Sakuragi ran up to Shirasawa like an excited child. Shirasawa was quite pleased with his performance just now, too. They grinned at each other and raised their hands for a high five.
It was Sakuragi's first taste of the joy of basketball.
"Xiao Bai, did you see that? That genius dunk of mine!"
"That gorilla couldn't stop me at all!"
"Hahahaha!"
Sakuragi gestured wildly, completely oblivious to the "gorilla" standing behind him with a dark expression.
"You arrogant bastard!"
Clang!
Akagi mercilessly brought a fist down on Sakuragi's head, knocking him straight to the floor. Afterward, he shook his hand in distaste... then turned to Shirasawa and spoke with a stern face.
"Don't tell me this idiot is the big gift you brought me."
Shirasawa sighed helplessly. Akagi's words plainly contradicted his true feelings. He was clearly happy inside, yet insisted on looking disgusted.
"Boss Akagi, this guy isn't easy to handle."
Takenori Akagi snorted, but couldn't stop the corners of his mouth from lifting.
"As if you're easy to handle."
"Bring him to report to the team tomorrow."
"And you'd better get him to shut that foul mouth."
With that, Akagi turned and left. In truth, he had mixed feelings. With Shirasawa and Hanamichi Sakuragi, the team's strength would certainly soar. But both of them were problem children, and there was really no telling what effect they would have down the road. Add Ryota Miyagi, who had yet to return to the team... just thinking about it gave him a headache.
Still, at least these were happy troubles. His final year of high school had suddenly given him much more to look forward to.
Sakuragi rubbed the freshly formed lump on his head and staggered to his feet.
"That damn gorilla! Another sneak attack!"
"Xiao Bai, why didn't you help me beat him up?"
Shirasawa smiled faintly and hooked an arm around Sakuragi's neck.
"Starting tomorrow, you'll be living under that gorilla's shadow. Accept your fate, genius."
Facing that violent gorilla every day?... What fun would life have left? Sakuragi's eyes immediately went blank, and he muttered:
"Didn't I beat him...?"
"The basketball team... should belong to us now, right...?"
Shirasawa sighed softly and casually flicked the lump on his head.
"You didn't win jack."
"Just get your ass to training and behave."
Sakuragi nearly jumped from the pain, but a figure suddenly appeared before him and instantly restored him to full health. He broke into a goofy grin, then struggled to turn his face away after two seconds.
No! Yoko's still waiting for me to save her!
The figure stood with her hands clasped in front of her, as shy as a flower yet to bloom.
"Shirasawa..."
"May I ask... will this student be joining the basketball team too?"
Of course Hanamichi Sakuragi would join the Shohoku Basketball Team. After getting confirmation from Shirasawa, Haruko was so happy she almost cried. She hadn't expected Shohoku to take such a roundabout route to its goal. They had missed out on Kaede Rukawa and failed to recruit any star rookies from other areas, only to end up with Shirasawa and Hanamichi Sakuragi instead. The ability hidden within those two was simply unfathomable!
In the final, Shirasawa had made all of Kaede Rukawa's efforts go down the drain in just fifty seconds, while Sakuragi had slammed a dunk right over Akagi. These two were definitely undiscovered geniuses. By the time the other schools caught on, Shohoku would already be an impenetrable wall.
That evening, Haruko kept talking nonstop around her brother. Takenori Akagi didn't know what to do with her. The girl only saw those two's abilities and hadn't considered their temperaments at all. The most important thing for a team was chemistry. They had to pull together to bring out their full strength. But those two... no matter how he looked at them, neither seemed likely to behave.
As captain, he had plenty more headaches ahead.
"That's enough, Haruko. It's not as simple as you think." Takenori Akagi pinched the bridge of his nose. "Official training starts tomorrow with everyone there. It'll probably be total chaos."
But Haruko's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. "You'll definitely manage, big brother! Besides, I interacted with Shirasawa twice today. We're in the same class! I don't think he's anything like the rumors. He's pretty nice."
She paused, then added, "And that Hanamichi Sakuragi is a bit goofy, but he doesn't seem like a bad person either."
Takenori Akagi's eyes went wide.
His little sister had actually run into both of the people everyone else couldn't avoid fast enough? Twice, even? This girl was far too bold. She really did have the Akagi family spirit.
"Haruko, don't spend too much time with them," Takenori Akagi said sternly. "I still haven't figured those two out myself. I'm worried you'll get hurt."
Haruko pressed her lips together in a smile, and Shirasawa's languid figure inexplicably flashed through her mind. Her face warmed, and she quickly shook her head.
"I know, big brother. Stop worrying about me." She turned and ran upstairs. "I'm going to bed. Good luck tomorrow! I'll come watch!"
She was gone before her words had faded, leaving her brother no chance to speak again.
Takenori Akagi sighed and began planning tomorrow's training.
The next morning, Shohoku's basketball gym gradually came alive.
New and returning players arrived one after another with their sports bags. Today was the first day of official training, and the roster would be finalized. Vice-captain Kiminobu Kogure pushed up his glasses, feeling a little emotional as he looked at the list in his hand.
