"Gu Jin, your current rating is the highest, reaching 96.88 points — just 0.12 points shy of S+." Aida Yayoi's voice held unconcealed astonishment as she revealed the answer, her gaze fixed on Gu Jin as if to confirm whether this score truly matched the player before her.
Gu Jin's fingertips paused slightly, and he looked up, asking, "Will 97 points be rated as S+?"
Aida Yayoi nodded vigorously, opening her notebook and pointing to the rating standards to explain, "Yes, 97 to 99 points all belong to the S+ level;"
And above 99 points, that's the legendary Double S-class player — but currently, no player of this level has appeared in all of Japan."
Aida Yayoi closed the scorebook, her fingertip gently circling the title "Ryonan Twin Stars," the smile in her eyes almost overflowing: "We just talked about the ratings, and now I've confirmed them in person. I believe the ratings are accurate, congratulations to you both. Now, may I start the exclusive interview?"
As she spoke, her gaze unconsciously fell on Sendo first, and even her tone became softer than before, her hand gripping the pen tightening slightly, as if anticipating an affirmative response.
"Of course," Sendo replied first, a habitual faint smile playing on his lips, his fingertips gently pressing the basketball to the ground, then smoothly catching it back into his arms, his movements fluid and natural.
Gu Jin also nodded, "No problem."
Aida Yayoi immediately straightened her back, turned to a new page in her notebook, her pen tip hovering over the paper, but first looked up at Sendo again — his catch was clean and crisp, even the angle of the sunlight on his profile was just right.
She quickly cleared her throat, masking the inexplicable excitement in her heart: "Then let's begin. The first question I'd like to ask you both is, as the absolute core players of Ryonan, how do you think you can lead this team further?"
After asking, she instinctively looked at Sendo, her pen tip already hovering over her notebook, even her breathing softened — she especially wanted to hear his answer to this question about "the team going further."
Sendo held the basketball in his arms, his fingertips unconsciously caressing the surface, his tone still that composed one: "I think whether a team can go far never depends on just one or two people 'making the final decision.'"
He looked up just as his gaze met Aida Yayoi's, and he smiled, "Basketball is a team sport, and it relies on reliable teammates.
No matter how strong an individual's scoring ability is, if there's no one to rebound in the frontcourt, no one to defend fast breaks in the backcourt, and teammates can't get open during offense, you simply can't survive high-intensity series.
For example, in our last game against Daiei, Ikegami's crucial defensive steal at a critical moment, Koshino and Uekusa's tireless running to create space – these are the foundations for 'going far.'
I just happened to be in that position, catching the 'baton' handed over by my teammates."
When he spoke of his teammates, his eyes shone brightly, without any of the arrogance of a "core player," but rather as if he was counting the most precious pieces of a puzzle in the team.
Aida Yayoi's fingers, holding the pen, curled slightly — so he put himself within the team.
Even though he surpassed his teammates by a lot, he still believed in and relied on his teammates.
She quickly lowered her head to take notes, but her ears quietly turned red, and the force of her pen on the paper was heavier than before, her heart couldn't help but think: A player who can prioritize the team over himself is truly captivating.
"What about Gu Jin?" She composed herself, deliberately slowing her speech as she turned to the other side, finally suppressing that inexplicable excitement in her heart.
Gu Jin sat very straight, his tone a bit deeper than Sendo's: "It's not Sendo and I who will lead this team further.
It's our Head Coach!"
Aida Yayoi paused, her pen tip hovering over the paper: "Head Coach?"
"Mm." Gu Jin nodded, his tone very firm, "How to tailor tactics to the opponent's weaknesses, when to stabilize the rhythm, when to push for speed, even whether players can quickly adjust their mindset after a loss — the Head Coach is at the helm for all of these.
"No matter what kind of opponent the team faces, or what kind of difficulties it falls into, as long as the coach picks up the tactics board during a timeout and draws out the upcoming runs and defensive priorities, everyone immediately understands 'how to play next.'"
Gu Jin's tone was deeper than before, yet carried a very steady power, "Players are like hands and feet that can run and fight, with strength and speed, but they need to know where to exert that force;
The Head Coach is the brain that sets the direction; he judges when to attack and when to retreat.
Without the brain's command, no matter how strong the hands and feet are, they might just spin in place and never get far."
He paused, a slight curve softening his lips: "One could even say that our coach is the spiritual pillar that allows us to fight freely on the court — knowing there's someone behind us who can control the whole situation, we dare to charge forward without hesitation."
Aida Yayoi's hand holding the pen paused, and she drew a line under the words "spiritual pillar."
She suddenly felt that Gu Jin's words contained a very real trust — a trust in that seemingly strict Head Coach.
This trust, perhaps, could unite the team more effectively than mere tactical arrangements.
"Both of your ideas are very interesting." Aida Yayoi couldn't help but praise, her gaze lingering on Sendo's face for a couple of seconds before moving away, then she gestured to Hikoichi in the direction of the camera to continue filming, "Then, the last question — this season, how far does Ryonan want to go?"
Sendo and Gu Jin exchanged glances, smiling almost simultaneously.
"Of course, we'll go all the way to the end." Sendo's tone carried a relaxed certainty, "No matter who we face, no matter how many games we play, we're going to take it step by step to the very end. But this isn't something Gu Jin and I can do alone; it requires everyone on the team to work towards the same goal."
Aida Yayoi lowered her head, taking notes, the sound of her pen gliding across the paper exceptionally clear in the quiet gym — when he said "go all the way to the end," there was no hint of pretense in his tone, but rather it sounded like he was stating something that was bound to happen.
As she looked up, she saw Sendo's exceptionally dazzling smile, and she couldn't help but think: A player like this is probably born to be a leader on the court.
"Gu Jin, what about you?" Aida Yayoi turned to look at Gu Jin.
At this moment, Gu Jin suddenly spoke, his voice deeper yet clearer than before: "Dominate the nation!"
Aida Yayoi's hand holding the pen paused.
Hikoichi beside her also instinctively adjusted the camera angle — this goal was more direct than "going all the way to the end," even carrying a unique sharpness of youth.
Sendo laughed at his words, gently nudging Gu Jin's arm with his elbow: "Quite ambitious."
"Otherwise?" Gu Jin raised an eyebrow, a smile in his eyes, "Ryonan is going to climb step by step to the very top."
Aida Yayoi lowered her head and wrote down both "go all the way to the top" and "dominate the nation," suddenly feeling that these two answers perfectly matched their styles.
One hid the team within the goal, the other openly displayed ambition, yet they were incredibly in sync when it came to "wanting to win."
Her pen tip drew a small basketball icon at the end, and she was already brainstorming the conclusion of the exclusive interview: Perhaps Ryonan's story truly could go further than anyone anticipated.