The final whistle blows.
Shohoku 78:77 Jousei.
Shohoku narrowly won by one point.
The match was extremely intense and closely contested.
Led by Kaede Rukawa's 35-point outburst, Shohoku battled a recovering Jousei until the very last moment, with Akagi securing the win with a putback layup.
Kaede Rukawa played almost the entire game today and was the key player in Shohoku's victory.
Even Mari Kawai couldn't help but clench her fists at the last moment of the game for Kaede Rukawa's crucial points.
"That's amazing! Kaede Rukawa is definitely a super rookie king!"
Mari Kawai sighed to her fellow club members, noting that her notebook was already filled with notes detailing Kaede Rukawa's most memorable moments.
As for Kawamoto Kazuki, who had been sitting on the sidelines all along, she had long since forgotten about him.
The MVP who sat on the bench the entire game and didn't even warm up?
It seems that what Ayako- senpai said was mostly an exaggeration to save face for her teammates.
The match ended, and the players from both sides lined up to shake hands.
Mari Kawai adjusted the camera's focus, preparing to capture this moment of friendship first.
As is customary, the two captains shake hands, and then the team members shake hands in turn to greet each other.
Mikoshiba Takenori Akagi and Jousei, the captain of Tsunemaru, shook hands, patted each other on the shoulder, and said something.
Next, Miyagi, Kogure, Kaede Rukawa, and the others shook hands with their respective members of the Jousei.
The atmosphere seemed relatively peaceful.
However, after the handshake ended, the main players of the Jousei team, led by Mikoshiba, all rushed towards Kawamoto Kazuki, who had just stood up from the bench.
Yes, it's a surge.
Their expressions were a peculiar mix.
Awe, curiosity, and even flattery.
" Kawamoto- kun! You've worked hard!"
Center Iwata pushed past the captain, was the first to reach out, and firmly grasped Kawamoto's hand, shaking it vigorously.
Mari Kawai:"???"
Hard?
He watched half the game standing up, and then he watched the other half sitting down.
What's so hard about it!
" Kawamoto- kun, thank you for your guidance!"
Mikoshiba the second to step forward, took Kawamoto's hand, and bowed slightly.
At almost the same time, Yufune grasped Kawamoto's other hand.
"Let's try our luck."
I hope I don't run into you at the national tournament.
The other Jousei team members also eagerly reached out their hands, as if it were a great honor to shake hands with Kawamoto.
Their enthusiasm stood in stark contrast to their indifferent demeanor when shaking hands with the main players of Shohoku.
Several substitute players couldn't even squeeze in and could only watch longingly from the sidelines with disappointed expressions.
Kawamoto Kazuki seemed to have anticipated this scene.
He shook hands with each of the outstretched hands.
He spoke a few brief words to the group of opponents who had just fought hard against his team for forty minutes but were now staring at him expectantly.
The scene was chaotic, Mari Kawai couldn't hear clearly.
You can vaguely hear very ordinary encouraging words like "You fought very hard" and "Keep up the good work."
However, these few simple, almost perfunctory words of praise caused a dramatic change in the morale of the entire Jousei team in that instant.
From ace Mikoshiba to starters Iwata and Yufune, and then to every player on the bench.
They seemed to have been injected with some powerful stimulant, bursting out with an excitement akin to pilgrims receiving a divine revelation.
They nodded vigorously, their faces beaming with immense pride.
What the hell is going on?
How can a few polite, perfunctory words produce a terrifying effect comparable to stimulants?
Ayako's words, "I can make the top eight in the country cry in five minutes," echoed in her ears once again.
Could it be true?
Otherwise, none of this could be explained.
Why should a group of arrogant basketball powerhouses bow down to an opponent who hasn't even played a single game?
The details, when pieced together, point to a terrifying conclusion that she is unwilling to believe, yet cannot help but doubt.
She completely missed the most explosive news stories.
Perhaps it happened in those two practice matches she wasn't present for.
She was like a truly blind person, only focused on chasing the brightest star on the field.
They ignored the true mastermind lurking in the shadows of the bench.
Mari Kawai put down her camera; her fingers were a little cold.
She felt an intense, almost overwhelming curiosity.
While Kaede Rukawa's 35 points were impressive, they were still within the range of genius high school students that she could understand.
The mystery surrounding Jousei Kawamoto Kazuki's team members, and Ayako's meaningful gaze—
All of this points to an even more intriguing secret.
" Mari, shall we continue interviewing Kaede Rukawa?"
The member next to him asked in a low voice.
