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The next day.
The Toho Kotei Gakuen group arrived at the Tokyo Gymnasium.
Today was the semi-final of Rakuzan High School.
Their opponent was an unknown team that hadn't appeared in the original story.
Although Ryu had already predicted the outcome of the match, he still decided to come and watch.
The group went to the second-floor stands.
The atmosphere was extremely enthusiastic, mostly filled with Rakuzan supporters chanting Rakuzan's name everywhere.
It was clear how popular Rakuzan was.
Ryu looked at Akashi warming up below and thought to himself.
"Come to think of it, the others all have strengths completely different from those in the original story. This guy should be the same!"
He didn't believe Akashi would stagnate.
The question was, in what direction was Akashi's growth heading?
"His eyes? Or his own strength?"
Ryu's mutterings weren't loud, but Kugawa, next to him, still heard them.
He asked, puzzled,
"What did you say?"
Ryu shook his head.
"Nothing. It's just that Rakuzan's opponent seems very unfamiliar. I've never heard of them before."
He had just entered and immediately noticed the name of Rakuzan's opponent on the scoreboard.
Kangu High School.
A name that didn't seem to appear in the original work.
Hearing this, Kugawa scratched his head as well.
He hadn't learned anything about them either, so he didn't know how to answer Ryu's question for a moment.
However, Hanafuji Souji seemed to know something about it.
He explained,
"I know a little about this school. It's a basketball school that has only become active in recent years, but it has never made it to the top eight before, so few people pay attention to it. But strangely, they have never lost a practice match against other schools, including previous top-eight and even top-four schools. This year, for some reason, they've fought their way through to the semifinals."
"I see!"
Kamimono was somewhat surprised to hear Hanafuji Souji's words.
Ryu also raised an eyebrow, showing some interest in Kangu High School.
He shifted his gaze to Kangu High School's rest area.
"Then let me see what you're capable of!"
Time passed quickly.
The referee blew his whistle, starting the game.
Kangu got the ball first.
Nebuya Eikichi actually lost the jump ball.
Seeing his bewildered, clenched-teeth expression, Ryu formed a certain opinion of him.
"Irritable, easily angered, and easily manipulated."
Kangu's offense was fierce, immediately sinking a three-pointer.
"Number 9 is quite impressive."
Kuroki Ryuichi said, looking at Kangu's shooting guard below.
Kangu's shooting guard wore the number 9.
As for his name, the Toho Kotei Gakuen members didn't care at all.
"Not only him, but Kangu's other players are also quite skilled."
Kamimono noticed the movements of Kangu's other players.
Their defense was very effective, significantly slowing down Rakuzan's group.
When Rakuzan launched a counterattack, Kangu found an opportunity, stole the ball, and launched a fast break.
Clang...
A powerful dunk.
Kangu scored another two points.
0-5.
Rakuzan trailed Kangu by five points.
The stands were practically boiling.
They never expected Rakuzan to be dominated by an unknown team.
And they had even scored two baskets right from the start.
"He must have some strategy."
Looking at Akashi's calm expression, Ryu knew these five points had no effect on him whatsoever.
Rakuzan started scoring as well.
However, this time, the score seemed cursed, with the difference remaining around three points.
Until the end of the first quarter.
Rakuzan's Reo Mibuchi hit a buzzer-beating three-pointer, tying the game.
At this point, Ryu lost interest in the game.
The result was probably what he had expected.
The difference in strength between the two teams was too great.
Even if Kangu was a dark horse that had suddenly emerged, it couldn't possibly be a match for Rakuzan.
Even without Akashi, Kangu was no match for the Uncrowned Five.
This was a difference in level.
As if confirming his words.
From the start of the second quarter,
Rakuzan unleashed a torrent of attacks, their offensive power suddenly becoming ferocious.
Kangu was forced to retreat steadily under Rakuzan's fierce onslaught.
The score gradually widened.
At the end of the second quarter,
the score was 48-16.
The following two quarters followed the same pattern.
Rakuzan completely suppressed Kangu.
Kangu was practically helpless, forced to watch Rakuzan score relentlessly.
They tried to stop them, but all attempts ended in failure.
The final whistle blew.
The score of 102 to 16 on the scoreboard was glaringly obvious.
In the stands,
a series of shouts nearly lifted the roof off the stadium.
"As expected of Rakuzan."
"Such a large score difference. Rakuzan is as strong as ever."
"The strongest high school team."
"I'm really looking forward to their performance in the finals."
...
Listening to the cheers of the surrounding audience,
Ryu glanced sympathetically at the defeated Kangu High School team.
A match against the Generation of Miracles, and this was how it ended.
Without a strong mentality, the match would only leave an indelible shadow.
Ryu turned to the group and said,
"Let's go!"
Hearing his words, the others from Toho Kotei Gakuen followed him.
Now that the match was over,
there was no need for them to stay.
After leaving the stadium,
Ryu made an excuse to part ways with the group.
He carried Karupin down the street.
His mind, however, was still on the match that had just taken place.
"The result was as expected. Rakuzan didn't use much of its strength, and Akashi didn't use his Emperor Eye either. I'll have to wait until the finals to see for myself."
He had already mentally prepared for this.
After wandering around for a while, Ryu stopped in front of a bank.
Remembering that he didn't have much cash left, he figured he could withdraw some here.
He carried Karupin inside.
He walked into the bank and saw that the counters were already full.
He went straight to the waiting area and started to wait.
While waiting, bored out of his mind, he gradually closed his eyes and began to doze off.
He didn't know how much time had passed.
Bang...
Suddenly, a loud noise startled Ryu awake.
He abruptly opened his eyes and turned to look in the direction of the sound.
What he saw made his eyes widen.
"Damn it, is this really bad luck?"
There were four figures standing at the bank entrance.
Each of the four figures was wearing a black hood with three holes, revealing their mouths and eyes.
"These outfits are clearly those of thugs. Am I being robbed?"
Ryu was speechless.
This was the first time he had encountered such a situation.
His legs were trembling slightly.
He saw that two of the thugs were holding handguns.
The sound he'd just heard must have come from one of those guns.
"Damn, does this have to be so thrilling? I just happened to be passing by to get some money, and now I'm being robbed! Where am I supposed to complain?"
Ryu muttered nervously and resentfully to himself.
But just then,
one of the armed thugs walked toward them.
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