ABCD Champions Compete

Shoyo High School · Basketball Gym.

Inside the quiet gym, only the "thump, thump" sound of a basketball hitting the floor echoed through the empty venue.

Thump...

Thump...

Thump...

Fujima Kenji focused on dribbling the basketball, his eyes locked onto the hoop not far ahead, while in his mind, the image of Qing Junce on the court that day kept replaying.

He took a deep breath, pushed off the ground with his feet, jumped high, elegantly raised his arm, and with a slight flick of his wrist, mimicked a shooting motion.

Although his height wasn't particularly outstanding among basketball players, his shooting form exuded a unique aesthetic, standard and precise, without any flaws.

This was the result of years of steady practice and ingrained habits, developed step by step according to a strict training plan.

Clang...

Just then, the gym door was pushed open forcefully.

Hanagata Toru walked in from outside and immediately saw Fujima Kenji practicing. He spoke, "You're really here, Fujima."

Fujima Kenji turned his head, glancing at Hanagata Toru, and calmly replied, "Because the game is coming up soon, I wanted to find my shooting touch."

"Is that so." Hanagata Toru's eyes held a hint of depth as he stared intently at Fujima Kenji.

He and Fujima Kenji had known each other for many years. Not only were they tacit partners on the court, but they were also close friends off it.

He keenly sensed that Fujima Kenji was a little different from his usual self.

"Is it because of Shohoku?" Hanagata Toru directly addressed Fujima Kenji's thoughts.

Fujima Kenji fell silent.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the gym became somewhat eerie, so quiet it felt oppressive.

After a long while, Fujima Kenji slowly spoke, "Shohoku is very strong. I don't want to admit it, but I have to face reality. That number 9 from Shohoku, I truly can't think of an effective way to contain him."

"Can't we send more people to double-team him? After all, we're not like Tsukitake," Hanagata Toru offered his suggestion.

Fujima Kenji shook his head, his expression grave. "Double-teaming him might indeed limit his performance, but what about Shohoku's other players? Right now, besides Akagi Takenori, Shohoku also has Rukawa Kaede, Mitsui Hisashi, and Miyagi Ryota. Each of them is strong and not someone to be overlooked."

Hanagata Toru fell silent upon hearing this.

The players of their Shoyo team, in terms of individual ability, were considered top-tier in Kanagawa's high school basketball scene, and they also had a significant height advantage.

Most teams that faced them were either crushed by absolute skill or suppressed by their height advantage.

But Shohoku didn't have either of those weaknesses, which was indeed troublesome.

Hanagata Toru added, "The game has to be played. I'll work with the others to do our best to contain Shohoku's number 9."

Fujima Kenji looked at Hanagata Toru, a warm smile appearing on his face, his eyes filled with trust. "I believe in you, Hanagata."

Kainan University Affiliated High School · Basketball Gym.

Clang...

The basketball gym door was suddenly pushed open.

A middle-aged man with a distinctive face, resembling a gorilla, walked in with steady steps.

He had a neat black crew cut, and on his resolute face, he wore a pair of silver-rimmed glasses. This was the coach of the Kainan University Affiliated High School basketball team, Takato Riki.

"A-Maki... you're still here?!" Takato Riki saw the figure in the gym at a glance and greeted him.

Inside the gym, Maki Shinichi, drenched in sweat, turned around. Seeing it was his coach, a look of surprise flashed across his face. "Coach..."

Normally, no one else would be in the gym at this hour. He couldn't help but wonder why the coach had suddenly appeared today.

Takato Riki walked up to Maki Shinichi, looking at his sweaty appearance, and a sense of relief welled up in his heart.

If all the basketball team members were as diligent and hardworking as Maki Shinichi, he, as the coach, would have a much easier time.

Takato Riki spoke, reminding him, "We have a game tomorrow, so don't train too late."

Maki Shinichi replied, "I don't plan to play tomorrow. This game is enough for A-Jin and the others. I need to adjust my condition and go all out against Shohoku."

Takato Riki wasn't surprised by the first part of Maki Shinichi's statement about not playing tomorrow.

