Chapter Twenty-Six
Early the next morning, the sun was just beginning to rise, casting a golden hue across the horizon.
The members of the basketball team, led by their passionate captain Akagi, gathered together in the gymnasium, eyes filled with determination.
"Shohoku! Let's go!"
Akagi exclaimed, his voice resonating with unwavering determination and hope.
Having faced Ryonan High School before, Akagi knew the odds were against them in previous encounters.
However, he believed that this time would be different, especially with the addition of Long Yan and Rukawa to the team.
They were not only skilled players but also brought a fresh perspective and strategy to the game.
Despite Miyagi's absence, everyone on the team was motivated to prove themselves and show that they were capable of victory.
Long Yan, in particular, was eager to demonstrate his abilities in an official competition against other schools for the very first time.
Akagi's powerful voice echoed through the gym, igniting a fire of excitement and determination in the hearts of the team members.
They knew that they had to give their best, both for themselves and for the honor of the Shohoku basketball team.
As they stepped onto the court, their nerves mixed with adrenaline, they reminded themselves of Akagi's words.
"Shohoku must win!"
Coach Anzai felt immense satisfaction witnessing their passion and enthusiasm.
"Hohoho, everyone should behave well!"
Coach Anzai reminded them, acknowledging that, although a training match, it was also an opportunity for other schools to scout talent.
Many schools were focusing on the Ryonan, the final four of the county competition.
The attention might not be on their team, but their performance could still leave an impression.
Upon their arrival at the opponent's basketball hall, the students there glanced curiously at them, all eyes filled with curiosity.
"Look, Shohoku is here," one of the students remarked, drawing attention to the arrival of their competitors.
"The one-man team that barely made it to the tournament came here to embarrass themselves. Let's see how badly they'll lose."
"Hahaha, exactly! They only have Akagi, and I heard Rukawa from Tomigaoka Junior High joined them, but the rest are just useless."
"It's going to be a completely one-sided match. No suspense at all."
The students observing the scene were engaged in mocking conversation, their faces filled with disdain.
Hearing these demeaning comments, Akagi and his team couldn't help but feel upset and irritated by the contemptuous attitude.
Sakuragi, in particular, was unable to stay quiet any longer and stood up boldly, ready to respond with a sharp retort.
However, he was restrained by Akagi, who reminded him with a stern expression.
"Sakuragi Hanamichi, stay calm. Let them mock us. Responding to their taunts won't help our situation."
The mocking words from the crowd had definitely gotten under his skin.
Long Yan also offered support by patting his shoulder and sharing wise words.
"The weak resort to words, but the strong prove themselves through actions. If they look down on us, let's use our actions to show them our strength."
This advice resonated with Sakuragi, and he reluctantly suppressed his irritation.
Meanwhile, Kogure observed Long Yan's behavior and couldn't help but feel surprised.
Despite being young, he had displayed a remarkable level of sophistication and maturity in handling situations.
His approach to handling the situation at hand demonstrated a level of wisdom beyond his years.
Soon, the female students from Ryonan gazes roamed over Akagi but eventually settled on Long Yan.
"Wow, look! That guy from Shohoku is so handsome!" one of them exclaimed excitedly.
"Where? Let me see!" The other girls quickly scanned the team before their eyes locked on Long Yan.
In an instant, their eyes sparkled with admiration and infatuation as they found themselves captivated by his appearance.
Their hearts fluttered like blooming peach blossoms, and they couldn't help but be drawn to him like water.
At that moment, even the typically charming and attractive Sendoh seemed to pale in comparison to Long Yan in the eyes of these enamored girls.
At that very moment, Taoka, the coach of Ryonan's basketball team, approached Coach Anzai with a sense of urgency.
"Coach Anzai, I hope you can provide me with some valuable advice for this game," he requested earnestly.
Coach Anzai responded with a warm smile, and the two coaches briefly exchanged friendly words and greetings.
Following this interaction, Uozumi, the captain of Ryonan, trotted up to greet him as well.
However, his gaze quickly locked onto Akagi, and he spoke with a tone brimming with competitiveness.
"Akagi, I will defeat you in today's match."
Despite their consistent victories against Shohoku, the general consensus outside the school was that Uozumi, as a center forward, was not on par with Akagi.
The rivalry between the two captains added an extra layer of intensity to the impending match.
Akagi felt like a heavy boulder weighing on his heart, knowing that in order to overcome it, he would have to defeat his ultimate rival.
Observing the towering figure of Uozumi, Kuwata, and the other first-year students were astonished.
They whispered amongst themselves at the back of the team, speculating about his identity.
"Wow, he's so tall! Could he be the rival of Captain Akagi?"
"Oh my goodness, the pressure he exudes is suffocating. It feels like I can hardly breathe."
As soon as Long Yan caught sight of Uozumi, he instinctively scanned him, gathering information through his special ability.
[Character Scan: Jun Uozumi]
[Height: 202cm]
[Weight: 90kg]
[Physical strength: B]
[Speed: C]
[Strength: A]
[Bounce: B-]
He quickly assessed the attributes of Uozumi and realized that he was almost on par with Akagi in all aspects, and even surpassed him in terms of strength, reaching a perfect level.
However, in terms of ball skills, he might be slightly inferior to Akagi, which led to his ability to suppress him during their encounters.
Long Yan couldn't help but be surprised by his impressive physical attributes.
He understood why he was considered Akagi's lifelong rival.
From a physical standpoint, Uozumi's presence was undeniably overwhelming.
A confident smile graced Akagi's face as he spoke to him.
"Uozumi, it's been a long time. Let's see how much stronger you've become."
Despite the smile, the determination in his eyes revealed an intense and burning desire to prove himself against his formidable rival.
He returned the smile, mirroring his competitive spirit.
As the two locked eyes, an electric tension seemed to emanate from the intense gaze, almost like the crackling of electricity when currents collided.
Status Power Mingguan
-- Peringkat
Power 
-- Power
stone