The next day, in the association conference room inside the Prefectural Gymnasium, located at 3-1 Misawanishi-cho, Kanagawa Ward, Yokohama City, Kanagawa Prefecture, the air was as still and frozen as if it had been chilled.
Takato Riki sat at a corner of the conference table, his fingertips unconsciously caressing the surface, his gloomy expression even darker than the overcast sky outside.
In the glass in front of him, the tea had long since grown cold, just like his mood at that moment.
Taoka Moichi, diagonally opposite him, appeared calm and composed, his fingertips pinching the rim of a white porcelain teacup, taking sips now and then.
Amidst the swirling tea mist, a hint of barely concealed self-satisfaction lingered in the laugh lines around his eyes—after all, Ryonan had claimed three spots in the Best Team, a tangible honor.
At the head of the conference table, Chairman Ozawa Nobuo held an unlit cigarette between his fingers, his knuckles gently tapping the table.
Vice Chairwoman Kosa Mihō sat upright beside him, her hands clasped on the table, her gaze calmly sweeping over the two men in dispute.
Yamaguchi Riki, the Basketball Committee Chairman, stood with his arms crossed, his brow slightly furrowed, a clear look of impatience in his eyes as he looked at Takato Riki.
“Takato,” Ozawa Nobuo finally spoke, his voice not loud but carrying an undeniable authority, “The preliminary roster for the Autumn National Sports Festival was finalized by me and Chairman Yamaguchi, based on the overall performance throughout this Prefectural Tournament.
Was causing a scene at the award ceremony not enough for you, that you had to bring this dispute to the association? Do you think I, as Chairman, can’t make decisions?”
Takato Riki suddenly looked up, his Adam’s apple bobbing: “Chairman Ozawa, I absolutely did not mean that.”
He took a deep breath, trying to keep his tone steady, “Hainan did indeed lose to Ryonan in the finals this year, I admit that.
But Hainan has made it to the National Tournament for 17 consecutive years, they are a veteran powerhouse in Kanagawa, and last year they even reached the National Top Four.
Maki Shinichi, as the team’s core, his performance on both offense and defense is evident to all, and Jin Soichiro’s progress this season is also visible to the naked eye.
I truly can’t understand why there isn’t even one Hainan name in the Best Team?”
Ozawa Nobuo picked up the lighter from the table, and with a “click,” lit his cigarette, the white nicotine smoke slowly dissipating in front of him.
“Takato, you’re an experienced coach, you should understand that the Autumn National Sports Festival isn’t about dividing up school honors,” he said, pointing out the window with the hand holding the cigarette.
“That’s about representing Kanagawa to go head-to-head with national powerhouses; what’s needed is the strength to win the championship, not who has more seniority.”
He paused, his gaze sweeping over Takato Riki: “Gu Jin averages 38 points, 12 rebounds, 15 assists, and 5 steals, handling both offense and defense and organization.
Have you seen a second player with such dominance?
The inside collaboration between Sendoh and Uozumi, what did it do to your paint in the finals? Don’t you have a clue?”
“And Mitsui and Sato from Ryokufu,” Yamaguchi Riki couldn’t help but interject, “They overturned Hainan in the semifinals and fought Ryonan until the very last second in the finals.
Was Mitsui’s three-pointer not more impactful than some ‘experienced’ players? Besides, the Autumn National Sports Festival isn't not using Hainan players!”
Takato Riki’s face alternated between red and white, and he slammed his hand on the table: “The Best Team is almost the main framework for the Autumn National Sports Festival!
Hainan, as the second-best in the prefecture, can’t even get a starting spot?
Maki Shinichi scored 32 points against Ryokufu in the semifinals and also had 21 points against Ryonan in the finals.
Is such a performance not good enough?”
“Whether it’s good enough is not for you to decide,” Ozawa Nobuo extinguished his cigarette butt in the ashtray, producing a harsh scraping sound, “The Autumn National Sports Festival selection committee has 11 judges, and the Best Team is based on the combined scores of everyone.
Maki Shinichi’s score indeed ranked after Gu Jin and Sendoh; even Mitsui scored 0.5 points higher than him.”
Takato Riki’s breathing quickened; he, of course, knew the crucial point behind this—the selection of the Autumn National Sports Festival head coach largely depended on how many players under his command were selected for the main roster.
Without any players making the main roster, he, as the Hainan coach, would have no qualification to join the National Sports Festival coaching staff, which would be an almost fatal blow to his career.
“The National Tournament hasn’t even been played yet; to deny Hainan players a starting spot in the Autumn National Sports Festival now is too hasty!” Takato Riki retorted, his neck stiff, with a hint of unnoticeable plea in his tone, “Couldn’t we wait until the National Tournament ends, see each team’s performance, and then make adjustments?”
Taoka Moichi finally put down his teacup and slowly began to speak: “Takato, the National Tournament won’t start for over a month, and the Autumn National Sports Festival training camp roster needs to be submitted to the Japan Basketball Association next week.
Do you think we can wait?” He smiled slightly, “Besides, do you really think Hainan players can suddenly undergo a complete transformation in the National Tournament and perform better than Ryonan and Ryokufu?”
These words were like a needle, accurately piercing Takato Riki’s sore spot.
He opened his mouth but found himself unable to find a rebuttal—if they couldn’t even beat Ryonan, how could they talk about a comeback in the National Tournament?
Silence fell over the conference room, broken only by the “tick-tock” of the wall clock, tapping on everyone’s nerves.
Ozawa Nobuo sighed, his tone softening slightly: “Takato, I know you’re unwilling.
But Kanagawa has only one goal this year—to win the Autumn National Sports Festival championship.
The combination of Gu Jin and the others is currently the most promising hand in the prefecture; we cannot take any risks.”
He looked at Takato Riki: “If you truly care about Kanagawa, you should understand that personal gains and losses must be put aside.”
Takato Riki clenched his fists, his knuckles white, blood almost seeping from between his fingers.
He looked at Taoka Moichi’s confident expression opposite him, at Ozawa Nobuo’s unquestionable gaze, and he knew in his heart that this protest was probably futile.
But he couldn’t give up just like that.
“I demand a re-evaluation!” Takato Riki suddenly stood up, his voice filled with suppressed anger to the extreme, “Otherwise, I will submit a formal letter of protest to the Japan Basketball Association, requesting an investigation into the selection process!”
As soon as these words were uttered, everyone’s expressions in the conference room changed.
Protesting to the Japan Basketball Association was practically putting Kanagawa’s internal conflicts on a national stage; it would only make people laugh at the Kanagawa basketball community.
Ozawa Nobuo’s face completely darkened: “Takato, are you trying to escalate this matter?”
Takato Riki did not answer, only stared intently at Ozawa Nobuo, his eyes filled with the determination of one who has burned his bridges.
The clouds outside grew thicker and thicker, as if foreshadowing that this storm surrounding the Autumn National Sports Festival had only just begun.
The basketball landscape of Kanagawa, in the aftermath of the Prefectural Tournament, was being stirred even more turbidly by this sudden protest.
And everyone knew in their hearts that no matter the outcome of the protest, Kanagawa’s determination to win the Autumn National Sports Festival championship would never waver.
Takato Riki’s gaze, as if grasping at a lifeline, turned to Kosa Mihō, his voice containing a hint of unnoticeable wavering: “Vice Chairwoman Kosa, you have always advocated for selection to consider both strength and legacy.
Is Hainan’s accumulation over these seventeen years truly not worth mentioning?”