" Kawamoto! Did you hear me? Don't pass me the ball, just shoot, give me the rebounds!"
" Kawamoto- kun, beat him up in your own way."
"Brother Kawamoto! I'll help the Gorilla grab rebounds too, so Shoyo can't even touch a single one."
"Hey, Kawamoto! Show that arrogant bastard what a real three-pointer is like!"
On the Shohoku bench, Coach Mitsuyoshi Anzai held his teacup with his usual smile.
But behind the lenses, his eyes shone with a light that was both gratified and awestruck.
He knows these kids too well.
Is Takenori Akagi proud?
How could he not be proud?
Of course he's proud!
In his third year, he single-handedly supported the Shohoku Basketball Team for three years.
Through countless days and nights of ridicule and crushing defeat, he gritted his teeth and led the team forward.
He is a top center in Kanagawa, and the most reliable mountain in the hearts of his teammates.
His pride stems from responsibility, from hard work, and from the resilience to get back up after countless falls.
He is used to being the one who is relied upon, and used to taking on everything in critical moments.
Make him proactively say "don't pass me the ball," completely relinquish offensive control, and willingly play a supporting role in the rebounding battle.
This is a greater test of his mentality than letting him lose the game.
But he spoke, and he spoke with unwavering conviction and passionate fervor.
Because he saw that Kawamoto possessed the strength to carry the team's hopes and lead them to greater heights.
At this moment, his pride transformed into recognition and entrustment to the stronger.
Kawamoto reciprocated with absolute trust.
They trust Akagi to defend the paint, they trust Akagi to grab every rebound, and they trust Akagi to be their strongest support.
Is Kaede Rukawa proud?
How could he not be proud?
Of course he's proud!
He is a genius, a natural scoring machine, and a one-on-one king who can burn everything for basketball.
In his world, basketball and victory are almost everything.
He was silent, he was cold, because he had enough power to support his arrogance.
Getting him to speak up and say, "Please don't consider giving us possession of the ball," is even rarer than getting him to pass it.
But he said it, his eyes sharp and full of fighting spirit.
Because he saw another possibility in Kawamoto.
A type of basketball that is more efficient and closer to victory than him scoring alone.
His pride led him to only admire true strength.
Kawamoto won him over with his strength.
Kaede Rukawa's words were not a surrender, but a declaration of war against the stronger and the purest choice for victory.
Kawamoto repaid him by regarding him as his most reliable teammate.
It's about believing he can tear apart opponents under any tactical system, and being willing to entrust the decisive moment to him.
Is Hisashi Mitsui proud?
How could he not be proud?
Of course he's proud!
He was once a dazzling MVP, a prodigy admired by countless people.
Two years of inactivity and decline did not diminish his inherent pride; on the contrary, it made that pride even more sensitive and fueled his desire to prove himself.
He said he didn't care, but in his heart he longed to regain his former glory more than anyone else.
It takes immense courage for him to acknowledge that others possess genuine three-point shooting skills and to set aside his shooter's pride to cheer for his teammates.
But he shouted, with anger, with the heart of a shooter stirred within him.
His pride is being rebuilt from the ruins.
Kawamoto's stability and strength became the most reliable reference and stimulus for him in the process of rebuilding his confidence.
In Kawamoto always made room for him in the tactics.
It's about believing that the once-genius striker will eventually return, and being willing to use a pass to ignite the unquenched flame in his heart.
Is Ryota Miyagi proud?
How could he not be proud?
He is the lightning of Shohoku, the commander on the court, and an indomitable fighter.
His height is a regret, but his speed and intelligence are his pride.
He yearns to perform, to control the game with his passing, and to become the team's true engine.
However, when Kawamoto appeared on the field, he displayed an even more comprehensive and terrifying ability to control the game.
Miyagi felt no jealousy, no resentment.
He didn't complain even when he was on the bench.
His pride stemmed from the team's victory and from seeing Shohoku become stronger.
He knew better than anyone that Kawamoto's addition gave Shohoku the real strength to challenge for the throne.
His pride led him to make the most rational and team-oriented choice.
Paving the way for the true king.
Kawamoto reciprocated with absolute respect.
It was during our first meeting, when I initiated a bullfight by adjusting my salary, that I managed to save face for him by not overwhelming him in his area of expertise.
It points out his most fatal flaw in the hope that he can improve.
This is a guarantee that the team will still give him playing time even when he is not needed by the team at the moment.
Is Hanamichi Sakuragi proud?
How could he not be proud?
Of course he's proud!
He claims to be a genius, a rough diamond with monstrous physical talent, and a passionate idiot who would give 200% effort for his beloved Haruko and basketball.
His pride was simple, direct, and even somewhat unreasonable.
It all stemmed from his unparalleled self-confidence and indomitable spirit.
He longed to be the center of attention, to amaze the entire arena with a dunk, and to prove that he was the strongest.
However, at that moment, Haruko was in the stands, and he was shouting that he wanted to help Akagi grab the rebound and give Kawamoto complete control of the offense.
This is not because he abandoned his pride; on the contrary, it is the evolution of his pride.
After experiencing failures, undergoing special training, and especially after witnessing and personally experiencing Kawamoto's strength and reliability.
He still considers himself a genius, but he also admits that his older brother Kawamoto is an even more brilliant genius.
Rebounding for such a genius and clearing obstacles for him is something a genius should also do!
His pride transformed into an awareness of finding his own value within the team.
Kawamoto repaid him by never looking down on him, by patiently guiding him, and by being willing to spend his holidays with him for extra practice.
He's someone who always looks for open cuts during matches.
They regard him as an indispensable source of energy and attack for the team.
It is the belief that this novice will one day become a basketball player who amazes the entire nation.
And, every morning, there's a varied yet always plentiful bento box.
Anzai slowly took a sip of tea. The warm water soothed his throat, but he couldn't suppress the surging emotions in his heart.
Anyone else with Kawamoto's abilities might be able to convince one or two people.
But it's absolutely impossible to get those problem kids from Shohoku, who are proud to the core, to so willingly and unanimously set aside their pride and take on the role of supporting characters.
To become a mere foil, to concentrate all hope and the right to fire without reservation on one person.
Akagi relinquished his controlling nature as captain.
Kaede Rukawa curbed his lone wolf scoring ambitions.
Hisashi Mitsui temporarily postponed his eagerness to regain his glory.
Ryota Miyagi relinquished his position as the core leader of the organization.
Hanamichi Sakuragi toned down his flamboyant style and focused on blue-collar work.
They remain proud.
But their pride coalesced at this moment, transforming into an even stronger and more fervent force.
This demonstrates their complete trust and support for Kawamoto Kazuki.
This is not submission, this is choice.
This is not a sacrifice, this is an awakening.
They remain proud lions.
But at this moment, they chose to follow a more powerful lion king and conquer the grasslands they had never set foot on before in the lion king's way.
Hehehe...
Anzai's laughter was barely audible amidst the noise of the stadium, yet it was filled with satisfaction.
He looked at the boy on the court who, in the face of provocation, calmly held up five fingers and said, "You scored 50 points over me."
Calm, commanding, and bearing the expectations of the entire team, yet showing no signs of deformation under pressure.
This is the true uncrowned king.
No crowning is needed; the throne is already in everyone's hearts.
And the day he was crowned king, his name resounding throughout the nation...
Anzai looked up at the high dome of the stadium, his eyes flashing with a sharp light.
It's not far off.