The game ended.
The score was 103:92. Seiho defeated the high school overlord Rakuzan by 11 points, winning the fourth National Championship in team history.
Golden rain fell, landing on Yuuto and Akashi.
At this moment, thunderous applause erupted from the audience, thanking these two geniuses for a wonderful duel.
"Many say that the end of every era means the rise of another."
"I want to say, yes! From now on, high school basketball officially enters the era of the Lion King Yuuto. This genius from Okukozome has conquered the nation once again!"
"Let's congratulate Seiho. They have ascended the throne again, returning to the position of Kings!"
"..."
TV commentators spoke up, delivering their final "closing arguments."
"Let's go back, Satsuki." Aomine turned and walked away.
After watching such a game, he couldn't wait to go back and train.
The year wasn't over yet. Tōō still had a chance to complete their revenge against Seiho in the Winter Cup.
"Dai-chan, go back first."
"You're not leaving?"
"Nope, I'm going to celebrate with Yuu-chan!"
Momoi said matter-of-factly.
At such an important moment, how could she not be by Yuuto's side?
"Whose side are you on anyway?" Aomine was speechless, rolling his eyes and ignoring her, walking back alone.
But upon exiting the arena, he realized he didn't bring any money. His wallet betrayed him.
He scratched his head awkwardly on the spot.
Fortunately, Kise and the others walked out at this time, sparing him from looking too pathetic.
"What's wrong, Aomine-cchi?"
"...You guys brought money when you went out, right?"
"What kind of hellish joke are you telling? Money is an important component of this society. Only people who haven't fully evolved would go out without money."
Midorima completely didn't understand why this guy asked such a stupid question.
But Kise seemed to realize something and asked quietly, "Aomine-cchi didn't forget to bring money, right?"
Aren't you smart!
Midorima stiffened visibly, then pushed his glasses up as if nothing happened. He seemed to have cursed quite filthily just now... there really were such idiots in this world.
"I'll lend you the money for now, Aomine. But you have to pay it back."
This was the only way he could apologize.
"I'll pay you back with interest... at the Winter Cup." Aomine breathed a sigh of relief. At least he didn't have to run back and look uncool borrowing money from Momoi.
Winter Cup...
Hearing these words, the others' expressions became very subtle.
Aomine had set his sights on the Winter Cup, and weren't they the same?
"Then see you in the winter."
...
On the other side, inside the arena.
On a simple podium, the organizers and sponsors were giving speeches.
After a good while, the third and second-place teams took the stage to receive their medals.
Finally, it was the champion, Seiho.
As the team captain, Yuuto led his teammates onto the stage to receive the gold medals belonging to them.
Kasuga Ryuhei and the others clutched the gold medals around their necks, cherishing them dearly.
Although not pure gold, the meaning they represented couldn't be measured by gold.
This batch of players had fantasized about conquering the nation countless times in their dreams or in the club room.
Young people were like this, always harboring huge dreams in their hearts.
To be able to fulfill the big talk they boasted in their final year of high school... there was no better ending to the story than this.
Next, they turned their gaze to Yuuto. The Seiho captain didn't waste words. He walked to the championship trophy, grabbed it with one hand, and lifted it high.
Instantly, thunderous applause erupted at the scene.
Click~
Reporters pressed their shutters, recording this clear scene.
This was the end of this summer's story. Seiho High School became the biggest winner this year.
...
Besides the championship, the Nationals also had individual awards like the Best Lineup.
Scoring King was snatched by Aomine. Assist King belonged to Akashi. Rebound King was Murasakibara's. Steal King was also Akashi's.
But Best Player and Finals MVP both belonged to Yuuto.
Eventually, the organizers came up with this Best Lineup:
Akashi Seijuro, Kise Ryota, Yuuto, Aomine Daiki, and Murasakibara Atsushi.
Midorima fell behind because he failed to reach the final rounds.
It is worth mentioning that Yuuto's stats in the finals were astonishing, creating a new record.
He achieved a super-large triple-double of 60+ points, 10+ rebounds, and 10+ assists.
This was an unprecedented achievement, and his single-game score of 68 points set a finals history record.
Before him, the highest single-game score in a National final was 41. Yuuto raised this record by a full 27 points.
The awards ceremony ended.
The Seiho group celebrated at a yakiniku restaurant near Kyoto.
Many people were present. Aside from Sora and Momoi, Kasugano Haruka also brought his three rumored girlfriends.
Everyone's expressions were odd, making Kasugano Haruka feel uncomfortable all over.
"What a scumbag, right?" Yuuto was the first to roast him.
"Do you have the right to say that about others?"
Kasuga Ryuhei and the others rolled their eyes in unison. This guy really had no self-awareness.
Look who was beside him: Sora on the left, Momoi on the right.
Did he even know how much hatred he drew from his male compatriots?
Chattering noisily, the conversation inevitably turned to the second major tournament of the year, the Winter Cup.
"There's still the Winter Cup left."
"That's right. Next, our goal is the Grand Slam!"
Having won the Nationals, they naturally wouldn't let the Winter Cup go.
Opportunities for a Grand Slam existed every year, but not every year saw one realized.
Some might think getting a Grand Slam of the Nationals and Winter Cup was easy. After all, if you won the Nationals, the Winter Cup should be a piece of cake.
It really wasn't.
The cruel best-of-one format meant countless variables existed to achieve a Grand Slam.
History had too many cases of National Champions crashing out in the Winter Cup—there were even several instances of first-round exits.
So, this wasn't a simple goal or task.
However, Seiho had enough confidence to complete it.
"This Winter Cup, Tokyo will have three teams. With two tickets left, I wonder who will get them." Iwamura Tsutomu pondered this question.
According to the current landscape of the Tokyo district, it seemed Shutoku and Tōō were bound to qualify.
However, Seirin had also left a deep impression on them.
"As long as Shutoku and Tōō don't meet in the preliminaries, it should be them."
"Not necessarily. I think Seirin has a chance. That team has Yuuto's former teammate, Kuroko Tetsuya."
"Now that you mention it, it is possible. That guy named Kagami Taiga is also pretty good."
They recalled the preliminary match. If not for Yuuto, Seiho might not have passed.
"Also, I heard the Iron Heart is coming back."
...
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