"Akagi, the team feels especially lively this year," he said with a smile. "Even with a few of the old players gone, we actually have more people than last year. There are plenty of fresh faces. This year will definitely be different."
Takenori Akagi swept his gaze across the court and snorted. "They're all unpolished newcomers. Who knows how many will stick around? It's too early to celebrate."
As soon as he finished, his brows furrowed. "Shirasawa and Hanamichi Sakuragi aren't here yet?"
Kogure checked the sign-in sheet and shook his head. "Not yet, but it's not time yet. Let's wait a little longer."
"They don't even know to come early on the first day. No discipline," Takenori Akagi muttered disapprovingly.
No sooner had he spoken than the voice that gave him headaches came from the entrance.
Akagi's face instantly darkened.
"The genius Sakuragi, who will soon lead the Shohoku Basketball Team to glory, has arrived!" Hanamichi Sakuragi stood in the doorway with his hands on his hips, then turned his head and added, "Oh, right, my partner Shirasawa is here too!"
Thud!
Shirasawa kicked him, sending him stumbling.
"Stop making a fool of yourself. Who's your partner?"
Hanamichi Sakuragi pretended to wipe away tears. "Xiao Bai... you can't betray me..."
Kiminobu Kogure laughed at the sight. "Those two certainly know how to make an entrance. Akagi, they're our hope."
Takenori Akagi covered his face. "Here comes trouble. I just hope they behave."
Sure enough, just as Akagi had expected, the entire gym fell silent the moment Shirasawa and Sakuragi stepped inside.
First-years and second-years alike grew hesitant at the sight of them, unsure whether they should even say hello. Partly because the two were so notorious, and partly because they naturally carried an oppressive presence.
Shirasawa and Sakuragi were both 188 centimeters tall and solidly built. Among the Shohoku Basketball Team, they stood head and shoulders above the rest, making people instinctively feel they were on a different level.
After a long while, the second-years Yasuda and Tetsushi Shiozaki finally worked up the courage to approach.
"Hello..." Yasuda forced a smile. "Welcome to the Shohoku Basketball Team."
Both were actually quaking inside. They didn't know Shirasawa well, but they knew Sakuragi. He was someone who even dared to lay hands on Captain Akagi...
Shirasawa and Sakuragi turned their heads. Though their faces showed no particular expression, Yasuda and Shiozaki still found their presence overwhelming.
Shirasawa felt helpless about it himself, but he had long since gotten used to it.
Hanamichi Sakuragi, on the other hand, beamed and threw his arms around their shoulders. "Oh, it's you two! Did you see how magnificent I looked dunking over that gorilla captain yesterday? Stick with me from now on, and I'll make sure you move up! Hahaha!"
Yasuda swallowed, his voice a little shaky. "Sakuragi... we're a year above you. Technically, you should call us your... seniors, right?"
Sakuragi's expression immediately changed.
Yasuda quickly lowered his head. "But you can call us whatever you like..."
Takenori Akagi's fist appeared out of nowhere.
Sakuragi sprawled on the floor in a bizarre pose.
"Idiot!" Akagi turned and glared at Yasuda and Shiozaki. "And you two call yourselves seniors, acting so timid! Get yourselves together! We've got plenty of tough opponents ahead!"
He swept out a large hand. "Everyone, line up!"
The players quickly formed a line.
Shirasawa stood on the far left, with a teary-eyed Hanamichi Sakuragi beside him.
"A gorilla's still a gorilla..." Sakuragi muttered.
Just then, the gym doors suddenly opened.
A clear, brisk female voice rang out. "Sorry, everyone, I'm late-but I ran into Coach Anzai!"
In the entrance stood a curly-haired girl in a baseball cap beside the chuckling Coach Anzai.
Her loose T-shirt couldn't conceal her lovely figure, and leggings hugged her long, straight legs.
Shirasawa's gaze shifted slightly.
It was Ayako Inoue.
With Ayako and Coach Anzai's arrival, the tense atmosphere in the gym immediately eased considerably.
Ayako in particular was so warm and outgoing that she could strike up a conversation with anyone right away. Though she was a striking beauty, she didn't feel distant in the slightest.
"Oh! Aren't you Shirasawa and Sakuragi?" Ayako's eyes lit up. "You two are famous at school. Loads of people are talking about you."
She walked over to Sakuragi and tugged at his jersey. "Sakuragi, I watched your game yesterday. That dunk was pretty cool!"
Sakuragi immediately grinned. "You've got a good eye, senior! There's no hiding this genius's brilliance!"
Ayako giggled, then walked over to Shirasawa. She looked him up and down and held out her hand. "Hi, Xiao Bai. I'm Ayako, a second-year and the team manager. Looking forward to working with you."
Shirasawa smiled faintly and shook her hand.
Her hand was slender and soft, and he barely dared apply any pressure.
"Hello, Ayako. I'll be counting on you."
Ayako blinked her large eyes and withdrew her hand.
Coach Anzai slowly walked over as well.
"Hohohoho... Xiao Bai, long time no see," he said with a beaming smile. "Welcome officially to the Shohoku Basketball Team."
At those words, the surrounding players couldn't help looking toward Shirasawa.
Coach Anzai clearly thought especially highly of him.