"I can't pretend I didn't hear that."
Oda stood up, face dark with anger.
"That's right! The basketball we love isn't something that should be ridiculed by an idiot like him!"
The rest of the team rose one after another, echoing angrily, "Yeah, exactly! That's right!"
Oliver's heart sank.
This is bad...
Basketball players aren't exactly known for their calm tempers. With the team still riding high from their recent championship win, their adrenaline and pride were through the roof.
If this keeps going, things could get ugly fast.
"Coach! Coach, this isn't good—please do something!"
Oliver turned toward their coach, hoping for intervention.
"Hahahaha! Hic—That's right! We won! Bring another round of drinks!!"
"...Coach?!"
The coach, clearly in celebration mode, was totally drunk. He was now playing a finger-guessing game with the air while clutching the championship trophy like it was his child.
Completely unreliable!
Oliver nearly burst a vein in frustration. The team had already stormed off, and he couldn't stop them. Left with no choice, he hurried after them, hoping to prevent the situation from spiraling further.
He didn't mind a good fight—his past life could more than handle that—but he didn't want to get into trouble with Sakuragi Hanamichi. After all, they were going to be teammates soon!
What do I do now?!
Other diners looked on in surprise as a group of boys stormed toward another table with obvious hostility.
"What's happening?"
"Delinquents? Are they about to fight?!"
"This is getting dangerous. Let's get out of here..."
Panicked customers quickly grabbed their belongings, eager to avoid getting caught in whatever was about to unfold.
Meanwhile, Mito Yohei, who had been joking around with the others, suddenly grew serious as he noticed the approaching group.
The other members of Sakuragi's Gang also stopped laughing and stood up, eyeing Oda and the others sharply.
Only Sakuragi Hanamichi, seemingly oblivious, kept shoving meat into his mouth and wailing, "Leaf-san!!"
As Oda stepped closer, he finally recognized the red-haired boy sitting in the middle of the group.
"So it's you, Sakuragi Hanamichi..."
His face twisted into a sneer.
"How can a bunch of uneducated punks like you even afford to eat in a place like this?"
"Huh? Who the hell are you, kid?"
Sakuragi stood up slowly. Towering over Oda, who played center, he still looked half a head taller—his presence alone brought instant pressure.
"Hah, I didn't expect you to come to us instead. Oda Ryumasa from the basketball team, what do you want?"
Mito stepped beside Sakuragi, still smiling, but his tone was sharp. Ohkusu Yuji, Nozomi Takamiya, and Noma Chuichirou also gathered behind them.
Sakuragi's Gang—ready for battle.
"What? So this guy's the Oda that Ye Zi likes?"
Sakuragi blinked—and then his face turned completely red. With a roar, he grabbed Oda by the collar and hoisted him off the ground.
"Sakuragi! What are you doing?!"
"Let me go!!"
The team rushed forward in alarm, trying to pull the two apart. Meanwhile, Oliver stood a few steps behind, eyes fixed on Sakuragi's fiery expression.
Now's the chance to really see what Sakuragi Hanamichi is made of.
"System, scan the character's attributes."
Ding! Character scan complete!
A stat sheet appeared before Oliver's eyes:
---
Character Name: Sakuragi Hanamichi
Age: 16
Height: 189 cm
Weight: 83 kg
Strength: ★★★★★ 90
Stamina: ★★★★★ 95
Speed: ★★★★☆ 85
Skill: ☆☆☆☆☆ 0
Shooting Accuracy: ☆☆☆☆☆ 0
Jumping: ★★★★☆ 80
Talent: "Born Rebounder" — +5 to Jumping and Strength when fighting for rebounds.
---
WHAT THE...?!
Oliver stared, stunned.
These stats are insane! This guy's the protagonist for a reason!
Aside from his actual basketball skills, Sakuragi's physical attributes were off the charts. Even his worst stat—jumping—was better than most trained athletes!
Oliver had gained 86 points in jumping thanks to the system. But Sakuragi? He reached 80 naturally—plus a bonus when rebounding!
His strength score was a whopping 95, which was nearly on par with an NBA player!
This guy really is a physical monster. A true rebounding prodigy.
Curious, Oliver scanned Oda Ryumasa's stats next. The system responded with a soft ding.
---
Character Name: Oda Ryumasa
Age: 16
Height: 185 cm
Weight: 76 kg
Strength: ★★★☆☆ 55
Stamina: ★★☆☆☆ 50
Speed: ★★☆☆☆ 40
Skill: ★★★☆☆ 55
Shooting Accuracy: ★★☆☆☆ 50
Jumping: ★★☆☆☆ 45
---
Bro… Oda... where did you get the confidence to challenge Sakuragi?!
Oliver nearly laughed out loud.
If Sakuragi punched you into the wall right now, I wouldn't be surprised. You wouldn't stand a chance!
"You're about to use violence again? That's why nobody likes you!"
"What did you say?! Damn it—why would Ye Zi even like someone like you..."
Oda kept running his mouth, throwing oil on the fire. Sakuragi's teeth clenched audibly.
"Sakuragi!" Xiaotian suddenly yelled. "I don't care what your problem is, but don't you dare insult basketball in front of us!"
He then turned toward the back and shouted, "Oliver! Say something to this guy!"
"...Me?" Oliver blinked, caught off guard.
"That's right! Boss Oliver, put him in his place!"
"Yeah, Boss! Teach him a lesson!"
The team looked to Oliver with admiration, fists clenched. They clearly expected him to step up.
"W-Wait, hold on! Who's your boss?! Stop calling me that!"
Oliver panicked. He'd been hiding in the back precisely to avoid clashing with Sakuragi. But now, his teammates had sold him out without a second thought!
What Oliver didn't realize was that, because of his outstanding performance during the tournament, the whole team had quietly started seeing him as their leader.
"Huh? This bean sprout is your ringleader?"
Mito raised an eyebrow and gave Oliver a curious look. Even Sakuragi turned his gaze toward the back.
"You the boss here?"
Sakuragi tossed Oda aside like a rag doll and glared at Oliver.
"I'm already in a crap mood today, and now you come along to ruin dinner too?"
"Yeah! Hanamichi just got dumped! He's feeling really down!"
"You guys are so mean!"
"You should all apologize!!"
Sakuragi's gang started yelling. Hearing his friends blurt out his heartbreak, Sakuragi's face turned crimson.
He turned and headbutted each of them one by one.
Bang!
Bang!
Bang!
"Why me too…?" Mito whimpered, cradling his head.
Oliver couldn't help sweating as he stared at Sakuragi, whose presence was utterly overwhelming.
Physically and temperamentally, Sakuragi was a beast. No wonder no one could handle him.
But as a true Slam Dunk fan, Oliver understood Sakuragi's personality well.
He responds to kindness. Not confrontation.
With that in mind, Oliver stepped forward, calm and composed.
"Sakuragi," he began, "my teammates were upset because they heard you insult basketball. That's why they came here—for an explanation."
"Huh? You want an explanation?!"
Sakuragi's voice was rough with emotion, and his red eyes glared.
"I hate basketball, alright?! I said it! Only idiots like basketball! Only morons would want to play it!!"
"Sakuragi-san," Oliver said, pointing straight at him with confidence, "those words don't suit you."
"Huh?!"
"Because you—are a basketball genius."
patreon(Jutsu_143)