In the last 10 seconds of the game, Mitsui Hisashi delivered a precise long pass to Mike Okita. As he soared for a dunk that cut through the air, the whistle blew simultaneously—the game was over.
69:63. Ryokufu High School firmly secured their spot in the semifinals, and a wave of cheers erupted from the sidelines.
A few days later, the Ryonan Team also clinched a semifinal spot with a resounding victory.
With the promotion battles concluded, the highly anticipated semifinal matches were scheduled for two weeks later.
A few days later, on a day when the usual hustle had quieted, a warm wedding quietly arrived.
Sakuragi Hanamichi patted Gu Jin's shoulder, his tone serious and leaving no room for argument: "Gu Jin, from today onwards, Yoko is my sister. You're not allowed to bully her in the future."
Gu Jin raised an eyebrow, deliberately teasing him: "Well, I'm your brother, so what if she bullies me later?"
Sakuragi Hanamichi stiffened his neck and turned his head away: "I don't care about that."
Today was the wedding of Sakuragi Zhe Xiong and Sakuragi Xiaonan!
As the emcee guided the couple to the altar, Sakuragi Zhe Xiong deliberately slowed his steps, allowing Sakuragi Xiaonan, dressed in a shiromuku, to walk slightly ahead—in Japanese tradition, the bride walking first in a wedding symbolizes "leading the new family towards stability."
He watched her back, her hair styled in a shimada bun, with loose strands at her temples gently swaying with each step. He suddenly remembered their first meeting; now she stood by his side, bearing the surname "Sakuragi."
During the ring exchange, when Zhe Xiong took the ring from Konan, his fingertips accidentally brushed the back of her hand. She flinched slightly, just as she had in her youth, then looked up and smiled at him.
He suddenly recalled her saying that when she lived alone with Yoko, she always felt an emptiness in her palm. Now, he gently held that hand, carefully slipped the ring onto her ring finger, and whispered in a voice only they could hear: "From now on, the palm of this hand will always hold my warmth."
Konan's eyes instantly reddened, but she held back her tears, only bending her knees slightly to perform a shallow bow according to ancient custom, as if responding to this warm promise.
During the tea ceremony, Zhe Xiong first offered a cup of tea to Konan. As she received it with both hands, he noticed she deliberately kept her fingers together—this is a posture in Japanese wedding customs signifying "sincerely accepting the other's family."
When it was Konan's turn to offer tea, she softly said, "Please guide me, Mr. Sakuragi," and then laughed at herself immediately, seemingly unaccustomed to the address.
As Zhe Xiong took the teacup, he deliberately brushed his thumb against her wrist and whispered back, "You should be calling me 'my husband' now, Mrs. Sakuragi."
Sakuragi Hanamichi, busy bickering with Gu Jin nearby, didn't notice his parents' small gestures, but Shimamura Yoko, seeing her mother's slightly reddened earlobes, quietly curved her lips into a smile.
When Konan turned to look at Yoko, her gaze met her daughter's. In the instant the mother and daughter exchanged smiles, Zhe Xiong reached out and put his arm around Konan's shoulder, drawing her closer to him—this gesture, unlike the passionate embrace of the young, carried the steady warmth of years, as if telling everyone that from now on, these two people, each with their own past, would bear the surname "Sakuragi" and build a home together.
There was no ostentatious display, yet a genuine warmth permeated everywhere. Only close relatives and friends were present, and everyone's face was adorned with heartfelt smiles, making the modest venue feel exceptionally lively.
Gu Jin looked at this scene and suddenly felt that his friends around him seemed to be connected by some inexplicable fate. This feeling was wonderful—it was the feeling of home.
The passion on the basketball court had not yet cooled, and the warmth in life had quietly unfolded. Their story continued to grow.
"Hanamichi, come here for a moment." Sakuragi Xiaonan's voice held a hint of cautious anticipation, and her gaze, when it fell on him, was like a gentle, warm pool of water.
