“What are you looking at?” Ye Zi followed Gu Jin’s gaze and suddenly let out a soft ‘hmm’, “Sakuragi? That girl next to him…”
“She should be Sakuragi’s girlfriend now.” Gu Jin’s tone was calm, but his eyes didn’t move.
Ye Zi immediately became interested, a mischievous smile spreading across her face as she leaned in and whispered, “They just came out of the Sakurai Video Room, you know?” The teasing in her voice was impossible to hide.
Gu Jin turned to look at her, a hint of a smile in his eyes: “Ye Zi, how about we go check later if there are any good movies playing recently.”
Ye Zi’s cheeks flushed slightly, and she turned her face away with a huff: “No way, you don’t really want to watch a movie.”
Gu Jin feigned disappointment: “Well, alright then.”
The air was silent for a few seconds, then Ye Zi, blushing, lowered her head, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes, her voice as faint as a mosquito’s buzz: “At most… just one movie. I have to be home before 10, Konan will nag me…”
Across the table, Sakuragi was grinning foolishly as he picked sushi for Fujii, who blushed and dodged, their laughter occasionally drifting over. Meanwhile, Gu Jin looked at Ye Zi’s reddening ear tips, the curve of his lips deepening uncontrollably.
The world of young people is just like this: a little secret hidden in their brows and eyes, a small promise tucked into the evening breeze, even the air itself carries a sweet scent.
Before long, romance was exchanged, Sakuragi and Fujii ate sushi at the sushi restaurant.
And Gu Jin and Ye Zi walked into the Sakurai Video Room to “watch a movie.” The world of young people is truly wonderful!!!
At 9 AM on June 26th, a tense atmosphere already permeated the Akihabara Cultural and Sports Center.
The drums of the Kanagawa Prefecture Top Four Tournament were about to sound, and the smoke of the first clash quietly rose into the air.
With only half an hour left until the 9:30 AM Ryonan versus Shoyo match, both teams had already finished their warm-ups. In the Ryonan Team’s resting area, Taoka Moichi was quietly giving his final tactical instructions.
“Today’s starting lineup: Uozumi, Sendoh, Gu Jin, Sakuragi, Fukuda.” Taoka’s voice carried an undeniable authority.
He looked at Uozumi, his gaze sharp: “Uozumi, besides you, Shoyo has an overall height advantage. In the paint, you must strictly contain Hanagata; you absolutely cannot let him dictate the rhythm, understand?”
“Yes, Coach!” Uozumi responded in a deep voice, his fists quietly clenching at his sides.
Next, Taoka turned to Sendoh: “Sendoh, you’re guarding Fujima. You need to contain him to the maximum extent on both offense and defense.
On the court, focus on connecting plays, and look for more offensive opportunities for Gu Jin and Fukuda—the team’s offensive Center of Gravity should initially be placed on these two. If Gu Jin has an open shot, pass to him; if Fukuda has an opportunity, give it to him immediately.”
“Understood.” Sendoh nodded slightly, unconsciously twirling the basketball with his fingertips, his eyes showing intense focus.
Finally, Taoka’s gaze swept over Gu Jin, Sakuragi, and Fukuda: “Gu Jin, you guard Hasegawa; Sakuragi, you mark Takano; Fukuda, you’re responsible for Nagano. Remember, we need to start with the fastest pace and break their formation!”
“Yes!” Fukuda and Gu Jin responded in unison.
“Wait, Coach!” Sakuragi suddenly raised his hand, a triumphant look on his face, “What about me? I think besides defense, the core of our offense should be given to this genius, I guarantee we’ll crush Shoyo!”
“All talk.” Fukuda scoffed, his tone full of disdain.
“What did you say, stinky Fukuda?” Sakuragi immediately bristled, pointing at Fukuda, ready to argue.
“Call me Senior!” Fukuda retorted, glaring back just as fiercely.
The two started bickering the moment they opened their mouths, like a pair of absolute clowns, adding a touch of exasperated liveliness to the serious tactical briefing.
“Alright, both of you shut up!” Taoka frowned and shouted, then looked at Sakuragi, his tone softening slightly, “Sakuragi, I’m giving you the most crucial task—rebounds. Remember, the area under the basket is your domain; you are the Rebound King in my eyes, understand?”
“Understood! The rebounds are on me.” Sakuragi clenched his fists.
In the Shoyo Team’s resting area, the new coach, Takao Gi, stood before the tactics board, his fingertip lightly tapping on players’ names.
