Ryota Miyagi's misunderstanding

The meal lasted two hours, and in the end, Ryota Kudo still never got the beer he had been longing for.

Unexpectedly, Yayoi Aida could really hold her liquor. She finished an entire bag of beer by herself and barely seemed drunk.

Before leaving Uozumi's family's Japanese restaurant, Ryota Kudo managed to exchange contact information with Yayoi Aida.

They agreed to do another interview after the Shohoku Team made it into the National Tournament.

Of course, Ryota Kudo simply admired Yayoi Aida. He had no strange ideas about pursuing her.

He was only a first-year high school student, far younger than Yayoi Aida. Even if he did have such ideas, she would never agree.

After the friendly match against the Ryonan Team, Shohoku High School began formal intensive basketball training to prepare for the upcoming Kanagawa Prefecture basketball qualifiers.

The Shohoku Team had performed only moderately well the previous year, so they needed to fight through the knockout rounds first to reach the final eight.

Last year's final four teams, meanwhile, would start in the quarterfinals and only needed one win to reach the final four.

The four teams that reached the final four would play a round-robin points competition, with the top two advancing to the National Tournament.

In other words, Shohoku High School could not afford a single loss before reaching the final four.

Or rather, if they wanted to reach the National Tournament, their best bet was not to lose a single game.

Three days later, at Shohoku High School's basketball gym.

After finishing his regular training, Ryota Kudo began training Hanamichi Sakuragi alongside Ayako Inoue.

It was no easy task. Hanamichi Sakuragi improved very quickly, but his personality was far too flighty.

One second, he was doing dribbling drills. Ryota Kudo only went to get a sip of water, and the next second, Hanamichi Sakuragi was off provoking Kaede Rukawa.

This Problem Children really was a handful.

By the time he finally settled Hanamichi Sakuragi down and got him practicing ordinary dribbling on the move, Ryota Kudo was so tired that even his shoulders ached a little.

Noticing Ryota Kudo rolling his shoulders, Ayako Inoue walked over and offered, "I've had professional training in shoulder and neck massage. Let me help you loosen up, Kudo."

Ryota Kudo agreed without thinking much of it. Ayako Inoue had strong hands, and her massage felt wonderful.

It felt so good that Ryota Kudo sat there with his eyes closed, ready to rest for a while. Just then, he suddenly sensed a powerful murderous aura.

Opening his eyes, Ryota Kudo saw a short boy with roguishly handsome looks charging straight at him at full speed.

More importantly, the boy's face was filled with murderous intent. When he got close to Ryota Kudo, he actually jumped up and kicked at his face.

Reacting in time, Ryota Kudo hurriedly dodged aside. To keep Ayako from getting hurt by mistake, he considerately pulled her aside as well.

After missing Ryota Kudo with his kick, the short boy charged again, swinging his fists in fury and cursing loudly.

"You damned pretty boy! Stay away from Ayako!"

The boy who had suddenly appeared was, of course, Shohoku High School's original starting point guard, second-year Ryota Miyagi, who was also one of Ayako's fanatical suitors.

"Wait, you've definitely got the wrong idea! There's nothing between Ayako and me!"

Not wanting to get into a fight with Ryota Miyagi over nothing, Ryota Kudo hurried to explain, but Ryota Miyagi would not listen at all.

Instead, Ayako shielded Ryota Kudo behind her and kept scolding Ryota Miyagi.

"Miyagi, what are you doing? You've only just gotten out of the hospital, and you're already causing trouble again! If you hurt Kudo, I'll never forgive you."

Hearing Ayako's words only made Ryota Miyagi more heartbroken. He asked her through his tears.

"Boo-hoo... Ayako, so you really are dating this pretty boy? What's so great about him? He's definitely got lots of girlfriends outside school..."

Ryota Miyagi was no easy customer either. Just like Hanamichi Sakuragi, he was a problem teenager.

He had been hospitalized because of a fight with Hisashi Mitsui, and now, fresh out of the hospital, he had gotten the wrong idea about Ryota Kudo.

In the end, the farce only stopped when Takenori Akagi arrived.

Ten minutes later, wearing the number seven jersey, Ryota Miyagi officially returned to the Shohoku Team.

After the misunderstanding with Ryota Kudo just now, Ryota Miyagi was still annoyed with him.

Then vice-captain Kiminobu Kogure gave him another piece of bad news: that pretty boy had also taken his spot as starting point guard.

That made Ryota Miyagi even more upset. He strode angrily up to Ryota Kudo.

"What gives a pretty boy like you the right to take my spot as starting point guard? I won't accept it! How about we fight?"

Before Ryota Kudo could answer, Hanamichi Sakuragi stepped in front of his good friend.

"Hey, shorty! If you want a fight, I'll take you on. This genius has never lost a fight!"

"Shorty? You redheaded monkey, do you have a death wish? Let's take this outside, one-on-one!"

The two problem teenagers clashed like Mars crashing into Earth the instant they met, both brimming with fury.

It gave Ryota Kudo a terrible headache. Sure enough, the Shohoku Team's main cast all had strong personalities. Not one of them had a good temper.

Only captain Takenori Akagi's presence kept this "army of problem teenagers" in check. Without him, there really would have been no controlling them.

Basketball matters still had to be settled through basketball. Ryota Kudo could not possibly let Sakuragi actually fight on his behalf, so he stepped forward.

"Miyagi, why don't we settle this with basketball? One-on-one or five-on-five, either is fine. We'll play until you're convinced."

Ryota Kudo had no intention of giving up his starting point guard position to Ryota Miyagi.

Or rather, no high school player in Japan could make Ryota Kudo come off the bench.

Not even Shinichi Maki or Eiji Sawakita!

Although Hisashi Mitsui had not returned yet, Ryota Kudo could certainly play shooting guard.

But since Ryota Miyagi had appeared, Hisashi Mitsui's return could not be far off either. He might as well settle this issue once and for all here.

Naturally, Ryota Miyagi was not about to fear Ryota Kudo because of his height. He picked up a basketball and walked toward the basket.

"We'll play one-on-one, first to five baskets. The loser gives up the starting point guard spot."

To be honest, Ryota Kudo looked a little troubled. Of course, it was not because he was worried he could not beat Ryota Miyagi, but because he felt he would be picking on him a little.

Ryota Miyagi's strengths were his speed and decent passing ability, but his shooting and finishing were truly mediocre.

In a full-court five-on-five game, Ryota Miyagi could still play to his strengths. In a one-on-one, however, he would probably struggle to score even a single basket.

Ryota Kudo stood beyond the three-point line with the ball. He had originally intended to let Ryota Miyagi attack first, but the hothead flatly refused.

He believed that, as the older student, he should let his junior, Ryota Kudo, attack first.

The Shohoku Basketball Team's players crowded around them, and the second-floor stands were also packed with people watching the commotion.

However, almost no one thought Ryota Miyagi would win. What Miyagi did not know was that, during his time in the hospital, the Shohoku Team had already undergone a complete upheaval!