Sakuragi Hanamichi said, "Huh?" but his steps were a half-beat slow. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Sakuragi Zhe Xiong glance over—he didn't speak, but his brow furrowed slightly, and his eyes held a subtle hint of a reminder.
Hanamichi's heart sank. He remembered Zhe Xiong telling him that morning to "learn to get your titles straight from now on," and he suddenly felt a little flustered.
"Mom has something for you." Konan, as if unaware of his discomfort, took a square box from her kimono sleeve. When she opened it, a silver-grey sports watch gleamed softly in the light.
Sakuragi Hanamichi's gaze was fixed on the watch for a moment.
His throat worked, again and again. Those two words had only ever appeared in textbooks since he could remember, but now they seemed to take root, rising with a tingling warmth.
He stared at the watch, then suddenly sniffed, his voice tight: "Tha...thank you, Mo...Mom!"
The last syllable had barely left his lips before he himself froze.
It turned out it wasn't so hard to say after all, but his heart felt as if it had been struck by something, an ache that instantly reddened his eyes. He quickly lowered his head, pretending to look at the watch, but his thumb repeatedly rubbed its surface.
"Oh, our genius Sakuragi is crying?" Gu Jin, who had approached unnoticed, deliberately raised his voice. "Is it because the watch is so beautiful that you're too moved to speak?"
"Who, who's crying!" Sakuragi suddenly looked up, his nose still red, but he stiffened his neck and glared back. "I just think this watch is too cool, it blinded me!" Though his words were defiant, his earlobes were burning red.
Konan looked at him like this, quietly raised a hand to press the corner of her eye, and as she turned, her gaze met Zhe Xiong's. Both smiled softly.
On the other side, Sakuragi Zhe Xiong took a velvet box from his inner jacket pocket and said softly to Shimamura Yoko, "Yoko, Dad also has a gift for you."
When Yoko opened it, a cherry blossom-shaped pendant hung from a delicate silver chain. Sunlight passed through the pendant, casting tiny flecks of light on the back of her hand.
Yoko's fingertip touched the pendant, then she suddenly looked up and hugged his arm, her voice soft as cotton: "Thank you, Dad." This "Dad" was spoken naturally and lightly, as if she had rehearsed it a thousand times in her heart.
When taking the family photo, Zhe Xiong insisted that Taoka Moichi and Gu Jin also stand with them.
Taoka repeatedly waved his hands: "No, no, this is your family's photo..."
"What are you saying, Senior Taoka?" Zhe Xiong stepped forward and placed a hand on his shoulder, his tone earnest. "When I had my heart attack, you lent me money to get through the difficult time; that's a life-saving kindness.
Also, that kid Hanamichi used to cause trouble all the time, and it was you who brought him into the Ryonan Basketball Team, taught him to succeed, and helped him learn a man's responsibilities.
To our family, you are a benefactor, and even more so, family."
Gu Jin also chimed in: "Coach, don't be so modest. In Uncle and Auntie's hearts, you're not an outsider!"
As he spoke, he looked towards Sakuragi Zhe Xiong and Konan, and saw Konan smiling and nodding, her earnestness clear in her eyes.
Sakuragi Zhe Xiong continued: "Gu Jin is right. If Senior Taoka doesn't come up, this family photo won't be complete."
Sakuragi Hanamichi immediately nodded vigorously: "Exactly! Coach, hurry up and come!" As he spoke, he reached out and pulled Taoka.
Taoka looked at the warmth in the eyes of this large family before him, his Adam's apple bobbed, and he finally smiled and walked to Zhe Xiong's side.
The moment the camera shutter clicked, Sakuragi Hanamichi quietly moved half a step closer to Konan, his arm gently touching her shoulder;
Yoko stood on tiptoes, leaning her head against Zhe Xiong's shoulder; Gu Jin, when no one was looking, secretly made a funny face at Sakuragi.
Sunlight streamed in through the window frame, washing over each person's face, smoothing all those awkward, fervent, and cautious emotions into a warm and harmonious picture called "home."