If Kaede Rukawa came to Shohoku and teamed up with Akagi, one outside and one inside, they really might have something to look forward to next year... But Kogure knew perfectly well that it was practically impossible. How would Shohoku ever get lucky enough to land a bargain like that?
Besides, Coach Anzai's attitude made it clear that he was only there to watch, not to seriously compete for recruits. As for the other players? Anyone without strong enough offense wouldn't take much pressure off Akagi even if they joined. The more Kogure thought about it, the more Kaede Rukawa seemed like the best fit. So what exactly had Coach Anzai meant by "suitable"?
While Kogure was mulling it over, the game was about to begin.
With five minutes left before tip-off, both teams entered to cheers. "Kaede Rukawa! Kaede Rukawa!" The girls in the stands screamed so loudly they nearly blew the roof off, putting all their idol-chasing enthusiasm into it.
But after all that shouting, there was still no sign of Kaede Rukawa among the Tomigaoka Junior High School players.
"Where's Kaede Rukawa?!"
"This is the final! What's he playing at?!"
Tomigaoka's coach ground his back teeth in fury, his face darkening. Everyone said Kaede Rukawa was a selfish player with no team spirit, but that was only on the court! Off the court, Kaede Rukawa was truly antisocial... And Tomigaoka's coach knew that all too well! Take right now: the final was about to start, and no one even knew where His Highness was.
Tomigaoka had fought its way to the final entirely on Kaede Rukawa's shoulders. It was no exaggeration to say that with him and without him, Tomigaoka was two completely different teams. Yokota Junior High School, on the other hand, played team basketball. Even missing a player wouldn't bring the sky crashing down.
That comparison left Tomigaoka's coach feeling chilled to the bone.
As it happened, Yokota seemed to be missing someone too. But that particular player wasn't very important. In fact, his teammates hadn't expected him to show up today, and might even have preferred that he didn't.
But just then.
Thud-clang...
The door to the players' tunnel was pushed open again.
A tall, rather handsome figure walked out.
A buzz of conversation immediately rose from the stands.
"Who's that? I haven't seen him before."
"His uniform's Yokota's. He looks... like he might have something?"
"Wow! He's even better-looking than Kaede Rukawa!"
"He's so tall. Could he be Yokota's secret weapon?"
It was perfectly normal for the spectators not to recognize him, since he hadn't appeared in any previous games. But Yokota's players reacted completely differently. The moment they saw him, they all jolted.
"Shi-Shi-Shi... Shirasawa's here!"
"Shirasawa! Over here!"
Coach Takizawa beamed and hurriedly waved him over. As Shirasawa's coach, this was about all he could do. At least he had kept this unpolished gem from being expelled. As for the road ahead, even if he wanted a say, it was out of his hands.
Shirasawa nodded and strolled over to the bench. A casual sweep of his eyes sent several nearby players shifting away at once, clearing three or four seats.
Shirasawa plopped down, finding it a little funny himself. With a reputation like his, keeping a low profile wasn't easy.
Coach Takizawa cheerfully patted his shoulder. "Xiao Bai, this is the first time I've seen you in uniform. Well? Feels pretty good being here, doesn't it?"
Shirasawa smiled without saying much. He had always had a fairly good impression of Coach Takizawa. After all, the man genuinely had his interests at heart.
The referee blew his whistle on the court, and both starting lineups prepared to head out for the tip-off.
Coach Takizawa gathered the players for one last pep talk. "Today's our final battle! Win, and we're the prefectural champions! Every one of your names will go down in the history of the Yokota Junior High School Basketball Club!"
"Go! Bring home that championship! Usher in a new era for Yokota!"
His words fired up the young players. They clenched their fists and shouted excitedly, "Yokota! Champions!"
With that roar, the starters strode onto the court like warriors. Even Shirasawa, who had seen plenty, was a little moved by the scene. Though he never joined the huddle, much less shouted along. It wasn't that he didn't want to fit in. Mostly, he was afraid of making his teammates uncomfortable...
And right then, Shirasawa finally heard the sound he had been awaiting for so long.
[Ding! Control the Whole Game System successfully bound!]
Just as expected! As a member of the transmigrator army, his system might arrive late, but it would never fail to show up!
[Loading and optimizing the host's attributes...] [Ding! Optimization successful!] [Host: Shirasawa.] [Height: 188 cm, weight: 90 kg, wingspan: 195 cm, body fat: 7%.] [Shooting: 60, athleticism: 85, ball handling: 65, basketball IQ: 85, passing: 99...] (Note: attributes are comprehensive ratings.) [Evaluation: a starter-caliber player with outstanding passing.]
That passing stat was downright dazzling. His natural athleticism was decent enough too. But that shooting and ball handling... What kind of level was that? Could those numbers go up later?
[In every subsequent game, each assist completed by the host will automatically convert into 1 attribute point and a cash reward.] [Control the whole game, starting with controlling your teammates!]
