"Kaede Rukawa, first year, class 10. Height, 187 centimeters. Weight, 75 kilograms. Graduated from Tomigaoka Junior High. No fixed position. My hobby is sleeping."
Standing with the newcomers, Kaede Rukawa introduced himself expressionlessly. When he wasn't playing, he gave off a languid air.
But when his eyes met Ryota Kudo's, an intense fighting spirit flashed through them. His dream was actually to become Japan's best basketball player, then go to America to compete in the NBA.
Faced with a formidable player like Ryota Kudo, Kaede Rukawa had only one thought now: to beat him.
Soon, it was the turn of Ryota Kudo, who stood last in the Newcomer Team's line. He flashed a brilliant smile and loudly introduced himself.
"Ryota Kudo, first year, class 7. Height, 186 centimeters. Weight, 75 kilograms. Graduated from Akiba Junior High. I can play positions one through four. My dream is to conquer the nation!"
The other basketball players around them began whispering.
"Is he that strongest junior high player?"
"I heard he led Akiba Junior High to three championships and even made the cover of Sports Weekly. He must be really good."
"Quiet!" Takenori Akagi loudly stopped everyone's discussion, but he couldn't hide the excitement on his own face.
Takenori Akagi was now in his third year of high school. This was his last shot at the national tournament, and his final chance to fulfill his dream.
He coughed twice to get his emotions under control, then continued, "Next, we'll have an intrasquad scrimmage. The newcomers will play against the returning players.
"The game will have two halves, ten minutes each. You have five minutes to get ready!"
Hearing that they were about to play the returning players, the first-year newcomers weren't particularly nervous.
With two outstanding players like Ryota Kudo and Kaede Rukawa among this year's newcomers, they had people to rely on and weren't afraid.
Kaede Rukawa wasn't the type to enjoy talking to people. Standing off to the side, he said coolly, "I can play any position. You decide."
Naturally, arranging the Newcomer Team's lineup fell to Ryota Kudo. Looking at the assortment of nobodies around him, he didn't have much to consider.
Ryota Kudo picked a few of the taller players to start. Before they took the court, he loudly rallied everyone.
"Trust me, everyone! Even if we're playing upperclassmen, I can lead us to victory!"
"Okay! We'll follow your lead, Kudo!"
"We'll win!"
For a moment, morale soared on the Newcomer Team's side.
Of course, Ryota Kudo wasn't just saying it. He really intended to win this intrasquad scrimmage.
As a basketball player, giving his all was the greatest respect he could show his opponents. Ryota Kudo wouldn't go easy on them just because they would be his teammates.
As for Hanamichi Sakuragi, Ryota Kudo didn't put him in the starting lineup. Instead, he left him with the basketball team's beautiful manager, Ayako Inoue.
Ryota Kudo asked his upperclassman Ayako to teach Sakuragi the basic rules of basketball first. He would consider putting Sakuragi in during the second half.
Five minutes later, the players from both sides stood on opposite sides of the basketball court.
Unlike an ordinary intrasquad scrimmage, both sides wore serious expressions this time, showing how much importance they placed on the game.
Takenori Akagi in particular clapped his hands and shouted, "Get serious, everyone! Don't let these first-years look down on us!"
Although the upperclassmen agreed verbally, their expressions betrayed a certain lack of confidence.
Kiminobu Kogure, who was matched up against Kaede Rukawa, was especially nervous. He pushed up his glasses, and sweat was already running down his forehead before the game had even begun.
Standing opposite Ryota Kudo was the team's starting point guard, Yasuharu Yasuda, who was only 165 centimeters tall.
Just standing beside Ryota Kudo made him look as though a dark cloud had enveloped him.
"Tweet!" The whistle sounded to start the game. Takenori Akagi easily won the tip-off, giving the returning players the opening possession.
Despite being the point guard, Yasuharu Yasuda didn't even dare take the ball. The team's shooting guard brought it across half court instead.
With Takenori Akagi as its focal point, the current Shohoku team played at a very slow offensive pace. Only after Takenori Akagi established his position inside did the shooting guard pass the ball into the paint.
Catching the ball, Takenori Akagi used his shoulder to shove the Newcomer Team's center aside. He turned with the ball in both hands and slammed it through the hoop with a powerful gorilla dunk.
Ryota Kudo watched Takenori Akagi throughout the play. He had to admit that the man lived up to his reputation as Kanagawa's best center, dominating the paint.
But that was all there was to it. A team like this was destined not to go far.
Ryota Kudo had just run to the baseline and received the ball when he noticed a figure darting away like lightning.
Instinctively, Ryota Kudo sent the basketball flying from his hands, placing it precisely in the figure's path.
Naturally, someone with such explosive speed was Kaede Rukawa. He securely caught Ryota Kudo's pass and smoothly scored two points with a one-handed dunk.
"Kaede Rukawa is so handsome!" Up in the second-floor stands, Haruko Akagi immediately blushed, her eyes turning into hearts.
Her two close friends stood beside her, both girls shaking her desperately.
"Snap out of it, Haruko!"
The most shocked of all was undoubtedly Kiminobu Kogure, who was guarding Kaede Rukawa. He had chased him with everything he had, yet the distance between them had only grown.
Helplessly coming to a stop, Kiminobu Kogure said with a bitter smile, "So fast..."
Kiminobu Kogure had always known he wasn't a basketball prodigy. Against those geniuses, he had no ability to put up a fight at all.
But he had never given up. He practiced desperately every day, all to help his captain, Takenori Akagi, fulfill his dream of conquering the nation.
"Kudo, how could you pass to that stuck-up fox? I could dunk a ball like that too! Hurry up and put me in!"
Seeing Kaede Rukawa show off, Hanamichi Sakuragi was undoubtedly the angriest. He kept yelling from the sidelines.
But a fan immediately smacked him on the head. Ayako Inoue scolded him angrily, "Hanamichi Sakuragi! Concentrate on practicing your dribbling! Keep this up and I'll throw you out of the gym!"
Ayako Inoue might have been a girl, but she had a very commanding presence. Even Hanamichi Sakuragi could only obediently do as she said.
On the court, Ryota Kudo ignored Sakuragi on the sidelines. Once Kaede Rukawa ran back into their half, he smiled and held out his hand. "Nice play, Rukawa."
Kaede Rukawa hesitated. Aloof by nature, he said nothing, but still lightly slapped Ryota Kudo's hand.
To Ryota Kudo, this high five was very important, because he had always felt that Kaede Rukawa was simply reserved and focused on individual play.
But Kaede Rukawa definitely wasn't the sort of egomaniac who looked down on his teammates and thought he was the only player needed on the court.
So, if they wanted to conquer the nation, gradually developing an unspoken understanding with Kaede Rukawa was crucial.
The Senior Team began its next possession. Just as before, after slowly getting into position, they lobbed the ball to Takenori Akagi to finish the play.
Against a team that relied so heavily on its center, the best approach was to double-team the center or cut off the passing lanes between him and the perimeter.
With Ryota Kudo's defensive ability, he could easily do that. But today was only an intrasquad scrimmage. There was no need to use a tactic that would make Takenori Akagi so miserable just to win.
Receiving another pass, Ryota Kudo decided to take his man one-on-one this time.
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