Chapter 37 - Locker Room Speech (1/2)

Shun changed out of his jersey into his tracksuit he looked around the locker room and saw his teammates, none of them were saying anything, the room was silent.

Otsubo and Ishida had arrived late with their eyes red; they had been crying alone away from others.

Just as everybody was ready to leave for the award ceremony, Otsubo asked them to gather around.

Otsubo, Ishida, and the other third-years in the first-string all stood in front of the rest of them.

Otsubo: ”As you all know, today was the last official game for the third-year members. We won't be on any of the teams in any strings from today onwards.”

Some of the underclassmen started tearing up at that.

Ishida: ”Now, don't cry; we will still come to practice. It's just that with the high school examinations, we might not be able to practice as long and hard as we usually do.”

Otsubo smiled towards all of them.

Otsubo: ”The third-years will help the underclassmen train. So don't worry, you will still see a lot of us.”

Otsubo took a deep breath.

Otsubo: ”Right now, I can, without a doubt, say that I am satisfied with the time I spent playing basketball in this club with all you guys.

I joined the first-string after the Nationals in my first-year, I joined the bench, shortly after that.

The coach made me a starter as the power forward of the team at the start of my second year, that year we made it to the Nationals, and won the championship title.

I was so happy that we won the championship that, I and my year mates treated all of our juniors to icecream the next day, we all were broke the day after.”

All the third-years laughed at the memory, and the second-years also smiled, remembering the treat that their upperclassmen gave them.

Otsubo: ”After the Nationals, I took the position of the center because of my height, and the coach made me the captain. I was a little stressed because of the responsibility that came with the title of the captain.”

Otsubo looked at Aone and Mibuchi.

Otsubo: ”To this date, I have no idea about what Aone is thinking about, Aone, you need to speak more if you want the people to understand you.

And, I still can't comprehend half the things that come out of Mibuchi's mouth.

You guys were a troublesome bunch, but I honestly can't imagine not playing with you guys in the team for my third year.”

Otsubo: ”Kageyama, you are the most talented person that I have seen when it comes to basketball. Your performance today was unbelievable. I am relieved that you are the future of Tokiwadai's basketball club.

If you were not playing with us today, we would have been chasing a large point gap by the end of the first half, and our defeat would have been guaranteed in the third quarter.

I will be looking forward to how much you grow from here on forward.

All in all, I participated in the Nationals twice both times we made it to the finals and even won once. It was a good run.

So, I would like to thank everybody in this room, for all your hard work and dedication you guys put into this sports and club.”

What followed was the third year's trying to make their juniors stop crying until the coach came in and announced.

Coach: ”The award ceremony is starting. I know that you guys are tired, but the ceremony is mandatory. Come on, let's go.”

The members started to move out one by one. Shun, who was exiting the room, heard Ishida call him.

Ishida went ahead and patted Kageyama on the shoulder.

Ishida: ”You did well.”