They held up signs reading "Kanagawa will win," "Chi Tong MVP," and "Sendoh is the hottest," their faces beaming with excitement.
"Whoa, there are so many people!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi waved his arms excitedly as he looked at the packed stands.
"See that?"
"Rukawa, all these people came to see me, the genius Sakuragi Hanamichi!"
Rukawa glanced at him and replied impatiently.
"Who do you think you are?"
"What did you say?"
"You damn fox!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi instantly bristled.
"All right, stop arguing," Akagi said sternly. "The game is about to start. All of you, rein it in!"
Only then did the two quiet down, though they still exchanged a glare.
Although this year's Autumn National Sports Festival was divided into four groups, every game was scheduled in the same Basketball Gym to ensure an entertaining spectacle and a lively atmosphere.
With a carefully planned schedule, spectators could watch games featuring different groups and different styles of play in a single day.
The Kanagawa Representative Team had been assigned the very first game on the opening day. For Kanagawa, this was both an honor and a source of pressure: they would fire the opening shot of this year's Autumn National Sports Festival.
The arena's giant screen already displayed the first day's match schedule: morning, Group A, Kanagawa Prefecture versus Shizuoka Prefecture; Group B, Iwate Prefecture versus Miyazaki Prefecture; afternoon, Group C, Akita Prefecture versus Fukui Prefecture; Group D, Saitama Prefecture versus Hyogo Prefecture.
The Kanagawa locker room carried its familiar distinctive smell, mingled with a faint trace of disinfectant. The players had already changed into their uniforms and were making their final preparations. The atmosphere was relaxed, with an undercurrent of tension.
"I didn't expect to face an old rival in our very first game."
Sitting on a bench, Xiangtian Yanyi