(A brand new storyline is about to begin: the Autumn National Sports Festival, Winter Selection Tournament, and so on.
Once the Autumn National Sports Festival is finished, the story will move into the second year of the plot!
Stay tuned!)
The afternoon sun slanted across the highway as the Ryonan Basketball Team's bus entered the Kanagawa Prefecture border, and the cheers inside the compartment had not yet died down.
Sakuragi Hanamichi hugged the championship trophy, sometimes rubbing it against his face, sometimes holding it up for his teammates to see.
Fukuda Kiccho leaned by the window, flipping through photos of the game in the newspaper, a smile constantly on his face.
Gu Jin sat in the back row, his fingertips lightly caressing the edge of the MVP trophy. Through the street scenes flashing past outside the window, he occasionally saw passersby holding "Ryonan Champions" signs, waving at the bus.
But within this lively atmosphere, there was a subtle undercurrent... The next morning, as Ryonan High School's gates just opened, they were enveloped by a lively atmosphere—students gathered in twos and threes, clutching crumpled sports newspapers, their discussions entirely focused on winning the National Tournament.
Gu Jin's title of "Japan's number one high school player" spread like wildfire, reaching every corner of the campus overnight.
Yet, amidst the excitement, there was also discord.
A teacher from the academic affairs office rushed to find Taoka Moichi, his tone anxious: "Coach Taoka, please go take a look! Not only are students privately discussing Gu Jin's family matters, but several off-campus media outlets are also waiting at the school gate, saying they want to interview Gu Jin. Classes can barely proceed normally."
Taoka's brow furrowed instantly. Just as he was about to head to the school gate, a steady voice suddenly came from behind him: "Don't rush, I'll go with you to the Kanagawa Prefecture Sports Association."
Turning around, it was School Director Shinboku Rin of Ryonan High School.
He was holding a team formation notice for the Autumn National Sports Festival, his tone firm: "It's a good opportunity to discuss the Autumn National Sports Festival and see if we can use their influence to suppress these discordant voices. Ryonan just won the championship; we can't let these irrelevant matters disrupt things."
Taoka nodded, feeling much more at ease. The two didn't delay and immediately took a car to the Sports Association.
At two in the afternoon, as the conference room door opened, the Association President greeted them with a smile.
"Ryonan has truly brought great honor to Kanagawa this time! The Autumn National Sports Festival is about to form a team, and we've agreed that Ryonan will take the lead. Core players like Gu Jin and Sendoh must be on the main roster!"
Shinboku and Taoka exchanged glances and readily agreed. Then, they brought up Gu Jin's matter.
After receiving a satisfactory answer, both felt much more at ease!
After the meeting, Shinboku didn't go straight home but instead had the driver detour to the basketball gym—from a distance, he saw Gu Jin and Sendoh practicing extra on the court, the sound of the basketball hitting the ground particularly clear.
Sakuragi Hanamichi held a newspaper with his own photo, showing off to Fukuda and Uozumi nearby.
"Gu Jin, come here for a moment." Shinboku stood at the gym entrance, beckoning, his voice carrying through the wind.
Gu Jin immediately stopped, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and walked over.
Chairman Shenmu looked at Gu Jin, his eyes full of approval: "You played very well in this National Tournament—not just your skills, but your ability to withstand pressure at critical moments. That sense of responsibility is more valuable than any trophy."
He paused, then shifted the topic to the rumors: "You don't need to worry about the discussions at school or the media outside.
I know your 'family matters' have caused you distress, but as long as you want to stay in Japan and continue playing basketball at Ryonan, whether it's family trouble or these messy rumors, I, School Director Shinboku Rin, can help you resolve them."
His words were firm and unwavering: "Ryonan needs players like you, and Kanagawa also needs talents like you. I will not let these matters, which are unrelated to you, hinder your future and the team's future."
Gu Jin was stunned, a sudden warmth spreading through his heart.
Before, he had secretly worried that his Uncle's affairs would bring him insurmountable problems, even considering leaving temporarily. But Shinboku's words were like a reassurance, instantly calming him.
He clenched his fists and bowed deeply to School Director Shinboku Rin: "Thank you, Chairman Shenmu. I will not let you and the team down."
Taoka, relieved, patted Gu Jin's shoulder: "Did you hear that? Practice hard; we'll handle everything else."
Shinboku smiled and nodded, then reminded him to "pay attention to rest" before turning to leave.
He had barely been gone ten minutes when a crowd suddenly surged to the basketball gym entrance—carrying cameras and notebooks, they were reporters from various Kanagawa Prefecture newspapers. As soon as they saw the team members, they surrounded them, questions rising one after another:
"Gu Jin, as MVP, what do you most want to say to the team right now?"
"Sendoh, was that final alley-oop on the championship day planned in advance?"
"Sakuragi, do you have any exclusive secret for rebounding?"
The team members didn't panic; instead, they responded with smiles.
Gu Jin wiped his face with a towel, answering earnestly: "Winning the championship wasn't my achievement alone—without the team, there would be no MVP."
Sendoh leaned against the basketball hoop, slowly adding: "That last alley-oop was Gu Jin's spur-of-the-moment decision. Sakuragi's positioning was half a beat faster than usual; it was quite a tacit agreement ."
Sakuragi was even more triumphant, raising his fist high: "The secret to rebounding? Of course, it's 'I'm a genius'!"
For a moment, the click of camera shutters, the laughter of reporters, and the playful banter of the team members swirled together in the basketball gym, as lively as a festival.
Early on the third day, Ryonan High School was even more abuzz.
The school gate was covered with posters of the team's championship win; enlarged photos of Gu Jin dunking, Sendoh passing, and Sakuragi rebounding made people's blood boil.
The bulletin board was plastered with newspaper reports, the front pages entirely filled with headlines like "Ryonan Wins Championship" and "Gu Jin: Japan's number one high school player." Even the corners were wrinkled from students touching them.
Wherever the basketball team members went, they were the center of attention.
Sakuragi Hanamichi kept a photo of the trophy in his textbook, pulling it out to wave before class.
When Gu Jin went to the cafeteria for food, older female students would always offer him their spot, even pushing milk into his hand.
Even the usually serious Uozumi Jun was surrounded for autographs, the pen in his hand almost slipping.
The basketball gym was even livelier—the number of lower-grade students signing up for the basketball club doubled, and even students who usually disliked sports were holding basketballs and mimicking moves nearby, muttering, "I want to be as good as Gu Jin."
Taoka stood by the court, a smile playing on his lips.
Shinboku's promise, the reporters' interviews, the excitement on campus, the light in the team members' eyes... He suddenly felt that the good days for Ryonan Basketball were just beginning.