Legend: ...OOOOOO... (this is an interlude)
Spring Time
National Championship has finally arrived. Inside their assigned locker room, the whole Kanagawa University team is a nervous wreck. Instead of the usual cheery encouragement and supportive catcalls, an eerie silence threatens the room. People are either fidgeting in their clothes or going in and out of the bathroom several times. No one is brave enough to kill the silence. Except for Hanamichi. It was too much for him. If he didn't make a single sound, he was going berserk.
"Guys!!! Come on! Don't be so nervous. It's just a game like any other game." Hanamichi shrieked.
Nobody reacted to his outburst. Everybody just kept silent.
"Guys... There is absolutely no need to be nervous. We can do this. We can win. We can..." Hanamichi didn't have the chance to finish his own pep talk when a voice over the intercom said.
flicker
"Kanagawa team, 5 minutes until game time. Kanagawa team 5 minutes until game time, thank you."
flicker
Doomed silence.
"We're going to win. I know it!" Hanamichi yelled to encourage his teammates one last time. "Right?"
"Right." A lone vice muttered dejectedly.
.......OOOOOOOOOO.......
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Thump. Thump. Thump.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
More THUMPS.
"What is wrong with me?" Hanamichi thought. "The tensai should never be nervous. "You can do this. You can do this."
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
"Aaargh!!" Hanamichi silently cringed. He was experiencing major warning signs. Heart palpitations, clammy hands, wobbly knees. "I'm going to pass out." He whispered fearfully.
"GANBATTE NE, HANA-CHAN!!!" the ever loyal Sakuragi Gundan shouted their cheers as Hanamichi entered the basketball court filled with noises and shouts.
"Let us welcome the Kanagawa University Varsity Basketball Team against the Yokohama University Basketball team to battle it all out in this year's National Championship!!!" the master of ceremonies announced as both teams entered the gym
"First five players to approach the referee's table please."
More shouts.
THUMP.
More yells.
THUMP. THUMP.
More cheers.
THUMP. THUMP. THUMP.
Iko Kanagawa!
Yokohama fito!
It was deafening. But Hanamichi heard nothing. Nothing except his own heartbeat.