"No rush, take your time reading. Feel free to discuss anything you'd like to say about China culture or martial arts..."
She paused here, suddenly realizing that her words might have been a bit too forward, and quickly added, "We can also talk about it another time when we have the opportunity."
"Thank you so much."
Kawamoto accepted the book with both hands, his movements careful and respectful, and bowed slightly again. "I will read it carefully."
She quickly said goodbye, then turned and left the Shohoku bench area almost in a panic.
She stopped when she reached a secluded corner and gently pressed her still slightly flushed cheeks.
Borrowing books...
Return the book...
Doesn't that give us a reason to meet again next time?
No, no!
I'm a reporter!
It's for work!
But...
He actually likes China culture and even reads martial arts novels...
Calm down, Sanae Nakagawa, you're a professional!
However, no matter how much she reminded herself, the surprise and excitement she felt upon discovering the other person's scholarly side had already stirred up ripples in her heart that were difficult to calm down.
She turned around and looked towards the Shohoku bench.
The tall boy had already sat back down, carefully placing the book beside him, and then turned his gaze back to the basketball court.
Sanae Nakagawa let out a soft breath and gripped the voice recorder and notebook tightly in her hands.
My interest in this boy Kawamoto Kazuki will no longer be limited to basketball itself.
She shook her head, forcibly suppressing those romantic thoughts, and her professional ethics regained the upper hand.
But she knew that she would put even more effort into writing the report about this boy than ever before.
Like the final whistle of a redemptive land finally sounding.
Shohoku 146: 68 Shoyo.
An unbelievable massacre, worthy of being recorded in the history of Kanagawa basketball, has come to an end.
The Shoyo players slumped to the sidelines, some with their heads down and silent, others covering their faces and panting.
The green ocean of the stands was now filled only with sporadic sobs and deathly silence.
Kenji Fujima is the only Shoyo main player still standing.
His face was still wet with tears, sweat mixed with tears, but his back remained ramrod straight.
He stared at the scoreboard for a long time, then slowly raised his hand to wipe his face.
The players from both sides lined up and shook hands.
When it was Kawamoto Kazuki and Kenji Fujima's turn, they clasped hands together.
Fujima's hands were a little cold.
He looked at the young man before him who had utterly shattered his and the team's pride, and his lips moved slightly:
"Congratulations, Kawamoto Kazuki. Today, you were like a comet streaking across the long night, illuminating this court and highlighting all our shortcomings. Losing to you is not unjust. But..."
"But the final chapter of this summer came sooner than we expected, and ended too quickly and too palely."
His words carried a literary melancholy, consistent with his consistently elegant image, but also revealed a deep sense of resentment and regret.
Kawamoto listened quietly, shook Fujima's hand, and calmly replied, " Fujima- senpai, your language skills are excellent."
Fujima paused for a moment, then gave a bitter smile that looked more like a grimace, "I'm sorry to have made you laugh. Besides playing basketball, I also try my hand at writing stories and comics, it's kind of a hobby. When I'm in the mood, I inevitably talk a lot."
"Writing storybooks and drawing comics?"
A slight hint of surprise flashed in Kawamoto's eyes, then he nodded seriously.
"It's truly admirable that he can maintain such a love for literature while sticking to basketball training and games."
This is not just polite talk.
Kawamoto understands the level of self-discipline and passion required to cultivate and maintain another hobby that demands focused creation while simultaneously dedicating oneself to a career.
Kenji Fujima truly deserves to be called the soul of Shoyo; even in defeat, he maintains a respectable dignity and versatility.
"Thanks."
Fujima took a deep breath, as if drawing strength from Kawamoto's simple affirmation. He squeezed Kawamoto's hand tightly. "You guys will definitely make it to the national tournament. I'll come cheer you on."
"Thanks."
Leaving the bustling basketball court, the Shohoku team headed towards the locker room tunnel.
Near the entrance to the passage, Kawamoto spotted several familiar yet somewhat unexpected figures.
Kengo Murasame, Kazuo Araki, and others from Miuradai.
They were gathered together, seemingly engaged in a heated discussion.
"Hey, look!"
Murasame was analyzing the game with his teammates. " Shohoku beat us 102-0, meaning we only conceded 51 points in the first half. Today against Shoyo, Shoyo conceded 60 points in the first half! So, Shoyo conceded 9 more points than us in the first half!"
"What does this mean? It means that Miuradai isn't actually that weak! Shoyo is a full nine points behind us!"
Araki and the others' lips twitched as they listened.
Do you believe it yourself?
At that moment, the Shohoku team walked over.
Murasame and the others immediately stopped their discussion, their expressions somewhat unnatural, after all, they had just been massacred not long ago.
Kawamoto Kazuki stopped and looked at Murasame and the others. He then said to his teammates, "Captain Akagi, you guys go back to the locker room first. I have something I'd like to say to some of the seniors from Miuradai."
Akagi and the others glanced at Miuradai and his group, nodded, and left first.
Seeing that Kawamoto was left alone, Murasame subconsciously puffed out his chest, adopting the air of a senior, but his tone was much gentler than during the match. " Kawamoto, you played pretty well today, you've got some skills. What brings you here?"
He tried to save face, forcing himself to add, "Well, today's Shoyo does have some of the indomitable spirit of our Miuradai."
Araki, Kawasaki, and others nearly died on the spot.
What is the indomitable spirit of Miuradai?
Does this spirit really have anything to do with us?
Kawamoto seemed unconcerned by Murasame's forced connection and said, "Thank you. Seniors, I remember during the last match, I think I heard you discussing plans to independently launch business ventures? I wonder if that's already underway?"
"Independently starting a business... you mean starting your own business?"
Murasame's eyes flashed, Kazunari Miyamoto was standing next to her, sighed and said bluntly, "Sigh, don't even mention it, we tried several times, and we always lost money..."
Cough cough cough!
Murasame suddenly coughed violently and covered Miyamoto's mouth, silencing him from saying anything more.
He glared at Miyamoto, then lowered his voice and said urgently in a volume only they could hear, "Idiot! You have no sense at all! You spill everything! We lost to Shohoku on the court, are we going to be looked down upon in the business world too?"
Upon hearing this, Miyamoto and the others suddenly understood and nodded repeatedly, agreeing that their captain's words made perfect sense.
A loss on the field means a win in business!
Murasame then released Miyamoto, his face instantly adopting the composed expression of a successful person as he said to Kawamoto, "Ah, starting a business, yes. We've already begun and achieved initial results. Although it's not large in scale yet, the prospects are very promising."
"Our goal is to dominate the Kanagawa market within five years and strive for a company IPO within ten years."