Chapter 21: The Phantom Sixth Man of Sorrowful Flowers and Wounded Autumn!

For any sport, training is a rather grueling process; even Iverson, famous for not training, has specifically refuted that rumor and repeatedly emphasized the importance of player training.

On the court, the free-spirited, passionate performance is accompanied by the players' relentless, unceasing hard work in training.

And although Yukimiya Kazuma's meditation training looks strange and peculiar, his persistent, desperate attitude has drawn strange looks from the basketball club members and the coach.

After all, in everyone's impression.

Although Yukimiya Kazuma never slacked off in his usual training, he had never been so subjectively proactive and serious to this extent.

……

Unknowingly.

Time swiftly arrived at the day when the All-Japan Preliminaries were about to begin.

"Kazuma!"

At the pool in front of the side door of Bai Shui High School's gymnasium, Takefujii Masaki called out to Yukimiya Kazuma, "The All-Japan Preliminaries start tomorrow; you won't be doing extra practice today, right?"

"Mm, saving my energy for tomorrow."

"Want to walk together?"

"Sure."

Under the dark night sky, bathed in moonlight, the two strolled through the streets.

Takefujii Masaki spoke first: "How has your training been lately?"

Thinking of the gains from this period, Yukimiya couldn't help but show a faint smile.

"Great."

After walking a bit further, Takefujii Masaki, who had been hesitating, suddenly stopped.

"Hey, Kazuma…"

"Do you remember when we first joined the basketball club?"

Yukimiya Kazuma turned back, looking at the other's serious expression, and memories immediately formed in his mind—nothing but the clichéd hot-blooded fools and their dreams and goals regarding basketball.

"Mm."

"I remember."

"Leave it to me, don't worry."

"I have a feeling that this year's All-Japan will be the perfect stage."

Takefujii Masaki looked at the confident Yukimiya Kazuma before him, first smiling along, then falling silent for a moment, "Hey, Ryo said he won't play basketball once he gets to high school."

Liang Huayin?

So that's why; no wonder he felt today that Takefujii always looked like he wanted to say something but held back; if it were the old Yukimiya Kazuma, he would probably have immediately run over to question Liang Huayin.

But…

The person has changed now.

"It's fine; life is like a train where people get on and off, but the destination is always the same; just finish this last leg well."

"Don't leave any regrets."

Yukimiya Kazuma patted Takefujii Masaki's shoulder, causing the latter to freeze in expression, followed by Takefujii Masaki falling speechless, "Hey… I was actually planning to comfort you~"

"If you have that kind of time, why not come to the court and practice with me~"

"Let's go!"

Yukimiya Kazuma and Takefujii Masaki arrived at the nearby park court; just as Takefujii Masaki was about to walk into the court, Yukimiya Kazuma suddenly pulled him back.

"What's wrong?"

"Someone is on the phone over there."

"Hm? Where?"

Inside the court, a boy with light blue hair was pacing under the hoop with his head down, holding a phone to his ear and speaking in a low voice.

Takefujii Masaki looked in the direction Yukimiya Kazuma pointed.

The next second.

His eyes suddenly widened.

"There really is someone!" Takefujii Masaki rubbed his eyes, "That shouldn't be; he was standing right there, and I didn't even notice… Eh? Teiko's uniform?!"

That's right.

Teiko's uniform.

Hair as light blue as the sky.