Bang!
The dull thud of the basketball being fiercely slammed against the backboard was like a heavy hammer striking the hearts of Aiwa Academy.
When Morohoshi Dai fell to the floor, his palm scraped against the wooden surface with a harsh sound. The moment he propped himself up and looked, the last bit of stubbornness in his eyes dissipated—he was utterly defeated, so completely that not even a shred of dignity remained.
The Aiwa Academy bench was silent, even the substitute players' hands trembled as they offered water.
Gu Jin gently shook his head in the stands, his fingertips unconsciously tracing the plastic texture on the edge of the seating.
To call such an Aiwa a “one-man team” would be an overstatement.
What was more glaring was that the team's sole pillar, Morohoshi Dai, couldn't even be considered “evenly matched” against Zawa Kita Eiji—
Zawa Kita's block just now had practically nailed Morohoshi Dai to the pillar of shame; it was a pure, dimensional crush.
“In the original plot, Shohoku actually lost to them…” Gu Jin muttered under his breath, finding it absurd himself.
Perhaps Shohoku's combat power was diminished without Sakuragi Hanamichi, but to lose to a team so utterly crushed by Sannoh?
Recalling how Shohoku had previously overthrown Sannoh... if he hadn't witnessed Sannoh's current dominance with his own eyes, he would hardly believe the so-called “plot kill” theory.
When the final whistle blew, the 124:55 on the scoreboard was painfully glaring.
The Sannoh Industrial players didn't even celebrate much. Kazunari Fukatsu patted Zawa Kita's back, and the two whispered something,
as if reviewing which pass wasn't good enough—for them, this victory was probably as ordinary as the end of a practice match.
The match report from the right half of the bracket came over the broadcast at that moment: Hainan University Affiliated narrowly defeated Jinbo University Affiliated 101:100.
Hainan, in the right half, had already secured a spot in the Top Four, just like Ryonan.
The other Top Four spot would be revealed tomorrow afternoon at 1 PM, after the Meihou Industrial vs. Rikawa High School match.
“Let's go! Back to the hotel!” Taoka Moichi's voice suddenly rang out. He clutched his tactics board and walked towards the exit, his face not showing any solemnity, but rather an irrepressible excitement. “We'll have a good match against Sannoh in three days—I've been waiting for this day for almost 5 years!”
The Ryonan team got up. Uozumi Jun patted a somewhat worried Hikoichi's shoulder: “Don't think too much, we're not like Aiwa.”
Aida Hikoichi nodded. As the Ryonan team had just exited the Hiroshima Gymnasium, a clear female voice suddenly came from behind them.
“Gu Jin, wait a moment!”
Gu Jin turned around and saw Fujisawa Eri hurrying to catch up, carrying an expensive handbag. Her off-white sneakers made soft, scattered sounds on the stone path outside the gymnasium.
Now, she stood in front of Gu Jin, slightly out of breath, her fringe damp with a thin layer of sweat, and her cheeks flushed from running. Her eyes, usually so bright and clear, gazed intently at him, shining even more brightly than usual.
Gu Jin stopped, his peripheral vision catching Shimamura Yoko talking to Sakuragi Hanamichi not far away; the latter clearly hadn't noticed them.
He raised an eyebrow slightly: “Miss Fujisawa? Is there something you need?”
Fujisawa Eri seemed to gather all her courage before speaking, her voice lower than when she called him earlier, but with an undeniable concern: “Gu Jin, I know a lot has happened recently. Please let me help you, okay?”
Then, as if afraid he might misunderstand, she quickly added: “I, I don't mean anything else. I just don't want you to be sad.” As she continued, her voice grew softer and softer, even a little incoherent, but her gaze never left his face, and even her earlobes quietly turned red.
“Thank you, but I'm fine.” Gu Jin's voice was gentle. When his gaze fell on her flushed earlobes, a faint, almost imperceptible curve spread across his lips.
He knew Fujisawa Eri's feelings—although he had no close relationship with Fujisawa Eri, and their interactions were very few, she never harbored any ill will.
“Then, that's good…” Fujisawa Eri's fingers, clutching her handbag strap, loosened. She seemed relieved, yet also a little disappointed, her voice as low as a mosquito's buzz.
She looked up at the Ryonan team behind Gu Jin. Taoka was turning back to urge, “Gu Jin! Let's go!” Sendo, leaning against a nearby lamppost, was twirling a basketball in his hand, raising an eyebrow at him with a hint of teasing smile in his eyes.
Fujisawa Eri quickly stepped back half a pace, then couldn't help but remind him: “Then… are you going to watch Meihou's game tomorrow? I heard Morishige Hiroshi is very strong…”
“Yes, we will.” Gu Jin responded, nodding to her, “I'm leaving now.”
“Mm!” Fujisawa Eri nodded vigorously, watching him turn and catch up with the team until his dark blue uniform blended into the crowd and was no longer visible. Only then did she raise her hand to press her hot cheeks.
Her phone vibrated in her handbag; it was a message from Hua Xi asking if she had “caught up.” She bit her lip and replied “Mm,” but her fingertips paused on the screen, then added, “I'll see you at the game tomorrow.”
“I'm going too.” Hua Xi's message was concise and clear.
Passersby around them cast envious glances at Fujisawa Eri, who was using her phone.
In this era, anyone who could use a phone was clearly a rich young lady.
Meanwhile, as Gu Jin walked up to Sendo, he was lightly nudged with an elbow: “Miss Fujisawa seems quite fond of you.”
Gu Jin didn't reply, only glancing at the tree-lined path beside the gymnasium—
“Sendo, tomorrow's game,” Gu Jin suddenly said, his voice a little serious, “we need to watch it carefully.”
Sendo's hand, twirling the basketball, paused. He followed Gu Jin's gaze, then smiled: “What? Do you think Meihou is more trouble than Sannoh?”
“Hard to say.” Gu Jin withdrew his gaze and followed the team towards the bus stop.
Meihou Industrial, needless to say, their strength was obvious. Morishige Hiroshi's wild, charging impact was not to be underestimated by anyone.
But Rikawa High School… that was hard to say… Gu Jin's gaze fell on the Rikawa team name that flashed across a corner of the distant electronic screen, his fingertips unconsciously curling.
He remembered an interview he had seen before transmigrating—Takehiko Inoue had mentioned that the champion of this National Tournament was a team from the right half of the bracket that had never appeared in the manga.
Among the teams that had made it this far in the right half, Hainan was a familiar face, and Meihou had already gained fame with Morishige Hiroshi. The remaining… those that could be called “never appeared” and had a chance to reach the Top Four, seemed to be only Rikawa.
Taoka's voice, urging them back to the hotel, came from ahead. Gu Jin withdrew his gaze and got up, but his mind was turning: tomorrow's game might be unexpected.
Perhaps Rikawa truly harbored the strength to overthrow Meihou!
Regardless of the original plot, any team that could reach this stage would not be a pushover.
After all, Aiwa met Sannoh, otherwise they wouldn't have been so utterly defeated.
This National Tournament is getting more and more interesting.