"Jin--Jiu--Wu--!!!"
Someone, using all their might, roared out the first syllable.
Instantly, the entire stands exploded!
"Stand up! Tsukubu! You are real men!"
A middle-aged man with a full beard suddenly stood up, waving his fist.
The veins on his neck bulged, and his shout was tinged with sobs, as if he were looking at a dream he had failed to realize in his youth.
"I used to be a student at Yoshimoto High School! I used to fight alongside my teammates to the very end! See? That was my youth!"
Another office worker in a suit loosened his tie and roared wildly, completely disregarding his image, tears and sweat mingling together.
"I am Saiji Nomura graduate of Tsukubu in '86! You bastards! As your senior, I order you to hold your heads high!"
"Well done! That was fucking great!"
"You didn't lose! You didn't lose at all!!"
"This is how basketball should be played!"
Even some of Shohoku's supporters couldn't control themselves.
"Hey! Tsukubu! Listen up!"
A young man holding up a sign that read "Shohoku will win!" jumped onto a seat in the stands and shouted with all his might.
"Next year! We'll come back and fight our way out! We'll take back this grievance tenfold, a hundredfold! We, Shohoku, are waiting for you! Do you hear me?!"
"Samurai! You are samurai!"
An elderly man trembled as he gave a thumbs-up, tears streaming down his face.
The outcry grew louder and louder.
It is a battle song dedicated to the indomitable.
It is the highest medal dedicated to those who strive.
This overwhelming sense of recognition caused the Tsukubu team members, who had collapsed to the ground, to tremble.
The tears that had been gritting their teeth and forcing themselves to stay upright finally burst forth when Tomokazu Godai and Hiroshi Natsume looked up.
Kenta Mine and Yoshikazu Tamura blood seeped out, yet they still managed to force an extremely ugly smile.
This was the first time that Koichiro Nango truly felt this amidst the roaring waves.
So this is what basketball is all about.
"Jin--Jiu--Wu--!!!"
"Hero--!!!"
The final roar of sound coalesced into two simple words, echoing repeatedly under the stadium's dome, lingering for a long time.
When the Shohoku players lined up to shake hands, they all put away their victorious ease and became solemn.
They won the game, but they also witnessed firsthand what a respectable warrior their opponents were.
Takenori Akagi and Kiminobu Kogure up to Tomokazu Godai.
Although they were opponents on the field, their old friendship from Kitamura Middle School made their handshake less tense and more filled with mutual respect.
"Well played, Godai."
Akagi gripped Godai's hand tightly and said in a deep voice.
"A loss is a loss, there's nothing more to say."
Godai smiled, a smile tinged with weariness but also a hint of relief, "You guys are ridiculously strong this year."
He paused, glancing at Koichiro Nango, who had already run to the Shohoku bench and was glaring at Sakuragi Hanamichi Sakuragi like fighting cocks.
"Aren't we problem kids pretty amazing too?"
Akagi looked at Nango with a serious expression. "Ah, truly remarkable. The talent he's displayed on offense as a center is among the most well-rounded rookies I've ever seen."
"Right?"
A proud smile appeared on Godai's face. He lowered his voice and said to Akagi and Kogure, " Akagi, Kogure, there's something... Are you interested in having that kid Nango join your Shohoku?"
"What?"
Akagi and Kogure were both stunned.
Seeing their surprised expressions, Godai explained, "Don't worry about the transfer procedures or player supervision; our school and his family will take care of it."
Akagi immediately recalled Godai's boasting about Nango on the train and exclaimed, "Could it be that you deliberately mentioned him in front of us last time with this in mind?"
I guess so.
Godai readily admitted it.
The way he looked at Nango was like looking at a precious gem that needed polishing, or like looking at his younger brother who was about to embark on a long journey.
"For Nango, Tsukumo is a shackle. He needs a bigger stage, stronger opponents, and more systematic training. Originally, we wanted to send him to Shohoku or Kainan, where the traditions and environment might be more suitable for his growth..."
His gaze returned to Akagi, becoming incredibly serious and bright. "But after watching your matches this year, I've changed my mind."
" Shohoku is different. They have a top-tier traditional center like Akagi who can guide him on defense and rebounding, super scorers like Kaede Rukawa and Hisashi Mitsui who put pressure on him, a speedy guard like Miyagi to get him moving, and..."
Godai's gaze finally settled on Kawamoto Kazuki, who was shaking hands with Tamura not far away. His voice carried a hint of awe. "And that monster number 15. Playing alongside him, Nango will probably learn more and faster than anywhere else."
"You guys will definitely make it to the national tournament this year! Akagi, take Nango with you!"
"Let's take the dreams of us Tsukubu... no, let's take the dreams of those of us who may never reach the whole country, and conquer it!"
