"Haruko-senpai! Did you hear the news? Oliver and Hanamichi have officially joined the basketball club!"
In Haruko's classroom, Mito and the others rushed in, eager to share the exciting announcement.
"Really? My brother actually approved it?" Haruko jumped up from her seat, her eyes lighting up.
"Yeah! Your brother said Hanamichi showed real determination," Mito replied with a wide grin. "Today's their first day as official members. Want to come with us to check it out?"
"Check it out? We should be there to cheer them on properly!"
With that, Haruko, Mito, and a few others hurried toward the gymnasium, their steps light with anticipation.
—
From the large window overlooking the court, they peered inside.
At the center of the gym stood Oliver, Sakuragi, and Rukawa, all dressed in Shohoku's red and white sports uniforms, standing in neat formation.
"Alright! New team members, line up!" Akagi commanded from the front.
Swish!
Oliver and Rukawa promptly took their positions. Sakuragi, however, was still standing near Akagi, hands on his hips, radiating a smug energy.
"Hey! You too—line up!"
"Alright, alright, I got it already!" Sakuragi grumbled, slowly walking over with his hands still stuffed in his pockets. "Why're you always yelling? Jeez…"
He mumbled as he took his place next to the others, still sulking slightly.
Tch. "Whatever... Even though I beat the captain, I'm still treated like any other rookie... No respect for maturity…"
Just then, Sakuragi's eyes landed on Kaede Rukawa. The latter stood calmly, arms relaxed at his sides, wearing a blank expression beneath his messy black hair.
"Kaede Rukawa…"
Sakuragi's eyes narrowed.
This guy… Haruko's into him, isn't she?
That thought alone made his blood boil. His hands twitched slightly as he fought the urge to lunge at Rukawa. He stepped forward threateningly—
"..."
But stopped himself.
Grow up, Sakuragi Hanamichi!
A voice echoed in his mind. You're the guy who defeated the captain! You could even be the next captain yourself someday! Rukawa? He's not even in your league! Stay cool… Rise above him!
Taking a deep breath, Sakuragi snorted and turned away, standing next to Oliver without saying another word.
—
From the window, Mito and the others watched in stunned silence.
"No way... Hanamichi didn't pick a fight with Rukawa?"
"Unexpected…" Mito muttered, clearly shocked. "I was sure he'd start something."
"Sigh… Why can't those two just get along? They'd make a great pair on the court..." Haruko said with a hint of regret.
Because you're the reason they're fighting in the first place... Mito and the others exchanged glances and sweatdropped silently.
—
Back on the court, Akagi cleared his throat and stepped forward, beginning the orientation.
"Ahem! I'm Akagi Takenori, the team captain. First, let me go over some basic gym rules.
"Always clean the ball before practice and make sure the court is spotless afterward. These may sound trivial, but hygiene and discipline are important!"
He paused, then added, "In fact, someone did a great job on this yesterday. I really appreciate it, and I hope everyone learns from him."
"Oh? Who was it? That good, huh?" Oliver elbowed Sakuragi playfully, smirking.
Sakuragi scratched the back of his head in mock modesty, clearly soaking up the attention.
"Ahem... Anyway, let's move on—"
"Wait a sec!" Sakuragi interrupted. "That wasn't just idle work! Hygiene is key! You need to put more emphasis on it, Gorilla!!"
"CALL ME CAPTAIN!" Akagi bellowed.
With a loud smack, his iron fist landed on Sakuragi's head, sending him stumbling back into formation with a bump the size of a ping-pong ball growing on his head.
"You bastard… gorilla…" Sakuragi muttered through clenched teeth.
From outside the gym, Mito and the others burst out laughing.
"Hanamichi never changes, does he?" one of them said.
Haruko, however, only smiled gently, whispering softly, "Sakuragi-kun, do your best…"
—
Clap!
Akagi clapped his hands to regain order.
"Alright! Time for introductions! Start from the right and go down the line—name, height, weight, and your preferred position."
"I'm Kuwata, from No. 2 Middle School. Height: 170 cm. Weight: 65 kg. I play forward!"
"Hmm... guard might be more your style. You'll need to work on dribbling and passing. If you can't keep up, you'll be dropped."
"Y-Yes, sir!"
"Next!"
"I'm—"
One by one, the new members stepped forward and introduced themselves. Akagi jotted down their information in his notebook.
"Next!"
"Kaede Rukawa, Toigaoka Junior High. Height: 187 cm. Weight: 75 kg. No specific position."
No position? So he's an all-rounder... Akagi's expression turned more thoughtful.
He leaned forward and asked, "Rukawa, what are your interests?" His tone was casual, but his eyes flicked toward Haruko outside the window.
"Interests?" Rukawa rubbed his chin and paused for a second. "...Sleeping."
Pfft! Oliver tried not to laugh, while Sakuragi couldn't resist.
"You lazy zombie! That's your big hobby? What a snooze-fest!"
Rukawa glanced at him, completely unbothered.
"Next!!" Akagi barked.
"Finally, my turn!" Sakuragi stepped forward proudly, puffing out his chest.
"Sakuragi Hanamichi! Wako Junior High! Height: 188 cm! Weight: 83 kg! No fixed position! Hobbies include—"
"Alright, alright, we got it. Next!"
"Hey! Let this genius finish his speech!! You inconsiderate ape!!"
"Bastard!"
Whack!
Another bump formed on Sakuragi's head.
"Oh, is it my turn now?" Oliver said with a relaxed smile, stepping forward.
All eyes immediately turned to him—especially Akagi and Rukawa.
After all, this was the guy who had beaten Akagi in a 1-on-1 game the moment he joined the school. Rumors were still spreading about how he'd taken down a gang of third-year delinquents on the rooftop, too.
In short, Oliver had become something of a legend overnight.
"I'm Oliver, an international student from Daxia. Like Hanamichi, I graduated from Wako Junior High. I'm 167 cm tall and weigh 62 kg. I play both forward and guard."
He bowed politely. "I look forward to working with all of you."
So he's a swingman... no wonder he plays so fast. Akagi nodded, while Rukawa narrowed his eyes, studying him more carefully.
—
"Alright, that's all the first-years!" Akagi announced.
"This year's batch has some real talent. We're short on members, so I'm confident you'll all see playtime soon!"
He then turned to the older students.
"Upperclassmen, your turn!"
"I'm Yasuda, a second-year…"
"Shiozaki, also second year."
"I'm Kakuta. There's one more of us, but he's in the hospital right now. So, four second-years in total."
When they finished, Akagi and Kogure stepped forward.
Kogure adjusted his glasses and spoke with a friendly tone, "I'm Kogure, a third-year student and the vice-captain. I play small forward."
"I'm Akagi Takenori, third-year, and the captain. Let's all do our best together!"
Akagi snapped his notebook shut. "Okay, now that the introductions are done—"
THUMP THUMP THUMP!!
A sudden loud banging echoed from outside the gym entrance, startling everyone inside.
"...Wait a minute!!"
The door slammed open, and a new presence stepped into the gym…
(To be continued!)
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