Kuroko's Basketball template: the king of slacking off, Shohoku's strongest sixth man.

Even without Akagi.

"There's no Rukawa or Lin Bei."

"This roster alone is strong enough to be among the top four in the county. That's real depth!"

……

There are six minutes left in the second half.

The score reached an astonishing 113:66.

The difference was nearly 50 points.

This is no longer a competition.

It was a one-sided massacre, a bullying of kindergarten children by adults.

Lin Bei, sitting on the sidelines, was so bored that he started betting with Ayako on how many rebounds Sakuragi could grab in this game.

I'll bet 20.

Lin Bei held up two fingers, his tone resolute.

"The art of flower arrangement today is no longer the novice who relied solely on brute force."

"It seems the bald guy really broke his seal, became stronger, and went bald... oh no, he went completely bald."

……

On the other side of the stands.

The team members from Hainan University Affiliated High School and Lingnan High School are standing together.

Their expressions varied, and the atmosphere was frighteningly heavy.

Mu Shenyi crossed his arms, his face calm and composed, but the gravity in his eyes remained unyielding.

"It seems our earlier predictions were correct."

"Shohoku's bench depth has been completely transformed thanks to the addition of those first-year students."

"This is a team with no weaknesses."

Kiyota Nobunaga bit his nails, staring intently at the bald man on the field, his face filled with resentment:

"That red-haired monkey... it's gotten so strong... Damn it!"

Akira Sendoh held a bottle of lemonade in his hand, his signature smile still playing on his lips.

But his eyes were unusually sharp, like a hunter searching for its prey.

"The real highlight is the match that's about to begin."

"Amu, looks like we'll have to fight for second place?"

Mu Shen glanced at him, snorted coldly, and exuded an aura of domineering arrogance:

"Hainan's goal will always be to win the championship."

"A national champion is also a champion."

……

"beep--!!"

The final whistle blew.

The final score was 133-76.

Shohoku defeated Buri by a massive 57 points, dominating the entire game.

"We won!!"

"We are the champions!!"

The Shohoku bench erupted in cheers, towels waving like it was Chinese New Year.

Although theoretically, it will not be confirmed until the matches between Ryonan and Hainan are over.

However, their perfect record of three wins had already secured them the top spot in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Sakuragi Hanamichi stood in the center of the court, enjoying the cheers of the entire stadium.

He put his hands on his hips, striking an extremely arrogant pose.

His bald head gleamed under the spotlight, like the sun god descending.

"Hahahaha!"

"See that?! That's the power of the genius Sakuragi Hanamichi!"

"That Wuli guy is utterly pathetic!"

"They've already collapsed before I even exerted my full strength!"

"Gorilla! You can retire comfortably in America now!"

"With me in Shohoku, no surprises! Hahaha!"

Miyagi Ryota walked over.

A slap landed on his shiny forehead, making a crisp sound:

"Don't get too cocky!"

"There's still the Hainan vs. Ryonan match to watch!"

"That's the key to deciding who will accompany us to the national competition!"

Lin Bei stood up, stretched, his joints cracking, and casually draped his coat over his shoulder.

The system notification sounded in his mind, but he didn't rush to check it.

His gaze drifted to a corner of the stands.

There, Maki Shinichi and Sendoh Akira were turning to leave.

His back view was resolute, full of fighting spirit.

"The real battle has only just begun."

Lin Bei chuckled softly, a hint of anticipation flashing in his eyes.

……

The area around Wuli High School was deathly silent.

The air was filled with the smell of fermenting sweat, and an emotion called "despair".

The numbers on the scoreboard have been turned off.

But that painful score of "133:76" was like a branding iron, imprinted on the retinas of every player.

"Really... they shaved my head."

One of the team members, clutching a towel, choked up, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably.

It wasn't just a humiliation in terms of the score.

Furthermore, it was because of the real "bald guy" on the opposing team, Sakuragi Hanamichi.

He grabbed more than twenty rebounds over their heads like a god of war.

That sense of dominance made them feel like a group of dwarfs who had wandered into a land of giants.

"Coach, are we very weak?"

The captain looked up, his eyes red-rimmed and his gaze unfocused.

Coach Buri took a deep breath, forcibly suppressing the bitterness in his heart.

He walked over and patted the captain on the shoulder forcefully.

Although his voice was a little dry, he tried his best to remain gentle.

"Don't cry, lift your head."

"You are facing the most terrifying monster army in Kanagawa this year."

"Losing to Shohoku is not shameful; even Hainan stumbled at their hands."

The coach looked around at everyone and said in a deep voice:

"Remember today's humiliation and turn it into motivation for next year."

"Even though we lost the game, we can't lose our spirit!"

"Next year, we'll be back!"

……

In stark contrast, the air on the other side of the venue was gradually heating up.

With the conclusion of the match between Shohoku and Takezato, the real highlight is about to begin.

Hainan University Affiliated High School vs. Lingnan High School.

This is not just a competition, but a life-or-death ticket to the national championships.

The winner will advance to the national championships along with Shohoku High School.

The loser goes home to fish.

The summer of third grade came to an end.

Hainan rest area.

Shinichi Maki, dressed in a purple battle robe, is tying his shoelaces.

His movements were slow and deliberate.

Every shoelace was pulled taut, just like his nerves at that moment.

The Hainan team members around him looked solemn, without any joking or relaxation.

As an ever-victorious general.

The shadow of their previous loss to Shohoku did not break them.

Instead, it unleashed a ferocity akin to that of a wounded beast.

Listen.

Maki Shinichi stood up, his tall figure radiating a suffocating sense of oppression.

He didn't waste any words, his gaze sweeping over Jin Soichiro, Kiyota Nobunaga, Takasago Kazuma, and others.

"Hainan is the strongest."

"We're going to the national competition, and nobody can stand in our way."

"Alright! Let's go!!"

The Hainan players roared in unison, the sound so loud it made the ceiling of the rest area vibrate.

"Whoa whoa whoa—!!!"

……

At the other end of the court, in the Ryonan rest area.

Jun Uozumi's breathing was heavy, and the hot air coming out of his nostrils seemed to ignite the air.

This is his last chance in his high school career.

If he loses, he will have to go back to inherit his family's sushi restaurant and deal with sashimi every day.

He was not reconciled.

"The Path of Immortality".

Uozumi turned his head and looked at the man sitting on the bench drinking water.

Sendoh Akira put down the water bottle, his signature spiky hair still standing upright.

He wore that enigmatic smile.

But deep within his eyes lies a drawn sword.

"Captain Uozumi, don't worry."

Sendoh stood up, stretched his neck, and his joints cracked.

"I've already finished writing today's script."

Uozumi nodded heavily.

He then turned to face the entire team, his eyes wide like saucers, and let out a roar from the depths of his soul:

"Let's go!!"

"Take the king down!!"

"Ohhhhhhh!!!"

The roars of the Ryonan group carried a sense of desperate resolve, like throwing their boats away.

Its momentum is in no way inferior to that of Hainan.