The Legend Coach: Slam Dunk

Shoyo had lost. Seeing his players in tears on the court, Kudo felt a pang of sadness, but he didn't let it show. Instead, he comforted the team. "Don't cry. We're still going to the Nationals. We'll meet Hainan there and take our revenge."

"Thank you for your guidance!" These were the final words exchanged between the teams. Kudo continued to console the Shoyo players, urging them to train harder and prepare for their rematch with Hainan at the Nationals.

The first two rounds of the Kanagawa Prefectural Tournament concluded that weekend. Hainan won both of their matches, while Shoyo and Musashi each won one and lost one. East Toyoko lost both of their games. Although there was still a final round of matches, the standings were clear. Hainan and Shoyo were in a league of their own, with Musashi slightly behind, and East Toyoko trailing further. In the final round, Hainan faced Musashi, and Shoyo played East Toyoko. Few believed Musashi could defeat Hainan, and even East Toyoko doubted their chances against Shoyo.

In the week following the match, the Shoyo players trained even harder. The battle with Hainan had revealed their strengths and exposed their weaknesses. They were determined to improve and make a stronger showing at the Nationals.

June 27th, Saturday

At 10:00 a.m., Hainan faced Musashi. Hainan's strength was undeniable, and while Musashi was no pushover, they were outmatched, especially in the paint. Okabe Yamato, who had struggled against Sugiyama, dominated Musashi's interior defense. The game was firmly in Hainan's control, and Musashi couldn't mount a comeback. The final score was 93:65, securing Hainan's undefeated record and their 13th consecutive Kanagawa championship.

At 12:00 p.m., Shoyo took on East Toyoko. Shoyo, still stinging from their loss to Hainan, channeled their frustration into the game. East Toyoko, already demoralized, was no match for Shoyo's intensity.

"If you win this game, you'll be the Kanagawa runners-up and qualify for the Nationals!" Kudo's pre-game speech was brief but effective, igniting the team's fighting spirit.

By halftime, East Toyoko had already given up. Kudo pulled his starters, and the game ended with a final score of 121:75. Shoyo finished with two wins and one loss, securing the runner-up spot and earning Kudo 300 SD points.

"We're the runners-up! We're going to the Nationals!!!" The Shoyo players erupted in celebration. Although their qualification had been all but assured after defeating Musashi, the team couldn't fully relax until the final buzzer.

Awards Ceremony

After the match, the organizing committee held the closing ceremony and awards presentation.

"The champions of the Kanagawa Prefectural Tournament are Hainan University Affiliated High School!"

"Yes! We've done it again!!!" Hainan celebrated their 13th consecutive Summer Nationals qualification.

"The runners-up are Shoyo Private High School!!!"

The All-Kanagawa Team was announced:

Hidekazu Otsu (Hainan, Senior)

Yamato Okabe (Hainan, Senior)

Shota Sugiyama (Shoyo, Sophomore)

Nobukane Nakamura (Shoyo, Senior)

Yotai Miyamoto (Musashi, Senior)

Otsu was named the tournament MVP.

The right to compete in the National League went to Hainan, making their 13th consecutive appearance, and Shoyo, who had earned their spot with their strong performance.

System Rewards

Kudo was thrilled to see the increase in his SD points. The system awarded:

300 SD points for finishing as runners-up.

200 SD points each for Sugiyama and Nakamura making the All-Kanagawa Team.

This brought his total to 2,600 SD points. Additionally, Mainline Mission Three was completed.

Mainline Mission Three: Chairman's Request

Mission Description: Lead the Shoyo Basketball Team to the National Championships within two years.

Mission Completed.

Reward: 1,000 SD points and the Powerful Center Medal.

Powerful Center Medal:

System equipment (not bound).

Can only be used by the host's player.

Grants a 5% boost to all center-related abilities (shooting, stamina, strength, jumping, etc.).

"This medal is incredible. If we'd had it earlier, we might have beaten Hainan," Kudo thought. "And since it's not bound, it won't be lost if Sugiyama leaves the team. I'll need to find strong centers in the future to make the most of this."

Kudo asked the system: "What happens if a player switches between center and power forward?"

System Response: "The medal only applies when the player is actively playing as a center."

"Why hasn't the system store updated with equipment?" Kudo continued.

System Response: "Equipment can only be obtained through system quests. The store does not sell equipment."

"It seems I can't afford to skip any quests," Kudo mused. "But why hasn't a new main quest appeared? And how do I complete Mainline Mission One?"

System Response: "New quests will appear automatically. Mainline Mission One will be evaluated based on your team's performance at the end of your first season as coach."

"So, the evaluation will come after the Nationals," Kudo realized.

With everything clarified, Kudo equipped Sugiyama with the Powerful Center Medal and began planning how to spend his 3,600 SD points. After the closing ceremony, he gave the team a day off, extending the break to include Sunday. Starting Monday, Shoyo would begin even more rigorous training.

Celebration

"Alright, Shota, let's head home. My mom bought a lot of food to celebrate," Kudo said, calling Sugiyama over. Together, they prepared to enjoy the feast Nobuko Kudo had prepared in their honor.