47 A Time To Relax

After the match between Kyōsen and Yurisei was done, all the players and teams dispersed. They have some free time tomorrow since the first match will be the match between Yako and Yurisei.

Honestly though, the result of the game no longer mattered as Kyōsen already have two wins. Even if one of them wins this match, the match will only make them the second place of the group.

Same as the two teams, Kyōsen's entire squad also headed out to relax a bit. When they reached their designated locker room, they all went on their own ways.

Fukuda, Izuki, Hyuuga, Tomotsu, Izanagi and Kogure stayed inside the locker room while Akagi, Wakamatsu, Seiji, and Takeo went outside to catch some fresh air for some time. They didn't have any more match today but they chose to stay in order to watch the match tapes between other teams.

Since they have a pretty good amount of data regarding other teams that are not main contenders, the entire team of Kyōsen decided to go gather some intelligence regarding the strong teams from other regions that they would most likely meet at the playoffs. It's already guaranteed that they'll be in the playoffs so there's no harm in doing it.

The strong team that they would most likely meet during the accursed quarter finals are the Shōei Middle School from the metropolis of Tokyo. Even though Chu Lin assured the senior members of that team that Shōei is a weaker team than theirs, the psychological impact that they received during the last Quarter Finals are still looming inside their heads.

This is the main reason why this team have never progressed beyond the quarter finals despite being a strong team. The match on which they got mentally and systematically broken by the 'Point God' of Shiratorizawa left a shadow in their hearts that wouldn't be broken unless they beat them.

※・※・※・※

Meanwhile, at the locker room of Yurisei Middle School, a frustrated Rukawa Kaede could be seen. He's gritting his teeth while sometimes beating down on the bench using his clenched fists.

His teammates left him be as they knew just how important it is for this junior of theirs to always win, to be number one. His ego is extremely big and he wanted to be better than anyone but, here he is, beaten by someone who is of the same year as him to submission.

'Why is he so strong!? Did I do something wrong during the match?' Rukawa asked himself these questions many times over during the span of a few minutes after the referee called that the match was over.

Ever since childhood, Rukawa has always been better than most of his peers when it comes to basketball. However, similar to Mitsui, he never left his prefecture, much less his region, to expand his knowledge regarding basketball. As a result, he began thinking that there's a possibility for him to be number one when the time comes.

'So this is what Mom always told me. There's always someone out there who could be better than me…'

Frustrated at himself, Rukawa went out of their locker room and wandered around outside. There, he met someone he didn't expect. It was like seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.

※・※・※・※

「Nationals (Junior High Division), Day 2, Group Stage, Round 3: Round-robin」

The next day, after all the teams dispersed and went on their own hotels, the players are looking quite refreshed after a great sleep last night. Seiji couldn't help but praise the service at the hotels.

Due to the more advanced technologies of this world, some machines that could effectively remove fatigue after intense workouts has been invented. The strength retention rate is at a high percentage after using this machine so many sports enthusiasts absolutely adore and worship it.

Since removing fatigue doesn't only benefit the sports side of things, high class hotels bought these machines and allowed guests to rent it. Their profits is at its peak whenever there's a major basketball tournament like right now.

At court number 14, a match is currently ongoing. It's the final match of group 14. The two teams that are currently facing each other are Mujinazaki Middle School and Shōei Middle School.

Seeing that the match just started, the entire team of Kyōsen sat down at a vacant part at the audience seats and started a conversation amongst themselves.

"It seems like Shōei is on the lead," Akagi commented.

"Well, it's not that much of a surprise since Mujinazaki Middle School from Ōita is new to the Nationals."

"Don't you think that they just got lucky and managed to snag a spot to this tournament?"

Akagi's remark was immediately followed by the comments of Kogure who's currently wiping his round glasses and Wakamatsu who's leaning his back on his seat with his arms spread eagle. The relatively quiet members of the team like Tomotsu, Izanagi, and Fukuda stayed mum about the subject and focused on the match before them.

Seiji, Hyuuga, Takeo and Izuki, on the other hand, joined the conversation.