However, the latter part, mentioning going all out against Shohoku, made Takato Riki's heart stir, and he couldn't help but ask, "Is that Shohoku really that strong?"

He had heard the news of Shohoku's decisive victory over Tsukitake and had previously heard Maki Shinichi's detailed explanation of that game.

He was genuinely shocked after hearing it.

At the time, he even suspected that Maki Shinichi might be exaggerating and joking with him; it sounded too fantastical.

Maki Shinichi's eyes were firm, and his expression was serious as he responded, "Shohoku's overall strength isn't enough to worry us too much. It's just that number 9 from Shohoku is indeed a bit of a headache."

Takato Riki's eyebrows twitched slightly. He opened the folding fan in his hand and fanned himself gently. "Shohoku's number 9, you told me before that his name is Qing Junce, right!"

Instantly, a shrewd glint flashed in his eyes. He continued, "In that case, their next opponent is Shoyo, right? We'll go and watch together then."

At this moment, he too had developed a strong interest in this player named Qing Junce.

He wanted to see for himself what kind of person Maki Shinichi valued so highly.

Time flies.

A week passed in the blink of an eye.

Today, Kanagawa Gymnasium was bustling with people, and the basketball arena was packed, with a fervent atmosphere.

This was because the Western League Games would be held here continuously.

These were the championship matches for the semi-finals of Groups A, B, C, and D.

It was also the competition to advance from the Top 8 to the Top 4.

Only by winning their respective groups would they qualify for the finals.

Group A: Kainan University Affiliated VS Takeuchi

Group B: Shohoku VS Shoyo

Group C: Ryonan VS Hamada Chuo

Group D: Murisato VS Okitama

In the B Group championship venue, the game had not officially started yet, but the spectators were already in an uproar, with cheers and shouts erupting one after another.

A boy in a Shoyo school uniform stood in front of a group of cheerleaders, also in Shoyo uniforms, and shouted emotionally, "Who is truly qualified to participate in the National Tournament? Who is it?"

The Shoyo cheerleaders raised the plastic bottles they were holding, clanged them together forcefully, and then, with all their might, shouted in unison:

"Shoyo... Shoyo... Shoyo..."

The boy who had been directing them then shouted again, "Shohoku and Shoyo, your names sound quite similar. Which team will win?"

After saying that, he spread his hands, cupped them behind his ears, and adopted a listening posture.

The cheerleaders once again shouted in unison.

"Shoyo... Shoyo... Shoyo..."

Seeing the Shoyo cheerleading squad's perfectly synchronized and powerful performance, Akagi Haruko and the members of the Sakuragi Army, sitting in the Shohoku stands, were somewhat stunned.

They didn't have a large cheerleading squad. It was just Akagi Haruko and her two best friends, plus the six members of the Sakuragi Army. In total, there were only seven people.

These seven people stared with wide eyes at the Shoyo cheerleading squad, a sense of nervousness rising in their hearts.

Matsui said blankly, "The Shoyo cheerleading squad's energy is really different!"

Akagi Haruko also nodded blankly, agreeing, "Shoyo really brought a lot of people."

Fujii turned her head to look at Akagi Haruko and asked, "What about our Shohoku cheerleading squad?"

Akagi Haruko replied seriously, with a hint of dazed cuteness, "They're all here."

For a moment, it felt as if a crow cawed overhead, and the atmosphere became somewhat awkward.

Meanwhile, Aida Yayoi and her male assistant rushed to the scene.

Aida Yayoi wiped the sweat from her face and said breathlessly, "We finally made it. Today's four games will be held simultaneously in two venues, so we might have to run back and forth to watch."

As she spoke, she picked up her camera and started taking pictures with a "click, click."

Nakamura Taizo, standing beside her, suggested, "You don't have to work so hard running back and forth. I can keep an eye on the other game for you."

Aida Yayoi pointed at him and replied irritably, "Do you think I don't want you to? Last time I asked you to write an article, you made a complete mess of it. The photos you took were also uninspired. How can I possibly let you go alone?"

Ugh...

