Tōō, Shutoku, Yosen, Rakuzan, Kaijo...
In just a few days.
Yuuto met successively with the head coaches of these basketball clubs.
They all came to Okukozome with great sincerity, extending invitations to him.
Yuuto didn't agree immediately.
Not because he was holding out for a better offer, but because after the National Tournament ended, he would have enough time to think about his future.
Before, he had no chance to choose; now that he had opportunities, he naturally had to plan carefully.
This day.
National Tournament Finals.
Without Teiko, without the Generation of Miracles, Yuuto and Homi Academy became the biggest stars.
Before the finals, the organizers gave both sides two days of rest.
These precious 7 days (including travel and rest) were enough for Yuuto's body to recover to peak condition.
Victory was right in front of them; the Lion of Okukozome wouldn't let it slip away.
As soon as the game started, Yuuto showed a strong desire to win.
He blasted 17 points in a single quarter, while grabbing 4 rebounds, delivering 4 blocks, and making 3 steals.
Homi Academy's opponent today was a team from Hokkaido.
For the fans there, today's game was a cruel public execution.
They were like fish on a chopping board, sliced bit by bit into sashimi by Homi Academy—melting in the mouth.
Hokkaido's number one seed had good luck, not encountering Teiko for three years, but in their final year, they encountered Homi Academy, who had defeated Teiko.
In every possession, Yuuto's movements were terrifyingly calm, as if the time of the whole world was under his control.
The people of Tochigi had been roaring since the start of the game, cheering for their pride.
The old coach hadn't sat down since the opening tip-off.
He knew.
After 40 minutes, he would win the first major tournament championship of his life.
His foolish wife could no longer use "mediocre" to mock him.
Yuuto's life had no victories, but wasn't his life also filled with mediocrity and limits?
His professional career had no highlights, spending most of the time sitting on the bench waiting for opportunities.
Even as a coach, his career could only start in a countryside place like Okukozome.
But after today, everything would be different.
From now on, anyone who saw him would have to call him "Championship Coach."
By halftime, Homi Academy had already established a decisive advantage.
The game wasn't over yet.
But when Yuuto came off the court, the coach hugged him affectionately.
"20 more minutes, and we are the champions!"
Yes.
Just 20 minutes left, and they would dominate the nation.
This journey—no matter how many years passed, he would remember it.
He would remember that he once coached a kid, and how this kid used his talent, sweat, and tenacity to lead the team to defeat the reputedly strongest Teiko in history and ascend to the top of the nation.
"Yeah, 20 more minutes!"
Yuuto also hugged this pitiful old man tightly.
If none of this had happened, if there were no system...
He probably would have been like this old man, mediocre all his life.
Because he knew that, he seized every opportunity even harder.
Second half began.
Stimulated by the championship, Homi Academy's firepower didn't diminish.
At such moments, their focus was even more astounding, even if the opponent's chance of reversing the game was infinitely close to zero.
When would they stop?
When the timer hit zero and the buzzer tore through the night sky of Yokohama.
When "golden rain" fell over the arena, when only one sound filled the entire stadium, and commentators all over the country were congratulating them on winning the game.
At this moment.
Yuuto and the players of Homi Academy finally stopped.
Homi Academy's bench players rushed onto the court again, lifting Yuuto into the air.
The young man's flying clothes brushed past the confetti falling from the dome.
Won!
They finally won!
Yuuto closed his eyes, enjoying this golden rain.
Then.
He noticed Sora clapping continuously on the side.
Yuuto walked over, grabbed her under her arms, and lifted her entire person up.
"See clearly, Sora! This golden rain falling specifically for me!"
"I see it!"
Looking at Yuuto's face, she had an urge to kiss him, thinking it would definitely be romantic.
But there were really too many people; she truly didn't dare to make such a bold move.
Ten minutes later.
Dressed neatly, Homi Academy, led by Yuuto, came to the podium and held high the National Tournament championship trophy.
Yuuto was elected the Most Valuable Player of the National Tournament—the MVP!
This meant he was the best player in this year's National Tournament, bar none.
Reporters from Morning Okukozome had waited too long for this moment.
After the award ceremony, they immediately stepped onto the court, asking Yuuto to hold the championship trophy in one hand and the MVP trophy in the other for a precious photo.
If Yuuto was destined for greatness, then this photo would become increasingly precious over time.
They also asked for Yuuto's winning speech.
Yuuto thought for a moment and said, "Only hard work will not betray us!"
"Perhaps in life, we will always encounter some terrible things, just like a fisherman going out to sea will always encounter wind and waves."
"But as long as we are willing to pay the price for it, braving the wind and waves, then we will eventually harvest fresh fish and shrimp!"
Hearing such philosophical words, the fans at the scene responded louder than ever before.
...
[This is not luck, nor is it an accidental harvest. It is just a very simple, yet energizing inspirational story.]
[Born in a place of poverty, a life accompanied by hardship did not make Yuuto sink. Instead, the passing of his adoptive parents made him stronger and more mature.]
[We have told this story for two and a half years. We used words to record Yuuto's growth and experiences over the past two years.]
[Now, the story has finally reached its end, and we have obtained the ending we wanted most.]
[Please believe it, friends of Tochigi. This is not a TV drama, nor a manga, but a true existence happening right beside us.]
[Hard work will not betray any brave person. The Lion born in Okukozome has finally become the King of the Grassland!]
— Morning Okukozome
This report was sent out immediately.
Most of the copy had been written before the game even started.
All they needed to do was add Yuuto's final interview.
Thus.
An article that greatly encouraged the people of Tochigi was fresh out of the oven.
At the same time.
Many basketball coaches in Tokyo became nervous instead.
Because Yuuto was about to make his choice.
Katsunori Harasawa now felt the nervousness of confessing to a girl for the first time back in the day, waiting for the other party's response after speaking.
That heart-pounding feeling he thought he would never have again in his life—he experienced it once more.
...
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