" Kawamoto, go control the main cable and don't let the fishing net fall. I'll give it a try!" Boss Matsusaka with a delighted expression.
Kawamoto quickly ran away and grabbed the main cable to prevent the fishing net from slipping.
Matsusaka gripped the slippery, heavy net ropes tightly with both hands, veins bulging on his forehead.
Having made a living at sea for many years, he possessed incredible arm strength and immediately put all his strength into it.
His thick, muscular arms were taut, yet he couldn't lift the net of fish even an inch.
"No! It's too heavy!"
"I'll help you!"
Boss Kobayashi was also desperately pulling on the net rope, his face turning red, his feet slipping on the wet deck.
" Matsusaka! I can't lift it. I estimate it's over 300 kilograms."
The net was so heavy that even two grown men couldn't budge it no matter how hard they tried.
Rudy Tomjanovich walked over at that moment.
He had seen Alaska fishermen wrestle with king salmon weighing dozens of pounds, and it was clear that the weight of the fish in the net before them was far beyond the arm strength limits of these two Japan fishermen.
"Gentlemen, it seems you're in trouble. Do you need any help?"
"Thank you so much, Mr. Rudy."
Although he is over fifty years old and has not done strength training for a long time, he still has some foundation.
Besides, being able to participate in fishing firsthand is a great experience.
However, with the addition of Rudy Tomjanovich, the three adult men put in their best effort.
When the entire net was fully exposed above the sea surface and rose to a position more than half a meter above the ship's side.
Even the experienced Matsusaka gasped in surprise.
The mesh was crammed with shimmering, churning fish, the density was alarmingly high.
Even more astonishing are the outlines of these fish; each one is over fifty centimeters long.
This is a very rare large skipjack tuna for this season!
"I'm... I'm rich! Dozens of them! Oh no, I can't keep up!"
Matsusaka's forehead was beaded with sweat.
The fishing net was still half a meter from the side of the boat, and it was completely impossible to lift it.
Moreover, it is trending downwards.
" Matsusaka, you can't hold on any longer, you really can't take it anymore, let go!"
"Too dangerous!"
"FUKE!"
Rudy's pale face turned bright red.
Although wealth was within reach, the experienced Matsusaka knew there was nothing they could do.
It seems we have no choice but to give up.
Either cut the net ropes, or let go and allow the net to return to the sea and break on its own as the fish struggle.
" Boss Kobayashi, please come and take control of the main cable. Mr. Matsusaka, Mr. Rudy, hold on, I'll give it a try."
Kawamoto shouted at this moment.
Boss Kobayashi, remembering Kawamoto's strength, immediately ran over to replace Kawamoto.
Kawamoto Kazuki finally had a free hand. He took off his cumbersome jacket, leaving him in only a close-fitting dark short-sleeved T-shirt.
He bent down at the gunwale and threaded his ten fingers through the holes in the fishing net.
He didn't speak, but simply took a slow breath.
The next second, he moved.
It wasn't a tentative effort, but a sudden, volcanic eruption!
"Ugh--!!!"
A low, suppressed growl escaped.
Kawamoto's muscles tensed and expanded to their limit in that instant.
The latissimus dorsi, trapezius, deltoid... the outline of each muscle bulges out menacingly.
Matsusaka and Rudy felt as if the weight that their other hands were about to give way to had vanished.
The two nearly fell onto the deck due to inertia.
The fishing net, weighing over 300 kilograms of fresh seafood and suspended above the waves—a weight that three adult men couldn't lift—was actually pulled up by Kawamoto!
Dozens of large skipjack tuna, each over half a meter long, sensed a deadly crisis and began a hysterical collective struggle.
" Mr. Matsusaka... Mr. Rudy... please move aside!"
After struggling to utter a few words, Kawamoto exerted force with both arms again.
"Drink it!"
He roared again.
The net, containing over 300 kilograms of fish, was thrown onto the deck by Kawamoto Kazuki using sheer brute force.
With a loud bang!
Like boulders launched from a catapult, dozens of large skipjack tuna poured onto the deck like a landslide.
Having done all this, Kawamoto loosened his grip and staggered half a step backward, only to be caught by Matsusaka behind him in a flash.
Kawamoto's chest heaved violently, sweat soaking through his black hair and his thin T-shirt.
His arms trembled slightly, and his fingers were raw and bleeding from being rubbed raw by the rough netting.
But in less than ten seconds, the terrifying panting subsided quickly, and the trembling arms stabilized.
There was a deathly silence on the deck.
The only sounds were the crackling of the surviving skipjack tuna struggling on the deck.
Matsusaka and Kobayashi stared dumbfounded at the boy's sweaty figure in the sunlight, their minds blank.
