The Top Pick Among Top Picks (Part 1)

What had been a highly anticipated introductory press conference for the new signings took a bizarre turn because of Sakuragi's shocking stunt!

"Sakuragi, get down here! Hurry!" Kawaguchi looked extremely anxious.

After being stunned for a long while, the media seemed to have found material even more eye-catching than Rukawa Kaede, and a new barrage of photographs began!

"Sakuragi... Hanamichi..."

A young female reporter was still in a daze, staring blankly at Sakuragi, unable to believe he had appeared.

"Sakuragi! Hanamichi! Is it really you?"

The female reporter suddenly screamed like an erupting volcano.

"Why didn't you tell me you were back? Why?!"

As she shouted, tears squeezed from her eyes and scattered through the air.

The entire venue fell silent again because of the female reporter's cries.

Wiping away her tears, the female reporter turned and left. Her departing figure looked as though she had just broken up with the person she loved most—so sorrowful, so disappointed.

Sakuragi's expression was the same as when he had heard that Rukawa Kaede had been selected first overall. Half a minute ago, he had been brimming with imposing energy; now, he was like a puppet with its strings cut, swaying precariously atop the table.

Sakuragi had always thought that making an entrance in a special way would give Haruko a surprise. Yet just now, Haruko, acting as a reporter, seemed to have truly been hurt.

Seeing this, Kawaguchi immediately helped Sakuragi down from the table.

"There's been a little incident, everyone. Don't panic. It's fine, it's fine. The press conference will continue!" The host tried his best to smooth things over.

"Please take your seats, everyone. There must have been some misunderstanding just now. The player who made that rather unusual entrance is our overseas draft pick this year—Sakuragi Hanamichi."

The reporters seemed to have suddenly forgotten all the questions they had prepared about Rukawa Kaede. Instead, they all wanted to find out exactly who this Sakuragi, who had appeared out of nowhere, was—and what the tearful female reporter was all about.

"Ah, I remember now. Sakuragi Hanamichi used to be Rukawa Kaede's teammate on their high school team."

"Is he that guy who was always causing trouble?"

"I heard Sakuragi only started playing basketball in high school!"

"He's practically a complete amateur!"

The reporters gathered in small groups and began discussing him.

"Reporters, reporters, if you have questions, please raise your hands before speaking. Thank you for your cooperation!" The host struggled to restore order.

"I'm a reporter from NHK Sports. Sakuragi Hanamichi, are you really planning to challenge Rukawa Kaede?" The reporters immediately threw out a suffocating question.

How could Sakuragi possibly listen to the reporters at a time like this? Haruko's words and those brief few dozen seconds kept replaying in his mind.

"Sakuragi? Sakuragi?" Kawaguchi patted Sakuragi, who had yet to respond.

"I'm Sakuragi Hanamichi. Please treat me well!"

Sakuragi no longer knew what he was saying.

"He's scared," Rukawa Kaede suddenly said coldly.

"Say that again, bastard!" Sakuragi suddenly stood up and shouted at Rukawa Kaede, his face full of killing intent.

"You're the one who talks big, idiot." Rukawa Kaede seemed to be deliberately provoking Sakuragi.

"Calm down, calm down. Both of you, say less. This is a press conference, not a debate!" Kawaguchi tried to defuse the situation.

"Do you dare accept my challenge?" Sakuragi clearly had no intention of letting it end like this.

Rukawa Kaede slowly rose to his feet as well. Looking at Sakuragi, he extended his index finger and wagged it, as if beckoning him over, though he was really provoking the rage-filled Sakuragi.

Seeing that the situation had become impossible to contain, Kawaguchi called the host over and spoke to him quietly.

"Due to today's unexpected circumstances, the Kobe Jaguars' introductory press conference for our new signings will end early. If there are similar events in the future, we will notify our media friends immediately. Thank you all for coming. That concludes today's press conference. Thank you, everyone. Thank you!" the host announced.

The media naturally would not let such a rare spectacle go so easily. They began chattering among themselves, unwilling to leave.

