Chapter Forty-One: Sawakita Eiji
"Sawakita?"
Yagami Sorato paused. He genuinely hadn't noticed that Sannoh Industrial was also located in Akita Prefecture.
"Umm... or maybe it's Kitasawa?" Sendoh scratched his head, showing a somewhat embarrassed smile. "I'm not entirely sure either, haha..."
"Are you really friends?" Yagami couldn't help commenting, his eyes carrying a trace of doubt.
"Should be, I guess. We met during a middle school game." Sendoh recalled. "That was the first time I realized there was someone I absolutely couldn't beat no matter what."
"Oh?" Hearing this, Yagami's interest was immediately piqued.
Sendoh smiled. "They happen to have a practice game today. If we go now, we might still catch it."
"Then what are we waiting for!" Yagami said immediately.
As for bringing back specialties for Chika Yuuki... that should still be doable, right?
One hour later.
The two arrived at Sannoh Industrial High School, quickly finding the gymnasium where the basketball team practiced.
Before even entering, they heard various sounds from inside—shoes squeaking, basketballs pounding, players shouting.
"Looks like the game isn't over yet."
Yagami and Sendoh approached courtside. Judging from the scoreboard, Sannoh Industrial's practice game opponent was actually a college team.
"Spiky head!"
Sawakita Eiji on the court noticed Sendoh appearing courtside with an unfamiliar youth almost immediately.
Just as he got distracted—
"Sawakita, don't lose focus!"
Facing Sawakita, the college player immediately accelerated, blowing past him in one step and driving straight to the paint, jumping for a dunk.
"Yo, cheap shot!"
Sawakita's eyes sharpened. He immediately spun, exploding with incredible speed, leaping high and arriving first despite starting later, swatting the ball against the backboard!
"Smack!"
"Bang!"
The basketball rebounded and fell. Sawakita dove like a hawk intercepting prey, controlling possession before the opposing player, smoothly launching a fast break counterattack!
"Is that him?" Yagami's pupils contracted slightly.
Such quick speed, and remarkably explosive leaping ability. Particularly, he'd already planned his next move upon landing. From being out of position to blocking the shot to launching the counter—the movements flowed so smoothly they seemed rehearsed.
"Stop him!"
Sawakita sprinted the full length, maintaining speed at halfcourt while executing another smooth crossover past a retreating college defender.
Charging into the paint, facing two defenders jointly blocking under the basket, Sawakita's speed still didn't decrease. He rose gracefully, finding a subtle angle in mid-air to release the ball—
The basketball traced a small arc, clearing defensive fingertips and precisely dropping through the net.
Floater, good!
"Sawakita! Sawakita!"
The entire Sannoh gymnasium was instantly drowned in frenzied cheers, the sound waves nearly lifting the roof. Though merely a practice game, it produced an atmosphere rivaling major tournaments.
"That's ridiculous." Yagami muttered internally.
However, Sawakita's "one-versus-five" performance just now truly made cheering irresistible.
Moreover, judging purely by this offensive possession's pressure and execution, Yagami even felt it surpassed the Aomine Daiki he'd witnessed that day.
Just one offensive-defensive transition, yet the speed, technique, and composure displayed were all taken to extremes. Was this the strength of "Japan's number one high school player"?
"Wow, compared to middle school, he's improved so much more." Sendoh sighed with emotion. He'd originally thought they'd both grown to roughly similar levels, but unexpectedly...
He subconsciously deconstructed and replicated Sawakita's series of movements in his mind. His conclusion: he could probably do it too. But rationality told him that real-time reactions in actual combat versus post-facto movement imitation were completely different concepts.
"Have I been spending too much time fishing?" A strange thought appeared in Sendoh's mind.
"No, absolutely impossible." The next second, he silently rejected that idea.
Besides, didn't Ryonan now have Yagami Sorato, who also aimed to be "Japan's number one"? Sendoh looked at his junior beside him, his eyes clear and gratified.
Several minutes later, the game ended.
Score: 122-93. Sannoh Industrial achieved overwhelming victory.
"Hey, Sendoh."
After the game, following Sannoh's exchange of respects with the college team, Sawakita approached courtside.
"Really rare to see you here." Sawakita's face still carried sweat beads, yet his eyes shone remarkably bright. "When I got your message, I thought some bored person was impersonating you."
Though Sawakita's personality was lively, he wasn't the type who enjoyed interacting with strangers.
The reason he'd maintained contact with Sendoh was purely because during that middle school encounter, Sendoh was among the extremely few players who could make him go all out and derive enjoyment from it.
"We had a practice game with Yosen today. Knowing you're also in Akita, I came to witness it." Sendoh explained with a smile, casually glancing at the scoreboard. "Truly lives up to the reputation."
"Ah! Yosen!" Sawakita's eyes lit up like discovering a new toy. "I wanted to schedule a practice game with them too! I heard they got a super interesting recruit this year!"
"Something called... 'Generation of Miracles'?"
He clenched his fist, his face written with eager regret: "I've been wanting to face them! Must be really fun! Too bad Coach didn't agree..."
At different positions, five (six) players with exceptional talent on the same team, called "Generation of Miracles" for their undefeated record.
Sawakita had wanted to face them during middle school but never encountered them.
"They're certainly interesting players," Sendoh smiled, stepping aside to push Yagami forward. "However, there are quite a few such recruits this year."
"Eh?!" Sawakita's gaze instantly focused on Yagami, curiously sizing him up.
"You are? Wait, you're with Sendoh, meaning Ryonan also has a 'Generation of Miracles—'"
"I'm not."
"I knew it. I heard those guys all have colorful hair." Sawakita waved his hand. "You obviously don't look like one."
"Ryonan Basketball Club first-year, Yagami Sorato." Yagami met Sawakita's gaze, speaking calmly. "Like you, senpai, I'm someone who will defeat the Generation of Miracles."
"Oh?" Sawakita's expression became slightly more serious. "Meaning you guys beat Yosen today, right?"
"Yeah." Sendoh didn't hide it. "They're truly strong. This year's Akita prefecture preliminaries might become more interesting."
"Couldn't ask for more." Sawakita grinned.
"Additionally, I share one more thing with you, senpai."
Sawakita looked at Yagami speaking again. Sendoh on the side showed an expression of having anticipated this.
Yagami said unhurriedly: "I also intend to become Japan's number one!"
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