Although Ryonan is strong, in the eyes of the media, Shohoku is likely to win. In this way, their recent adoration of Shohoku can be considered to have come to a satisfactory end, and they can continue to write about it, with even more newsworthy stories.
However, there is one exception: Yayoi Aida.
The article she submitted to Basketball Weekly was originally biased towards Ryonan. When predicting the MVP, she even ranked Sendoh first.
The president took one look and immediately rejected it!
"I went through so much trouble to snatch this coveted prize from Shohoku, and you're going to sell it off to me right away?!"
"Haven't we felt our weekly magazine has been slapped in the face enough lately?!"
Because of this, Yayoi Aida had a big argument with the company president. But in the end, she couldn't fight city hall, and the president turned around and gave that article to someone else to publish. Even today's match was sent by a different reporter.
Although Yayoi Aida also came, she did so as an ordinary spectator. She had a kind of obsession with Ryonan, and her feelings towards Sendoh were probably similar to Shirasawa's feelings towards Sanae —she found him pleasing to the eye in every way, and he was perfect in every way.
Today, setting aside her journalist identity, she can finally wholeheartedly and freely cheer on Ryonan.
With Aida's connections, securing a front-row seat wouldn't have been difficult. But the coincidence was that the person sitting next to her happened to be an old acquaintance— Sanae!
For some reason that all women understand, she genuinely didn't want to sit next to Sanae...
Actually, Yayoi Aida is quite good-looking and has a good figure, and she's quite confident in herself. But all of this only applies when Sanae isn't around. As soon as Sanae appears, she inexplicably feels a little overshadowed.
She has a strong sense of self-respect and is unwilling to accept this reality.
Today, Sanae wore a white casual suit, which made her face look even more delicate and fair. Even Yayoi Aida had to secretly admit: This girl is really damn good-looking...
Sanae wasn't surprised to see her here. The circle is only so big; even the slightest rumor spreads like wildfire.
The two exchanged a few perfunctory pleasantries.
Sanae suddenly mentioned it casually, tossing out a sentence lightly:
"Maybe... you should quit."
Upon hearing this, Yayoi Aida almost blurted out, "Then you'll support me?"
Fortunately, the car was stopped in time... This was clearly inappropriate.
With her professional instincts, she could sense that there was another meaning behind Sanae's words. Sanae was doing very well now, and the two hottest newcomers this year— Shirasawa and Kaede Rukawa —were both under her management. The two were also living up to expectations and were about to make it to the national tournament together. She also had a lot of media resources at her disposal, and even her former employer, Basketball Weekly, treated her as an honored guest.
Sanae would never play such a joke on her for no reason.
Yayoi Aida secretly wondered: Could it be... that they want to recruit me as their manager?
The thought had barely crossed her mind when she immediately dismissed it. In the player agent business, the more players you have, the more money you make. Sanae doesn't have many players signed yet, so how could she possibly get a share of the profits? Clearly, that's unrealistic.
Yayoi knew in her heart that although she hadn't done anything to wrong Sanae, she hadn't been particularly good to her either... It was purely a normal colleague relationship. Sanae had no reason to give her special treatment.
After much thought, curiosity prevailed. She sighed softly and tentatively said, "Sigh... I don't have your abilities."
Sanae smiled, a smile that seemed to see through something, yet she didn't reveal it.
Their relationship is no longer what it used to be. Before, they were senior and junior, but now? Sanae is more like the one in control, making Yayoi Aida has nowhere to hide in front of her.
"Just do your best," Sanae said slowly, her words carrying a deeper meaning.
The audience erupted in uproar as soon as he finished speaking.
However, the excitement wasn't for Sanae, but because the doors to both player tunnels opened simultaneously!
" Shohoku! Shohoku!!"
" Ryonan! Ryonan!!"
The fans on both sides were shouting louder and louder, their screams almost lifting the roof off the stadium. Akagi and Uozumi each led their teams out.
Takenori Akagi held his head high, his back ramrod straight, each step firm and solid. He had finally stepped onto the final stage, with his most trusted brother following behind him.
He truly believed that they were the strongest.
" Shohoku!" Akagi roared as he walked, for to him, those two words were synonymous with "winning."
On the other side, Uozumi appeared with Ryonan's men. His training uniform was taut over his body, revealing the outline of his muscles.
His posture was so fierce, as if he were about to devour his opponent whole. In his eyes, each of the men behind him could take on ten men.
" Ryonan!" Uozumi shouted at the top of his lungs; this name was his lifeblood.
The two teams worked together quite well, walking to opposite sides of the midfield line and standing face to face.
The fighting hadn't even started yet, and the smell of gunpowder was already pungent.
Uozumi fiercely at Akagi and said, " Akagi, only one team will be leaving here laughing today."
