Akira Sendoh, Nice to Meet You!

When the bus marked "Shohoku High School" slowly pulled up at Ryonan's front gate, the Ryonan Team members, who had been waiting for a long time, instantly focused their attention on it.

Their gazes were filled with scrutiny, curiosity, and the undisguised arrogance of the home team.

"Hmph, you finally made it, Shohoku."

Ryonan's captain, Jun Uozumi, who stood over two meters tall and looked exceptionally mature, stood at the very front of the group with his arms folded across his chest like a wall. His deep voice carried a hint of intimidation.

"Captain, is that redhead Akagi's younger brother?" a player beside him asked quietly.

Uozumi's gaze immediately fell on Hanamichi Sakuragi, who had just gotten off the bus. A trace of disdain flashed through his eyes. "No, that's the center, Akagi. As for that red-haired monkey... hmph, he's probably some mascot Shohoku just picked up."

His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the Shohoku Players getting off the bus to hear.

"Who are you calling a red-haired monkey?! You shaggy gorilla!"

Hanamichi Sakuragi exploded at once, pointing at Uozumi's nose as he shouted. If Miyagi and Kogure had not grabbed him tightly from either side, he probably would have charged over to "reason" with the other man.

"Oh? You've got quite a temper." Uozumi curled his lip, not taking Sakuragi seriously at all. His gaze passed over everyone and landed directly on Takenori Akagi, who had gotten off the bus last.

"Akagi!"

"Uozumi!"

The gazes of Kanagawa's two top centers collided in midair, invisible sparks crackling between them. Fated rivals needed no words. One look was enough to declare the start of war.

The Shohoku Players got off the bus one by one. Facing the provocative stares of the Ryonan Team, every one of them stood tall and returned those looks with sharp eyes.

The tension between the two teams had ignited from the very first second they met.

Kaede Rukawa was the last to get off the bus. He did not even look at Uozumi or Akagi. His icy eyes swept rapidly through Ryonan's lineup before locking precisely onto one person.

A boy in a number 7 jersey, with spiky hair and a lazy smile at the corner of his mouth.

Akira Sendoh!

Sensing Rukawa's burning gaze, Sendoh turned his head and gave him a friendly nod. The smile on his face did not change, but a flicker of excitement flashed in the depths of his eyes.

He knew this game would not be boring.

However, while everyone's attention was focused on figures like Akagi, Rukawa, and Sakuragi.

Sendoh's gaze passed through the crowd and fell on a white-haired boy at the very back of the group, yawning with a sleepy expression.

This person...

Sendoh narrowed his eyes slightly.

He had heard all of Shohoku's intelligence from Coach Taoka. Akagi's strength, Rukawa's talent, Miyagi's speed... even Hanamichi Sakuragi's physical gifts as a complete beginner had been thoroughly analyzed by Coach Taoka.

Yet for this white-haired boy, there was only one line in the report: first-year, substitute, strength unknown.

But Sendoh's beastlike instincts told him that this person was anything but ordinary.

He carried a strange aura, an aloof quality that did not fit in with anyone around him. He was clearly standing there, yet he seemed as though he did not belong in this space at all.

Interesting.

The smile on Sendoh's lips deepened.

At that moment, the white-haired boy seemed to sense his gaze and slowly raised his head as well.

Shirakawa, the man who had crushed Sendoh for the 108th time in the "Virtual Space," still looked drowsy, his eyes somewhat unfocused.

His gaze casually swept over the Ryonan Team members before finally meeting Sendoh's probing stare in midair.

There was no clash of titans, no murderous intent.

Shirakawa merely tugged at the corner of his mouth politely, as if offering a greeting.

Then he prepared to withdraw his gaze and continue spacing out.

"You're Shirakawa, right?"

A clear voice with a hint of magnetism passed through the noisy crowd and reached Shirakawa's ears precisely.

Shirakawa froze, then looked up to find Akira Sendoh crossing past everyone and walking straight toward him.

That move stunned everyone.

What was going on?

Sendoh did not go looking for his destined rival, Kaede Rukawa, nor did he pay any attention to Sakuragi's provocation. Why was he approaching the seemingly least threatening guy in Shohoku's lineup instead?

Rukawa's brow instantly furrowed.

The confrontation between Akagi and Uozumi was interrupted as well.

Everyone's eyes focused on Sendoh and Shirakawa.

"Hello, I'm Sendoh."

Akira Sendoh stopped in front of Shirakawa and proactively held out his hand, wearing his signature harmless smile.

He was tall enough that Shirakawa had to tilt his head up slightly to look at him.

"Nice to meet you. Please take care of me."

His attitude was modest and polite, leaving no room for criticism.

Looking at the genius player who had been so popular in the original story, Shirakawa could not help feeling a little emotional.

He was even a little more handsome in person than in the manga.

Lazily, he extended his hand and shook Sendoh's, then quickly pulled it back.

"Shirakawa."

He said only one word, too lazy to add another.

Sendoh did not mind. He withdrew his hand and examined Shirakawa with great interest before asking with a smile, "I heard you're Shohoku's ace now?"

Boom!

Those words were like a bomb exploding among the Ryonan Team.

"What? The ace? Him?"

"Didn't Coach Taoka say Shohoku's ace was that number 11, Kaede Rukawa?"

"Is there some mistake? He looks like a sickly guy who hasn't woken up yet. How could he possibly be the ace?"

The Ryonan Team members began chattering among themselves, their gazes toward Shirakawa full of doubt and disbelief.

Even their coach, Mitsuyoshi Taoka, looked utterly bewildered at that moment.

The ace?

What ace?

Since when did Shohoku change aces?

On Shohoku's side, aside from the few who knew, most of the players were hearing this for the first time as well. Their eyes widened in shock.

Shirakawa looked at Sendoh's seemingly innocent smile, which actually concealed a test, and sneered inwardly.

This guy was interesting.

With one sentence, he had pushed Shirakawa into the spotlight.

He neither admitted nor denied it. He only smiled faintly and said something that plunged the entire court into dead silence.

"Whether I'm the ace or not doesn't matter."

"Either way, not one of you can beat me today."