Black Basketball: A false start

Chapter 174 Before the War
"The above are all the video recordings of Shonan High School's matches since the Kanagawa Prefecture trials."

Nakatani Hitoshi pressed the pause button, and the camera fell on the scene where Kaneki Ken dunked over Aomine Daiki.

"If anyone has anything to say about the next round of competition, you may speak now," Nakatani Hitoshi continued.

"I think Xiaozhen's divination in the morning is not accurate at all. Otherwise, how could we have drawn the bad lot in the Eastern District?" Gaowei Kazunari immediately raised his hand and said, "I suggest canceling Xiaozhen's scholarship and giving it to me instead. He used all his scholarship to buy lucky charms."

"Idiot, I'm talking about the game. What do you want to say about the game?" Nakatani Jinliang looked at how satisfied Midorima Shintaro was and how much of a headache Takao Kazuchige was.

"I don't think I have much to say." Midorima Shintaro stood up, "Instead of thinking about Kaneki now, why not play the next game well first."

After saying that, Midorima Shintaro walked out of the meeting room without looking back.

"Xiao Zhen..." Takao Kazunari looked at Midorima Shintaro's departing back with some confusion, and chased after him without even saying hello to Nakatani Jinliang.

"Hey..." Taisuke Ootsubo was about to call the two back, but was stopped by Hitoshi Nakatani.

"Let them be. Today is the first time Midorima has used his willful opportunity." Nakatani Hitoshi said calmly, "Besides, he has to face Kaneki Ken. It is inevitable that Midorima is under a lot of pressure."

"Yes, coach." Taisuke Ootsubo nodded and said in a deep voice.

"Hey, Xiaozhen, I know you are diligent in training, but there is no need to be so disrespectful to Ah Hu~" Takao Kazunari followed Midorima Shintaro to the court to continue passing and receiving training.

"Really? I didn't." Midorima Shintaro's eyes were calm. "I just don't think we are strong enough to open champagne at halftime."

"I always feel like you're making excuses, Xiaozhen~" Gao Weihe looked at Midorima Shintaro suspiciously and said, "Are you scared?"

"I didn't." Midorima Shintaro denied.

"It's over, you are really scared." Gao Wei and Cheng Cheng curled their lips and said, "I didn't expect that there would be someone you are afraid of."

"Are you deaf? I said I'm not!" Midorima Shintaro's voice became a little louder.

"Don't I know you?" Takao Kazunari smiled and looked at Midorima Shintaro, "If you were really not afraid, you would definitely say something like 'What are you talking about?' or 'Do your best and leave the rest to fate. I won't miss my shot.'"

"I don't know what you're talking about..." Midorima Shintaro's pupils shrank slightly, "If you just followed me here to chat, don't disturb my training."

"Hey, we're teammates now. Can't you just tell me if you have anything to say?" Takao Kazunari looked at Midorima Shintaro with undisguised sincerity in his eyes.

……

"99 to 108, Fenghuang High School vs. Shonan High School simulation, Shonan High School wins!"

"Coach Domoto, what kind of player can allow you to simulate training with such strict rules?" In the training hall of Fenghuang High School, Sugiyama Shota from Fukazawa Sports University came to Domoto Koichiro and asked, "If he breaks into the inside and one person defends, it will be counted as a goal. If he defends one-on-one outside the three-point line, it will also be counted as a goal..."

"Shonan High School, Kaneki Ken." Domoto Koichiro looked at the scoreboard with a serious expression, "I invited you to come here for six simulated games, but you didn't win a single game..." "After all, he's just a high school student. Is it necessary to be so serious?" Sugiyama Shota asked in confusion, "The number seven who came with me today is the starting small forward of Fukasawa Sports University. He was also a powerful figure in high school, but not so outrageous... Excuse me for being blunt, Nijimura Shuzo and Sawakita Eiji in your team can be the main players even if they are put in the university team now. Coach Domoto has no need to train so harshly, especially when the next round is to decide the top eight in the country..."

