Fukatsu Kazunari was the first to rise, his movements as crisp and precise as a finely tuned machine.
He gave a slight nod, his gaze sweeping across his teammates as he silently conveyed his orders.
Kawata Masashi followed close behind.
As he stood, he seemed to stir up a gust of wind. The lines of muscle in his thick arms tightened, radiating the power to crush anything in his path.
Matsumoto Minoru, Ichinokura Satoshi, Nobe Masahiro, and the rest of Sannoh rose one after another in perfect unison, without the slightest hesitation, their formation like an unyielding battle banner.
He cradled the basketball against his chest and took a deep breath. The fighting spirit in his eyes subsided slightly, replaced by utter focus.
He stepped forward after the team. Their white jerseys gleamed coldly beneath the lights, their figures merging into a white torrent as they headed toward the locker room doors.
Basketball Gym No. 1 was already packed to the brim, its interior buzzing with noise.
Every tier of seating was densely filled with spectators. White and blue cheering outfits intertwined into a surging sea, and a rough estimate put the crowd at well over twenty thousand.
Deafening chatter, cheers, and chants echoed through the gym in wave after wave, nearly drowning out the sound system. The venue was exceptionally lively, even the air trembling faintly amid the uproar as countless sounds merged into a frenzied roar.
Some spectators waved their cheering signs, while others held up binoculars, their eyes fixed firmly on the player tunnels, filled with anticipation and excitement.
Aside from the fervent fans, the designated seating areas also held players from many other schools.
Shohoku's Akagi, Liu Chuanfeng, and the others had just finished the third-place game. Now dressed in casual clothes, they watched the court