A Stunning Debut

"Watch carefully. Look at the people you'll be matched up against. Watch every possession, every defensive play, carefully. The secret to beating the current Jaguars lies in there."

Deer Horns head coach Yoshioka Kurozo played footage of the Jaguars' first three games in the screening room. The players watched without blinking, as though they were watching a detective film.

The Deer Horns had arrived in Kobe two days before game day. As another team with three straight wins, they did not dare underestimate their opponents.

"Coach, Sakuragi Hanamichi should be coming back from suspension for this game. As for him..." After watching the footage, the Deer Horns' star player Maki Shinichi asked his coach. After all, he would most likely be matched up against Sakuragi.

"Sakuragi... it's true that his three-game suspension means we have no footage of him. How should I put it? I heard about his showdown with Rukawa Kaede before, and it seemed they ended in a draw. But! I still don't think Sakuragi is our biggest threat!" Coach Yoshioka clearly did not regard Sakuragi as much of a concern.

"Fine..." Seeing how unconcerned Coach Yoshioka was, Maki said nothing more.

"The Deer Horns are one of the league's top teams. Their situation is rather similar to ours; they have many former schoolmates. I heard you were even from the same prefecture in high school. Akagi, you should know them well, right?" The Jaguars were also studying the Deer Horns. After all, this was the strongest opponent they had faced since the new season began.

"Yeah! The current Deer Horns are practically a transplanted Hainan team. Maki Shinichi, nicknamed 'Maki,' and Jin Chuichiro, nicknamed 'Jin,' entered the league the same year I did. Their arrival quickly turned the team from a former weakling into a powerhouse. This year, they added the second overall pick, Kiyota Nobunaga. Hainan's old three-pronged attack has reunited." Akagi analyzed for a long while.

"That monkey!!!" Hearing Kiyota's name, Sakuragi remembered the draft.

"Alright, everyone, head to the screening room in a moment. We'll watch footage from the Deer Horns' last three games." Coach Omoki and Coach Yoshioka had coincidentally both made game footage the focus of their preparation. The game was drawing ever closer.

At last, the highly anticipated showdown between the Jaguars and the Deer Horns was about to begin.

This was actually the Jaguars' second home game of the new season, but judging from the pregame atmosphere in the arena and the intensity of the media coverage, it felt like a home opener.

"Sakuragi!" A gentle voice called out to Sakuragi, who was already warming up at the sideline.

Sakuragi turned around, but spectators were already filing into the arena. In the somewhat chaotic scene, it was difficult to tell where the voice had come from.

But Sakuragi was certain of one thing: that voice belonged to Haruko.

"Over here!! Sakuragi!" Sakuragi's ears truly were sharp. It was indeed Haruko. When she saw that Sakuragi had not noticed her, she waved.

"Hi!!" Seeing Haruko waving at him, Sakuragi ran over excitedly like a child who had just learned to run.

"Long time no see, Sakuragi!"

"Yeah, yeah, haha! I never expected you to really come watch my game, Haruko. I'm so touched... Haruko!!!" Sakuragi remembered the message Haruko had sent him that night.

"Of course! You're finally back from suspension, and this is your first game of your professional career. It's incredibly meaningful!"

"Haruko!!!" Sakuragi was moved to tears by Haruko's words.

"That's why I specially applied to come cover this game!" Haruko's words reminded Sakuragi that she also had another identity: a reporter. Looking at the work badge hanging from Haruko's chest, Sakuragi remembered running into her at the draft and foolishly grinned.

"Oh, right, Sakuragi. I'll be interviewing you later, so be ready!" Hearing that Haruko was actually going to interview him made him even more excited.

"Alright! I guarantee I'll complete the mission! Hahaha!" Sakuragi beamed with delight.

"Stupid fox, see that? Haruko's already interviewing me, hahaha!! She doesn't care about you anymore!" Sakuragi was smug with pride.

"Idiot, why are you still chatting? Hurry up and warm up." Akagi walked over, intending to drag Sakuragi away.

"Brother! Why don't you come be interviewed too?" Haruko invited her brother as well.

That gorilla really has no sense of romance. We were having such a great conversation, and he just had to come over and ruin it! Sakuragi thought, hating Akagi at that moment.

"Mm, alright. Make it quick!" Akagi agreed.

Damn it, it was supposed to be a one-on-one interview with Haruko!!!! Now it's gone... Sakuragi was utterly depressed.

Akagi dominated the entire interview with his remarks, while Sakuragi seemed to be nothing more than his sidekick.

After the interview ended, Akagi left in satisfaction, leaving behind only Sakuragi's aggrieved silhouette.

"Alright, Sakuragi. I'll interview you again when I get the chance!" Seeing that Sakuragi was feeling a little down, Haruko comforted him.

"Haha, how could I get depressed just because I didn't get to speak? No way, no way... Just watch, Haruko. I, Sakuragi, will shock everyone and put on this genius's stunning debut!" Sakuragi was always full of energy in front of Haruko. After saying that, he walked back to the court.

"Sakuragi! Good luck!" Haruko once again cheered him on.

"Jin, Rukawa Kaede is yours. You have to cut off his connection with Akagi. And Nobunaga, control the tempo and get the ball into Maki's hands as much as possible. Maki's opponent is that rookie who just returned from suspension. That matchup is their weak link." Coach Yoshioka made his final tactical arrangements as the game was about to begin.

"Bring out what you practiced. Stick to the strategy of attacking from the paint first, and don't fear your opponents." Coach Omoki gave his final instructions as well.

"Sakuragi, this is your first game. They know the least about you. Although you've faced them before, I believe that in their eyes, you're still the player you were years ago. But the current you is beyond anything they can imagine!" Omoki seemed to be hinting at something to Sakuragi.

