This Kid Really Fell in Love with Basketball

Then a shadow fell over Sendoh.

Hanamichi Sakuragi stood with his arms crossed, nostrils pointed at the sky as he looked down at Sendoh with his chin.

"Heh heh heh, broomhead!"

"Well? You've witnessed this genius's strength now, haven't you?"

"Did that 'combination move' scare your legs weak?"

Sakuragi looked immensely pleased with himself, as if he had scored a hundred points all by himself in that game.

Sendoh looked at the red-haired livewire, and the smile in his eyes became a little more genuine.

He took the initiative to extend his hand.

"Yeah, I really was surprised."

"Sakuragi, your athletic ability is downright monstrous."

"That jumping power, and that burst of force at the very end..."

Sendoh paused, his expression growing slightly more serious.

"If you can get your fundamentals down and learn how to really play basketball."

"Then perhaps the next time we meet, you'll become the opponent who gives me the biggest headache."

"Work hard at basketball, genius."

Those words were like a shot of highly concentrated stimulant for Sakuragi.

His face instantly turned red, as though steam were rising from the top of his head.

He grabbed Sendoh's hand and shook it hard up and down, nearly dislocating Sendoh's arm.

"Wahahaha!"

"You think so too?!"

"You really do have an eye for talent, broomhead!"

"Don't worry! Next time, this genius will make you lose even worse!"

Sendoh pulled his hand free with a wry smile, feeling as if his arm no longer belonged to him.

His gaze shifted back as he prepared to shake hands with the next person.

That was Shohoku's number sixteen, the most mysterious and unreadable guy on the court.

However.

Sendoh's outstretched hand froze in midair.

Because there was no one in front of him.

Or rather, no one standing.

A black lump was sprawled across Takenori Akagi's broad back.

Lin Bei clung to Akagi like a koala, both arms wrapped around Akagi's neck, his face buried in Akagi's jersey as he breathed evenly.

"Hoo... hoo..."

There was even a snot bubble expanding and shrinking with every breath.

Everyone was floored.

The Ryonan players' eyes nearly popped out of their heads.

"He's... he's asleep?!"

"At a time like this?!" Koshino pointed at Lin Bei, his finger trembling.

"The guy who just made that game-winning three-plus-one is actually sleeping now?!"

Takenori Akagi's face darkened, the veins on his forehead throbbing.

He supported Lin Bei's thighs with one hand to keep him from slipping down and explained through gritted teeth:

"Sorry, this guy... ran out of battery."

"He's the kind of creature that automatically shuts down whenever his exercise limit is exceeded."

Sendoh watched the scene.

His expression changed from astonishment to helplessness, before finally turning into a soft laugh.

He withdrew his hand and looked at that unconscious, sleeping figure.

"What a... hard-to-figure-out guy."

"Akagi, your Shohoku team is really strong this year."

"Whether it's that rookie Kaede Rukawa, or this... Lin Bei."

"And of course, that red-haired genius too."

Sendoh turned around and waved at the Shohoku group behind him.

"See you at the prefectural tournament."

"By then, we Ryonan won't lose again."

The next morning.

At the entrance to Shohoku High School, the sunlight was almost painfully bright.

Students entered campus in groups of two and three.

Without exception, they were all talking about yesterday's practice match.

"Hey, did you hear? The basketball team beat Ryonan!"

"Seriously? That Final Four Ryonan?"

"Why would I lie to you? I heard they hit a game-winner at the end!"

Amid that vibrant atmosphere.

Thud!

A dull impact, followed by a scream, shattered the morning calm.

Beneath the cherry blossom tree at the school gate, the four members of Sakuragi's Gang lay piled on top of one another, clutching their heads.

"Hanamichi! What are you doing?!"

Takamiya Nozomu held his swollen bump, tears filling his eyes.

"That hurt like hell! Were you trying to kill us with that headbutt?!" Yuji Ookusu rubbed his head too.

Hanamichi Sakuragi stood before them, his schoolbag slung over one shoulder, his face full of fury.

"You bastards!"

"Were you making fun of this genius yesterday?!"

"I heard you! You were saying something about me being afraid of losing!"

"I'm the hero who defeated Ryonan! The secret weapon!"

"You dare laugh at a hero? Die!"

As Sakuragi spoke, he lowered his head again, ready to unleash another Genius Headbutt.

Yohei quickly dodged aside and waved both hands as he explained, an exasperated smile on his face.

"It was a misunderstanding! It was all a misunderstanding, Hanamichi!"

"We were cheering you on!"

"Cheering me on?"

Sakuragi paused and looked at Yohei suspiciously.

"Of course!"

Yohei stepped forward, patted Sakuragi on the shoulder, and said while holding back his laughter:

"Think about it. It was your first time playing in a game, and you beat an opponent on Sendoh's level."

"We were marveling at how Hanamichi Sakuragi always manages to create miracles."

"Even if your form was a little ugly, you fouled a little too much, and you got dunked on a little too badly..."

"Hm?" Sakuragi's eyes narrowed.

"Cough, cough! Anyway! We're proud of you!" Yohei hurriedly cut himself off.

Sakuragi's expression instantly brightened.

The face that had looked so ferocious moments ago now bloomed into a grin like a chrysanthemum.

"Wahahaha! So that's what it was!"

"You should've said so earlier! You made me waste my energy!"

"That's right! This genius is a man who creates miracles!"

Sakuragi put his hands on his hips and let out his trademark wild laughter at the school gate.

The passing girls all glanced over, then quickly ran away as though they had seen a lunatic.

Just as Sakuragi was immersed in self-admiration.

A burly figure blocked his path.

The man wore a judo uniform and wooden clogs, his face stern as he stood at the school gate like an iron tower.

The captain of the judo club, Tatsuhiko Aota.

He looked at Sakuragi, holding a photograph in his hand. It was a picture of Haruko.

"Sakuragi."

Aota's voice was deep and powerful.

"I knew you'd react like this."

"You lost badly yesterday, didn't you?"

Aota tucked the photo into his chest, wearing an expression that said he had known it all along as he spoke earnestly:

"A soft sport like basketball simply isn't suited for you."

"Only judo! That's a man's romance!"

"I heard you went to Ryonan yesterday. You must've come back after getting utterly crushed, right?"

"That Akagi guy must've cried in the locker room again, right?"

"Come on, Sakuragi! Stop wasting your talent!"

"Join the judo club! We're going to conquer the nation!"

Aota extended a large hand, intending to grab Sakuragi by the shoulder.

However, Sakuragi did not dodge as usual, nor was he drawn in by the photograph.

He stood where he was, his smile fading.

His eyes, usually a little unfocused, now gleamed with a light unlike anything before.

"I think..."

Sakuragi called out.

Aota froze for a moment. "Hm?"

"You got one thing wrong."

Sakuragi pointed a thumb at himself, the corner of his mouth lifting into an incomparably confident grin.

"We won."

"Our Shohoku beat Ryonan."

"And this genius made a huge contribution."

Aota froze mid-motion.

"You... you won?"

"That perennial bottom-feeding basketball team beat Final Four Ryonan?"

"You're joking, right?"

Sakuragi burst out laughing. "Wahahaha! This genius never jokes!"

"Basketball is pretty interesting too!"

"Especially that moment when you smash the ball hard into the hoop!"

"That feeling... is way more satisfying than beating someone up!"

Aota looked at Sakuragi's excited expression, and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

It was over.

This kid...

Really seemed to have fallen in love with basketball.