The newcomer was none other than the Shohoku Basketball Team's starting point guard.
Ryota Miyagi, who had missed every practice so far because of an injury.
He walked onto the court and loosened up his wrists and ankles.
His gaze moved back and forth between Kawamoto Kazuki, Kaede Rukawa, and Hanamichi Sakuragi.
Finally, it settled on Hanamichi Sakuragi, who looked the most unruly.
A provocative smile tugged at Miyagi's lips as he pointed his thumb at himself.
"I'm Ryota Miyagi, Shohoku Basketball Team's number one point guard."
"Even before I came back, I heard Shohoku had picked up an incredible rookie this year. That's you, right?"
"I've just come back, and I'm itching to play. How about some one-on-one?"
"Let your upperclassman see whether you're qualified to play on a team led by the great Ryota."
He paused, his smile growing even more cocky.
"And while I'm at it, I'll show you what Shohoku's number one point guard can do."
Ryota Miyagi's arrival and his openly provocative words.
Instantly ignited Hanamichi Sakuragi's fighting spirit.
He bounded up to Miyagi and looked down at him from above.
"Aaah! Where did you pop out from, you little runt? And you're wearing earrings! Got some delinquent habits?"
Miyagi immediately flew into a rage. "You bastard! Is that how you treat an upperclassman?"
Sakuragi pointed at his own nose, his voice loud enough to blow the roof off.
"You dare insult this genius, and you expect me to treat you nicely?"
"Listen up, you runt! I'm Hanamichi Sakuragi! The genius who beat Akagi the Gorilla, who's destined to become Shohoku's next captain and lead Shohoku to dominate the nationals!"
"You little squirt want to take on this genius?"
"Hmph! Just what I wanted!"
"Today, this genius will show you what real basketball looks like."
As he spoke, he lifted his feet in a showy display, waving his gleaming new basketball shoes in front of Miyagi.
As though they were proof of his genius.
"Pfft-"
Nearby, Kiminobu Kogure nearly burst out laughing and hurriedly pushed up his glasses to hide it.
Satoru Kakuta and Yasuharu Yasuda exchanged looks as well.
Several veins bulged at Takenori Akagi's temple as he fought the urge to punch him.
Kaede Rukawa wore an indifferent expression that said, "This idiot's at it again."
Meanwhile, rather than getting angry at being called a little squirt, Ryota Miyagi grinned.
He flashed his white teeth, his earrings glinting under the lights.
"Beat Captain Akagi? The next captain? Dominate the nationals?"
Miyagi repeated Sakuragi's words in an exaggerated tone, then scoffed. "What are you dreaming about in broad daylight, you Red-Haired Monkey? You think you could beat Boss Akagi?"
"Who are you calling a Red-Haired Monkey, you little squirt!"
Sakuragi yelled in fury, raising his fists as he moved forward to settle the matter.
"Damn you! You dare call me a little squirt? I'll kill you!"
Miyagi angrily rolled up his sleeves too, ready to fight Hanamichi Sakuragi.
"Enough! Sakuragi, Miyagi!"
Takenori Akagi roared, his voice booming like a bell.
It made Sakuragi and Miyagi shudder, and both instinctively ducked their heads.
"Captain."
Only then did Ryota Miyagi look at Akagi, the flippancy on his face fading a little.
Akagi looked at Miyagi with a complicated gaze.
Miyagi's return was undoubtedly tremendous news for Shohoku.
His speed, penetration, and playmaking were what Shohoku had been lacking all along.
But this bastard Miyagi liked to let his ability do the talking, and he liked showing off.
He had singled out Sakuragi, clearly intending to establish his authority with a little welcoming ceremony.
"Is your injury all right now?" Akagi asked with concern in his voice.
"It was nothing. Healed ages ago."
Miyagi jumped twice on the spot, his movements quick and free of any stiffness.
"If I don't get moving soon, my bones will rust."