Rudy Tomjanovich was completely stunned.
His blue eyes were wide open to the limit, and his mouth was unconsciously slightly agape.
He had seen NBA powerhouses who could easily shatter backboards, and boxers who could knock out their opponents with powerful punches in the ring.
But nothing could compare to what he had just witnessed.
This is not about demonstrating power in a controlled environment.
This is a scene of frantic struggle against hundreds of kilograms of live prey on the rocking, slippery deck of a fishing boat.
Not only do they have to overcome the undulating waves of the sea, but they also have to contend with the injury to their hands from the slippery ropes.
This was absolutely a pure and savage conquest by force!
This Japan teenager overturned Rudy Tomjanovich's entire understanding of the physical gifts of Asia.
It even overturned some of his preconceived notions about the possibilities of the human body.
This is not just about having good talent.
This is the kind of sport that would drive even the most discerning scouts and coaches crazy in any competitive sport.
It possesses enough power to serve as the foundation for building any tactical system.
This power actually appeared in an ordinary Japan boy who was only fifteen years old.
Rudy felt his heart being pounded in his chest.
He took a very slow breath.
It was as if only in this way could the turbulent waves in my heart be calmed.
His gaze returned to the boy wiping the sweat from his face.
The morning light had fully risen above the horizon, showering the Pacific Ocean with its golden rays.
At this moment, on this small fishing boat adrift on the morning waves of the Pacific Ocean.
Houston Rockets head coach Rudy Tomjanovich surprisingly developed a strong interest in this high school boy from Japan.
But he is, after all, a top coach who has seen countless geniuses.
After the initial shock, reason quickly returned.
He knew perfectly well that terrifying brute force was only one part of basketball talent, and not even the most important part.
Technique, football intelligence, awareness, and game sense are all indispensable.
He suddenly remembered something that Kobayashi Masashige had mentioned during a casual conversation.
This boy looks like a member of the basketball team?
Rudy's gaze deepened.
He made a decision in an instant.
A decision that would never have been made before boarding this fishing boat.
He was determined to go to the Yokohama Prefectural Stadium in person, no matter what.
Let's go see what kind of performance this boy Kawamoto Kazuki will deliver on the basketball court.
At midday, the sun was blazing.
The deck had been cleaned, and the fattest of the dozens of large skipjack tuna had been skillfully prepared into sashimi by the Boss Matsusaka.
A small stove on the boat was boiling water, cooking freshly caught shrimp and crabs, and the aroma was still irresistible even in the sea breeze.
The four people sat around a small table on the deck.
Kawamoto's hands had been simply bandaged with the spare bandages on the ship, and he was carefully distributing the rice balls his mother had made to the group.
The Boss Matsusaka pushed the thickly sliced bonito sashimi, cut like flower petals, in front of him, and poured Kawamoto a cup of barley tea, his face showing undisguised admiration and gratitude.
" Kawamoto- kun, thank you so much for today!"
"You're welcome to come to my boat anytime you have time! We're open to discussing wages!"
Boss Kobayashi smiled and nodded, looking quite proud of himself.
Rudy Tomjanovich took a bite of the Kawamoto ball that Kawamoto offered him.
The rice was kneaded firmly yet retained its elasticity, and each grain was infused with the subtle salty aroma of seaweed.
The taste was simple, yet it suited his stomach better than any expensive meal he had ever eaten.
The bonito sashimi was also excellent, fresh, sweet, and chewy.
"This is really delicious food. I love Japan food culture."
He nodded in satisfaction, then looked at Kawamoto, who was quietly eating his rice ball, and asked casually, "Kid, I heard from Mr. Kobayashi that you're a member of the high school basketball team? The game is next week?"
Kawamoto swallowed the rice ball in his mouth and nodded. "Yes."
What specific day was it?
Rudy asked, his tone casual.
"May 19th, Jin Yao Day."
Kawamoto replied, adding, "That is, next Friday, the match will start at 9 a. m.
Rudy nodded, picked up a piece of sashimi, dipped it in soy sauce, and said, "I plan to stay in Kanagawa until next week. If time allows, I'll try to make time to watch your match."
His tone was flat, without any promises or excessive enthusiasm.
But those who know him well know that for this renowned NBA coach to say he would try to make time to watch it is already a rare sign of his importance.
Kawamoto looked up, his eyes lighting up as he looked at Rudy Tomjanovich.
"Thank you so much."
Kawamoto bowed slightly, his tone remaining calm.
Matsusaka and Kobayashi exchanged a glance, both seeing a smile in each other's eyes.
They don't know much about basketball.
But they could tell that this important figure from United States seemed to have a different opinion about the young man they had their eye on.