Something stirred in Ryota Kudo's heart, and a complicated emotion swept through him, but he quickly suppressed it and shook his head with a smile:
"No, I'm Japanese.
"I just really like Chinese culture, so I speak fairly fluent Chinese."
"Japanese? And your Chinese is that good?" Wang Zhizhi was even more surprised. Li Nan and several other young Chinese players beside him also cast curious looks his way.
Still, surprised as they were, Wang Zhizhi and the others had watched the entire three-on-three game in which Ryota Kudo's trio had easily defeated the South Korea Team.
They had a clear understanding of, and respect for, the three players' abilities.
Not yet sixteen, Wang Zhizhi was at an age when he was lively and loved a challenge.
At Ryota Kudo's invitation, his eyes lit up. Immediately interested, he readily agreed:
"Sure! No problem! We've just finished a game, so let's take a break and put one together! You three are in!"
Hearing Wang Zhizhi agree, Ryota Kudo felt a surge of delight.
When the young players around them heard that Wang Zhizhi's group would be playing a full-court game with those three strong Japanese players, they grew excited too.
Some players who considered themselves slightly weaker voluntarily stepped off, giving their places to players widely acknowledged as stronger.
Everyone wanted to see what sparks would fly in this clash between the "China-Japan alliance" and the "Chinese combined team."
Wang Zhizhi's side was fair about it too, rather than putting all the strongest players on his own team.
Before long, the teams were set.
Ryota Kudo, Eiji Sawakita, and Hiroshi Morishige were assigned to the same team.
To their pleasant surprise, Li Nan, the sharpshooter from earlier, also came over of his own accord and joined their side, giving Ryota Kudo