Black Basketball: A false start

Chapter 300: Their respective futures

"Buzz~"

The game between Sierra Canyon Middle School and Oak Hill High School quickly entered garbage time due to the strong performance of Ken Kaneki. When the whistle sounded at halftime, the fans of Oak Hill High School on the sidelines looked at the score of 126:62 and cheered excitedly.

"Fuck, I thought I had improved a lot..." After the game, Jermaine O'Neal came to Kaneki Ken with a frustrated look on his face and stretched out his hand, saying, "I didn't expect that I would still be vulnerable in front of you..."

"It doesn't matter. You will find out later that losing to me may be your greatest honor." Kaneki Ken said with a smile as he shook the hand that Jermaine O'Neal extended.

"I admit that you are indeed very strong..." Tracy McGrady came to the two of them with an unpleasant look on his face, and said with a hint of stubbornness in his tone, "But wait, we were just careless this time, I will definitely beat you next time!"

After saying that, Tracy McGrady walked towards the player tunnel without looking back.

"Don't take him seriously. This guy only started playing basketball in high school." Jermaine O'Neal looked at Kaneki Ken's amused expression and explained, "Before this game, he had never seen you play in person."

"It doesn't matter, he sees it now." Kaneki Ken shrugged, patted Jermaine O'Neal's shoulder as a farewell, turned around and left the court.

"This guy...will become a superstar in the NBA in the future." Stephen Jackson came to Jermaine O'Neal and looked at Kaneki Ken's back with a complicated expression and said, "So there's nothing shameful about losing."

"Fxxk, I have thought about this kind of thing a long time ago. How come you just know it now?" Jay Maine O'Neal said to Stephen Jackson with a surprised look on his face.

"Well done, Ken-kun!" Seeing Kaneki Ken coming down from the court, Momoi Satsuki smiled and walked over to him, handing him a towel and saying, "I feel like Ken-kun is really amazing... He was able to put in such a great performance even against a five-star high school student..."

"It's okay..." Kaneki Ken wiped the sweat off his face after taking the towel and said, "These guys are just the last-ranked among the five-star high school students... Our biggest opponent is still the little bald guy from Philadelphia."

"You have a good eye, kid." A slightly surprised voice came from behind Kaneki Ken, "In fact, in addition to you, we are also planning to introduce the kid from Philadelphia."

"Jerry? Why are you here?" Kaneki Ken looked at Jerry West with some surprise, walked up to hug the logo man, and asked with a little curiosity.

"This is your first game in the United States. As someone who recommended you to the boss, of course I have to bring the boss to see your performance in person." Jerry West smiled and pointed at Jerry Buss next to him and said, "Let me introduce you. This is Jerry Buss."

"Very good performance, kid." Jerry Buss, who had been impatient for a long time, stretched out his hand to Kaneki Ken and said with a happy tone, "You are born for big scenes. I believe you will be a Laker sooner or later."

"I hope so, Mr. Buss." Kaneki Ken shook hands with Jerry Buss calmly and said, "But now, please allow me to go to the locker room and take a shower."

After saying that, Kaneki Ken didn't care about Jerry Buss's reaction. He bowed slightly to the two Jerrys, then turned around and walked towards the locker room.

"Shit, he has no respect for the elderly. This kid is even more of an asshole than I was when I was young." Jerry Buss cursed and laughed as he watched Kaneki Ken's back disappear. "But only assholes like him can create the glorious Lakers."

The visits from Jerry Buss and Jerry West were just small episodes in daily life. In the following days, Ken Kaneki led Oak Hill High School to overcome all obstacles and advance to the finals with a perfect season record. Their opponent in the finals was Lower Merion High School led by Kobe Bryant.

"In the blink of an eye, it's already been half a year since I came to the United States..." After the semi-finals, Kaneki Ken stared blankly at the calendar on his phone and muttered to himself, "I wonder to what extent this guy Sakuragi has brought Shonan High School..."

"Sakuragi-san performed very well." Taoi Satsuki stood up from behind Kaneki Ken and said with a sweet smile, "Senior Ayako just sent me a message saying that Sakuragi and Rukawa-san have led the team to the finals of IH. Their opponent in the finals is Rakusan High School led by Akashi-san. If we take into account the time difference, we should be able to watch the game at 8 o'clock tomorrow morning!"

