Chapter Forty-Two: Only One Goal
The first day after Golden Week training camp ended, Ryonan's basketball team, having returned from Akita, quickly resumed their usual training rhythm.
However, compared to before, the gymnasium's atmosphere seemed to have quietly transformed.
Led by Uozumi Jun, the second and third-year starting players trained with noticeably more focus and intensity than before Golden Week.
Everyone understood where this change originated. The hard-fought victory against Yosen, though boosting confidence for the Inter-High tournament, had also exposed serious problems.
Before this, Uozumi had always considered Shohoku's Akagi Takenori his greatest rival, deep down defaulting to seeing himself as one of Kanagawa Prefecture's top centers. This unspoken pride had supported his beliefs and dignity like bedrock.
However, this Akita trip, facing Yosen High School's first-year center Murasakibara Atsushi, had completely shattered that pride he'd relied upon.
After that brutal battle, Uozumi recognized a reality more clearly than anyone: if Ryonan wanted to dominate nationally, then as the team's interior pillar, he was still far from qualified.
"Clang!"
The basketball bounced once on the rim before finally dropping through.
"Fifty-eight!" Aida Hikoichi shouted excitedly. "Uozumi-senpai's free throw percentage exceeded fifty percent!"
Though still far below Sendoh or Yagami's free throw percentages, at least he'd shown growth. A trace of a smile finally appeared on Uozumi's tense face.
Now whether making or missing shots, he demanded ultimate standard form with every attempt. Beyond that, he never slacked on strength training either.
Koshino Hiroaki and others shared the same determination. Each sprint was executed with full effort, sweat crashing onto the floor as if they could chase down the gap exposed against Yosen step by running step.
Yagami Sorato remained the hardest trainer. After witnessing Sawakita Eiji, his goals had become even clearer.
During training breaks, players with sweat-soaked jerseys gathered in small groups to rest, conversations naturally turning toward the approaching tournament.
"Right after Golden Week ends, the Inter-High preliminaries start soon, right?"
"Seems like... less than two weeks left."
"So fast!"
"Speaking of which, I heard the prefecture preliminary draw happens this afternoon?"
"Ah! No wonder we haven't seen Coach!"
Just as everyone discussed enthusiastically, Coach Taoka entered the gymnasium with steady steps. He held a dark blue folder, his expression as serious as always, revealing no emotional tells.
Almost the instant he stepped inside, all players' gazes involuntarily focused on him. The previously scattered conversations immediately quieted.
"Ahem, I won't keep you in suspense." After Coach Taoka stopped, he cleared his throat and spoke directly. "I'm now announcing important news regarding this year's summer Inter-High National Tournament."
As his words fell, all players unconsciously straightened their backs. Even the usually relaxed Sendoh became serious.
"This year's prefecture preliminaries officially begin May 19th. But unlike previous years, this tournament's format has undergone major adjustments. The number of games and intensity may far exceed anything before."
"Huh?" Light murmurs of confusion arose below, players' faces written with puzzlement.
"Hikoichi," Coach Taoka didn't immediately explain, instead turning to instruct, "distribute the tournament bracket to everyone first."
"Yes!" Aida immediately responded, accepting a stack of forms and quickly distributing them to each player.
"Wow, so many pages?" Players exclaimed seeing the thick tournament schedule in their hands.
After everyone received the forms, Coach Taoka continued: "First, the Kanagawa Prefecture preliminaries. We must stand out from over one hundred prefecture teams and reach the final four! Only teams achieving top four placement will receive tickets to the next stage."
"Top four? Doesn't seem too difficult for us."
A slight commotion rippled through the group. Ryonan itself was already among the top four—surely they could secure a spot.
"Idiots, the prefecture bracket is single elimination. If we face strong teams before that..."
"Ah, when you put it that way—"
Kanagawa was nationally famous as a "basketball war zone." Teams like Kainan, Shoyo, and Kaijo all ranked respectably nationally. Meeting them early would inevitably eliminate one team unfortunately.
"It's Shoyo."
Players looked where Yagami's finger pointed. If Ryonan kept winning, their first strong opponent would be Shoyo High School!
"It's them..."
Last year Ryonan had lost to Shoyo in the group round-robin format, ultimately finishing third in Kanagawa.
"We'll definitely win this time!" Uekusa Tomoyuki said.
Everyone's gazes involuntarily turned to Yagami. This year Ryonan's strength had absolutely increased tremendously compared to last year.
"Of course." Yagami smiled.
"Don't rush." Coach Taoka raised his volume, suppressing the discussions. "This is merely the beginning! Reaching the prefecture top four doesn't mean you can step onto the national stage!"
"After the prefecture preliminaries, this year adds regional selection tournaments."
"???" Everyone looked at Coach Taoka.
"The top four determined by prefecture preliminaries will represent Kanagawa Prefecture in the immediately following 'Kanto Regional Selection Tournament.' Then, we'll face the top four teams from Tokyo, Saitama, Chiba—all Kanto region prefectures!"
"There's regional selection too?!"
"Correct. And ultimately, only the teams claiming the top two positions in regional selection—" Coach Taoka extended two fingers, his tone heavy yet powerful, "—will qualify to represent the Kanto region and take the national tournament stage!"
"Less than one percent odds..." a player muttered quietly, suddenly understanding this format's cruelty.
"And if you count the Tokyo division, those teams will also appear..."
At this moment, Ryonan's players truly understood where Coach Taoka's initially grave expression originated. Looking at it this way, this year's road to nationals was far more difficult and cruel than they'd imagined.
"So—" Coach Taoka's voice rang out again. "Our target is prefecture top four, but our destination must be Kanto's top two!"
"Failing any single stage means an entire summer's sweat goes to waste!"
"Do you all understand?!"
"YES—!!!" Players roared with determination, but looking carefully, one could still catch flashes of anxiety and gravity in many eyes.
The road to nationals had become so treacherous. The heavy pressure was almost visible to the naked eye.
Yagami surveyed the room, suddenly speaking, his tone so calm he might be discussing the simplest matter:
"Um, though the schedule sounds a bit troublesome, we just need to defeat every opponent we face, right?"
"???"
Instantly, all gazes focused on him, carrying shock and confusion. Only Sendoh wore his knowing smile again.
Facing everyone's puzzlement, Yagami just tilted his head slightly, his face carrying natural confusion as he continued:
"Isn't that right?"
"After all, we only have one goal—"
"Dominating nationals."
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