After the national competition, the Shohoku High School players who successfully won the championship did not rush back to Kanagawa Prefecture. They successfully "dominated the country", and the long-cherished wish of the third-year players was successfully achieved.
Without this pressure, Mitsui Hisashi and others completely let themselves go and took advantage of the summer vacation to "wander", "eat", "wander" and "eat" in Hiroshima.
Mitsui Hisashi, whose family was a little better off, waved his hand and decided that the food, accommodation and entertainment for the Xiangbei team members during their visit to Hiroshima would be paid for by Mitsui's son, Mitsui of the Mitsui Group.
Players like Sakuragi Hanamichi and Kiyota Nobunaga, who came from relatively ordinary families, were very excited when they heard what Mitsui Shou said. After the game, they actually became Mitsui Shou's followers, eating, drinking and having fun with them, and completely indulging themselves.
But after all, the players of Xiangbei are all high school students, so even if they were a little indulgent, nothing out of the ordinary happened.
Several famous restaurants near the gymnasium have left traces of the Xiangbei High School team members.
After Mitsui Hisashi and his teammates had fun for a few days, Shohoku High School officially boarded the train back to Kanagawa Prefecture.
...
On the speeding train, the carriage was completely silent.
During the game, the Xiangbei players were actually under a lot of pressure. After the game, after the pressure was completely released, each of the players could feel deeply tired.
At this time, in the carriage where the Xiangbei players were seated, their heads were resting on the backs of their seats, and they were fast asleep.
Jinguji Takeshi sat by the window, his chin resting on his hand, looking at the scenery outside the window and dozing off.
Even a physically fit person like him could clearly feel his condition declining after participating in back-to-back national competitions. This was not physical fatigue, but more of a mental fatigue.
This kind of mentality will directly affect the performance of the body's functions. Wudao's current listless appearance is caused by this kind of "mental fatigue".
Sitting next to Jinguji Budou was Mitsui Shou. Unlike the listless Jinguji Budou, Mitsui Shou was full of energy.
On the small table in front of him was placed a half-meter-high national competition trophy. Mitsui Shou held a small rag in his hand and carefully wiped the trophy on the table.
Obviously, the trophy was new and there was not a speck of dust on it, but Mitsui kept wiping it, sometimes even breathing on it, as if it was a treasure.
"Squeak...squeak..."
The rag and the trophy rubbed against each other, making a slightly sharp sound.
After a long time, Jinguji Budo finally turned his head helplessly, sighed softly, and said to Mitsui Shou jokingly:
"Xiaosan, it's already clean."
"Stop rubbing it."
"If you keep rubbing, the paint will be wiped off."
Mitsui Shou, who was sitting next to Jinguji Budo, seemed not to hear Quan Budo's ridicule when he heard this. He actually asked nervously:
"The paint has been wiped off?"
"Where?! Where did it get wiped off?!"
Mitsui Shou was completely focused on "wiping the trophy" and only listened to half of Jinguji Budou's words...
"... ..."
"I mean, if you keep rubbing, the paint will come off..."
Jinguji Takeshi gave Mitsui Hisashi a speechless look, held his chin, turned his head to look at Mitsui Hisashi who was carefully examining the trophy, and continued to joke.
However, Mitsui Shou did not seem to hear the sarcasm in Budo's words, and instead replied seriously:
"No, this trophy is painted with gold, it's very durable!"
"You don't need sandpaper, it won't come off at all!"
As he spoke, Mitsui seemed to "see" that the trophy was a little "dirty" again, so he picked up the rag and wiped it carefully.
After a long moment, Mitsui looked at the trophy that was so bright that his face was reflected in it, and nodded with satisfaction.
"Xiao San, is this trophy so important to you?"
"The road of basketball is long, but it's just a national championship victory. Is it necessary to do this?"
"I'm sure you'll be able to get a trophy more valuable than this one in the future."
After all, Takeshi Jinguji is not a native Japanese high school student, although he, like Mitsui Hisashi and Akagi, hopes to lead Shohoku to win the championship.
But after winning the championship, Wu Dao no longer had any so-called "obsession" with this matter.
He actually had no way of understanding what the champion of the high school county competition meant in the eyes of high school students like Mitsui Hisashi and Akagi.
This trophy can be said to be the "witness of youth" of Mitsui Hisashi and others throughout their lives.
The value, to them, is immeasurable.
"What the hell are you talking about?"
