"Coach Anzai, I'm terribly sorry. I should have come to visit you myself..."
Ryonan Team's coach, Moichi Taoka, welcomed Coach Anzai with the utmost respect, while captain Jun Uozumi bowed repeatedly, showing just how highly everyone regarded Coach Anzai.
Ryota Kudo had little interest in such formalities and hid at the back of the team to slack off.
Ryonan Team's Akira Sendoh was also keeping a low profile. He, too, hated trouble.
The two exchanged smiles and immediately gravitated toward each other.
"Long time no see, Sendoh-chan. Looks like you've grown taller again!" Ryota Kudo gave Akira Sendoh a tight hug. The two were actually very close.
During his three years in Tokyo, besides playing in middle school basketball tournaments, Ryota Kudo often invited Akira Sendoh and Eiji Sawakita to Basketball Park in Tokyo.
Basketball Park attracted skilled players of every kind: college team members, streetball experts, and even professional players.
The trio of middle schoolers had turned Basketball Park upside down. Even against physically stronger adults, Ryota Kudo's trio had managed a staggering win rate of over 95 percent.
That was when Ryota Kudo had earned his reputation as the "strongest middle schooler."
Seeing Ryota Kudo, Akira Sendoh smiled just as brightly. He slapped Ryota Kudo firmly on the back. "You'd better watch out today. You might be the one who loses this time."
"Really? Then you'll have to work hard, Sendoh-chan. After all, you haven't beaten me even once."
The two incredibly handsome boys hugged, and the girls watching nearby could not take their eyes off them. The sight was simply too pleasing to the eye.
Ten minutes later, the Shohoku team sat in the preparation room.
Captain Takenori Akagi began handing out jerseys. Center: Takenori Akagi, number 4, 197 cm tall.
Power forward: Hanamichi Sakuragi, number 10, 188 cm tall.
Small forward: Kaede Rukawa, number 11, 187 cm tall.
Shooting guard: Kiminobu Kogure, number 5, 178 cm tall.
Point guard: Ryota Kudo, number 8, 186 cm tall.
Hanamichi Sakuragi had successfully secured a starting spot today, thanks to Ryota Kudo speaking up for him.
With Ryota Kudo's assurance, Coach Anzai and Takenori Akagi had both agreed to give Sakuragi a chance to prove himself.
After changing into their jerseys and basketball shoes, the Shohoku basketball team prepared to take the court for today's friendly game.
One player among Shohoku's starting five stood out awkwardly: Hanamichi Sakuragi, who was wearing ordinary skate shoes.
Having only recently taken up basketball, and with little money to spare, Hanamichi Sakuragi simply could not afford a suitable pair of basketball shoes.
Just as they were about to take the court, Ryota Kudo patted Sakuragi on the shoulder, signaling for him to wait.
Ryota Kudo took a pair of red basketball shoes from his backpack and set them in front of Sakuragi. "These are my spare shoes. If you don't mind, Sakuragi, try them on. If they fit, they're yours."
"Huh? You're giving them to me...? Really, Kudo? You're way too good to me!" Hanamichi Sakuragi was so touched he nearly cried. He hurriedly put on his basketball shoes.
The shoes were exactly the right size. Wearing them, Sakuragi excitedly tried a couple of jumps. They fit perfectly, and he felt certain he would play even better now!
Kaede Rukawa was just ahead of Hanamichi Sakuragi. He had deliberately slowed down and witnessed the entire exchange as Ryota Kudo gave Sakuragi the shoes.
For some reason, Kaede Rukawa suddenly felt a little touched as well. He felt that this Shohoku team really was a family, and his trust in the team grew considerably.
But even though the cold-natured Kaede Rukawa was moved inside, what he showed was disdain for Hanamichi Sakuragi.
"Tch. You big idiot. Basketball shoes won't help you."
Kaede Rukawa actually regretted it as soon as he said it. He had not really wanted to mock Hanamichi Sakuragi, but the two were like natural enemies, and the moment he opened his mouth, it came out that way.
Fortunately, Hanamichi Sakuragi was in a great mood after receiving his shoes. Rather than getting angry, he burst out laughing. "Hahahaha... You stinking fox! You're only saying that because you're jealous of the shoes Kudo gave me. I'm not getting mad!"