He squeezed Akagi's hand tightly, then added with a wry smile, "But let me warn you beforehand, Nango is extremely lazy when it comes to training; he's a total problem child. You'd better be prepared. Our Coach Kawasaki seems to have discussed the specifics with your Anzai before the match."
Akagi and Kogure exchanged a glance, both seeing the shock and a hint of understanding in each other's eyes.
Could Anzai's pre-match arrangements, which allowed Kawamoto to fully demonstrate his dominance, have this deeper meaning behind them?
How can they attract talented players and showcase Shohoku's potential and future possibilities?
"I see."
Akagi nodded heavily, his gaze towards Nango now carrying a sense of responsibility for his future teammate.
"If it really works out, we'll take good care of him."
On the other side, Kawamoto Kazuki walked up to Hiroshi Natsume and bowed slightly. "Sorry, were you hurt in that last hit?"
Natsume quickly waved his hand, still shaken but also admiring. "No, it's nothing... But you, is your foot alright?"
"Thank you for your concern, I'm fine."
"That's good, you guys are strong. But we won't fall so easily..."
"I can feel it."
Their hands were clasped tightly together.
Ryota Miyagi, hands on his hips, said to Yoshikazu Tamura in his arrogant tone, "Hey, your mid-range shot is pretty accurate! Not bad! But next time we meet, I'll definitely shoot more accurately than you!"
Tamura was a little embarrassed by his words, but also a little unconvinced. "Don't be so smug! I'll definitely beat you next time!"
Kaede Rukawa and Kenta Mine's handshake was much shorter.
Looking at the power forward who was giving it his all, Kaede Rukawa unusually spoke up, "What a pity."
In just three words, it's clear that it was a pity that Tsukubu lost this match.
It's a pity that a player as hardworking as Kenta Mine couldn't go further due to limitations in his talent.
Kenta Mine squeezed Rukawa's hand tightly and nodded emphatically. "Mm!"
Meanwhile, the biggest excitement on the sidelines came from two scruffy guys.
"You damn blondie! You lost the game, so why don't you get back to your Tsukubu! And stay away from Haruko from now on!"
Hanamichi Sakuragi pointed at Koichiro Nango's nose, looking arrogant and haughty.
"You didn't even play, what are you so smug about?"
Nango retorted without backing down, pointing to the roster next to the scoreboard. "I said we had to beat Shohoku with you on the court! You didn't even play, so it doesn't count as a loss! At most, it's a loss to that expressionless number 15 and Akagi!"
"What did you say? This genius is a secret weapon! I don't even need to show my face to deal with trash like you!"
"Pah! I bet you're just too weak and got benched, Red-Haired Monkey!"
"Want to fight, blondie?"
"Come on! Who's afraid of who!"
The two stood head to head, like two fighting roosters with their feathers standing on end, their spittle almost spraying onto each other's faces.
The rest of Shohoku and Tsukubu couldn't help but laugh at what they saw.
The atmosphere of mutual respect between heroes on the field just now has vanished, leaving only the fierce rivalry between the young players.
Looking at Nango, who was arguing fiercely with Sakuragi, Godai smiled wryly at Akagi and said, "See? Problem child. I'll have to rely on you guys from now on."
Akagi looked at the two clowns, a hint of a smile flashing in his eyes.
As the audience gradually dispersed, the noisy stadium slowly quieted down.
In a corner of the somewhat empty stands, Anzai of Shohoku and Coach Kawasaki of Tsukubu sat side by side.
"Teacher."
Kazumi Kawasaki respectfully began, "Regarding the matter of Nango..."
Anzai simply grunted in response, signaling him to continue.
"Actually..."
Kawasaki carefully chose his words: "Before the game, and even for most of the time watching today's game, I was hesitant. I did hope that Nango could go to a better platform, but that person... might not be Shohoku."
He paused, looked at Anzai, and said in a complex yet honest tone, "Coach, I know. Because of what happened with Yazawa... you've closed yourself off from basketball, especially from coaching talented young players, for a long time."
"Sending Nango to a place where he might not receive your full attention and effort is a better option than sending him to Shoyo or Kainan, where at least the system is complete and the coaching team is stable."
Anzai did not respond immediately; his eyes behind his glasses were as deep as an ancient well.
Kawasaki took a deep breath, as if making a decision. "But today's match, especially what happened after Kawamoto's shoe broke, changed my mind. I saw your genuine care and trust for that kid, Kawamoto Kazuki..."
"So, all I need now is a clear response from you, teacher."
"If you are willing, truly willing to teach and polish Nango like you did for us and for Yazawa- kun back then, then I will find a way to persuade Nango himself and handle all the formalities."
A long silence.
Finally, Anzai spoke slowly, his voice low and hoarse, no longer his usual cheerful laugh.
" Yazawa..."
The mere mention of a name instantly turned the atmosphere heavy.