Chapter 48

Silence.

Extreme silence.

After Shin Matsuharu announced this news, the expressions of everyone in the basketball club instantly shifted from surprise to shock.

What is the concept of a full month of summer training camp?

Let's put it this way.

The duration of this year's summer training camp is even longer than that of high school level camps, and crucially, the quality is higher.

You have to know.

Under normal circumstances, for activities like basketball club training camps, the school provides a portion of the funding. How much would a month-long seaside camp cost?

"Uh, Coach! Are you sure you didn't remember the time wrong? Is it really a month, not a week?"

"Rest assured! I am very certain."

Shin Matsuharu affirmed: "Speaking of which, the fact that we can go to the seaside for this training camp is thanks to everyone's hard work. Because our basketball club made it into the national tournament this time, and as the number two seed only behind Teiko, the school specially approved the funding for a two-week camp."

"Two weeks?"

"That's not right! Coach, the school only provided funding for two weeks, so who is paying for the remaining two weeks?"

"Hmm..."

"Because there are other teams sharing the costs with us."

"Eh?"

……

Seiho High School.

Also located in the Tokyo district.

In the high school basketball world, they are famous nationwide by the titles of one of the 'Kings of the North' of Tokyo's three kings, and the 'Strongest Wall of Tokyo'.

At the same time.

All along.

Along with their tough basketball style, they are also well-known for their excellent academic advancement rate, which is often talked about.

Students who can get into this school generally don't have poor grades, and because of this, the academic scores of the entire basketball club are not too bad.

However, there are always exceptions.

For example, the two people established early on as the core of the Seiho basketball club, Iwamura Tsutomu and Kasuga Ryuhei, are two outliers in the club.

Although one can tell from Iwamura Tsutomu's muscular build that he is not the smart type.

But the fact that Kasuga Ryuhei, the Seiho commander who is clever on the court and likes to toy with opponents using soft movements, is an academic failure puzzles many in the Seiho team.

It's ridiculous when you think about it.

Let alone the class teachers, even Iwamura Tsutomu, who is an academic failure just like Kasuga Ryuhei, can't understand why Kasuga Ryuhei, who has eight hundred schemes on the court, has grades at the same level as his own.

Initially, the only reason these two were able to enter Seiho was because they were specially recruited by the coach for the basketball club; otherwise, relying solely on grades, these two would likely have only been able to go to Seirin.

That's right, Seirin, which was just led by them by more than 20 points in the first quarter not long ago.

Ah...

No.

I reckon they couldn't even go to Seirin, after all, they were only established this year.

Seirin: "???"

"Achoo! Achoo!"

At Seiho High School, Iwamura Tsutomu and Kasuga Ryuhei, who had just finished their final exams and were waiting for the moment of life or death, suddenly sneezed in unison.

This scene immediately caught the attention of Teramae Tatsuya nearby: "Hahaha, you two are already this close now, sneezing together?"

Iwamura Tsutomu: "..."

Kasuga Ryuhei: "..."

In the past, if someone said they were close, Iwamura Tsutomu and Kasuga Ryuhei would have argued a bit, but this time, both remained silent.

It wasn't that they didn't respect Senior Teramae Tatsuya, but mainly they didn't have the heart for it; their attention was entirely on their final grades.

"Uh... I'm asking why you two are nervous, anyway it's already over, the results are destined, even if you're nervous it's useless."

"Yes, Senior... Phew!!"

Iwamura Tsutomu let out a long breath, trying to calm himself down.

"By the way, Senior, does our basketball club have any arrangements for this summer vacation?"

"Arrangements?" Teramae Tatsuya was stunned, then said: "Isn't vacation time for going home and resting? Of course, normal training must still be attended, what other arrangements could there be?"

Kasuga Ryuhei asked in surprise: "Eh? Could it be that there is no training camp or anything this year?"

"Ah, you mean this, then no."

Teramae Tatsuya directly extinguished Kasuga Ryuhei's fantasy and explained: "We held one last year, but after all, we are a national high school, and the school funding is very limited compared to other schools."

Speaking to the end, although Teramae Tatsuya was still smiling, his brows were slightly furrowed.

Kasuga Ryuhei: "..."

It's clear that even that middle schooler Kasuga Yuji has a summer training camp.

Sigh...

Sakamoto Kenjiro, who happened to walk over and hear this conversation: "Ha~"

Iwamura Tsutomu asked suspiciously: "Sakamoto, what are you laughing at?"

Sakamoto Kenjiro: "Laughing at Ryuhei's long face~ His younger brother's school made it into the national tournament this year, I heard they are going to the seaside for a month-long training camp during the summer~"

"Ah?"

"Aren't they middle schoolers?"

"A month is too long, and it's at the seaside, I remember it's Baishuiguan, right? Are they that rich?"

Looking at the third-year seniors suddenly crowding around, their eyes burning, Kasuga Ryuhei was startled, "That's right, I heard this is a reward from Baishuiguan specifically for their basketball club making it into the national tournament."

"Why?! We Seiho are also the 'Strongest Wall of Tokyo' that can make it into the nationals every year! We absolutely cannot be outdone by middle schoolers!"

"Oh no, oh no, we're done for!"

"Rakuzan, which the Uncrowned Kings joined this year, is slaughtering everyone in Kyoto. Just watching the recordings makes them feel terrifyingly strong. A powerhouse like them that can collect the Five Generals must also be having a training camp, right? If a month passes, won't the gap between us and them be even bigger?"

"Whoa! Won't we not even be able to suppress Senjinkan after a month?"

"No way?"

"Hey! Coach, what do you think?!"

Coach Matsumoto Ikunori: "..."

A bunch of brats, singing in harmony.

And Kasuga Ryuhei, seeing the behavior of the few third-year seniors, immediately reacted.

Good grief.

They all looked like they didn't care about the training camp, but it turns out they were all waiting for this!

Speaking of which...

Kasuga Ryuhei turned his head to look at Sakamoto Kenjiro, who first brought up his brother's training camp, thinking, you kid with thick eyebrows and big eyes, you wouldn't be a plant sent by the seniors, would you?!

……

July 15th.

The Baishuiguan basketball club's summer training camp officially began.

Schools here in Japan use a three-semester system.

The first semester is from around April 8th to around July 20th, and summer vacation is from mid-July to the end of August.

The second semester is from around September 1st to around December 20th, and winter vacation is from mid-December to around January 9th.

The third semester is from around January 10th to around March 20th, and spring vacation is from mid-March to around April 7th.

So, although the basketball club's training camp seems a bit late, in reality, everyone set off without a moment's delay as soon as summer vacation began.

Arriving at the destination after a drive of over an hour, they dropped off their luggage at the seaside inn.

Not long after, the entire Baishuiguan basketball club gathered at a nearby gymnasium, everyone's face filled with excitement, even Yukimiya Kazuma had a few glimmers of light in his eyes, after all, it was his first time too.

Before long.

Shin Matsuharu walked in holding a training schedule, wearing short sleeves and big shorts, and beside him was Kawasumi Yoshiko. There must be at least two people in charge from the school, which is a necessary condition for middle school club activities to hold training camps.

Shin Matsuharu took out the training plan. ===== CHAPTER 116 =====