"Coach... don't worry. Deer Horns?? Hmph! Today, I'll snap their horns right off!" Hearing Omoki's words, Sakuragi's confidence soared to unprecedented heights.

"Will the Deer Horns gore the Jaguars, or will the Jaguars capture this deer? The marquee matchup of the round is about to begin!" The television commentators at the arena were ready as well.

The lights gradually dimmed, and the players were about to make their entrance.

The arena DJ began introducing the players: "Number 7, point guard! Miyagi Ryota~~~~!! Number 14, forward! Mitsui Hisashi~~!! Number 4, captain and center! Takenori Akagi~~!! Number 1, first overall pick! Shooting guard, Rukawa Kaede~~~!!!" After the DJ introduced each player, the cheers in the arena could no longer be described as merely deafening.

What about Sakuragi? Even Sakuragi himself was probably wondering where he was.

"Let's welcome the next player with your wildest cheers! Number 6! An overseas draft player, power forward!! Making his first appearance for the Jaguars, and playing the first game of his professional career, Sakura~gi~Hana~michi~!!!" The DJ did not keep the suspense going for long. Sakuragi, the last player to enter, received the grandest introduction! He had not yet played a single game for the Jaguars, but it seemed the fans had already accepted him.

"Sakuragi, you really made it onto the court. You really became a professional player. The whole arena is welcoming you! You have to do your best, Sakuragi!" Seeing this scene, Haruko could not help shedding tears of joy for Sakuragi.

"Alright, let's do this! I, Sakuragi, am finally getting on the court!!" Seeing how warmly the fans welcomed him, Sakuragi's adrenaline surged!

"1, Jaguars!"

The game officially began.

"Long time no see. Your red hair is gone—I almost didn't recognize you, furball monkey!" Nobunaga took the initiative to approach Sakuragi.

"Monkey, it looks like you haven't grown at all!" Sakuragi said, gesturing at their heights.

"Damn it, you just grew too fast!" Nobunaga said irritably.

Rukawa Kaede and Sakuragi had not seen these former high school opponents in years. Before the opening tip, Maki and the others came forward to exchange a few words with Rukawa and Sakuragi.

Courtesy before conflict—the real contest began at once.

Akagi and Deer Horns center Watanabe Takasato prepared for the tip-off.

The Deer Horns won possession first and prepared to launch the first attack of the game.

Although Nobunaga was nominally a shooting guard, the ball was in his hands for most of the Deer Horns' offense. The team's nominal point guard, Akiyama Tsugiyasu, was an outside shooter.

The Deer Horns' offense was unhurried—perhaps even somewhat lax. There was not much off-ball movement or coordination between the players, perhaps because the enormous chants of "Defense!" from the Jaguars' home crowd had rattled them. With the shot clock about to expire, Nobunaga hurriedly threw up a shot. Airball!

The Deer Horns players looked out of rhythm right from the start, while stopping the first possession greatly boosted the Jaguars' morale. Standing at the sideline, Coach Yoshioka shook his head, somewhat dissatisfied with his team's performance.

The Jaguars, meanwhile, were brimming with momentum! After Miyagi brought the ball across half court, he immediately ran a pick-and-roll with Akagi. After the screen, Akagi rolled toward the paint. Though Miyagi was delayed for a moment, he still got the ball to him. After receiving it, Akagi saw the help defense arriving. Driving further would likely result in an offensive foul, so he chose an awkward motion to put up the shot.

Clang! It struck the rim!

Maki had been waiting under the basket for some time. Just as he was about to grab the rebound with both hands, a long arm reached out. Though that hand could not control the ball, it still rose swiftly and tipped it first, preventing Maki from securing the rebound.

"The rebound is mine!" After landing, Maki prepared to leap again and grab it.

"In your dreams! Watch this genius's second putback dunk!" The owner of that long arm was Sakuragi. Sakuragi landed after Maki did, but his incredible leaping ability sent him soaring again. He got to the ball before Maki and viciously slammed it through the hoop with one hand.

With a spectacular tip rebound and putback dunk, Sakuragi smoothly scored the first basket of his professional career!

Sakuragi's basket was like a game-winner—the whole arena erupted!

"Haha, did you see that, old man!" Sakuragi said smugly.

"It's only just begun!" Maki remained remarkably calm.

The Deer Horns' next possession was once again slow and deliberate. They passed the ball around but still could not find a good opportunity. Maki was forced into the corner, and just before stepping out of bounds, he fired the ball away.

"It's mine!" Miyagi read it perfectly and stole the ball in midair, sending the Jaguars on a fast break.

After bringing the ball into the frontcourt, Miyagi drove straight toward the basket, preparing for a three-step layup. Nobunaga got back in time and prepared to jump up to block Miyagi's layup. As Miyagi took the final step, he flicked his wrist and passed the ball to Sakuragi, who was trailing behind. Fortunately, Nobunaga did not bite on Miyagi's fake and remained under the basket. After receiving the ball, Sakuragi prepared to soar in for a tomahawk dunk, but Nobunaga clearly did not want to become part of the highlight reel. He jumped straight up, intending to block Sakuragi's dunk!

"Damn it!" The instant Nobunaga left the ground, he realized he had fallen for the fake.

After faking Nobunaga into the air, Sakuragi prepared for a layup. But Nobunaga was not about to give up. As he came down, he pressed both hands heavily onto Sakuragi's arms. Even if it meant fouling, he wanted to stop Sakuragi from scoring. But Sakuragi's core strength was truly formidable. Even with his arms being pinned down, he still barely managed to get the ball up. The ball spun fiercely, grazed the backboard, and rolled into the basket!

Tweet! Number 1, shooting foul! Number 6's basket counts, and he gets one free throw. The referee made the call decisively.

And one! Sakuragi had come out blazing, and his debut was truly stunning.