This young man, who once served as an assistant coach at Fukazawa Sports University, showed no trace of inexperience on his face, his eyes calmly sweeping over the players before him: “Ryonan’s characteristics are very distinct: Sendoh’s organization, Gu Jin’s scoring explosiveness, and Fukuda’s attacking power—all must be tightly marked.”
He picked up a marker and drew several horizontal lines on the tactics board: “Our advantage lies in height, and this must be maintained throughout the game. On offense, we will resolutely play a half-court game—”
Takao Gi’s pen pointed to Hanagata Toru: “Hanagata, you will facilitate from the high post, using your footwork advantage to contain Uozumi, creating cutting opportunities for Takano and Nagano.
Hasegawa, you drop to the low post, focus on rebound protection, and once you get a second-chance opportunity, shoot decisively.”
“On defense,” he changed his tone, his voice growing heavier, “the focus is on guarding Gu Jin. Fujima, you guard Sendoh, but don’t go head-to-head! As soon as the ball goes to Gu Jin, immediately participate in a double-team!”
He circled two names on the tactics board, “Hasegawa, Nagano, you two stick to Gu Jin. As soon as Gu Jin possesses the ball and enters the three-point line, immediately form a double-team, cutting off his connection with Sendoh and Fukuda.”
Fujima Kenji nodded: “Understood, we won’t let him shoot easily.”
“Right,” Takao Gi nodded, “His shooting consistency is too terrifying; we must use multi-person defense to compress his space.
As for Sakuragi, as long as he doesn’t enter the restricted area, you don’t need to worry about him.
You just need to remember, contain Gu Jin, and you cut off half of Ryonan’s firepower.”
Takano raised his hand: “Coach, what about Sakuragi’s rebounds…”
“It’s fine; it won’t be easy for Sakuragi to make an impact in Shoyo’s restricted area,” Takao Gi’s eyes were sharp, “Our height advantage is here. As long as we don’t let Ryonan get into a fast break, it won’t affect the overall situation.
Remember, play steadily, and wear them down with a half-court game.”
The players responded in unison, and a calm atmosphere, distinctly different from Ryonan’s, permeated the resting area—Shoyo’s tactics, like a meticulously woven net, were waiting for Ryonan to charge right into it.
With a referee’s whistle, the basketball was tossed into the air.
Uozumi leaped up, his long arms stretching like an ape’s, steadily tipping the ball to his team’s half-court.
Sendoh, quick-witted, secured possession of the ball!
He flung his long arm, and the basketball flew towards the frontcourt—Ryonan’s fast break launched like an arrow from a bow!
Gu Jin, like a flash of lightning, rushed past the mid-court line, with Fukuda close behind, forming a double arrow.
The spectators in the stands were just about to stand up and cheer when they saw Shoyo Team’s figures already retreating like a tide. Hasegawa, Nagano, and Fujima almost simultaneously took their positions, weaving a defensive net within the three-point line in the blink of an eye.
“What a fast retreat!” Exclamations rang out from the stands.
The moment Gu Jin received the ball, Hasegawa was already pressing close, his arms spread to block the way.
Just as he was about to change direction and break through, Nagano quickly double-teamed from the side-rear, and even Fujima, who was originally guarding Sendoh, abandoned his pursuit, taking two steps at a time to block the passing lane.
“Triple-team! Shoyo is determined to lock down Gu Jin!” The voices of several fans in the stands carried tension, “This pass is difficult! There are defenders all around, no gaps at all!”
Ye Zi clenched her fists on the sidelines, her heart in her throat.
Just when everyone thought Gu Jin would be forced into a turnover, he suddenly stopped abruptly, his body sharply leaning to the left, as if trying to force his way through the double-team.
Hasegawa and Nagano instinctively moved to block to the left. In this critical moment, Gu Jin flicked his wrist, and the basketball, like a thread passing through a needle, shot out from under their armpits, flying precisely to the right!
Fukuda had already understood, cutting into the restricted area like a leopard, catching the ball, jumping, and slamming it down with a tomahawk dunk!
“Bang!”
The basketball slammed into the hoop, making the net hum.
2:0!
The timer had only just passed 15 seconds, and Ryonan had torn open Shoyo’s defensive net with a fast break.
A deafening cheer erupted from the stands. Ye Zi jumped up excitedly, looking at Gu Jin and Fukuda high-fiving on the court, a brilliant smile spreading across her face.
Meanwhile, in the Shoyo Team’s resting area, Takao Gi frowned slightly, his fingertip tapping heavily on the tactics board—this game was clearly more troublesome than he had anticipated.