Nakamura Taizo was rendered speechless, his face filled with shame.

He didn't understand why his articles and photos were good, but when compared to Aida Yayoi's, they were simply embarrassing.

Hmph...

Aida Yayoi snorted lightly and continued, "In short, you need to learn properly. Basketball is not as simple as you think."

Shohoku locker room.

Akagi Takenori looked at his teammates with a serious expression and determined eyes, saying solemnly, "Today's game is very important. Our opponent is Shoyo, completely different from the teams we've faced before. Everyone needs to be fully focused."

Sakuragi Hanamichi walked up to Akagi Takenori with a smile, scrutinizing him up and down, left and right, before suddenly bursting into laughter. "Hahaha... Gorilla, you have dark circles under your eyes! So even you get nervous!"

Akagi Takenori's eyelids twitched violently, and he retorted irritably, "Are you talking about yourself?!"

Hearing this, Sakuragi Hanamichi immediately puffed out his chest, looking arrogant, and shouted, "Hmph, I, the genius Sakuragi Hanamichi, trained until dawn to prepare for today's game!"

"I didn't expect even Akagi to be so nervous he couldn't sleep!" Kogure Kiminobu said with a smile. "But I also woke up at four this morning."

Just then, Mitsui Hisashi, sitting in the corner, stood up with a mocking smile and said, "You few pathetic guys, you're all scared stiff just hearing we're playing Shoyo."

After speaking, he turned and walked towards the locker room door.

Kogure Kiminobu quickly called out, "Hey! Where are you going? The game is about to start."

Mitsui Hisashi's steps suddenly stopped, his expression stiffened, and then he said without looking back, "To the restroom."

Hahahaha…

Upon hearing this, Sakuragi Hanamichi couldn't help but burst into laughter. "So the most nervous one is Mitsui! He actually wet himself from fear."

Mitsui Hisashi, who had just walked outside the door, heard this and instantly bared his signature shark-like teeth. He poked his head in angrily from outside the door, his face flushed red, and yelled, "You're the one who wet himself! I just drank too much water."

Ayako and Shimizu Kanon stood to the side, looking at the slightly chaotic atmosphere in the locker room, and couldn't help but sigh softly.

Miyagi Ryota sat alone in a corner, fiddling with the basketball in his hands.

Rukawa Kaede leaned against the wall on the other side, his eyes closed, seemingly pretending to sleep.

Ayako looked at everyone's serious expressions and couldn't help but mutter, "This time is different from usual, everyone looks so serious!"

"I know, right!" Shimizu Kanon nodded, secretly thinking to herself. I wonder if they remembered the information I gave them.

She turned her head and looked at Qing Junce, who was sitting beside her. She saw Qing Junce intently looking at something in his hands. When she looked closer, it was a magazine with a busty woman in a bikini on the cover.

"A-Ce, what are you looking at?" Shimizu Kanon's pretty face turned red, and she spoke in a slightly annoyed tone.

Ayako also noticed the situation and her pretty face also turned red when she saw the magazine in Qing Junce's hands.

Qing Junce replied casually without looking up, "Huh? Reading a magazine!"

"That's not what I'm asking!" Shimizu Kanon was a little speechless. She walked up to Qing Junce and snatched the magazine from his hands. "No unhealthy stuff like this."

Qing Junce looked nonchalant and said, "I think it's quite healthy!"

Shimizu Kanon lectured him sternly, "You're not allowed to look at this kind of thing, no matter what. I'm confiscating it, confiscating it!"

Tch…

Qing Junce snorted dismissively and didn't pay it much mind.

After all, this wasn't the first time something of his had been confiscated.

Ayako watched this scene, unsure of how to feel, and thought to herself, Not one of them is easy to deal with. Oh well, no matter what, at least there's one person who isn't nervous.

Time ticked by, second by second.

After an unknown amount of time, the Shohoku players had all changed into their game jerseys and were ready to take the court.

Akagi Takenori scanned everyone with determined eyes, then said loudly, "Alright, time's almost up. Let's go!"

"Yes…" the players responded in unison.