Hanamichi Sakuragi was seething with frustration, inwardly cursing that lousy basketball. Overcome by emotion, he jumped up and slammed the ball hard toward the hoop to vent.
But the basketball really seemed to have a grudge against him. It bounced off the rim and, with a bang, smacked him squarely on the head.
Hanamichi Sakuragi fell straight to the floor, face-first.
The entire basketball team stared in disbelief.
Takenori Akagi shook his head. After holding it in for ages, he could only sigh, "Ah... that idiot."
In the end, Sakuragi slunk back into line, his face full of defeat and blood streaming from both nostrils.
Takenori Akagi gave each player a brief assessment.
All the upperclassmen, including Kiminobu Kogure, got criticized.
They hunched their shoulders and obediently took the spray of spit from Akagi's lecture.
The first-years, on the other hand, received a rare few words of praise. After all, they had won the practice game under Shirasawa's leadership, and everyone had contributed something.
But praise was praise. Akagi hadn't said they were actually ready to play in games.
He knew full well that it was entirely thanks to the massive boost Shirasawa provided.
If he really had to pick someone who could play, it was actually only Hanamichi Sakuragi.
Akagi had reached even that conclusion through gritted teeth...
As much as he wanted to kill the kid, he couldn't quite bear to give up on that talent.
Coach Anzai walked over, chuckling.
This practice game had given him another layer of understanding of Shirasawa, and he was increasingly pleased.
He figured that if Shohoku had recruited Kaede Rukawa but not Shirasawa, the team's strength would probably have increased by thirty percent.
But with Shirasawa, he could double Shohoku's strength outright!
That was Shirasawa's most valuable quality.
As for the other one, Hanamichi Sakuragi...
Coach Anzai looked at him and smiled kindly.
He counted as an unexpected bonus.
"Every mature team has its own basic system," Coach Anzai said slowly.
"And Shirasawa is the sort of player who brings his own system."
"Just by standing on the court, he puts that system into motion, and his teammates fall into it without even realizing."
"Within that system, everyone can realize their full potential."
"That is Shirasawa's unique ability."
After dismissing the team, Coach Anzai had specifically kept Takenori Akagi behind to tell him this.
Recalling the various moments from the practice game, Akagi nodded in agreement.
"I understand, Coach."
"Shirasawa really is special."
"He'll definitely be fine as Shohoku's starting point guard."
At this, Akagi frowned hesitantly.
"But that kid Miyagi..."
"Once he recovers and rejoins the team, he'll be playing the same position as Shirasawa."
"Honestly, Miyagi's a good point guard too, but with his height, he'll probably struggle at any other position."
Coach Anzai gave a meaningful smile.
"There's no rush on that. Miyagi still has plenty of potential. I have my own plans."
"As for Hanamichi Sakuragi... Akagi, I'm planning to leave him to you."
"You're both inside players. You should be able to teach him plenty."
The moment he heard that name, Takenori Akagi's brow knotted up.
He could almost hear Sakuragi's arrogant, idiotic laughter already...
There was no question about Shirasawa. Everyone acknowledged his strength, and he would be a core player on any team.
But that Hanamichi Sakuragi...
His athletic talent was certainly obvious at a glance.
But apart from that, he had absolutely nothing going for him!
Just thinking about teaching him gave Akagi a headache.
Coach Anzai could see Akagi's reluctance.
He reached out a chubby hand and patted Akagi's arm, saying seriously, "Akagi, Sakuragi will be an indispensable part of Shohoku in the future. That's also why Shirasawa brought him here."
"If we want to conquer the nation, we need a more mature Hanamichi Sakuragi."
With that, Coach Anzai turned and left with a chuckle.
But his words kept circling in Akagi's mind.
After a long while, Akagi clenched his fist and suddenly smiled. "Conquer the nation... Hanamichi Sakuragi, brace yourself!"
Early the next morning.
A phone call from Sanae dragged Shirasawa out of his sleep.
"Time to get up, basketball boy."
"The club's a little busy today, so I won't be picking you up. Remember to eat breakfast."
Sanae's mature voice came through the receiver, carrying a hint of languid huskiness.
It sent a tingle through Shirasawa's whole body, instantly dispelling most of his sleepiness.
"Yeah, got it."
After hanging up, Shirasawa got himself ready without much fuss and headed out.
A light rain was drizzling outside. He took only an umbrella and traveled light.
Of course, he didn't need a schoolbag.
He hadn't come here to study anyway...
He had now more or less secured his place on the Shohoku Basketball Team.
But Shohoku's roster depth was painfully thin.
Right now, apart from Takenori Akagi and Hanamichi Sakuragi, practically no one was good enough to put out there. Kogure barely counted as half a player.
They couldn't even put together a full starting lineup like this.
Everyone's level had been fairly average in the practice game, so he could still carry those guys through it.
Once they reached an actual game and the defensive intensity rose, things would be different.