"Oh, really?" Kaneki Ken raised his eyebrows slightly, and said with a hint of expectation in his tone, "Since Sakuragi is already so outstanding, as a teacher, I must work harder!"

……

"Golden Flash has already gone to the United States... If I want to continue playing behind Golden Flash, I have to work harder..."

At six o'clock in the evening Tokyo time, the last hour before the game started, Sakuragi Hanamichi forcefully drove everyone out of the locker room, sat in front of the locker, and muttered to himself as he looked at the briefing he had made himself on all of Kaneki Ken's games in the United States.

"This guy...what's wrong with him again?" At the door of the locker room, Miyagi Ryouta looked at Inoue Ayako with a puzzled look and asked.

"Maybe it's Kaneki's performance that makes Sakuragi feel a lot of pressure..." Inoue Ayako sighed and said, "Last year, under Kaneki's leadership, Shonan High School almost always defeated their opponents with a large score advantage, but this year they almost turned the car over when facing Murasakibara... Although Sakuragi didn't say it, I can see that this incident has dealt a heavy blow to Sakuragi."

"This guy is unexpectedly sentimental..." Miyagi Ryouta shook his head, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. "Should I say he's arrogant? A new basketball player can lead his team to defeat the Generation of Miracles and reach the finals. Anyone can brag about it for the rest of their life, right?"

"But he is not an ordinary player..." Inoue Ayako said with some emotion as she looked towards the locker room, "He is the basketball genius Sakuragi Hanamichi!"

"The IH League Finals, the match between Shonan High School and Los Angeles High School is about to begin. Players from both teams, please hurry up and enter the field!"

As time passed, the prompt sound above the venue was transmitted to every corner of the stadium through the broadcast of the tweeters.

"This Sakuragi guy... why has he become so slow..." Miyagi Ryouta, who was getting a little impatient, took a step forward and was about to knock on the door when he bumped into Sakuragi Hanamichi who suddenly opened the door and walked out.

"Ryouta?" Sakuragi Hanamichi looked down at Miyagi Ryouta in surprise and asked, "What are you doing?"

"Shouldn't I be the one asking you this?" Miyagi Ryouta said unhappily, "I thought you were asleep in there, why did you just come out now?"

"Oh... Gilgamesh just called me, so I might have been a little delayed." Sakuragi Hanamichi scratched the back of his head a little embarrassedly and said, "Well, don't worry about those details, let's get on the court!"

"This guy... is really a headache..." Miyagi Ryouta said in astonishment as he looked at the back of Sakuragi Hanamichi who seemed to be escaping.

"That guy is an idiot. You've known this for a long time." Rukawa took off his headphones and said, "Be nervous. Now we don't have Kaneki Ken to lead us into higher-level competitions." "Ah, I understand." Miyagi Ryouta stretched his neck, and a fighting spirit gradually emerged in his eyes. "Akagi Seijuro... the best point guard in the country. I've long wanted to learn from him."

"Oh oh oh oh oh oh!!!!"

"Sakuragi!", "Sakuragi!", "Sakuragi!"

"Shonan!", "Shonan!", "Shonan!"

As the door to the player tunnel slowly opened, the thunderous cheers from the audience seats almost knocked the Shonan High School players off their feet.

"The audience is still as enthusiastic as ever..." In the media work area on the sidelines, Nakamura looked around the audience seats with emotion and said, "I never thought that even though Kaneki-san has gone to the United States, the fan base of Shonan High School is still as formidable as ever..."

"That's natural, Nakamura." Aida Miko said calmly while looking at the two teams on the field. "Firstly, no one would have thought that after the Kaneki Ken era, Shonan High School led by Sakuragi-san would still be able to maintain its dominance over the high school basketball world. Secondly, some spectators came to watch the game with the idea that Rakuzan High School could overthrow Shonan High School's dominance. With these two factors combined, the attention paid to this game certainly far exceeded that of other games..."

"If you put it that way..." Nakamura said thoughtfully, "Isn't the current Shonan High School just like the Miracle Generation of the past? Everyone is looking forward to them creating more glorious records, while also hoping that someone will stand up and resist their rule..."

