In the first round of the national tournament, Toyotama unsurprisingly defeated Kumamoto No. 3.
The reason it is said to be unsurprising is that Toyotama has been among the top eight in the national competition for many consecutive years, while Kumamoto's third-place team is making it into the national tournament for the first time this year.
The National Tournament is a real competition, and Toyotama, which has consistently ranked in the top eight, is a force to be reckoned with.
This is also why Toyotama doesn't take Shohoku seriously.
Of course, there is another important reason, which is that the Toyotama team is really arrogant and conceited.
Today is the day of the match between Toyotama and Shohoku.
In the Toyotama team's locker room.
Coach Jinping reviewed the information about the Shohoku team again.
Prior to this, Coach Jinping had already watched the video of every game played by the Shohoku team and made a detailed analysis of the characteristics of each player and the team's tactical coordination, writing a very valuable analysis report.
However, to Coach Kinpei's disappointment, the invaluable analysis report of the Shohoku team was regarded as useless garbage by Kishimoto Minori and others.
Kishimoto Minori and the others simply glanced at it and concluded that the Shohoku team was nothing to fear.
With the game about to begin, Coach Kinpei cleared his throat and solemnly began, "Everyone, please don't underestimate the Shohoku team! They didn't win the Kanagawa championship just because of luck, they..."
Just as Coach Kinpei was about to give everyone a few more reminders, Kishimoto Minori ruthlessly interrupted, "Hey! The battle is about to begin, and you're boosting the enemy's morale while belittling our own. Is this how a coach should act?"
Kishimoto Minori wore a disdainful expression, completely disregarding Coach Kinpei. At the same time, he nonchalantly combed his proud little braid.
Coach Jin Ping looked embarrassed and didn't know how to respond.
It has to be said that it's truly a failure for a coach to be lectured like this by his own players and not dare to respond strongly!
At this moment, Nan Lie picked up the Shohoku team analysis report that Coach Jinping had sent him. When he saw that the top scorer of the Shohoku team was actually Rukawa Kaede, a first-year student, he frowned slightly. "When I looked at that rating manual, I didn't quite believe it. I didn't expect that Rukawa Kaede's scoring ability was really that strong."
Seeing that Nan Lie, as the team captain, was beginning to take his analysis report of the Shohoku team seriously, Coach Jin Ping clearly felt a strong presence. He quickly replied, "That's right, that's right. Don't underestimate Rukawa Kaede just because he's only a freshman. He's really strong!"
But the other players around him still didn't seem to buy it.
Daijiro Itakura asked in confusion, "Is it possible that an unknown team like Shohoku only made it to the national tournament because of the addition of Rukawa, a strong first-year student?"
Coach Kinpei was about to retort, but Kishimoto Minori spoke first: "Then we don't need to care about this Shohoku team at all. The national tournament is different from the prefectural qualifiers. Some of the first-year kids' legs go weak as soon as they step onto the court!"
After saying that, Kishimoto Minori let out a disdainful laugh.
Many of the players around them also laughed.
While Kishimoto Minori's statement may be a bit of an exaggeration, it is undeniable that eight or nine out of ten teams participating in the national tournament for the first time will be extremely nervous.
After all, this is a national competition that everyone is watching!
Seeing that the players still underestimated the Shohoku team, Coach Kinpei looked anxious and tried to guide them, "No, no! It's not just Rukawa Kaede who needs to be watched out for on the Shohoku team. Their center, Akagi Takenori, is also very strong, their power forward, Sakuragi Hanamichi, is very good at rebounding, and Mitsui Hisashi..."
Coach Kinpei spoke rapidly, but the Toyotama players started chatting amongst themselves and didn't listen to him at all.
Nan Lie closed the analysis report, stood up, and said, "Let's go! Let's show this lucky Shohoku team, who got a bye, what a real national tournament is like."
Nan Lie's words caused Kishimoto Minori and the others to shout excitedly, and they all got up and followed Nan Lie out the door.
Coach Jinping was left standing there, bewildered.
In the Shohoku team's locker room.
Coach Anzai unusually gave a pre-match pep talk, solemnly stating, "Although we played to a standstill with Hainan, and although we defeated Ryonan, this is just the beginning!"
Everyone on the Shohoku team was taken aback and listened attentively to Coach Anzai's speech.
Coach Anzai paused, scanned all the players, and continued, "The National Tournament is a knockout tournament. If you lose even one game before reaching the semifinals, you will be eliminated."
"Although Toyotama has been among the top eight in the country for many years and their playing style is very distinctive, I have a lot of confidence in you. I believe you can go much further in the national competition."
At this moment, Coach Anzai suddenly raised his voice, his eyes shining brightly, and asked loudly, "Do you remember what I told you?"
Sakuragi Hanamichi and the others immediately roared in unison, "We are the strongest!"
Coach Anzai said with satisfaction, "Very good!"
Although Coach Anzai still didn't make any tactical arrangements this time, Sakuragi Hanamichi felt that Coach Anzai had become a little different from before.
