[TL Note: Sorry guys I realized that yesterday instead of publishing chapter 18, I published chapter 29, my bad. Anyways here 3 chapters today for my mistake.]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Swoosh!"
The basketball spun and went through the net. The members of the light green team from Takenozuka Junior High School stood under the basket, watching helplessly as the departing figure of the player with the blood-red number 6 jersey seemed to massacre them like a knife.
This was the first game of the middle school league. The opponent this time was an average team and were completely crushed by Shōgo. By the third quarter, they had lost their spirit, all wearing defeated and disheartened expressions.
However, the game wasn't over; the battle continued.
Shōgo in the blood-red number 6 jersey kept scoring, using various techniques to make his shots. Even though the score was now 68 to 23, he kept scoring relentlessly.
Strangely, Shōgo on the court didn't look thrilled at all, nor did he show excitement after scoring. Instead, Rina, who was watching him play, had an excited and joyful expression in the spectator seats.
Shōgo's gaze wasn't on the opponents; it was on his teammates. He was observing, he was scrutinizing.
With a large lead and victory almost certain, the opponents were in complete disarray.
Some were excited, some were happy, some were itching to make a move, some hesitated, and some were even dribbling the ball, their possession time growing longer.
My teammates!
Can you restrain your desire to score?
Can you control the restlessness within your hearts?
Do you truly understand the depth of your determination?
Shōgo was testing, testing his teammates, testing the limits of the team, and observing the performance of each member.
Some seemed to have forgotten the coach's tactical arrangements and their declarations of determination.
Some remained true to their original intentions, unmoved, like Sasaki Sasaki, the captain of the basketball team.
Some were already exhausted, and unwilling to be substituted.
Some sat on the bench with expressionless faces.
Some excitedly waved their hands and shouted encouragement from the bench.
Coach Kudo also silently watched the game, focusing on the performance of each player.
Time seemed to stretch out, with each second feeling lengthy.
In the prolonged focus, shot after shot went through the basketball hoop.
As the whistle blew, the score was 98 to 32, a decisive victory for Fukuda Junior High School.
But Shōgo was sad. He had noticed that even in the final minute of the game, some teammates couldn't resist the temptation and started shooting.
Although they scored, Shōgo was disappointed.
He didn't blame his teammates, nor did he congratulate them. He silently returned to the rest area, packed up his things, and prepared to leave.
Wearing a guarded expression, Shōgo blocked the way for many people.
"Coach, a friend came to watch me play basketball. I'm leaving now; I won't be going back with you all."
"Go ahead. We'll have a review meeting after the match the day after tomorrow. I'll have an explanation for you, Shōgo."
"Oh, okay."
Shōgo packed up his belongings and, at the entrance of the gymnasium, was met by Rina, who was holding two bottles of water.
Two bottles of water—one untouched, the other already half-empty.
"Shōgo-kun, you were amazing! Here, I've got you some water to replenish your energy."
Shōgo didn't say anything. He took the transparent water bottle and started drinking, gulp after gulp.
After finishing one bottle, Shōgo was still not satisfied. He snatched the half-empty water bottle from Rina's hand and continued drinking.
"Shōgo-kun, that's mine."
Before she could finish her sentence, Rina's delicate face turned red with embarrassment. But she still reminded Shgo gently, like a flowing stream of water.
"Shōgo-kun, it's not good to drink too quickly. Take your time."
Shōgo was indeed thirsty. Playing a full game had indeed taken a toll on his stamina. Luckily, the opponents were weak, so he didn't exert himself too much. If they were a stronger team, he would probably have been exhausted.
"Rina-chan, I was thirsty!"
"Come on, Shōgo-kun. I'll treat you to a big meal. Congratulations on your first victory."
"I'll hold you to that, Rina-chan. You're treating me, and I want a big meal."
"Let's go, let's go!"
A young man and a young woman, both attractive, teasing, and joking, went to enjoy a big meal.
Meanwhile, on the other side, the members of Fukuda Junior High's basketball team were chatting excitedly and cheerfully on the school bus as it headed back to the school.
However, no one noticed that basketball coach Kudo had a dark expression.
It wasn't until the bus reached the school gate, as everyone prepared to get off, that the somewhat grim and frustrated voice of Coach Kudo broke the silence, freezing the moment and making it as tense as the howling wind outside.
"Asou, Narita, you don't need to come to the basketball team starting next Monday. The basketball team can't accommodate you."
The moment these words were spoken, the bus fell into immediate silence. Not a sound could be heard, not even a pin dropping.
The rustling sound of the wind outside the bus seemed to transform from a gentle breeze to a furious gale, from gentle to fierce.
"Coach?"
"Coach... What..."
All the members of the basketball team stared at Coach Kudo as if they didn't recognize him, as if the person before them wasn't the familiar figure they knew.
Coach Kudo didn't explain; he continued:
"If any of you still lack true determination, you don't need to come either next Monday."
"I want players who will follow the arrangements, who can restrain their desires."
"As ordinary people, as weeds, if we can't control our desires, then we're not worthy of glory."
With these words from Coach Kudo, many people suddenly realized what had happened.
In the final minute of the game, these two individuals couldn't resist, they scored with a sense of delight.
The ball went in, they scored, and their desires were fulfilled.
However, the team's tactics failed, and their spirits collapsed from within.
So, in truth, this game was a failure? a failure of Coach Kudo's tactics and a failure caused by players acting on their own.
Their extreme defensive strategy failed, defeated by the desire to score in the final minute.
Shōgo understood this, and so did Coach Kudo. That's why neither of them felt happy.
On the bus, everyone was downcast, and the two players who made the unauthorized shots wore ashamed expressions.
But does shame have any value? It doesn't.
After a long while, the defeated group dispersed, and Coach Kudo walked step by step into his office. He sat in his chair, remaining silent until the evening, when he finally got up and left.
On the other hand, as soon as Rina was safely on the bus, Shōgo's face, which had been cheerful and lazy, immediately became calm, devoid of any expression.
He sighed deeply! He walked back home in silence, taking his time on the journey.
Desire, can it be restrained?
Can I control it within myself?
On the way, Shōgo kept questioning himself, but he couldn't find an answer.
Ah, tomorrow is Sunday. I'll go hang out with Daiki.