Game of The Year

The staff of the Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium, and the organizers of Tokyo preliminaries, were running around for the Block-B finals.

Both sides had expected that there would be a crowd greater than usual. But, when the people started to arrive at the stadium, they found that all their preparation wasn't enough.

A gymnasium staff member ran toward his supervisor and reported the situation.

Gym. Staff: "Sir, the viewers for the Tokiwadai vs. Teiko have exceeded our expectations. At this rate, we will be running with ninety-percent of the stadium filled. We don't have enough people to maintain them!"

The supervisor was panicking because of the game. He hadn't thought that the game would attract so many people.

Gym. Supervisor: 'Why would this many would people want to watch a middle school game.'

He turned to his subordinate and instructed him.

Gym. Supervisor: "Call the people who are on leave today. Tell them to come here as soon as possible!"

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

The Tokyo preliminaries organizers were also facing some problems.

One of the organizers rushed to his supervisor and said.

Game organizer: "Sir! There is a television crew wanting to record and air the game."

The supervisor was shocked when he heard that.

Game Supervisor: "A television crew! Why do they want to air a middle school preliminary game!"

He started to pace up and down, and after some time, he said.

Game Supervisor: "Okay, tell them they can record the game."

His subordinate nodded and rushed to give the instructions to the television crew.

Then the Game Supervisor picked up his phone and called someone.

Game Supervisor: "Hello. Yeah, it's me. Can you come to Tokyo Metropolitan Gymnasium?

...

Why? I want you to do commentary for a middle school game.

...

Yes, you heard correct. I want you to do commentary for a middle school game.

...

Hurry, The game is going to begin shortly, I can only push the game back by fifteen minutes tops."

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

A lot of people had already arrived, and the stands of the designated court were already seventy-five percent full.

You could see loads of students from both schools. They were brought here by the school to cheer on for their teams.

Even the second-string and third-string of both schools were present with full attendance to cheer for their teams.

On opposite sides of the court, two banners hung with the respective mottos of both schools.

On Teiko's side, written in black-colored, white-bordered, bold characters over a red background

「Ever-Victorious.」

On Tokiwadai's side, written in black-colored, white-bordered, bold characters over a purple background

「We don't need memories.」

Behind both of the banners were the members of the clubs. Around them were the students of both schools.

That was when both the teams entered the court for their warmups.

Seeing the players enter the court, the students and club members from both schools made some noise.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Tokiwadai's players looked at the number of people in the stands.

Kaitani: "Uwah, there are so many people!"

Sora shook Shun's shoulder and almost shouted.

Sora: "Senpai, look people from school also came to see the game!"

Shun stopped Sora from shaking his shoulder and put an arm around his shoulders and said.

Shun: "Yeah, I see them. Do you wanna go and see if you can spot your friends?"

Sora nodded with a big smile on his face.

Shun and Sora went near the stands, while others proceeded to the bench.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

On Tokiwadai's side, three people were sitting together and were waiting for their friend to come into the court.

The three people were; Inuzuka Romio, Hikigaya Hachiman, Nara Shikamaru.

Hikigaya turned to his friends and said.

Hikigaya: "There sure are a lot of people here. Hey Inuzuka, does your Kendo matches have this much of a crowd."

Inuzuka shook his head and replied.

Inuzuka: "Huh no, this is a huge crowd. Even our national level games don't have this big of a crowd."

Then his face turned a little pale as he thought something.

Shikamaru saw Inuzuka's pale face and ask.

Shikamaru: "Inuzuka, are you alright? Your face is really pale."

Inuzuka shook his head and replied in a weak voice.

Inuzuka: "I just thought of myself playing in front of such a crowd and got nervous."

Shikamaru thought about a lot of people watching him play a shogi game and felt a little uncomfortable.

Shikamaru: "That will be a drag."

Hikigaya felt uncomfortable just thinking of this many people watching him.

Hikigaya: "Yeah, that will be such a bother."

Then they saw Shun and the team come out to the floor.

Shikamaru: "Look, there is Kageyama."

They saw Shun come out wearing his club tracksuit pant and a shirt on the top.

Hikigaya, who wasn't that familiar with sports, asked.

Hikigaya: "Why are they coming out in their tracksuits and shirts?"

Inuzuka, who was waving his hands trying to catch Shun's attention, said.

Inuzuka: "They wear clothes over their jersey to keep them warm. Oh look, Kageyama is looking at us."

Both of them turned to see that Shun was waving both his arms at them.

Three of them also waved their arms, and the rest of the students made some noise, thinking that Shun was waving at them.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

On the other side of the court, Teiko entered the floor, dressed in white and blue.

Today, Teiko players looked enthusiastic.

Aomine didn't have a bored look on his face.

Murasakibara was not feeling sleepy.

Midorima was looking serious as he did every day, but he had a fire in his eyes.

Kise was grinning as he looked around the stadium, and waving his hands at the people from Teiko.

Akashi was faintly smiling as he walked with the rest of the team.

Kuroko followed his teammates with a small smile on his face.

Satsuki, who was walking with Kuroko behind the others, said.

Satsuki: "It has been a while since I have seen everyone so happy."

Kuroko nodded and replied.

Kuroko: "All of them are excited to play the game today."

Satsuki nodded and added.

Satsuki: "We have made it to the finals with quite easily."

Kuroko agreed as he recalled the past few games.

Kuroko: "The new twenty-point rule made sure that everybody worked hard, and that led to high scoring games."

Satsuki turned her head to Tokiwadai's bench, but couldn't find Shun there.

Satsuki: "Huh, where is Shun-kun? He isn't at Tokiwadai's bench."

Kuroko, who was great at observing, pointed out to a spot near the stands.

Kuroko: "He is near the stands, right there."

Satsuki looked at Shun, who was waving his arms at the students of his school. And, saw that many girls were waving back to Shun.

She unconsciously narrowed her eyes a little.

Satsuki: "... Is that so..."

Satsuki whipped her head back with a humph and walked forward.

Kuroko, who saw her, smiled as at his manager and friend's behavior.

The game, which could be dubbed as the game of the year, for japan's middle school basketball scene, was about to begin.