Without even blinking, Takenori Akagi retorted firmly, "It's definitely Shohoku."
"Hmph, still dreaming?"
"You'll know soon enough whether it's a dream or not!"
The verbal sparring between the two captains effectively set the tone for the championship match.
Next, Coach Anzai Moichi Taoka entered the field, and the two quietly walked to their respective benches.
Coach Anzai has seen it all; the Kanagawa final wasn't enough to make him nervous. In comparison, Moichi Taoka was a bit lacking.
He was tense all over, but his eyes couldn't hide the excitement of impending success.
" Coach Anzai, please forgive me on the field later." Moichi Taoka stepped forward and said politely.
He was a Riki Takato enemy of Takato Riki, but he had the utmost respect for his senior, Mitsuyoshi Anzai.
Coach Anzai chuckled twice, looking more like he was there for a stroll than to compete for the championship. " Ryonan is doing a good job, let's keep it up!"
The players from both sides each occupied half of the court and began a simple warm-up.
At this point, the entire Kainan Team had changed into casual clothes and sat down in the stands. By now, they had completely relaxed and were simply there to enjoy the game.
" Maki, which side do you think will win?" Jin asked with a smile.
Times have changed, Shinichi Maki can no longer say things like "it doesn't matter who wins." He stroked his chin, pondered for a moment, and said, "It's hard to say. Shohoku's starting lineup has a stronger overall strength. The combination of Shirasawa and Hisashi Mitsui is no worse than Ryonan's Twin Stars."
"With Akagi and Sakuragi, their advantage in the paint should be quite significant."
"But Ryonan has good bench depth, making roster adjustments more flexible. As for Shohoku... besides their five starters, there aren't many players they can substitute."
" Kiyota, what do you think?" Shinichi Maki didn't forget to continue playing his role as a mentor, seizing every opportunity to test Kiyota.
Nobunaga Kiyota listened, then smiled faintly and said the key point, " Shirasawa alone is the depth of Shohoku's lineup."
After saying this, Jin shrugged helplessly beside him.
Kiyota used to never say such things, acknowledging others. It's only been a few days, but the change is too drastic... His words and actions are practically a mini-Maki Shinichi Maki.
" Kiyota, relax a little sometimes," Jin couldn't help but say.
Kiyota turned his head and smiled slightly at Jin: "Okay, Jin- senpai."
Jin blinked blankly.
Good heavens... this kid has actually learned to be polite.
After warm-up, the players from both teams returned to their benches.
Coach Anzai fielded his unchanging starting lineup, Takenori Akagi, who had rested for two games, finally returned to the field.
" Ryonan's opening offense will definitely be fierce, so we'll start with defense," Coach Anzai said calmly. " Sakuragi, Ryonan doesn't have a traditional power forward, so you need to be more agile and quick to switch on defense."
Hanamichi Sakuragi nodded confidently. "Don't worry, Dad! Watch how I teach that number 13 from Ryonan a lesson!"
After explaining things to Sakuragi, Coach Anzai simply put down the tactics board.
"Alright, go on, bring the championship back." He adjusted his glasses. "Remember, you are the strongest."
He didn't actually give any special instructions, but his silence spoke volumes about his trust in the players.
The team members' faces were all radiating confidence. Takenori Akagi roared, " Shohoku!!"
"We are the strongest!!"
The word "strongest" isn't something everyone can confidently utter. But coming from the mouth of this Shohoku Team, it doesn't sound awkward at all; their momentum is enough to blow the roof off.
On the other side, Moichi Taoka was not as composed Coach Anzai.
He barely slept a wink all night, repeatedly pondering the team's arrangements and going over all possible scenarios in his mind again and again, which is very much in line with his habit of being well-prepared for everything.
Having reached the finals, who would want to be second best? Moichi Taoka's ambition also grew.
"We must launch a full-scale attack from the start, setting a fast pace and not giving Shohoku a chance to catch their breath," he told his players resolutely. "If even one of them runs out of steam, Shohoku will be in trouble."
This was the first step in his plan, targeting Shohoku's strongest perimeter defender— Hisashi Mitsui!
As long as they can wear down Hisashi Mitsui, Ryonan's advantage will snowball. He doesn't think this match will end quickly, and attrition warfare is precisely Ryonan's forte.
" Kaede Rukawa," Moichi Taoka's gaze sharpened as he looked at his ace, "Defeat Hisashi Mitsui!"
To be honest, Moichi Taoka and those guys from Shohoku have quite a history. Three years ago, Hisashi Mitsui was a promising young talent that Taoka had been eagerly anticipating, but Mitsui completely ignored him and went to Shohoku instead. How could Taoka not feel resentful about that? So when the Shohoku Basketball Team was formed later, Taoka always felt that there was a bit of a bias against him involved.