At the dinner table.
Yuuto flipped through today's newspapers.
After looking at so many, only the last one caught his attention.
He knew that newspaper just wanted to disgust the people of Tochigi.
But they said one thing correctly.
If he wanted to go further on the basketball path...
He couldn't stay in this countryside place of Okukozome forever.
In fact, he couldn't even stay in Japan forever.
Asia has never been a basketball mecca.
On the contrary, it is considered a desert by people.
After so many years, it only produced three NBA players.
NBA teams don't value basketball here; their scouts won't focus on Asia.
It would be better if he were in China; the NBA coveting that huge market wasn't a new thing.
You can hardly imagine that the addition of Yao Ming alone increased the market value of the Houston Rockets by more than 5 times.
In 1993, the Houston Rockets were a team with a market value of only 83 million dollars. But after acquiring Yao Ming...
Until he retired, the Rockets' market value reached 490 million dollars, and their annual revenue grew from 40 million to 152 million.
How was this achieved?
The number of Chinese fans reached 50 million, 10 times the number of American fans!
In this aspect, Yuuto actually had an advantage.
Especially in this period, Yao Ming was still fighting in the NBA. You don't know how many teams were jealous of the Houston Rockets.
If another Chinese player appeared in the draft at this time...
That would be a business where even keeping him on the bench would make money!
Getting off track...
Yuuto would leave Okukozome to play in a more international city.
For nothing else, he needed someone to introduce him to play in the US.
Like Taiga Kagami—he was recommended to a prep school in the US by his master before even graduating high school.
This was much better than playing in Japan until graduating university, entering a professional team, and spending unknown time proving himself before finally landing in the NBA.
As mentioned before.
The NBA views Asia as a basketball desert; their attention isn't on this region.
To be noticed, one can only do so in international competitions.
The problem is, Yuuto couldn't join the Japanese national team, and the Chinese national team...
Those who know, know.
So, going there in advance to make a name for himself and breaking into the NBA was what a serious person should do.
Also, don't underestimate the energy of those high school coaches.
Like Coach Anzai in Slam Dunk, he had the ability to send players to the US.
Many coaches in Kuroko no Basket have backgrounds as former national players; they should be able to help Yuuto solve his dilemma.
"Is Yuuto leaving Okukozome?"
"Yeah, what's wrong? Haven't you always wanted to leave this place?"
Yuuto didn't hide it.
"Of course! There are so many bugs here, transportation is inconvenient, entertainment facilities are scarce..."
Sora was obviously suffocated, listing countless flaws of Okukozome.
This willful little girl had suffered a lot here over the years.
They lived in a big city before, which was worlds apart from Okukozome.
Both prepared to leave this place.
Only Haruka Kasugano looked hesitant, seeming reluctant to leave his girlfriend.
Sora saw this and immediately huffed, "If it's Haru, just stay here and accompany that four-eyed girl."
"Pfft~" Haruka Kasugano spat out his drink on the spot.
Truly "got a man, forgot the brother."
Don't think I don't know you two often "night attack" each other; I hear all those noises clearly.
"What silly things are you saying? Of course we go together."
Haruka Kasugano actually wasn't just reluctant to leave his girlfriend.
It was just... in front of a genius brother and sister, he really felt huge pressure.
Before, he had to hustle for living expenses and take care of his younger brother and sister, feeling his existence was very important.
But then Yuuto somehow brought back over ten million, solving the economic problems instantly.
Now without financial difficulties, he became sentimental again.
Yuuto is a basketball genius, Sora is a school top student, only he himself is mediocre...
Staying by their side, he couldn't help but compare himself to them.
After comparing, the pressure was even greater.
Recently, the frequency of him playing cards (being intimate) with his girlfriend had obviously increased.
"We don't necessarily have to be together; independence is also a form of growth."
Yuuto, whose psychological age was very mature, saw through Haruka Kasugano's concerns.
"Communication and transportation are so developed now. If anything happens, a phone call or a subway ride is enough."
"Pervert Yuuto, don't you dump me first!"
"I wasn't talking about you."
"You just want to dump me! You've stuck together with that shameless woman from Teiko several times!"
"I was forced!"
Haruka Kasugano looked at the two in front of him, considering the feasibility of Yuuto's words.
Separating.
He was reluctant, after all, they had lived together for so long. But it seemed he really could be more relaxed.
No need to be asked from time to time, "Your brother plays basketball so well," "Your sister has such good grades," and then stabbed with, "So what are you good at?"
He didn't know how many times he had been left speechless by that question.
"There's still time before graduation; think about it slowly."
He didn't disturb the two playing around and silently began to clear the table.
...
A day later.
Yuuto and the others came to the Yokohama Gymnasium again.
Today, tens of thousands of Tochigi fans still came to the scene to cheer for them.
They wanted to witness the entire process of Homi Academy reaching the top with their own eyes.
At this stage of the National Tournament, there were no weak teams left.
But compared to Teiko, the intensity was much lower.
Homi Academy, having defeated Teiko, was at the peak of morale; currently, they feared nothing.
End of the first quarter.
Homi Academy led the opponent by 12 points with a score of 27:15.
Yuuto was subbed out in the last 2 minutes of the first quarter.
Having gone through that great battle with Teiko, his body hadn't recovered yet.
That exhaustion from giving his all, almost squeezing his body dry, wasn't something that could recover in one or two days.
The coach was obviously very clear on this. Today, he handed over more offensive and defensive tasks to others; Yuuto appeared on the court more like a decoy.
He didn't want his proudest disciple to get injured at a time like this.
Second quarter.
Yuuto continued to play for five minutes before coming off.
Including Haizaki and Kuroko, these two players who fought fiercely in the Teiko battle also needed to actively avoid injuries.
None of the three were the protagonists today.
Ryo Sakurai became the focal point, shooting 6 of 9 from three-point range in the half and scoring 18 points alone.
He used precise three-pointers to help the team establish a 25-point lead by halftime.
People didn't see a crushing victory.
But most fans understood; after all, Homi Academy had just fought a bloody battle with Teiko and didn't have much rest time.
...
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