"All right, Coach Anzai, I understand. We'll prepare seriously."
After hanging up, Takenori Akagi looked gravely at Kiminobu Kogure and Ryota Miyagi. "Let's go tell everyone about today's friendly against Meihou Industrial High School."
Coach Anzai had already agreed to the friendly, and Jousei High School was naturally willing to provide the venue.
With Meihou Industrial High School as Jousei High School's second-round opponent, they could hardly ask for more than a chance to watch them play in person.
In Shohoku Team's lounge, Takenori Akagi told everyone about the friendly against Meihou Industrial High School.
Unlike the nervousness he had imagined, Shohoku Team's Problem Children Gang feared nothing. Kaede Rukawa, Hisashi Mitsui, and Ryota Miyagi all looked eager to give it a go.
Ryota Kudo's expression was rather peculiar. Back in Aichi Prefecture, Hiroshi Morishige had said he wanted to play against Shohoku.
Ryota Kudo had not agreed at the time. He had never expected Morishige to actually arrange this practice game through his coach.
Still, a chance to face Meihou Industrial High School was good, too. Ryota Kudo did not think they could make it to the national championship final anyway.
Today might be their last chance to play each other this year, making it a rare opportunity.
Although summer vacation had already begun, Jousei High School's basketball gym was packed.
Hearing that Shohoku High School and Meihou Industrial High School would play a friendly here, a clash between two seeded teams ahead of schedule, a great many people had taken an interest.
Students from the school, sports reporters from within the prefecture, and even basketball teams from other prefectures were on their way.
Meihou Industrial High School had not arrived yet. Only Shohoku Team's players were on the court, doing basic drills.
Jousei High School's basketball team had