kise's confident gaze.
"You seem very confident!"
Kise replied with a smile.
"Of course, people grow."
"You're so confident you can beat me? You weren't my match in the summer!"
Kise retorted defiantly upon hearing Ryu's words.
"It's not summer anymore, so if you don't take this seriously, you might lose, Ryucchi."
Ryu smiled.
"Is that so…"
He paused, then continued.
"However, you seem to have forgotten something! Kise…"
"What?"
Kise was puzzled.
He couldn't recall forgetting anything.
Ryu grinned, revealing a row of white teeth.
"You're not the only one who will grow!"
Hearing this, Kise's expression changed, but he quickly regained his composure.
He said.
"That's perfect, then. Let me see an even stronger you, Ryucchi."
The two separated again and returned to their respective rest areas.
The two teams made their final pre-match preparations, then stood in the center of the court and began to line up.
Both teams line up.
The referee is in position.
The atmosphere in the arena gradually becomes tense.
Whistle…
The referee blows his whistle.
The game between Toho Kotei Gakuen and Kaijo High School officially begins.
The basketball was tossed from the referee's hand, flying towards the center of the court.
Whoosh…
Whoosh…
Both centers practically leaped.
However, Kaijo's Hiroshi Kobori was only 192cm tall, shorter than Kamimono.
Combined with Kamimono's superhuman explosiveness, he instantly touched the ball first.
In the end, Kamimono successfully gained the initiative.
Thwack…
Kamimono's eyes swept across the room, immediately finding Ryu's position.
He simply swung his arm, swatting the basketball away.
In the stands.
Alex's gaze fell on Kamimono.
Her eyes lit up, and she praised,
"Oh, such explosive power! This center is pretty good. If he were in the US, he'd be considered a top player."
The Seirin players nearby were incredibly embarrassed upon hearing this.
Heh…
Whether he's top in the US or not, they didn't know.
However, in Japan, he's absolutely top-tier.
Ryu successfully caught the basketball.
But in that instant...
A figure blocked Ryu's path.
It was Kise Ryota.
"Trying to defend me now? You're really impatient!"
Kise didn't reply, only staring intently at Ryu's every move.
Ryu smiled, bouncing the basketball rhythmically.
The audience watched the two below with excitement and anticipation.
Some spectators were so excited they kept swallowing.
"Is it starting right away?"
"It feels so heavy! Why am I suddenly a little nervous?"
The other school team members watching the game were also intently focused on the two.
They didn't want to miss a single moment.
Thump...thump...thump...
The basketball bounced up and down repeatedly.
Ryu's net was wide open, completely unobstructed.
But Kise didn't dare to make a move.
Several times he wanted to aggressively steal the ball, but he forcibly restrained himself each time.
He knew that even if he attacked, it wouldn't be so easy to steal it.
Rather than act first and cause things to escalate unexpectedly, it was better to wait and observe.
That way, he would have a better chance.
As if understanding Kise's thoughts,
Ryu smiled, then, in front of Kise, he turned the basketball behind him, and with a flick of his wrist, tossed it to his left.
Seeing this, a hint of surprise appeared in Kise's eyes.
A pass?
Turning his head, Kise saw Kugawa appear not far to the left of Ryu.
Kugawa received the ball and immediately dribbled towards Kaijo's basket.
Yoshitaka Moriyama wanted to chase, but Kugawa's speed was far beyond his reach.
Gradually, he was left behind.
At Kaijo's three-point line.
Kugawa jumped and shot.
The ball was released.
However…
Smack…
A large hand suddenly appeared and slapped the ball away.
Kugawa was shocked, glanced to the side, and then his eyes widened.
Kise Ryota?
'Wasn't this guy guarding Ryu? When did he get here? I didn't even notice.'
The ball landed in Yukio Kasamatsu's hands.
At the same time.
After successfully blocking a shot.
Kise Ryota didn't waste any time. After landing, he sprinted towards Toho Kotei Gakuen's basket.
His speed was like a yellow lightning bolt, cutting across the entire court.
Just as he was about to step into Toho Kotei Gakuen's three-point line, he signaled to his captain.
"Kasamatsu-senpai..."
Seeing this, Yukio Kasamatsu didn't hesitate and passed the ball.
Thwack...
Kise received the ball, took a step forward, and jumped to shoot.
Just then.
Kise felt a sudden darkness before his eyes; his vision was blocked by a figure.
Ryu stretched out his arm, blocking Kise's shooting path.
"Your fast break like that is useless."
Seeing this, Kise didn't give up.
He retracted his shooting motion, swung the ball behind his back with his left hand, and, mimicking Ryu's earlier move, passed the ball to the right.
Seeing this, the Toho Kotei Gakuen players' eyes widened in disbelief.
They hadn't expected that in such a short time, Kise had already imitated Ryu's movements, especially while he was suspended in mid-air.
"Just imitating me won't defeat me."
As he finished speaking, Ryu's body, suspended in mid-air, rotated 180 degrees backward.
Using the momentum of the rotation, his arm swung up smoothly.
Thud...
Ryu's arm steadily struck the basketball that Kise had passed.
The basketball went out of bounds.
At this moment, the entire stadium was eerily silent.
----
I want to reach 20 paid subscriptions on Patreon this week to complete this novel, as it has been over a month since the last subscription.
patreon.com/ayan41x