chapter 101 End of the Book

In the final minutes of the game, the players of Sannoh Industrial continued to fight, but their morale was visibly low. Their movements were sluggish, their passes sloppy, and their shots erratic. The weight of Ryonan's relentless pressure had taken its toll. On the other hand, Ryonan's players were brimming with energy and determination. Even without Kenichi Uesugi entering the Zone, they played with a ferocity that left Sannoh reeling.

As the clock wound down, the gap between the two teams only widened. Sannoh's mistakes piled up, while Ryonan capitalized on every opportunity. The scoreboard told the story: 100-82 in favor of Ryonan. When the final buzzer sounded, the arena erupted in cheers. Ryonan High School had done the unthinkable—they had defeated the three-time defending champions, Sannoh Industrial, and claimed the national championship!

The moment the game ended, Taoka Shigeichi, Hikoichi, and the rest of the Ryonan bench stormed the court, engulfing Kenichi Uesugi, Sendoh, and the other players in a sea of hugs and cheers. For the third-year players like Yuzumi and Ikegami, this victory was the culmination of years of hard work and sacrifice. Tears streamed down their faces as they celebrated the championship they had dreamed of for so long.

In the stands, players like Amu and Ashen from Kainan watched with a mix of envy and admiration. They knew how much this moment meant to their rivals. But no one forgot the true architect of Ryonan's triumph: Kenichi Uesugi. Without his unparalleled skill and leadership, Ryonan might not have even made it to the national stage, let alone won it all.

In a spontaneous show of gratitude, Yuzumi and Ikegami led the team in lifting Kenichi into the air, tossing him skyward in celebration. This time, they made sure to catch him safely, avoiding a repeat of their earlier mishap. Kenichi couldn't help but laugh, savoring the joy of the moment.

After the initial celebration, the Ryonan players approached their opponents at center court to exchange handshakes. When Kenichi Uesugi shook hands with Sawakita Eiji, the Sannoh ace offered a rare smile. "You're incredible," Sawakita said. "I was planning to go abroad, but now I think I'll stay. We'll meet again next year."

Kenichi chuckled. "I doubt it. The future here belongs to you. I'm moving on."

Sawakita raised an eyebrow but said nothing more. He didn't need to. The respect between the two players was mutual.

The award ceremony that followed was a spectacle to behold. When the announcer declared Ryonan as the national champions, the crowd erupted in thunderous applause.

Taoka Shigeichi led his team to the podium, where they were presented with the championship trophy. The audience rose to their feet, giving Ryonan a standing ovation. It was a moment of pure triumph, a testament to their hard work and determination.

Next came the MVP award. There was no suspense—Kenichi Uesugi was the unanimous choice. As he raised the MVP trophy, the flashbulbs of countless cameras lit up the arena. The crowd cheered once more, acknowledging the brilliance of the young star who had led his team to glory.

The celebrations continued long after the ceremony ended. Media reporters swarmed the Ryonan players, eager to capture their reactions. Even Yayoi Aida, Hikoichi's sister, struggled to get close enough to take photos. Eventually, she managed to gather the team for a group photo, a lasting memento of their historic achievement.

As the frenzy died down, Kenichi found himself approached by representatives from several prestigious university teams. They offered scholarships and promises of stardom, but Kenichi politely declined. His journey was far from over, but it wouldn't continue in the college leagues. He had bigger plans.

The next morning, the Ryonan team boarded a train back to Kanagawa, accompanied by the players from Kainan. The atmosphere was light and cheerful, a stark contrast to the tension of the tournament. Taoka Shigeichi and Riki Takato, the coaches of Ryonan and Kainan, chatted amiably, sharing stories and laughter as if they were old friends. Sendoh and Amu sat together, though their conversation was limited—Amu had little interest in Sendoh's fishing tales. Meanwhile, Kiyota Nobunaga pestered Kenichi with questions about the Zone, vowing to surpass him next year. Kenichi could only smile and nod, humoring his enthusiastic teammate.

When the train arrived in Kanagawa, the players were greeted by a massive crowd of fans and well-wishers. The news of Ryonan's championship had spread like wildfire, and the people of Kanagawa were eager to celebrate their hometown heroes. The streets were filled with cheers and applause as the team made their way through the station.

For the next few days, Kanagawa was abuzz with celebrations. Kenichi Uesugi, however, had other things on his mind. The system had notified him that the second phase was about to begin. He was preparing to enter a new world—a world of black and blue. According to the system, his current abilities would not only remain intact but would also be enhanced with new, powerful skills. Kenichi was excited for what lay ahead, though he couldn't help but wonder how his "perfect imitation" would fare against the likes of Kuroko and the Generation of Miracles.

Before leaving, Kenichi made sure to say his goodbyes.

He visited Coach Anzai, thanking him for his guidance and support. He also bid farewell to his teammates, telling them he was going abroad. While they were sad to see him go, they understood that a player of his caliber needed to chase greater challenges.

Finally, the time came for Kenichi to depart. As a flash of white light enveloped him, he felt a strange sense of calm. When he opened his eyes, he found himself leaning against a tree in an unfamiliar place. The world around him was vibrant and alive, and he could hear the sound of basketballs bouncing in the distance.

Curious, Kenichi followed the noise and soon came upon a basketball court. What he saw made him stop in his tracks. On the court were six players, each with a distinct hair color—red, yellow, cyan, green, purple, and blue. Standing on the sidelines was a girl with pink hair, cheering them on. Kenichi immediately recognized them: the Generation of Miracles, the legendary players from Teikō Middle School.

A smile spread across Kenichi's face. This was going to be interesting.

This is the final chapter of the Slam Dunk fanfic. While there is still a lot of content in this novel, I will only be translating

the Slam Dunk portion.