After school.
The Basketball Club.
Inside the Basketball Club, Akagi Takenori was sorting through some documents.
They were all club application forms submitted that day.
As the captain of the Basketball Club, he naturally had to learn about the new members.
Standing beside him was a quiet-looking boy wearing round glasses.
The boy was Kogure Kiminobu, the vice-captain of the Shohoku Basketball Club.
Naturally, as the vice-captain, he was also helping organize the new players' information.
"There are more new members this year than last year!" Kogure Kiminobu said.
Akagi Takenori snorted. "What good is having more? We still have to see how many can stay until the end. I won't accept people who lack perseverance."
Kogure Kiminobu pushed up his glasses and said helplessly, "Don't always be so serious! Akagi, there's nothing wrong with loosening up a little."
Akagi Takenori said solemnly, "Anyone who slacks off even during training will never make it to the National Tournament."
Kogure Kiminobu reminded him, "I think the one who competed against you today is pretty good. I remember his name was Sakuragi Hanamichi!"
As he spoke, he began searching for Sakuragi Hanamichi's club application form.
But no matter how he searched, he couldn't find it. "That's strange. Did he not submit an application?"
Akagi Takenori snorted coldly. "I already threw his away. That arrogant guy? There's no way I'll let someone like him join the Basketball Club."
Kogure Kiminobu's mouth twitched. Thinking of Sakuragi Hanamichi's performance that day, he said, "Sakuragi Hanamichi just hasn't been exposed to basketball before. His talent is truly excellent. It would be a real shame to give up on him just like this. I think we should give him a chance!"
Akagi Takenori said nothing, and no one knew what he was thinking.
Huh?
Just then, Akagi Takenori's attention was drawn to the club application form in his hand.
"What is it?" Kogure Kiminobu asked when he noticed Akagi Takenori's expression.
Akagi Takenori said, "Qing Junce. Height: 192 centimeters. His height is excellent. I just don't know how strong he is."
Kogure Kiminobu immediately grew excited. "192 centimeters? In that case, with you and Sakuragi, our Basketball Club will have three people over 180 centimeters tall."
Akagi Takenori said, "This year, Rukawa Kaede from Tomioka Middle School will also join us. This time, we must conquer the nation."
Huh?
Kogure Kiminobu picked up a club application form and said strangely, "There's even a girl applying to join the Basketball Club. She's applying to be a manager. Let me see... Shimizu Kanon... Hmm?"
"Is something wrong?" Akagi Takenori asked.
Kogure Kiminobu looked at the club application form in his hand, his expression turning extremely odd. "Reason for joining... to look after a lazy idiot who likes to slack off..."
Huh?
For a moment, an eerie silence fell over the Basketball Club.
The next day.
Shohoku High School's basketball gym.
The first-year students who had newly joined the club were already standing in a line on the court.
Standing in front of them, Akagi Takenori called out, "I'm the captain of the basketball team, Akagi Takenori. All right, introduce yourselves."
"Class 1-1, Ishii Taro, 172 centimeters tall, 65 kilograms. The position I'm best at is point guard."
"Class 1-5, Suzuki Ken, 165 centimeters tall, 66 kilograms. The position I'm best at is Small Forward."
"Class 1-4, Ishioka Masahiko, 179 centimeters tall, 70 kilograms. I'm best at playing center."
"Class 1-4, Kuwata Jiro, 162 centimeters tall, 50 kilograms. I graduated from No. 2 Middle School. I played Small Forward in middle school. Please take care of me."
As he listened to the new members' introductions, Akagi Takenori simultaneously wrote something in his notebook.
Soon, the self-introductions reached the next person.
This person had black hair, a cold and expressionless face, and an air that suggested he looked down on everyone.
He simply said, "Class 1-10, Rukawa Kaede, 187 centimeters tall, 75 kilograms. I graduated from Tomioka Middle School. I have no fixed position."
After hearing his introduction, the second- and third-year members watching from the side began discussing him.
"So he's that Super Rookie, Rukawa Kaede!"
"Can he really play every position?"
"He was the middle school MVP. His strength speaks for itself!"
Akagi Takenori looked at Rukawa Kaede. "Hey! Rukawa Kaede, what are your interests?"
At that, Rukawa Kaede folded one arm across his chest, stroked his chin with the other, and thought about it. "My interests...? Probably sleeping."
Pfft...
Hearing that, Sakuragi Hanamichi beside him couldn't hold back and covered his mouth as he laughed.
Pointing at Rukawa Kaede, he mocked, "Hahaha... Sleeping is an interest too? Did you all hear that? Sleeping is his interest! This guy is so boring. No wonder he always has that expressionless face."