The hotel security guards rushed over and formed two lines, creating a passageway. The people onstage, including Sakuragi and Rukawa Kaede, were escorted out of the venue one after another.

"What is going on with you two?" Kawaguchi looked displeased.

"Come on, Rukawa Kaede. One-on-one! If you beat me, I'll leave the Jaguars. If I beat you, you give up the first overall pick spot!"

Sakuragi's fighting spirit only burned more fiercely!

"Right now?" Rukawa Kaede asked.

"That's enough, both of you! Haven't you made enough trouble?!" Kawaguchi grew angrier.

But it seemed Kawaguchi alone could no longer stop the fighting spirit that had already ignited between Sakuragi and Rukawa Kaede.

"Don't stop them. Let them face off. I want to see just what level these two players we selected this year are at!" A limping man entered the room backstage.

"Mr. Takayama, why are you here?" Kawaguchi looked astonished.

"I heard the team had selected two promising players this year, so I came to take a look. It was worth the trip. They really are two young men full of fighting spirit," Mr. Takayama continued.

"But..." Kawaguchi was still concerned.

"That's enough, Kawaguchi. It's settled. I've already found a court. Stop standing around and let's go."

This Mr. Takayama was no ordinary man. He was Takayama Kenichi, owner of the Kobe Jaguars—the man in charge of the entire team, holding all the power. He was also ranked twentieth on Japan's latest rich list, with considerable wealth.

As they spoke, the group had already arrived at the court the owner had found: a small indoor training gym, though its facilities were thoroughly professional.

Why was it such a large group? Because how could those reporters possibly miss such a show? They followed one after another. In the end, however, they were stopped outside the main entrance, because this was the Jaguars' own private matter.

"The rules are simple. The first to score five baskets wins." The owner laid out the rules first, looking excited. Kawaguchi, however, was restless, because he knew one of them might leave the Jaguars, making all his earlier efforts go to waste.

"You challenged me, so you get the ball first." Rukawa Kaede seemed to have already entered the zone.

"You'll regret this!" Sakuragi's fighting spirit had burned to its peak, ready to erupt at any moment.

The top pick among top picks was about to be decided.

Sakuragi took possession first. Rukawa Kaede did not defend him closely, standing a full two meters away. Perhaps it was because Sakuragi was beyond the three-point line, and because Rukawa had complete confidence in Sakuragi's shooting ability.

The corners of Sakuragi's mouth rose in an evil grin. He suddenly crouched down as though gathering his strength, balanced on his toes, and fixed his eyes on the basket ahead. Then he launched himself upward with force, his body shooting into the air like a rising rocket. Coordinating his arms with his leap, he raised the ball above his head. His form was flawless, smooth and flowing, as he calmly sent the ball flying!

Everyone in the gym could hardly believe it. They had barely watched Sakuragi play before, but he had suddenly pulled up from the three-point line without even dribbling, shooting the moment he got the ball. It was beyond everyone's expectations! Even Rukawa Kaede had never imagined it, and he was far too far away to block it. He could only watch Sakuragi's gorgeous shot leave his hands!

The basketball spun fiercely backward in the air, flying toward the hoop like a missile. Swish~~~~~! Nothing but net!

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa~~~!" Everyone cried out in surprise.

"He pulled up for a three from the arc! That's terrifying!" Some players training in the gym exclaimed in shock.

Sakuragi remained where he was, holding his shooting form. "1:0!"

Although Rukawa Kaede said nothing, he was genuinely surprised. That basketball amateur who had once been unable even to shoot was now confidently knocking down three-pointers.

Perhaps Kawaguchi was the only person in the gym who was not shocked. Over the past three years, he had secretly gone to the United States many times to watch Sakuragi's games and training. He knew exactly what kind of training Sakuragi had gone through and how much progress he had made.

"Well, Kawaguchi, you did a good job this time!" The owner looked quite pleased.

It was Rukawa Kaede's turn to attack.