With the national final fast approaching, staying completely calm was almost impossible for these high schoolers.
Tension and anxiety hung over the hotel lobby like an invisible mist.
Yet Ryota Kudo's arrival was like a ray of sunlight suddenly piercing that mist.
He walked over with light steps and a bright smile, greeting them naturally. "Good morning, everyone!"
Takenori Akagi, who was talking to Kogure, answered "Morning" reflexively before looking up.
When his gaze landed on Ryota Kudo, he froze.
Ryota Kudo looked astonishingly fresh, standing in stark contrast to the other players around him.
Everyone else showed some degree of fatigue and tension before the big game.
Only Ryota Kudo had clear, bright eyes and an easy, relaxed demeanor, as though a gentle, positive aura surrounded him.
Above all, the smile tugging at his lips, which he could not suppress, made him look as if... as if something wonderful had just happened to him.
Just then, the restless Hanamichi Sakuragi also noticed something unusual about Ryota Kudo.
He suddenly leaned in, practically pressing his face right up against Ryota Kudo's, his eyes wide as he scrutinized him from every angle like a rare animal.
Startled by his sudden ambush, Ryota Kudo took an uncomfortable half step back and reached out to push that red head away. "Hey, Sakuragi, what are you doing?"
Hanamichi Sakuragi showed no displeasure at being pushed away. Instead, he looked as though he had uncovered some earth-shattering secret.
An outrageously exaggerated expression instantly spread across his face, mixing shock, envy, and a little dejection, as he pointed at Ryota Kudo and shouted:
"Aaaah! Kudo! You! Your face! That look on your face practically screams, 'I'm in love!' You can't fool me!"
He beat his chest and stamped his feet, wailing theatrically. "Damn it! You jerk!