"The center of Mujinazaki is no match against Shōei's center…"

"With Shōei controlling the game's rebound like that, I think it's fair to say that they have the absolute advantage this game."

While Seiji and Hyuuga voiced out their own thoughts, Takeo interjected and asked a question.

"Umm… don't you think that this center of Shōei is quite similar to Hanagata of Kishiyamoto?"

The one to answer his query is Izuki.

"You noticed that too? This center's play style is definitely similar to Hanagata. Unlike captain Akagi, this center and Hanagata are great with technical moves."

While their conversation is ongoing, the game between Mujinazaki and Shōei is also ongoing. With Kiyoshi Teppei on the helm, Shōei launched their offense.

Because Teppei is there to catch the ball, the three shooters of Shōei weren't afraid to miss. Their volume shooting is really giving Mujinazaki a big problem since, even if these guys miss, Teppei is there to take the offensive rebound.

With so many shots taken, one is bound to sink in. Sometimes, Teppei would casually go for a put back with the use of a casual layup.

*thack*

The shooting guard of Shōei missed a contested shot, a bad shot selection on the shooting guard's part, making the ball bounce off the rim. Even before his team's shooting guard release the ball, Teppei is already prepared to box out Mujinazaki's center.

Sure enough, when his shooting guard missed, he immediately boxed out the opposing team's center and easily gained another offensive rebound. With the ball in his hands, Teppei jumped up and tried to go for a dunk.

"LIKE I'LL LET THAT HAPPEN!" However, it seems like a beast awakened within Mujinazaki's center as he jumped higher than normal and managed to stop Teppei's attempt.

Players of Mujinazaki is just about to cheer for their center when Teppei used his hands that is holding the ball to pry it out of the hands of Mujinazaki's center.

"Wha—!"

Mujinazaki's center was obviously stunned at this sudden turn of events but he could no longer do anything as Teppei shifted his body's position midair. Using his right hand, he created some separation between him and the opposing team's center and used his left hand to shoot a text book example of a hook shot.

All Mujinazaki's center could do is look at the ball in despair as it created a parabola, rolled round and round the rim, before dropping inside the hoop with a swoosh.

Watching this unfold, Akagi couldn't help but once again comment on it.

"Well, it looks like Mujinazaki's center is down for the count."

"Yeah, it looks like he'll be sitting on the bench for the rest of the game after a few minutes, mulling about the philosophical questions about this universe…" Wakamatsu added.

"He'll seriously turn into a sage after this play?" Takeo inquired with curiosity.

"Oh! You mentioning the word 'universe' gave me an idea for a pun about one of the celestial bodies, the stars!" Izuki exclaimed.

Hearing his excited tone, the senior members of the basketball club immediately rolled their eyes and focused their gazes on the match. Seiji and Takeo, on the other hand, was curious about what this is all about.

"What do starlets like to read before going to bed?"

"Uh… What is it Izuki-senpai?" Takeo replied in a rather hesitant manner.

"It's comet books!"

Silence soon followed as Seiji and Takeo looked at Izuki with their eyes narrowed. However, their gazes were ignored as Izuki laughed at his own pun, along with another person.

Hearing someone else laugh other than Izuki, the senior members of the team couldn't help but look behind their backs in horror.

There's actually someone who finds Izuki's corny jokes as funny!?

Is the world going to end tomorrow!?

In what parallel world is there a person who would actually laugh at Izuki's puns!?

As stupid thoughts revolved around their heads, the person who they are all looking at finally stopped laughing. Wiping the tears that formed on the corners of his eyes, the guy directed his gaze at Izuki before addressing him.

"Hahaha! That was funny man! You're Izuki, right? The one from last year's quarter finals?"

"You are…"

※・※・※・※

To be continued…

[A/N¹: I hope I won't see a comment like, "Ahh! Such a cliffhanger! Author, please tell us who it was! Right this instant!". Because, honestly, who this person is quite easy to guess. After all, by far, there's only one person who find Izuki's puns funny other than his family members.]

[A/N²: Next chapters will be about the Playoffs(Probably)! I will be making a chapter each regarding important matches between the main contenders and such.]