"What do you mean by 'winner of the national competition'? 'That's all'?"
“This is the national championship!”
"After all these years, I finally got it!"
"After getting this, my high school career is complete!"
Mitsui Shou was quite dissatisfied with Jinguji Budo's indifferent attitude and retorted. Then he held the trophy on the small table with both hands and sighed softly.
"That's right. After all, I have worked hard for it for so many years."
"Now there is a good result, which is not bad."
When Wu Dao heard Mitsui Shou say "so many years", he was able to empathize with him and nodded. Then Wu Dao seemed to suddenly think of something and asked Mitsui Shou:
"By the way, what are your plans next?"
"You are already a senior now, right? The University of Tsukuba should have invited you before. Do you want to go?"
"Or do you want to go to another university? Once you return to Kanagawa Prefecture, there should be many colleges and universities looking for you. What do you think? Do you want to go to a school of your choice?!"
The school system in Japan is somewhat different from that in China. For example, in China, high school seniors probably have already filled out their applications by this time, right? But in Japan, the decision to go to school is made in the spring, usually in February or March, and students have to report to school in April.
"Special students" like Mitsui Hisashi can determine their future school as early as the first two semesters of their senior year.
It is foreseeable that Mitsui Shou, who helped the team win the championship and performed brilliantly in the national competition, will definitely be favored by more colleges and universities. This summer, Mitsui Shou will probably be very busy.
"Intend?"
"Plan it!"
After hearing Wudao talk about this, Mitsui Shou raised his head with some emotion, looked at the ceiling of the train, and fell silent.
During this period of time, Mitsui Shou was actually avoiding talking about this matter. If possible, Mitsui Shou really wanted to continue to be teammates with Wudao and the others and continue playing basketball like this.
But reality always rolls forward, and Mitsui Shou cannot escape it by running away. He will eventually leave Shohoku High School and go to a higher place.
"Budo, I have no plans to quit the club this summer. I still want to continue playing and participate in the fall and winter competitions with my teammates!"
"I plan to accept the invitation from the University of Tsukuba in advance and play basketball at the University of Tsukuba in the future."
"In this way, I won't have any pressure in terms of academic subjects."
"I even want to play professional basketball!"
The professional basketball in Mitsui's context does not refer to the national team, but the NBA.
Neon's player training system is very different from that of China. Neon's youth training is actually to gather talented high school students together and then practice together. Its essence is to select outstanding players through campus basketball.
However, China's player training system is different. In China, basketball players are specially trained, such as in campus basketball. Players who come out of campus basketball games will never be recognized by national coaches.
All provincial teams are built in echelons, and talented children begin professional special training when they are in their teens.
There are no players in school whose talent and ability surpass those in the youth training system. Even if there are occasionally people with outstanding talent, parents will most likely not let their children give up their studies and take the single-plank bridge of "professional basketball".
This is the case even in China, a basketball powerhouse in Asia. It is obvious how little living space there is for professional basketball players in places like Neon.
If other people heard the young Mitsui Shou talking about playing professional basketball, they would probably laugh at Mitsui for overestimating his abilities. However, Wudao did not laugh at Mitsui Shou's idea. Instead, he nodded seriously and said:
"Professional basketball!"
"Xiao San, I suggest you go out and fight, don't stay here."
"You can't raise fierce animals in a zoo."
"I plan to play one more year and then go out and play. There's not much I want to pursue here."
"I plan to take this year to calm down."
When Jinguji Budo heard that Mitsui Shou was going to pursue a professional career, he gave his advice seriously. The reason why he is still playing here is because there is still an opponent here that he has not been able to completely defeat.
Shinomiya Tano and Jinguji Budou of Ryonan High School plan to completely defeat the opponent and then go to the United States to study in the senior year of high school. That's right, not the third year of high school, but the fourth year of high school.
Takeshi Jinguji plans to spend a year there to show his talent. If he can get the favor of the NBA during high school, he will directly participate in the draft as a high school player.
If his talent fails to attract the attention of the NBA, Wu Dao will just go to college in the United States and play for a strong school to see if his strength and potential can get attention.
In this day and age, in the sport of basketball, the yellow race is discriminated against. Jinguji Budo knows that his road will be difficult, but he will definitely continue on this path!
As for returning to China to play youth training first and then entering the NBA indirectly, Wu Dao himself has already rejected this plan.
He was afraid of being burdened with some inexplicable terms.
