A Strange Club Application

After school.

The basketball club.

Inside the basketball club at this moment, Akagi Takenori was organizing some documents.

These documents were all the new membership applications submitted today.

As the captain of the basketball team, he naturally had to understand the information of the new members.

Beside him was a boy with a gentle appearance, wearing round glasses.

This boy was Kogure Kiminobu, the vice-captain of the Shohoku basketball team.

As the vice-captain, he was naturally involved in organizing the information of the new players.

"There are more new members this year than last year!" Kogure Kiminobu said.

Akagi Takenori snorted, "What's the use of having more? We'll have to see how many can actually stay. I won't accept anyone without patience."

Kogure Kiminobu pushed up his glasses and said helplessly, "Don't always be so serious! Akagi, it's okay to relax a little."

Akagi Takenori said solemnly, "If someone slacks off even in training, they'll never make it to the national tournament."

Kogure Kiminobu reminded him, "I think the one who played against you today was quite good. I remember his name was Sakuragi Hanamichi!"

As he spoke, he began to search for Sakuragi Hanamichi's membership application.

However, no matter how he searched, he couldn't find it. "Strange, did he not submit an application?"

Akagi Takenori snorted, "I already threw his away. I won't let a guy like that, who's so arrogant, join the basketball club."

Kogure Kiminobu twitched his lips. Thinking about Sakuragi Hanamichi's performance today, he said, "Sakuragi Hanamichi just hasn't been exposed to basketball before. His talent is really good. It would be a shame to give up on him like this. I think we should give him a chance!"

Akagi Takenori didn't speak, his thoughts unknown.

Huh?

Just then, Akagi Takenori's attention was caught by a membership application in his hand.

"What's wrong?" Kogure Kiminobu asked, noticing Akagi Takenori's expression.

Akagi Takenori said, "Qing Junce, 192cm tall. His height is excellent, but I don't know about his skill."

Upon hearing this, Kogure Kiminobu immediately got excited. "192cm! If that's the case, plus you and Sakuragi, our basketball team will have three people over 180cm."

Akagi Takenori said, "Rukawa Kaede from Tomioka Middle School will also join us this year. This time, we must conquer the nation."

Huh?

Kogure Kiminobu picked up a membership application at this moment and said strangely, "There's actually a girl applying to join the basketball club here. She's applying to be the manager. Let me see! Shimizu Kanon... Hmm?"

"Is something wrong?" Akagi Takenori asked.

Kogure Kiminobu looked at the membership application in his hand, his expression very strange. "Reason for joining... To take care of a lazy idiot..."

Huh?

For a moment, an eerie silence fell over the basketball club.

The next day.

Shohoku High School Gymnasium.

The first-year students who had just joined the club were already standing in a line on the court.

Akagi Takenori stood in front of everyone and said loudly, "I am the captain of the basketball team, Akagi Takenori. Alright, now you will introduce yourselves."

"Class 1, Grade 1, Ishii Taro, 172cm tall, 65kg, favorite position is Point Guard."

"Class 5, Grade 1, Suzuki Ken, 165cm tall, 66kg, favorite position is Small Forward."

"Class 4, Grade 1, Ishioka Masahiko, 179cm tall, 70kg, specializes in playing Center."

"Class 4, Grade 1, Kuwata Jiro, 162cm tall, 50kg, graduated from Second Middle School, played Small Forward in middle school, please take care of me."

As Akagi Takenori listened to the introductions of the new players, he was also writing something in his notebook with a pen.

Soon, the self-introductions reached the next person.

This person had black hair, a cold and indifferent demeanor, and an expression that showed he didn't put anyone in his eyes.

He directly said, "Class 10, Grade 1, Rukawa Kaede, 187cm tall, 75kg, graduated from Tomioka Middle School, no fixed position."

Hearing his introduction, the senior team members from the second and third grades who were watching nearby began to discuss.

"He's that Super Rookie, Rukawa Kaede!"

"Can he play any position?"

"He was the MVP in middle school, his skill speaks for itself!"

Akagi Takenori looked at Rukawa Kaede and said, "Hey! Rukawa Kaede, what are your interests?"

Rukawa Kaede crossed his arms, touched his chin, and mused, "Interest... probably sleeping!"

Poof...

Sakuragi Hanamichi, hearing this, couldn't help but cover his mouth and laugh.

He pointed at Rukawa Kaede and mocked, "Hahaha... sleeping is an interest! Did you all hear that! Sleeping is his interest. This guy is so boring, no wonder he always has a blank expression."

Akagi Takenori directly interrupted, "Got it. Next."