Amid their bickering, the Shohoku Problem Children Team walked onto the basketball court. Standing opposite them was Ryonan High School, one of Kanagawa's final four teams from last year.
Center: Jun Uozumi, number 4, an imposing 202 cm tall.
Power forward: Kiccho Fukuda, number 13, 188 cm tall, with elite offensive ability but very poor defensive awareness.
Small forward: Akira Sendoh, number 7, 190 cm tall, the core of the team.
Shooting guard: Hiroaki Koshino, number 6, 174 cm tall.
Point guard: Tomoyuki Uekusa, number 8, 170 cm tall.
At this point, Kiccho Fukuda should not yet have returned to the team. He had been kicked off for attacking the coach.
Indeed, after spending two years with Ryota Kudo, Akira Sendoh now valued his teammates more. With him helping smooth things over, Kiccho Fukuda had never left the team in this world.
The two sides took their positions on the court, and Takenori Akagi and Jun Uozumi stood at center court for the jump ball.
Tweet! The whistle sounded, and the stand-in referee tossed the basketball into the air. Takenori Akagi and Jun Uozumi both jumped with all their strength.
In the end, Jun Uozumi won the tip thanks to his height advantage, and Ryonan Team's point guard, Tomoyuki Uekusa, took possession.
Unlike during Shohoku's earlier intrasquad game, Ryota Kudo wore a serious expression this time. He applied intense pressure from the very start.
Before the ball had even crossed half court, Ryota Kudo was tight on Tomoyuki Uekusa.
After colliding with the powerfully built Ryota Kudo, Tomoyuki Uekusa immediately lost his balance. He could only stop dribbling and stand in place, clutching the ball with both hands.
Akira Sendoh, who had been getting into position on the right side of the court for the offense, hurried back to help. He shouted to Tomoyuki Uekusa, "Over here!"
Ryota Kudo acted as though he had not noticed Akira Sendoh coming to help. He even deliberately left Tomoyuki Uekusa a passing lane.
But the instant Tomoyuki Uekusa released the pass, Ryota Kudo stretched out his long arm and intercepted it with one hand.
In just one exchange, Shohoku had gained the upper hand over Ryonan Team. On the sidelines, Coach Moichi Taoka was already barking instructions right at the start of the game.
"Sendoh, bring the ball up from the baseline yourself! Avoid going up against Ryota Kudo!"
With the ball in his hands, Ryota Kudo did not rush to attack. He dribbled steadily upcourt and gave Hanamichi Sakuragi a look.
This was a play Ryota Kudo and Hanamichi Sakuragi had agreed on the night before, intended to intimidate their opponents right from the start.
At Ryota Kudo's signal, Hanamichi Sakuragi excitedly sprinted at full speed toward Ryonan Team's basket.
Meanwhile, Kiccho Fukuda, who was matched up against Hanamichi Sakuragi, was still standing blankly in place. His poor defensive awareness meant he was destined to struggle to become a proper star player.
Under everyone's astonished gazes, Hanamichi Sakuragi shot inside the opposing three-point line in an instant like a red arrow.
Ryota Kudo's pass arrived above Hanamichi Sakuragi at just the right moment. Pushing off one foot, Hanamichi Sakuragi soared high, caught the ball with both hands, and slammed it toward the basket with all his strength.
Bam! With a tremendous crash, Hanamichi Sakuragi hung from the rim.
Everyone inside Ryonan's basketball gym was stunned. Even the stand-in referee forgot to blow his whistle for a moment.
"Hahahaha! I really am a genius!" Only when Hanamichi Sakuragi landed and began laughing arrogantly did everyone come back to their senses.
Standing off the court taking notes, Ryonan basketball team manager Hikoichi Aida watched Hanamichi Sakuragi with shining eyes. Just as his recorded data indicated, Shohoku High School really did have more than two outstanding newcomers. Including Sakuragi, there should be three.
Coach Moichi Taoka's face darkened with anger, and he cursed inwardly.
Damn it! Why did all these geniuses go to Shohoku High School? I worked so hard to recruit them!
Seeing Coach Anzai smiling a short distance away, Moichi Taoka immediately lost his temper's momentum. In Japanese high school basketball, few people carried more weight than Coach Anzai.
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