The next day.
Inside the Kainan Basketball Gym, an unusually heavy atmosphere filled the air.
Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, illuminating the polished wooden floor, yet it failed to dispel the solemn tension pressing down on the court.
Coach Takato stood at center court, hands clasped behind his back.
The easygoing smile he usually wore was nowhere to be seen. His brows were drawn tight, his expression grave—like a commander preparing to face a powerful enemy.
His sharp gaze swept across the players lined up before him.
"You've all seen Ryonan's match against Shoyo," Coach Takato said slowly, his voice low and direct. "Tell me your thoughts."
The gym fell instantly silent.
Yesterday's fifty-point demolition of Shoyo by Ryonan had left a deep impression on everyone present.
Seeing no one speak, Coach Takato's frown deepened.
"What? Nothing to say?"
"…Didn't Ryonan just beat Shoyo?" Kiyota Nobunaga finally blurted out, unable to hold back. His tone carried youthful arrogance and irritation. "We beat Shoyo all the time too. What's so special about that?"
The moment the words left his mouth, the temperature in the gym dropped.
Coach Takato's face darkened immediately.
"Are you an idiot?" Takasago Kazuma snapped, his voice filled with helpless disbelief.
Jin Soichiro shook his head. "This isn't the time for jokes."
"Huh?" Kiyota scratched his head, still confused. "What did I say wrong—"
Bang!
A heavy fist came down squarely on his head.
"Ow—!" Kiyota toppled forward, clutching his scalp as he yelped. "Captain Maki! Why'd you hit me?!"
Shinichi Maki withdrew his fist calmly, his expression stern.
"When the coach asks for your opinion, answer seriously. Don't speak without thinking."
He paused, then lifted his gaze, sweeping across the entire team.
"You should've watched that match carefully. Ryonan didn't beat Shoyo by chance—they crushed them with overwhelming strength."
His voice grew heavier.
"Akashi's presence has completely elevated Ryonan's offense and defense. If we cling to Kainan's so-called invincibility, the next team to be humiliated could be us."
Kiyota slowly got up, rubbing his head. Seeing Maki's serious expression—and Coach Takato's grim face—he finally understood his mistake.
"…I get it," he muttered.
Maki turned back toward Coach Takato, his posture straight, tone steady but unmistakably serious.
"Ryonan is far stronger than we anticipated. Their overall level has already reached the national stage."
Those words rippled through the gym like a shockwave.
"National-level."
Coming from Shinichi Maki, those three words carried immense weight.
Coach Takato nodded slightly, signaling him to continue.
"Uozumi's presence in the paint is now fully on par with Takasago," Maki continued. "His rebounding is stable, and his defensive judgment has become far more refined."
"And then there's Sendoh." Maki's voice lowered. "Court vision, penetration, outside shooting—he's elite in every aspect. His inside-out coordination with Uozumi alone is enough to pressure us."
He paused.
A crimson-haired figure surfaced unbidden in his mind.
"And the biggest threat," Maki said slowly, "is their captain—Akashi Seijuro."
The gym grew even quieter.
"Although we haven't faced him directly yet," Maki continued, drawing a breath, "the feeling he gives me is… very similar to Sannoh."
Boom.
It felt as though lightning had struck the court.
Every player froze.
Sannoh.
The name alone carried crushing weight—the pinnacle of high school basketball, an existence beyond reach for most teams.
Coach Takato leaned forward slightly, his eyes sharp.
"Maki. Are you certain?"
"I am." Maki nodded without hesitation. "Akashi reminds me of Fukatsu—the same composure, the same absolute control. Just standing on the court, he exerts pressure, as if everything is already calculated."
At the mention of Fukatsu, the players' expressions grew even more severe.
They remembered that national tournament vividly—how Kainan's rhythm had been dismantled piece by piece.
To be compared to that man…
"I don't feel it as strongly as Maki," Jin Soichiro admitted, "but Ryonan's system has become frighteningly smooth. Offense and defense flow together seamlessly. Just imagining facing them makes my stomach tighten."
Muto Tadashi nodded. "Sendoh and Uozumi were already dangerous. With Akashi added, it's like they've been reforged. Even Fujima couldn't do anything against him—and that's not something a normal first-year should be capable of."
Coach Takato remained silent, absorbing every word.
His gaze finally landed on Takasago Kazuma.
"And you?"
Takasago lowered his head.
After a long pause, he raised it and spoke simply.
"Ryonan is strong."
No embellishment. No analysis.
Just the truth.
The gym fell silent once more.
Coach Takato closed his eyes.
The footage replayed in his mind—Akashi's predictive steals, his effortless penetration past Fujima, his calm command of the game's rhythm, even his restraint once victory was assured.
As a veteran coach, Takato had seen countless talents.
Yet Akashi shook him.
Ryonan's true strength wasn't just Sendoh's brilliance or Uozumi's growth—it was the core that bound everything together.
Akashi.
A point guard who could dominate yet restrain himself.
A leader who controlled the game itself.
At the same age, even Shinichi Maki had not reached this level.
The realization left a bitter taste.
Taoka… you really struck gold this time.
But envy solved nothing.
Tomorrow's match loomed.
Coach Takato opened his eyes, resolve replacing hesitation.
"Kainan's throne," he said slowly, "will not be surrendered."
Sixteen consecutive prefectural championships were not a coincidence—they were Kainan's legacy.
He looked at his players.
"Since you all recognize Ryonan's strength, then you know what must be done."
The players nodded, fear replaced by focus.
"Yes," Coach Takato continued, voice rising with conviction, "Ryonan is strong. But we are not weak."
"We are Kainan—the kings of Kanagawa. We've stood on the national stage year after year. Ryonan may be a dark horse, but they lack one thing we possess."
"Experience."
He paused.
"That doesn't mean we underestimate them. On the contrary—we treat them as our most dangerous enemy. Study them. Break them down. And then—defeat them with everything we have."
"Yes!!"
The roar shook the gym.
Satisfied, Coach Takato checked his watch.
"No heavy training today. We focus on simulation—replicating Ryonan's system and tendencies."
The players moved instantly.
Two teams formed.
One was Kainan.
The other—Ryonan.
The sound of basketballs striking the floor and sneakers screeching echoed throughout the gym.
Tomorrow, the king would face the challenger.
And neither intended to retreat.