Hearing this, Sakuragi Hanamichi immediately stood at attention, took a step forward, took a deep breath, and said seriously, "I am Sakuragi Hanamichi, graduated from Waqoku Junior High, 188cm tall, 83kg, and my interest is..."

"Alright, continue. Next," Akagi Takenori interrupted him without hesitation.

Sakuragi Hanamichi, cut off, turned red in the face, but he didn't dare say anything, only secretly cursing Akagi Takenori in his heart.

After Sakuragi Hanamichi, there was no more movement.

Akagi Takenori frowned as he looked at the documents in his hand.

He looked up and saw that there was no one after Sakuragi Hanamichi, so he frowned and said, "What's going on? Is that everyone?"

Kogure Kiminobu, standing nearby, said, "Sakuragi Hanamichi was the last one."

Akagi Takenori looked down at the documents in his hand and said, "Qing Junce didn't come?"

Speaking of Qing Junce, Kogure Kiminobu remembered when he checked the application forms yesterday, he seemed to have mentioned someone like that.

He said, "You mean the one over 190cm tall! It looks like he didn't come. And that girl who applied to be the manager also didn't show up."

As he said this, he thought back to the reason for application he had seen yesterday.

His expression gradually became strange, and he thought to himself, "Could it be... that clumsy guy who likes shooting is this Qing Junce who didn't show up? He didn't come because he was lazy."

Akagi Takenori's expression wasn't very good.

He had no good impression of people who were not punctual, so he said in a slightly low voice, "Late on the very first day of registration. I absolutely will not let someone like that join the basketball team."

"Sorry, sorry, I'm late."

Just then, a female voice suddenly reached everyone's ears.

Akagi Takenori couldn't help but twitch the corner of his eye. Just as he finished saying he disliked late people, he was immediately proven wrong.

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice.

At the entrance of the gymnasium, a girl carrying a medical bag on her back had appeared at some point.

She wore a sun hat with interwoven yellow and purple colors, a loose pink T-shirt that looked casual and natural, and tight blue shorts that perfectly accentuated her long legs, showcasing the vitality and energy unique to a young girl.

Her features under the brim of the hat were exquisite, like a painting. Her eyebrows were like distant mountains, their gentle curve resembling willow leaves swaying in the spring breeze, exuding a gentle charm.

Her large eyes were like clear lake water, bright and dazzling under the sunlight.

Her long eyelashes were like two delicate little fans, trembling slightly with every blink, adding a touch of playfulness and liveliness to her gaze.

Her high nose bridge was like an elegant peak, perfectly positioned in the center of her face, making the entire facial contour more three-dimensional.

And her slightly full lips were like delicate rose petals, exuding a natural redness, as if holding endless sweetness and tenderness.

The long hair falling from the sides of her forehead had a natural curl, like waves gently blown by the breeze, adding a charming allure to her overall image.

The newcomer was none other than the manager of the Shohoku basketball team—Inoue Ayako.

Inoue Ayako continued, "I am the team's manager, Ayako. I'm a second-year student at Shohoku. Please take care of me."

As she spoke, she walked up to the new players, patting their shoulders as she said cheerfully, "What's wrong with you guys? Why are you all so timid? I've already greeted you, won't you greet me back?"

Being approached so casually, some of the more shy freshmen blushed and lowered their heads, looking embarrassed.

Akagi Takenori spoke at this moment, "Alright, before we start practicing, I need to tell you all one thing. Our goal this year is to compete for the national championship, so you must undergo rigorous training. Do you understand?"

At the same time.

A person walked into the basketball gym.

His white hair complemented his eyebrows, and he wore glasses on his nose.

Dressed in a bright yellow top and emerald green pants, his physique was extremely round, truly like a rolling ball moving forward.

A kind and benevolent smile was always on his lips, as warm as a spring breeze.

However, inadvertently, a hint of wisdom would occasionally flash in his eyes.

This person was Anzai Mitsuyoshi, the coach of the Shohoku basketball team.

"You've already started!" Anzai Mitsuyoshi said slowly as he looked at the people in the gym.

Everyone looked up.

When Akagi Takenori, Kogure Kiminobu, and the other veteran players saw him, they all said seriously, "Coach Anzai."

Amidst the surprise and curiosity of the new players, they all looked towards Anzai Mitsuyoshi.

Akagi Takenori then said, "Coach Anzai, these are the new recruits who joined this year. Please guide them."

Ohohoho...

Coach Anzai let out a series of strange chuckles and then said, "Then let's have a practice match first!"