When playing in Kanagawa, Coach Anzai gave the impression that although he had high hopes for the team and hoped that Shohoku could make it to the national tournament, he always seemed to have an attitude of letting fate decide everything.
After arriving in Hiroshima, Coach Anzai seemed to have acquired a certain... drive!
After listening to Coach Anzai's pre-match pep talk, Sakuragi Hanamichi excitedly walked to his locker and took out an exquisite shoebox.
That was given to Sakuragi Hanamichi by Akagi Haruko last night.
At this moment, Sakuragi Hanamichi opened the shoebox and took out a pair of black and red basketball shoes. These basketball shoes looked very cool, domineering, and stylish.
Most importantly, Haruko Akagi had sewn small words onto these shoes with needle and thread.
The left shoe is sewn with "Hanamichi" on it, and the right shoe is sewn with "Haruko" on it.
The meaning is that Haruko accompanies the flower arrangement team in the national competition.
Looking at these basketball shoes filled with love, Sakuragi Hanamichi couldn't hide the happy smile on his face.
Rukawa Kaede's expression looked a little off.
Because it was last night when he and Sakuragi Hanamichi went out for a late-night snack, that Akagi Haruko gave these shoes to Sakuragi Hanamichi.
Rukawa Kaede originally thought that Akagi Haruko would definitely do something messy to disturb Sakuragi Hanamichi's mind, because in his mind, women were always troublesome.
However, when he realized that Akagi Haruko had asked Sakuragi out to deliver basketball shoes to him, his dislike for her lessened somewhat.
But just then!
A roar caused even the usually expressionless Rukawa Kaede to show a look of astonishment.
Akagi Takenori stormed up to Sakuragi Hanamichi, his eyes bulging like saucers, his whole being radiating an aura of impending volcanic eruption. He demanded angrily, "Sakuragi Hanamichi! Where did you get those shoes?"
Sakuragi Hanamichi didn't immediately grasp the situation. Without thinking, he replied, "H-Akagi-nii, what's wrong? Is there something wrong with these shoes?"
Looking at Sakuragi Hanamichi's completely innocent expression, Akagi Takenori became even angrier and roared, "Of course there's a problem! These are my treasured shoes! And they're limited edition basketball shoes!"
"Huh?" Sakuragi Hanamichi looked incredulous, but he quickly realized that what Akagi Takenori said was probably true.
Good heavens, Haruko secretly gave me the limited edition basketball shoes that the gorilla treasured!
I feel so happy!
Thinking of this, Sakuragi Hanamichi actually revealed a silly grin.
This scene truly made Akagi Takenori lose his composure. He rushed straight towards Sakuragi Hanamichi, ready to snatch it away.
Sakuragi Hanamichi reacted quickly, instinctively shielding the shoes behind his back and explaining, "Hey! Brother Akagi! You've got it wrong! These aren't your shoes!"
Akagi Takenori glared at him and retorted mercilessly, "You're lying! You better tell me the truth! Did Haruko secretly give you these shoes? Hmm?"
The people around were a little bewildered as they watched Akagi Takenori interrogate Sakuragi Hanamichi as if he were a criminal.
This is, after all, a family matter, and outsiders shouldn't interfere!
Even Coach Anzai found it difficult to speak up.
Sakuragi Hanamichi dared not admit that Akagi Haruko had given him the shoes. He insisted that he had bought them himself and even looked at Rukawa Kaede, shamelessly saying, "Rukawa Kaede! Tell him whether I bought these shoes myself or not!"
Rukawa Kaede: "..."
At a time like this, Sakuragi Hanamichi was able to get Rukawa Kaede to vouch for him, which shows how much he trusts his good brother Rukawa Kaede!
Sakuragi Hanamichi looked at Rukawa Kaede with eyes full of trust.
Rukawa Kaede's gaze toward Sakuragi Hanamichi was full of conflict.
The moment to test our friendship has arrived.
Where will the little boat of friendship go?
A barely perceptible, mysterious smile flashed across Rukawa Kaede's lips before he casually said, "These shoes? They're a limited edition nationwide! I remember them vividly; I was with him back then."
As he spoke, Rukawa pointed at Sakuragi Hanamichi.
Sakuragi Hanamichi felt relieved. He truly is my good brother!
Immediately, Sakuragi Hanamichi shouted confidently at Akagi Takenori, "Gorilla! Did you hear that?! Rukawa Kaede vouched for me! I bought these shoes!"
Akagi Takenori's nostrils flared with anger, and his eyes seemed to be spitting fire.
He absolutely refused to believe Sakuragi Hanamichi's nonsense!
But with Rukawa Kaede standing by as a witness, he couldn't refute it.
This is so frustrating!
If Haruko Akagi were there, Takenori Akagi would probably have given her two slaps on the head!
A married woman is like water spilled from a bowl—she's no longer there!
My spendthrift sister!
hateful!
Takenori Akagi was like a mute eating bitter herbs, unable to express his suffering.
But then Rukawa added, "I saw Akagi Haruko hand him those shoes with my own eyes."
Sakuragi Hanamichi: "..."
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