His gaze turned back to Sakuragi, then Kaede Rukawa, and Kawamoto Kazuki, who was quietly stretching in the distance.
"Captain..."
Miyagi pointed at Sakuragi, then at Kaede Rukawa, before sweeping his gaze over Kawamoto. "These guys... are the first-years who joined this year? They all seem to have plenty of personality. How about letting them play with me a little? Think of it as... some special instruction from an upperclassman."
His tone carried obvious confidence when he said "special instruction."
Takenori Akagi frowned and glanced at Coach Anzai.
Coach Anzai was still sitting on the bench, holding his teacup, a smile like the Maitreya Buddha's on his face.
The old man gave no response, as though he hadn't heard their conversation.
Akagi understood that this was tacit approval.
He quietly considered it.
Perhaps letting Miyagi get to know the basketball team's newcomers in his own way wouldn't necessarily be a bad thing.
Especially that fellow Sakuragi, who had no idea of his own limits. Someone needed to take him down a peg.
As for Kaede Rukawa and Kawamoto Kazuki...
Miyagi wouldn't get crushed so badly that he started questioning his life, would he?
"All right."
Akagi said gravely, "But don't take it too far. Know when to stop."
"Don't worry, Captain. I know what I'm doing."
Miyagi smiled, then curled a finger at Sakuragi. "Come on, Red-Haired Monkey. Didn't you say you beat Boss Akagi? Let me see just how good this so-called genius really is."
Then he even looked toward Kaede Rukawa, as well as Kawamoto Kazuki, who hadn't said anything but seemed to have been included in his welcoming ceremony too.
"The rules are simple. One-on-one, first to eleven, alternating possessions. Who's first?"
"Or how about all three of you at once? Save us the trouble."
Everyone was stunned by Miyagi's words!
Ayako pressed a hand to her forehead, unable to bear watching.
Never mind Hanamichi Sakuragi, that beginner, but Kaede Rukawa, her junior from Tomigaoka Junior High School...
Ayako had no doubt that Kaede Rukawa alone could wipe the floor with Miyagi.
And as for Kawamoto Kazuki...
Having witnessed his terrifying domination of the entire court during their intrasquad scrimmage, Ayako no longer wanted to comment on who would win a one-on-one between him and Miyagi.
Still, this newcomer Kawamoto Kazuki was a little strange. His performance seemed somewhat inconsistent.
Takenori Akagi wanted even more to punch Miyagi in the head and knock some sense into him.
Hanamichi Sakuragi, Kaede Rukawa, and Kawamoto Kazuki, all at once?
Are you really worthy of that?
Did your hospital stay mess up your brain, Ryota Miyagi?
Sakuragi aside, he's a complete beginner.
Maybe your speed advantage would let you barely hold your own against Kaede Rukawa...
But that monster Kawamoto Kazuki?
Akagi had faced him personally. That guy's power was practically enough to blast through Kanagawa's basketball courts.
He had no doubt that Kawamoto could beat the piss and shit out of Miyagi without even using his full strength.
"Big talk for a little squirt! Kawamoto doesn't need to do anything. I could squash you with one hand!"
Sakuragi was already raring to go and charged forward, howling. "This genius will use your corpse to highlight my great-ow!"
Before he could finish, Akagi punched him on top of the head.
"Quiet! We're playing basketball, not fighting!"
Sakuragi clutched his head, looking aggrieved, but the fighting spirit in his eyes burned even stronger.
Kaede Rukawa ignored Miyagi's provocation and simply dribbled in place, as though the welcoming ceremony about to begin had nothing to do with him.
But his cold gaze locked onto Miyagi, making it clear that he already saw him as someone to challenge.
Kawamoto Kazuki showed no intention of volunteering either.
But he, too, showed a flicker of interest in Miyagi.
He was so confident about taking all three of them on at once.
He also wanted to see just what this rumored number one point guard of Shohoku could do.
"Then let's start with you, Red-Haired Monkey."