They wouldn't be able to get open just by putting their heads down and running blindly anymore.
Besides, Shohoku's first game would be against Ryonan.
Shirasawa understood that perfectly well.
Starting with the practice game against Ryonan, he would be able to earn rewards for assists.
He had to take that opportunity to stockpile as many as possible in preparation for the games ahead.
Now that Kaede Rukawa had gone to Ryonan, although he didn't know how well they were meshing, their strength on paper already couldn't be underestimated.
Uozumi, Sendoh, Kaede Rukawa, plus Ikegami-with that lineup on the court, was he supposed to expect Yasuda or Kogure to break through?
Besides, Sakuragi was still very green.
They would definitely be on the back foot then.
Shirasawa sighed.
He would just have to get through each hurdle, no matter how hard.
It looked like he needed to check on Miyagi. Maybe he could get discharged early.
While he was thinking, several figures suddenly blocked his path.
Shirasawa looked up and counted six of them, all broad and thickset.
"You're Shirasawa, right?"
"Our boss would like you to come over for a chat."
The speaker sounded quite polite, not as though he was looking for trouble.
"You're all from Shohoku?" Shirasawa glanced at them. "Whoever wants me can come to Class 1-3."
With that, he started to leave.
The men exchanged troubled looks. They wouldn't be able to explain themselves if they went back empty-handed.
Steeling themselves, they moved to block his path again.
"Sorry for the trouble, but please come with us," the man said again, forcing himself to speak. "The boss told us not to get into a fight with you, but if you absolutely refuse..."
Shirasawa's expression darkened.
"If I absolutely refuse, then what?"
As his words fell, the man opposite him involuntarily took half a step back. A chill ran down his back, and the words stuck in his throat.
Shirasawa gave a soft snort.
"Get lost."
As though granted a pardon, the six burly men turned and left.
At roughly the same time, someone had stopped Hanamichi Sakuragi too.
Before long, several scattered umbrellas littered the ground.
The men who had been so aggressive a moment ago were now all lying on the ground groaning, each sporting a freshly raised lump on his forehead.
"Why did the boss give us a job like this...?"
"We're not delinquents..."
"They'll reimburse... our medical bills, right?"
Class 3-6.
Takenori Akagi sat in a chair, his brow knotted up.
Beside him, Kiminobu Kogure tried to reassure him. "Akagi, don't look so gloomy all day. Things are looking great for the team this year. With Xiao Bai here, Shohoku might really become a dark horse."
Akagi sighed.
"It's not Xiao Bai I'm worried about," he said heavily. "It's that other bastard."
"Coach Anzai said that if we want to conquer the nation, we have to get that kid to mature quickly."
Kogure laughed when he heard that. "So you've been thinking about Sakuragi. That kid really does give you plenty to worry about."
As they spoke, the back door was shoved open with a bang.
A broad-shouldered, thick-backed man filled the doorway.
Akagi's face instantly darkened.
"Akagi, are you daydreaming about conquering the nation again?"
"The only ones who can conquer the nation are our Judo Club!"
Akagi forced a few words through his teeth:
"Tatsuhiko... Aota."
Tatsuhiko Aota was an old acquaintance of Akagi's. The two had practically been playing together since they were bare-bottomed kids.
But as they grew up, one chose basketball and the other chose judo.
Somehow, they had started competing over who could conquer the nation first.
Kogure shook his head with a wry smile. "Aota, you really have sharp ears. Every time we mention 'conquering the nation,' you turn up."
Aota snorted.
"It's not because of those words this time." He folded his arms, smiling a little mysteriously. "It's because you mentioned the people I've got my eye on."
Seeing Kogure's confusion, Aota stopped keeping him in suspense.
"Shirasawa and Hanamichi Sakuragi."
"Our Judo Club is taking those two."
"I've already sent people to 'invite' them. Akagi, don't say I'm being unreasonable. You're a captain too. Who wouldn't want to snatch up promising talent?"
Kogure's heart tightened. He really hadn't expected that this was what Aota was after.
Shirasawa and Sakuragi were Shohoku's hopes for this year, and he was trying to poach them now?
Even the good-natured Kogure was struggling to contain his anger.
"Don't go too far, Aota! They've already joined the team!"
"So what?" Aota raised his eyebrows provocatively. "School rules don't say you can't switch clubs."
"Those two are once-in-a-century fighting geniuses! That fight last time... I still can't forget it."
As he spoke, the scene of Shirasawa and Sakuragi beating up Sho Ono and his gang surfaced before Aota's eyes again, making them shine a little brighter.
Kogure was momentarily speechless with anger.
But Akagi, who had remained silent all this time, gave a cold laugh.
"Do whatever you want," he said heavily. "If you really manage to poach those two, it'll only prove... they're not cut out for basketball."
"You'd better watch yourself."
Kogure hurriedly looked at Akagi. He knew those two kids somewhat. In theory... they really might be more interested in fighting.