The conditions inside the martial arts school are not bad, so there is no need to take these detours.
Wu Dao has also decided that if he doesn’t have the talent and strength to play in the NBA, he will not play professionally, but will take over the family business and return to China to “wholesale” land.
If there is no way to pursue your dreams, then it’s okay to just lie down and be a salted fish.
"Going abroad to play basketball..."
"You are right, but I need to think about this matter carefully."
"I tried out there for a while, and the living environment for Asians is pretty bad."
Mitsui Shou seemed to recall something and said with a little emotion.
"After all, the basketball court is a place where the ball speaks."
"As long as you are strong enough, the opportunity will always come!"
Jinguji Budo tapped the table lightly and said with a smile. He was still optimistic about the future. Compared with other aspects, basketball was already a very fair thing.
"Well, let me think about it." Mitsui Shou nodded and lowered his eyelids slightly, as if he was seriously considering Wu Dao's words.
While the two were talking, Coach Anzai, who was dozing off in the seat behind Mitsui Hisashi and Jinguji Budou, opened his eyes, pushed up his glasses, and did not interrupt, but just sighed barely perceptibly.
There are other players who are planning to take that path.
Every time at this time, Coach Anxi would think of the talented player he once coached.
But compared to Tanizawa, the two high school students, Mitsui Hisashi and Jinguji Budou, are more mature now!
However, the difficulty of the road will not become much easier as the players mature. What Budo and Mitsui will face in the future will be storms!
Rukawa Kaede, who was sitting not far away, also heard the conversation between Budo and Mitsui. Although Rukawa Kaede now has the idea of playing basketball in the United States, this idea is not so strong or urgent.
Rukawa Kaede's idea was also very simple. In his opinion, even a "peak" like Jinguji Budo had to settle down for a year before going abroad to play basketball. Why would a player of his level go abroad in such a hurry? !
He just needs to keep getting stronger until... he surpasses Jinguji Budo!
The carriage fell into silence again. The players were resting, Mitsui was in deep thought, and Jinguji Takeshi was so tired that he lay down on the table, planning to take a nap.
The train was speeding along the track, carrying the Shohoku players back to Kanagawa Prefecture.
...
After the Shohoku players returned to Kanagawa Prefecture, Coach Anzai announced the disbandment of the team and gave the players a ten-day vacation.
After the holiday, the Xiangbei players will end their vacation early and start training to prepare for the Autumn National Games at the beginning of the autumn semester.
During this period, Mitsui Shou also made a decision. After discussing with his family, he decided to advance his plan to go abroad. At the same time, after making up his mind, he found Coach Anxi and asked for his opinion.
Coach Anzai did not say anything against Mitsui. He just asked Mitsui to learn English well and it would not be too late to go abroad. The implication was that Coach Anzai supported Mitsui's plan to travel to the United States.
For a family member like Mitsui Hisashi, his other academic subjects may be terrible, but there is no need to worry about his English ability.
Therefore, on the day when Xiangbei resumed training, Mitsui Hisashi appeared in the gym in casual clothes and announced his plan to resign to the players.
Mitsui Hisashi, who stepped down as captain, passed the "baton" to Jinguji Takeshi, and the second-year Jinguji Takeshi became the new captain of Shohoku High School.
At the same time, third-year students such as Akagi Takenori, Chiba Oishi, and Kogure Konobu also announced their resignation at the same time as Mitsui Hisashi.
Chiba and Murasakibara were both players of average talent. Even if Shohoku won the championship, no university would invite them in advance. They both knew that with their limited abilities and talents, they could not go the route of "special students", so they withdrew from the club and planned to concentrate on preparing for the entrance examination.
As for Takenori Akagi, the coach of Fukazawa Sports University has contacted Akagi privately, and the two sides have reached a preliminary intention. This summer, Takenori Akagi will not train at Xiangbei, but will go to Fukazawa Sports University to participate in their team training in advance.
At the same time, first-year students Rukawa Kaede and Sakuragi Hanamichi, and second-year student Miyagi Ryouta all received invitations from the Neon Youth Training Team to participate in training.
Although Wu Dao was also invited, he refused. For him, such a large-scale training session was completely useless. What was the point of going? !
So when Mitsui and other third-year students announced their resignation, two first-year students were not on the team.
This summer, there have been huge changes in the personnel of Xiangbei High School!
... ... ... ... ... ...