"You're right, but the Kaneki Ken we're about to face... Let's put it this way, guys like the No. 7 you mentioned will have to queue up to ask for Kaneki Ken's autograph in the future..." Domoto Koichiro's eyes revealed a trace of regret from the bottom of his heart, "If I had really recruited Kaneki Ken, Fenghuang High School would definitely have become the Teikoku of Japanese high schools..."

"Nijimura..." Sawakita Eiji, who was resting on the sidelines, looked at the scoreboard and suddenly turned to look at Nijimura Shuzo, "Is Kaneki Ken really as strong as the coach said?"

"What do you think of me?" Nijimura Shuzo asked back.

"Very impressive. You are the first one in Japan who can fight me even though you are shorter than me." Zebei Rongji said in a deep voice.

"Let me tell you, when he and I were in the United States, we played a 1vs1 game for entertainment..." Nijimura Shuzo recalled the scene and said with a wry smile, "It was really so outrageous at the time. Whether it was inside or outside, anyone standing in front of him would just give away points..."

"Really? Only opponents like this are worth defeating..." After hearing Nijimura Shuzo's description, Zebei Rongzhi's eyes became even more excited, "Use a national championship as a salute to send me to the United States!"

"That's right. We are seniors after all!" Nijimura Shuzo seemed to be inspired by Sawakita Eiji's fighting spirit. "We must put on a wonderful match and not let the juniors look down on us!"

"Then what do you think is the probability that we can win?" Zebei Rongzhi asked curiously.

"I think it's most important to play in your own style." Nijimura Shuzo answered the question irrelevantly.

……

"To some extent, you're right. I am a little nervous." In Shutoku High School, Midorima Shintaro and Takao Kazunari were sweating as they sat on the ground. "You have never faced Kaneki Ken directly, so you don't know how much pressure it is to face him..."

"The game hasn't started yet. Your mentality will be very disadvantageous to us~" Takao Kazunari said as if he didn't care.

"I don't mean to brag about Kaneki Ken." Midorima Shintaro lowered his head and said in a deep voice, "But when I was in junior high school, my shooting accuracy never exceeded 30% when I faced Kaneki Ken..."

"What..." Takao Kazunari's face was full of shock, and he suddenly realized that things might not be good.

"I often say that he is a player like Akashi. I'm not saying that their styles are similar, but that he, like Akashi, can see the future of his opponent." Midorima Shintaro seemed to be introducing Kaneki Ken, but also seemed to be asking himself, "Plus, his height is second only to Murasakibara, and he has greater strength than Murasakibara, faster speed than Aomine, more agile body movements, and stronger jumping ability than Kagami Daiga... and he is also a Leo, which is the most incompatible with me..."

"Are you afraid before the fight? Be careful or I'll blow your head off!" Just when Midorima Shintaro was still hesitating, Miyachi Kiyoshi's voice suddenly came from behind him.

"Miyaji-senpai..." A hint of surprise flashed in Midorima Shintaro's eyes, "Shouldn't school be over by now?"

"Do you think you're the only ones who practice extra?" Miyachi Kiyoshi rolled his eyes at Midorima Shintaro. "I had already practiced extra for two and a half years before you joined Shutoku High School, just so I could better exert my strength when I met a strong enemy! Unlike you, you're just sitting there crying. What's wrong? Do you still need me to hug you?"

"Me too." At this time, Taisuke Ohtsubo walked out from behind Kiyoshi Miyaji, "You must trust your seniors and teammates! The game is not a one-on-one fight! What if your hit rate is less than 30%? As long as you think you have a chance to shoot, just go for it! We will grab every rebound for you!"

"Captain..." Midorima Shintaro's eyes flashed with a sparkle, and his eye sockets gradually turned red, but his voice was still cold, "Yes, I will. It's my job to shoot every basketball well."

(End of this chapter)