That afternoon, at Ryonan High School Basketball Gym, the team was in the middle of their regular training.
Bang! The gym's main door was suddenly pushed open.
Aida Hikoichi burst in, panting.
Immediately, all Ryonan players stopped what they were doing and gathered around him.
"Hikoichi! You're back!"
"So… what happened? Who won?"
"Quick, tell us the results!"
Eager voices rose, eyes fixed on Hikoichi. He took a deep breath and began to announce the day's scouting results.
Group B:
Shoyo vs. Kasuga Daiichi—Shoyo won decisively, playing with a fierce offense that stunned Kasuga Daiichi. Final score: 164–57. Shoyo became the second team, after Ryonan, to achieve a hundred-point difference.
Kakuno vs. Odagiri—Kakuno won. The match was evenly matched and uneventful, nothing extraordinary to report.
Group D:
Takezato vs. Mojikichi—Takezato won as expected. Being one of the top four teams in the prefecture, victory over the lesser-known Mojikichi was natural.
Nanbara vs. Shohoku—Shohoku emerged victorious.
The result shocked everyone. Shohoku and Nanbara were considered evenly matched. While a Nanbara victory wouldn't have been surprising, Shohoku's performance far exceeded expectations.
Shohoku's lineup:
Center: Takenori Akagi—one of the top three centers in Kanagawa. A near-immovable force under the basket, pivotal in both defense and offense.
Power Forward: Sakuragi Hanamichi—physically explosive, incredible stamina, unpredictable bursts of energy, and outstanding rebounding.
Small Forward: Rukawa Kaede—a super rookie, technically versatile, scoring through jump shots, drives, and consistent efficiency.
Shooting Guard: Mitsui Hisashi—former junior high MVP, long-range shooting nearly unmatched in the prefecture.
Point Guard: Miyagi Ryota—small but lightning-fast, excellent ball-handling, creating scoring opportunities with sharp drives.
On the court, Shohoku's five worked seamlessly. Sakuragi and Rukawa's rivalry sparked dynamic chemistry that stunned spectators. Against Nanbara, Shohoku's offense was precise, unpredictable, and devastating.
Final score: Nanbara 42 – 122 Shohoku.
An 80-point disparity—unprecedented in Kanagawa high school basketball. Shohoku went from an underdog to a team demanding attention.
Ryonan's players stood frozen, absorbing Hikoichi's report. They recalled Akashi's prediction. Their reverence deepened.
Akashi's foresight was flawless. Even without full results, everything he had said had come true. For main and substitute players alike, the realization was awe-inspiring.
Uozumi whispered, "Making him captain… best decision ever."
Koshino added, "This year… we might truly break through Kanagawa."
Ikegami quietly asked, "Do you think we really have a shot at the championship?"
Uekusa nodded firmly, "With Captain Akashi, we can definitely do it."
Sendoh smiled silently, memories of junior high championships flickering in his mind.
A day passed quietly, but it was extraordinary. Today determined the final eight teams—half the field would be eliminated. Winning streaks meant momentum; a single loss could be fatal.
Games were held in two venues, four matches each—morning and afternoon.
Morning:
Venue 1, Group A: Kainan vs. Daikita / Sarashina vs. Kusaka
Venue 2, Group C: Ryonan vs. Tsukubu / Miuradai vs. Takenozono
Afternoon:
Venue 1, Group B: Shoyo vs. Kakuno / Kasuga Daiichi vs. Odagiri
Venue 2, Group D: Takezato vs. Shohoku / Mojikichi vs. Nanbara
Round of 16 rules were simple: two wins → top eight; two losses → eliminated; one win and one loss → play-off.
The area around the stadium buzzed with activity. Journalists and sports reporters crowded in, eyes on the matches. Aida Yayoi and assistant Nakamura Taizo focused on the Ryonan vs. Tsukubu game, clearly the day's highlight.
In the stands, players from Takezato, Shohoku, and Shoyo watched attentively. Even Shinichi Maki from Kainan sat quietly in the back row, exuding calm assurance.
Shoyo's Fujima Kenji whispered, "Maki came too…"
Hanagata Toru adjusted his glasses, analyzing. "He's confident Kainan will win. That's why he's watching."
He snorted, disdain in his tone. "Arrogance."
Fujima smirked, eyes flickering with competitive fire. "No… it's confidence. And it's justified."
Back in Ryonan's locker room, Hikoichi briefed his teammates on Tsukubu:
Godai Tomokazu, SG, #4: Accurate three-point shooter, consistent.
Izumi Takashi, SF, #5: Agile and versatile.
Mine Kenta, PF, #8: Strong inside, decent rebounding.
Natsume Hiroshi, PG, #7: Quick, reliable ball-handler.
Nango Koichiro, C, #15: First-year, 192 cm, 83 kg, physically imposing with impressive dribbling—a major interior threat.
Silence fell. All eyes turned to Akashi. Calmly scanning each face, he finally spoke, voice steady and commanding:
"Then let's go. Let's win this game."
Ryonan responded in unison, "Yes."
Meanwhile, in Tsukubu's locker room, the atmosphere was tense.
Coach Kawasaki Kazumi addressed the team:
"There are three Ryonan players to watch:
Uozumi Jun, C: 202 cm, 90 kg, dominant inside.
Sendoh Akira: You know him; this year, he's even stronger.
Akashi Seijuro, 1st-year captain: Little information exists. In the Miuradai game, his court control and near-perfect passing were astonishing. Be extremely cautious."
He analyzed Ryonan's possible tactics, transitions, and key strategies before concluding:
"Victory or defeat depends on this one game. Let's go!"
Tsukubu's players nodded, tension visible in every face.