All right... Shirasawa rubbed his chin. This system was pretty interesting.
The words fired up the young players. They clenched their fists and shouted excitedly, "Yokota! Champions!"
His current attributes might not be sky-high, but at least he knew how to raise them now.
With a passing stat of 99, he was definitely at master passer level!
Farming assists? Wouldn't that be child's play?
And assists could make him stronger and earn him money. Where else could he find a deal that good?
At that thought, Shirasawa felt at ease, and a smile crept onto his face.
Coach Takizawa noticed from beside him and assumed he was smiling because things were going well on the court. He felt deeply gratified.
This kid had finally seen the light.
I knew he was made for basketball. Once he got to the court, he just couldn't hide that drive.
Coach Takizawa had good reason to think that, because the game really was completely one-sided.
The tip-off was already over, and there was still no sign of Tomigaoka Junior High School's Kaede Rukawa.
Without their backbone, Tomigaoka's strength immediately plummeted.
Only five minutes into the game, Yokota had taken a 15-4 lead.
Tomigaoka's coach stood on the sidelines yelling at his players, his face as black as the bottom of a pot.
The students on the bench took turns running outside, craning their necks in hopes of spotting Kaede Rukawa.
But that was competitive sports. There was no such thing as an unfair victory here.
Especially with a championship at stake, they had to seize the opportunity and go all out.
Coach Takizawa showed no mercy. With a sweep of his hand, he sent the whole team forward!
Hammer them, damn it!
The action on the court was lively, but the spectators were bewildered.
Especially the Tomigaoka students and those who had come specifically to see Kaede Rukawa.
What was going on?
They still weren't putting Kaede Rukawa in?
What were they playing at? This was almost a blowout!
The chatter grew louder and louder until the entire crowd was chanting.
"Kaede Rukawa! Put Kaede Rukawa in!"
But no matter how much they shouted, Kaede Rukawa never appeared on the court.
Even when the first half ended, he still hadn't shown up.
52-31.
Yokota Middle School headed into the second half with a 21-point lead!
From the coach to the players, everyone was visibly delighted.
Just one more half stood between them and the trophy!
When they returned to the locker room for halftime, Shirasawa went up to Coach Takizawa of his own accord.
"Coach," he said, "I want to play in the second half."
The moment he said that.
The cheerful atmosphere in the locker room froze.
The players stared wide-eyed, looking from Shirasawa to the coach.
Words hovered on their lips, but they forced themselves to hold back, not daring to speak. It was agonizing.
Coach Takizawa's expression shifted repeatedly, a complicated mix.
Three years.
The genius he had waited three whole years for.
On this final day, with just one final half left to play.
Had finally... come around!
It might have been a little late.
But he had come around at last!
No one had longed for this moment more than he had!
But reality was right in front of him. Gifted as Shirasawa was in his eyes, he also knew the boy hadn't touched a basketball in three years.
No matter how talented he was, he couldn't possibly adjust to the pace of a final right away.
This was a championship game!
The entire team's season of sweat was riding on it.
What if something went wrong...
Like Shirasawa getting carried away out there and trying to steal the ball with a body slam...
The consequences were too dreadful to imagine.
Every player present shared that concern.
They all looked pleadingly at Takizawa.
Coach, think this through!
Don't be impulsive!
"Ahem..."
Coach Takizawa cleared his throat, breaking the silence.
"Leave the arrangements to me," he said. "When the time is right in the second half, I'll definitely put you in!"
After saying that, Coach Takizawa smiled as though a weight had been lifted off his shoulders.
After all, they had such a big lead, and things were looking great.
Besides, he truly wanted to be the one to set Shirasawa on his basketball journey.
As for when "the time is right" would be...
That would be the moment victory was completely in the bag!
Hearing that answer, Shirasawa smiled too.
His max-level passing touch had long been itching for action!
At the same time.
In Tomigaoka Junior High School's locker room.
Bang!
The door was pushed open.
Then a cold voice came through.
"I'm here."
The speaker was none other than Kaede Rukawa, whom the entire Tomigaoka team had been desperately waiting for!
His expression was perfectly calm, with no intention of explaining himself and no sign of guilt.
The coach pressed him about what had happened.
Kaede Rukawa answered with complete composure, in just three words.
"I slept in."
Everyone in the locker room froze, blinking in disbelief.
J-just because of that?
Holy shit!
You actually overslept for a game this important!
Down 21 points! Down 21 points in just one half!
If the team didn't need him so badly right now, they'd really want to throw a sack over his head and beat him up!
The head coach probably wouldn't stop them. He might even hand them something handy to use.
"Rukawa," the head coach finally managed after holding back for a long time, his shoulders sagging. "Hurry up and warm up. The second half... it's all on you."
There was no other choice.
Across all of Kanagawa's junior high basketball scene, Kaede Rukawa was probably the only one who had any chance of climbing out of this 21-point hole.
The coach also understood that Kaede Rukawa didn't really think much of this prefectural championship.