Time slowly passed, and another week went by in a flash.
That day, as Mitsui and the others were doing their daily training, Coach Anzai, who hadn't been seen for a while, finally reappeared. "Oh ho ho, it seems everyone is working very hard, excellent, excellent!"
Captain Takasaki Gensuke, seeing that it was Coach Anzai, quickly led everyone in shouting, "Hello, Coach Anzai!"
"Oh ho ho, hello everyone. I'm very happy to see you all training so diligently. Also, I have some news to share: I've arranged a practice match for you all against Ryonan High School. Let's meet at the train station at 9 AM this weekend!" Coach Anzai said with a laugh.
But as soon as he finished speaking, hushed discussions immediately broke out among the crowd.
"Ryonan High School, that's a team that reached the top eight in the Prefectural Tournament last year. Can we really beat them?"
"Yeah, isn't the opponent we've chosen this time a bit too strong?"
...Many people felt that this opponent was too formidable, after all, they themselves were eliminated in the first round of the Prefectural Tournament, while the other team was a regular top eight contender in the Prefectural Tournament. The gap in strength between the two sides was indeed quite large.
At this moment, Mitsui Hisashi was also a bit surprised, though not for the same reason as the others, fearing Ryonan High School was too strong and he wouldn't be an opponent.
The main reason for his surprise was the realization that the future had already changed. He clearly remembered that Akagi and Uozumi's first confrontation in the original story was supposed to happen in their second year of high school.
At that time, Akagi completely dominated Uozumi, and then the opponent, spurred by shame, trained desperately. In the practice match during the plot year, Uozumi blocked the Shohoku Team several times right at the start.
That was the normal development, but how could it have suddenly changed? Was it because of him, this little butterfly?
Just as Mitsui Hisashi was still pondering this question, he suddenly heard Akagi beside him murmur, "We're playing against a top eight team in the prefecture so soon? But right now... can we win?" Akagi looked at the basketball in his hand, a little lacking in confidence.
As the saying goes, the more one learns, the more one realizes how ignorant one is. Akagi was undoubtedly in such a state at this moment.
If it were him before Mitsui designed his training plan, he would definitely have said, "Bring it on, no matter who the opponent is, I won't lose."
But ever since he accepted Mitsui's training plan, Akagi, after these few days of training, realized how weak his own strength was.
It was precisely for this reason that he became unconfident upon learning he would be playing against a top eight team in the prefecture.
Mitsui frowned upon hearing this. He didn't know why this Akagi was so different from the Akagi in his memory, actually showing fear before the battle.
But at this moment, he couldn't let Akagi continue to doubt himself, lest he lose all confidence in the future.
"Akagi-san, in sports, anything is possible. The outcome of a basketball game isn't simply determined by comparing which team is stronger. Besides, while Ryonan is strong, we aren't weak either, and we might not be without a chance to win against them."
Mitsui didn't lower his voice when he spoke, so everyone around also heard Mitsui's words and fell into contemplation.
Akagi was also like this; after listening to Mitsui's words, his eyes lit up. He was not a person who feared battle to begin with. He had lost too many games in Middle School before, and recently he was just in a special state, which made him a bit self-doubting.
But now, after hearing Mitsui's words, he couldn't help but recall his lifelong dream: to dominate the nation!
It's just a top eight team in the prefecture. If he can't even get past this hurdle, then what's the point of talking about the dream of dominating the nation?
Besides, wasn't he working hard to improve his strength precisely to prepare for a formidable enemy like this?
Now that a strong enemy has appeared, should he be afraid instead?
"Mitsui, you're right. No matter who the opponent is, I shouldn't doubt myself. No matter what, I will do my best to defeat Ryonan!" Akagi said, clenching his fists and vowing.
"That's right, Mitsui and Akagi are right. No matter who the opponent is, we must do our best to strive for victory. Isn't that the true joy of basketball!" After Akagi finished speaking, Takasaki Gensuke also stepped forward at the opportune moment and said.
"Yeah, let's defeat Ryonan together!"
"Defeat Ryonan!"
...At this moment, everyone also forgot their earlier fear of battle and shouted enthusiastically.
Meanwhile, Coach Anzai, standing by, couldn't help but take a deep look at Mitsui, feeling a surge of emotion.
He hadn't expected that Mitsui Hisashi, who had almost lost his confidence after being defeated in the Middle School Prefectural Tournament finals, could now say such words.
However, perhaps it was that experience that forged such a strong inner self in him.
What a pity, if only his physical condition could be better. Alas, Yazawa... Coach Anzai couldn't help but once again recall that talented young man who had been a lifelong regret for him.
At this moment, Coach Anzai's expression was full of regret, which made Akagi, who had originally wanted to ask Coach Anzai for help to see if Mitsui's training plan for him needed any modifications, feel very helpless.
He wanted to quickly ask the coach to look at the training plan so that if any modifications were needed, he could correct them and resume training as soon as possible. Yet, he was also afraid of disturbing Coach Anzai's thoughts, appearing hesitant to speak, which clearly showed his inner struggle.
Fortunately, Coach Anzai seemed to sense Akagi's emotions at this moment and finally came back to his senses. Seeing Akagi standing aside with a piece of paper, the experienced Coach Anzai naturally knew that Akagi had something to ask him. "Akagi-san, do you have something to discuss with me?"
"Yes, Coach, I'd like to ask you to take a look at my training plan and see if there are any areas that need modification?" Akagi said as he handed the training plan in his hand to Coach Anzai, seeing that Coach Anzai had finally recovered.
"Oh, a training plan?" Coach Anzai was also a bit surprised to hear this, then took the training plan and began to read it with interest.
In a short while, Coach Anzai had finished reading the training plan and asked curiously, "Akagi-san, who helped you create this training plan?"
"Uh..." Hearing Coach Anzai's question, Akagi was also a bit surprised. "Coach, Mitsui helped me create this training plan, but he said he hasn't played inside, so this plan might have omissions and needs your help to review."
"Oh, it's Mitsui-san." Coach Anzai was truly shocked this time, because if a professional coach from outside had designed a training plan of this caliber, Coach Anzai wouldn't have been surprised at all.
The problem was that this training plan was designed by a teenage boy, and that boy primarily played outside. This made him very surprised.