Mari Kawai snapped out of her daze and shook her head.
The plan to interview Kaede Rukawa will be postponed for now.
She closed her notebook, her voice filled with an unprecedented seriousness and curiosity.
"I need to start from scratch and investigate someone."
"Who?"
" Kawamoto Kazuki."
The sky was somewhat overcast, suggesting that rain might come later.
The Shohoku team, fresh from their trip to Shizuoka, boarded the Shinkansen.
As soon as the train pulled out of the station, a light rain began to fall.
Fine water droplets slanted against the glass, gathering into winding streaks that blurred the scenery rushing past the window.
The dim lighting inside the carriage added to the tranquility.
Mari Kawai and her news agency colleagues were also in the same carriage.
Her gaze once again locked onto Kawamoto Kazuki.
He changed into casual clothes, a simple dark-colored sports jacket.
The raindrops reflected off his profile, creating flickering light and shadow that made his serene features appear somewhat aloof.
Chance!
Mari Kawai took a deep breath, gestured for the members to wait for her, quickly put on a friendly smile, and walked over.
" Kawamoto- kun, what a coincidence, is no one next to you?"
Sitting next to Kawamoto, Yasuda: "???"
Before Yasuda could answer, Mari Kawai naturally pulled Yasuda away and plopped down next to Kawamoto, accidentally bumping into Kawamoto's arm which was resting on the small table.
"Oh, I'm sorry."
Kawamoto turned his gaze from the rain outside the window to her face.
"Is something the matter?"
Nothing special, we just happened to be going the same way.
Mari Kawai smiled without a trace of guile, as if they were truly just having a casual chat.
"Today's match was fantastic! Even though you didn't play, Kaede Rukawa Kaede's performance was amazing. He truly deserves to be called a super rookie!"
What do you think?
She spoke while secretly observing.
Kawamoto showed no displeasure, simply nodding. " Rukawa is very strong, with exceptional offensive talent."
His gaze drifted inadvertently to the pattering rain outside the window.
"Yeah yeah."
Mari Kawai followed his gaze and glanced at the rain, but immediately looked away. "Watching him play is a real treat; his technique is so well-rounded."
"By the way, Kawamoto, as the MVP of Kanagawa, your technical skills must be more comprehensive, right?"
"What are you best at? Is it your sharp drives like Rukawa, your accurate shooting, or your dominance under the basket like Captain Akagi?"
She blinked, looking like she was humbly asking for advice.
But the questions she asked clearly showed that she had never paid any attention to Kawamoto playing basketball before.
Kawamoto seemed to see through her little trick, but he was too lazy to call her out on it.
He thought for about a second before answering.
"Whatever the team needs, that's what I'm best at."
As soon as she finished speaking, Mari Kawai was completely stunned.
The only sounds were the soft patter of raindrops hitting the glass and the regular noise of the train.
The pen she held was suspended in mid-air, and the notebook lay open on her lap, yet she couldn't write a single word.
She considered countless possible answers.
A humble response. "I still need to work harder."
An arrogant "I'm good in every way."
Or specify a particular item.
But she never expected this answer.
This—this is beyond what can be summarized simply by being good at it.
This was an almost arrogant composure.
That breath----
It's too big!
So arrogant that Mari Kawai's first reaction was, "How can this person be so arrogant?"
But when she looked at Kawamoto, she found that his face was still expressionless.
There was no arrogance, no boasting, not even the slightest ripple.
He was simply stating a fact that seemed as simple as he did, as natural as saying it was raining.
"Uh... that's very well said, very insightful."
Mari Kawai gave a dry reply, only to find that her usually stellar speaking skills and interviewing abilities were completely ineffective in front of this young man.
The follow-up questions she had prepared—such as contributions to the team, leadership, and the inside story of the MVP award—all seemed pale and laughable in the face of this simple yet domineering declaration.
She didn't even know how to begin.
The interview seemed to be killed by a single sentence.
After getting off the bus, Kawamoto Kazuki did not return to school with the team, but went directly to the base of Flash Wind Express.
At the base, several core members, including Masaki, Nango, Kawasaki, and Araki, were present.
Kengo Murasame, who was in charge of keeping the books, was not there.
"Where's Murasame?" Kawamoto asked, putting down his backpack.
"He got a rush order, a cigarette delivery job in Hiratsuka, not far away, but he insisted on going."
"They've been gone for a while; they should be back by now."
Masaki glanced at the somewhat old wall clock and frowned slightly.
No sooner had the words left his mouth than a figure stumbled and fell in.
It's Murasame.