Akagi Takenori interrupted him outright. "Got it. Next."
At that, Sakuragi Hanamichi immediately stood at attention, stepped forward, took a deep breath, and said seriously, "I'm Sakuragi Hanamichi. I graduated from Wako Middle School. I'm 188 centimeters tall, weigh 83 kilograms, and my interest is..."
"All right, continue. Next," Akagi Takenori cut him off without mercy.
Interrupted, Sakuragi Hanamichi flushed red with frustration. But he didn't dare say anything and could only curse Akagi Takenori secretly in his heart.
After Sakuragi Hanamichi, nothing happened.
Akagi Takenori frowned as he looked at the information in his hand.
He raised his head and saw that there was no one after Sakuragi Hanamichi. Frowning, he asked, "What's going on? Is no one else here?"
Kogure Kiminobu, standing to the side, said, "Sakuragi Hanamichi was the last one."
Akagi Takenori lowered his head and looked at the information in his hand. "Qing Junce didn't come?"
At the mention of Qing Junce, Kogure Kiminobu also remembered seeing that name while reviewing the club application forms the previous day.
He said, "You mean the one over 190 centimeters tall? It looks like he didn't come. And the girl who applied to be a manager isn't here either."
As he spoke, he remembered the reason for joining that he had seen on the application form the day before.
His expression gradually turned strange as he thought, Could that lazy idiot who likes shooting hoops be this Qing Junce who didn't come? Did he not come because he was slacking off?
Akagi Takenori's expression was unpleasant.
He had no favorable impression of people who weren't punctual, so he said in a slightly lowered voice, "Late on the first day of registration? I absolutely won't let someone like that join the basketball team."
"Sorry, sorry, I'm late."
Just then, a girl's voice suddenly reached everyone's ears.
The corner of Akagi Takenori's eye twitched. He had just said that he disliked latecomers, and he had been slapped in the face the very next moment.
Everyone turned toward the sound.
A girl carrying a medical kit had appeared at the gym entrance at some point.
She wore a sun hat woven in yellow and purple. Her loose pink T-shirt looked casual and natural, while the blue fitted shorts on her lower half outlined her long legs perfectly, radiating a young girl's vitality and energy.
Beneath the brim, her features were exquisite as a painting. Her brows were like distant mountains, their curved lines resembling willow leaves swaying in the spring breeze and giving her a gentle, graceful air.
Her large eyes were like clear lake water, bright and sparkling beneath the sunlight.
Her long eyelashes resembled two delicate little fans, trembling slightly with every blink and adding a hint of playfulness and liveliness to her gaze.
Her high, straight nose was like an elegant mountain peak resting perfectly at the center of her face, making her features appear even more three-dimensional.
Her slightly full lips resembled delicate rose petals, naturally flushed red as though they held endless sweetness and tenderness.
Long strands of hair fell beside her forehead, their natural curls like waves brushed by a gentle breeze, adding a charming allure to her appearance.
The newcomer was Inoue Ayako, the manager of the Shohoku Basketball Club.
Inoue Ayako continued, "I'm 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 members. Patting them on the shoulders, she said in a bold, carefree manner, "What's with you guys? Why are you all so timid? I've already introduced myself to you. Can't you say hello to me?"
After being approached so directly, some of the more bashful new students lowered their heads with flushed faces, looking embarrassed.
Akagi Takenori spoke up at this point. "All right. Before we start practicing, there's something I need to tell you. Our goal this year is to conquer the nation, so you must be prepared to undergo rigorous training. Understood?"
At the same time.
Someone walked into the basketball gym.
His white hair matched his eyebrows, and he wore a pair of glasses on the bridge of his nose.
He wore a bright yellow top with emerald-green trousers. His figure was extremely round, making him look just like a rolling ball.
A kind, benevolent smile was always perched at the corners of his mouth, warm as a spring breeze brushing one's face.
Yet every so often, a glimmer of wisdom would flash through his eyes.
This man's name was Anzai Mitsuyoshi, the coach of the Shohoku basketball team.
"You've already started?" Anzai Mitsuyoshi slowly said as he looked at everyone in the gym.
Everyone turned toward the voice.
When Akagi Takenori, Kogure Kiminobu, and the other veteran members saw him, they all straightened and called out, "Coach Anzai."
Amid the new students' surprise and curiosity, everyone looked toward Anzai Mitsuyoshi.
Akagi Takenori spoke up. "Coach Anzai, these are the new members who joined the club this year. Please guide them."
Ho ho ho ho ho...
Coach Anzai let out a string of strange, chuckling laughter before saying, "Then let's start with a practice game!"
Before you continue