"Who knows?" Aida Miko said with a meaningful smile, "Set up the camera, Nakamura, this game may be exciting."

"Long time no see, Sakuragi." As the two teams came to the field, Akashi Seijuro also stood out familiarly, smiled and stretched out his hand to Sakuragi Hanamichi and said.

"...We will beat you tonight." Sakuragi Hanamichi looked down at Akashi Seijuro's hand and shook it tightly.

"I'm looking forward to it." Akashi Seijuro looked at Sakuragi Hanamichi with a smile, his expression not changing at all.

"Hmph!" Sakuragi Hanamichi snorted coldly, turned around and led the team towards the half of the court behind him.

"Hiss..." It was not until he saw Sakuragi Hanamichi's back walking away that Akashi Seijuro took a deep breath, vigorously waved his hand that was pinched by Sakuragi Hanamichi and complained, "This guy... is still as childish as before!"

"Are you okay, Xiao Zheng?" Mibuchi Reio said in shock as she looked at Akashi Seijuro's red and swollen palms.

"I'm fine, let's get ready to warm up." Akashi Seijuro shook his head, turned around and led the team towards the half of the court behind him.

"I really envy these two guys... Sakuragi-chan, and Akashi-chan." In the audience seats on the sidelines, Kise Ryota, with his arms folded across his chest, sighed helplessly and said, "I don't know when I can experience the taste of the IH finals..."

"Don't worry, Kise." Takeuchi Genta said calmly, "When your body is fully mature, I believe your fighting ability will not be inferior to anyone! Even Kaneki Ken!"

"You're talking about Kaneki..." Kise Ryouta said with a complicated sigh, "This guy has made a big name for himself in the United States... It is said that American basketball experts believe that even if Kaneki participates in the draft this year, he will be a strong contender for the top pick!"

"Isn't that nonsense?" Hayakawa Mitsuo bowed to Kise Ryota and said, "There is no high school student stronger than that guy! If you want to catch up with him, you have to work harder!"

"I've tried my best, Hayakawa-senpai~" said Kise Ryota with a wry smile.

"The IH League Finals, the match between Shonan High School and Rakuzan High School is about to begin. All irrelevant players from both sides are requested to leave the field as soon as possible."

Amid the anticipation of the spectators on the sidelines, the prompt sound from the broadcast above the stadium finally arrived.

"Everyone, it's time to go on stage!" Before going on stage, Sakuragi Hanamichi gathered all the students from Shonan High School into a circle, and was the first to reach his hand into the circle and shouted loudly, "Shonan High School!!!"

"Come on! Come on!! Come on!!!" the other players of Shonan High School responded loudly.

"It was a close call... I almost overslept and missed the game..."

Just as the players of the two teams lined up at the center line, on the other side of the ocean in the United States, Kaneki Ken was sitting in front of the TV excitedly waiting for the game to begin.

"It's all your fault, Ken-kun!" Taoi Satsuki blushed and gave Kaneki Ken a look, "I told you I'd watch the game today, so don't stay up too late..."

"Hehe~ Isn't the atmosphere there?" Kaneki Ken scratched his head with a smile, pointed at the TV and changed the subject, "Watch the game, watch the game~"

"Players from both teams, line up and salute!" At the midfield line, the referee holding the basketball shouted loudly in a procedural manner.

"Please give me your guidance!" Sakuragi Hanamichi said, staring at Akashi Seijuro with his fiery red pupils.

"Please give me your guidance!" Akashi Seijuro looked at Sakuragi Hanamichi with a smile and bowed slightly.

As the players of both teams finished their salute, Sakuragi Hanamichi and Nango Koichiro also came to the sides of the center line, ready to jump the ball. The referee on the side also nodded and came to the center line, blowing the whistle and throwing the ball high into the air.

"Beep beep~"

"Uhhhhhh!!"

At the moment when the sharp whistle sounded throughout the stadium, Koichiro Nango and Hanamichi Sakuragi jumped up with roars almost at the same time, and their long arms, like spears in the hands of a knight, accurately stabbed the basketball in the air.

(End of this chapter)