Shohoku vs. Miuradai

At the mention of Lin Bei, Haruko's tone became somewhat mysterious.

"Though he always looks lazy, I heard from my brother that Lin Bei is the kind of monster whose depths can't be measured."

"As long as he's on the court, everyone feels at ease."

"And Lin Bei has been working harder lately, too."

"With a lineup like this..."

Haruko turned around and looked seriously at Hanamichi Sakuragi.

"They're really strong!"

"I think we'll definitely make it to the national tournament this year!"

"Good luck, Sakuragi!"

"I'll be watching you from the sidelines the whole time!"

Morning sunlight fell across Haruko's face, outlining her in gold.

At that moment, Hanamichi Sakuragi felt that even if he were asked to take on Godzilla one-on-one, he would never back down.

"Yeah!!"

Hanamichi shot to his feet and roared at the rising sun.

"Leave it to me, Miss Haruko!"

"This genius will definitely lead Shohoku to national dominance!!"

Meanwhile.

Shohoku High School's basketball gymnasium.

Boom!!

A deafening crash rang out as the hoop groaned.

Takenori Akagi hung from the rim with both hands, sweat dripping down his resolute face.

He was the only person in the entire gym.

He was savoring the final peace and solitude before the tournament.

"National dominance..."

Akagi released the rim and landed, staring at his palms with eyes as firm as iron.

"I've waited three years for this day."

Some apartment.

Ryota Miyagi stood before a mirror, carefully grooming his curly hair.

He picked up a photo from the table.

It was a candid side profile of Ayako that he had secretly taken during last year's sports festival.

Mwah.

Miyagi gave the photo a hard kiss.

"Ayako, just watch."

"Today, I'm the number one point guard in the entire prefecture."

He put on his earring and slipped into his jacket, his gaze becoming sharp and dashing.

On the streets.

Kaede Rukawa rode his bicycle down the middle of the road, weaving unsteadily from side to side.

His eyes were closed, and a bubble protruded from his nose.

Drivers by the roadside honked frantically in fright, but he heard none of it.

There was only the orange-red basketball in his mind, along with the figure of that broom-haired guy.

"Today... I have to win."

Elsewhere.

Hisashi Mitsui stood in front of a mirror and opened his mouth.

The two front teeth that had once been missing had been replaced with pristine porcelain crowns.

He looked at himself in the mirror.

A short-haired boy with clear eyes and a faint roguish smile at the corner of his mouth.

The former MVP.

"It's been a while, Hisashi Mitsui."

He touched the scar on his chin. It was the price of youth, and also a man's badge of honor.

"This time, I definitely won't give up again."

Fujisawa City Gymnasium was packed with noise.

As the venue for the opening match of the Kanagawa High School Basketball Qualifiers, the air was thick with a restless, hormone-charged heat.

Shohoku High School's starters entered the court in formation, dressed in red-and-white uniforms.

Although it was only the first round.

Their opponent was Miuradai High School, last year's quarterfinalists, so quite a few spectators filled the stands.

"Look! That's Shohoku!"

"That redhead is so tall!"

"Who's that guy with short hair? He looks kind of familiar..."

"And that... what's with the guy in the back yawning? Is he not awake yet?"

Lin Bei walked at the back of the group, rubbing his eyes helplessly as he listened to the surrounding chatter.

"So sleepy..."

"Why do games have to be played in the morning?"

Across from them was Miuradai High School.

A group of tall, burly guys stood with their arms folded, looking at Shohoku with contempt.

Their captain, Murasame, in particular, had an especially arrogant look in his eyes.

"Shohoku? Isn't that Akagi's one-man team?"

"I heard they picked up a few problem children this year?"

"Hmph. Trash who only know how to fight are completely useless on a basketball court."

At those words, Miyagi, Mitsui, and Hanamichi Sakuragi's expressions instantly turned dangerous.

Even Rukawa cast a cold glance in their direction.

"Trash?"

"Looks like someone wants to go home early."

Lin Bei sighed and tossed the towel in his hand to Ayako.

"Look! That's Ryonan High School!"

Someone shouted.

The gazes in the stands immediately converged on the entrance like spotlights.

A line of tall figures in dark blue uniforms filed in.

At the very front was Jun Uozumi, towering like an iron tower.

But the one who caused the greatest stir was the man walking in the middle of the team, his hair swept skyward and an easy smile on his face.

"It's Sendoh! Akira Sendoh!"

"Wow! It really is him! Last year's Rookie of the Year!"

Screams rose one after another, and Sendoh had no choice but to scratch his head awkwardly and wave to the crowd.

That casual gesture sparked another round of even louder cheers.

"Amazing! Is this the charm of upperclassman Sendoh?!"

"Crowd excitement rating: five stars!"

Aida Hikoichi clutched a notebook in his hand, his face flushed red with excitement as his ballpoint pen raced across the paper.

Jun Uozumi ignored the commotion behind him.

With his arms folded across his chest and his brows tightly furrowed, he swept a piercing gaze toward Shohoku's bench below.

"Hmph, what is Shohoku playing at?"

Uozumi's voice was low, carrying obvious displeasure.

Hikoichi froze for a moment, then followed his captain's gaze.

His eyes immediately widened. "Huh? Shohoku's starting lineup..."

"Why isn't Kaede Rukawa in it? Or that redhead, Sakuragi?"

"Even that terrifying Lin Bei isn't there?"

"Their strongest players... are all on the bench?"

Koshino asked in disbelief.

On the court, warming up in Shohoku's red-and-white uniforms.

Aside from center Takenori Akagi and vice-captain Kiminobu Kogure, the other three were Yasuda, Shiozaki, and Kakuta.

They worked hard too, but compared to the terrifying lineup Ryonan remembered as the team that had defeated them, they might as well have been an entirely different team.

Tweet—!!

The referee's whistle sounded.

The basketball was tossed high into the air.

Shohoku versus Miuradai.

The game began!

At that moment, Shohoku's bench was livelier than a marketplace.

"Damn old man! Why won't he let this genius play?!"

"Against small fries like these, this genius could crush them with one hand!"

Hanamichi Sakuragi sat cross-legged on the floor, clutching his red hair with both hands, his face twisted in constipation-like misery.

"Shut up, Hanamichi."

"Isn't it because of that fight the other day? This is our punishment."

Miyagi sat beside him, gloomily spinning the wristband in his hand.

At the mention of "fighting," Mitsui, seated on the other side, coughed uncomfortably.

The bandage on his chin had not yet been removed, a badge left behind by the "brawl."

"Tch, if we're talking about fighting, that bastard was clearly the one who threw the first punch," Mitsui muttered, his eyes shifting away.

"Huh? Who are you calling that?"

"You were the one who brought people here to challenge us, weren't you?"

"Mr. Former MVP!"

Miyagi's ears perked up like a cat whose tail had been stepped on.

"What did you say, you shorty?!" Veins bulged on Mitsui's forehead.

"Want another fight, longhair?!"

"Bring it on! Who's afraid of who?!"

The two immediately squared up, the air thick with gunpowder.

"Big idiots."

A cold taunt drifted over from beside them.

Rukawa sat in his chair with his eyes closed, a towel draped over his head, as though the surrounding commotion had nothing to do with him.

Those three words were like sparks falling into a powder keg.

Hanamichi Sakuragi, Miyagi, and Mitsui all froze in perfect unison.

Then they turned their heads at the same time, six eyes glaring fixedly at Kaede Rukawa.