Recap:
Before practice, I have one thing I want to make it clear to you all...Our goal this year is to win the National Championship. therefore our practices will be really difficult you should be prepared!! Understood?"
"YES!!!!"
"ALRIGHT!! That's a good spirit. Now let's run to build stamina and as a warm up. We will run around the court, so for the newbies, just follow our lead."
AND SO TRAINING begins...
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"Okay take 3 mins break, then find a partner to do some stretching." I take a bit of breath, not winded at all 'I am really glad I have such body, with just imited training in the past I am still a complete stamina monster.'
"You people ok?" facing the quartet
"We're good, Hanamichi" Yuji giving me a thumbs up obviously out of breath "yeah I can do this, no sweat! Nozomi grinning, although obviously having a hard time but still trying.
Once again, Hanamichi is happy to have these people as friends.
---Timeskip no jutsu-----
FRIDAY 15,1993
The Shohoku basketball team is practicing as usuall. Akagi, standing at the side, together with Kogure...
"Sakuragi and his friends are really becoming basketball team members now. I heard that in their Junior High they are infamously known as the Sakuragi Gang. It's nice to see that they are really putting a lot of effort in this. Isn't that right, Akagi?"
"HMPF/snort/ if they don't want to be kick out of the team then they better behave. They are all a bunch of problem kids." tsundere Akagi activated....(bleergggghhh)
"/smiling/ They absorb what they are being taught pretty easily, even Takamiya with his limitations is doing fine. They all have talent. But, the biggest talent is definitely Sakuragi. Together with Rukawa, I think they are the biggest weapon our team have right now. I think we have chance, Akagi." turning his expression uncharacteristically serious, Kogure highlighted the duo.
....Akagi didn't say anything and instead started running to receive a pass ...
'Rukawa, Sakuragi, and even Yohei and his their group. They are very talented. I guess I have to say goodbye to my starting position, hehe I am actually really happy to be substituted. I can see that our Shohoku team have grown really strong, Akagi. I'm now really looking forward to it..!'
Currently just by the door of the gym, girls wearing Shohoku High School uniform are watching the training of the team. They are girls from 1st year to 3rd year of different classes. They are watching 3 people specifically...
whispering----" Are you girls ready? 1...2...3..
"AHHHHHHH RUKAWA-KUN DO YOUR BEST!!!"
" AHHHHH SAKURAGI-KUN YOU'RE SUCH A BAD BOY!!!!"
"MITO-KUN YOU CAN DO IT!!!"
The whole team stop what they are doing and look at the source of the noise....
"WOW?!?I didn't know that you guys are popular to the girls." Chuichiro questioned
Yuji and Nozomi hugged each other feeling really aggrieved. crying rivers of tears.
"WAA THEIR LOOKING THIS WAY..
"WAAAHHHHHHHH"
unbeknownst to them, an old man with a round shape head and big tummy. Head full of white hair. wearing a nice looking pair of glasses with his white mustach shaking as he speaks..." Excuse me ladies, Please let me get through"
Unfortunately the girls are too occupied with theri fantasy to notice him. He was bumped pretty strongly by one of the students. He can not help but stumble backwards as he hadn't fix his center balance.
"You three are really popular, huh?" A mischievious glint shining in Ayako's eyes as she hit them playfully by their sides. Hanamichi on the other hand, was focusing not on the girls but on the man earlier. He can't help but smile 'He's here.'
He approached the door and as the fan girls see him approaching with his bad boy smile, their hearts started beating wildly
"WOW he is huge!!!!" "I think he is taller than Rukawa-kun" "Oh My,! He's eyes are like a sharp sword cutting my heart to million pieces."
"Thank you for the compliment" Hanamichi looking at the girl with the cringe worthy compliment. "We appreciate the support you are showing, but is it ok if we tone it down a bit during practice? But, in the actuall game once the Kanagawa games started, we will be waiting for your cheers." He tried smiling as gentle as he can get it to be.'These girls are noisy but having girls to cheer during the game would be a huge game changer in terms of the teams morale.'
""AAA---A..A..AHHH HAI!!."
"I mean yes, we understand and will tone it down, but is it ok to keep watching you guys?" one of the girls, maybe the leader,requested
"Of course, we'd love to have people support us. On the other hand. Please let our coach pass through first? You see, we still need him to guide us"
"AHHH YES, we are so sorry!!!" they tried helping coach Anzai "HOHOHO that is fine ladies. We appreciate the enthusaism"
"Thatnk you teacher!!"
"HOHOHO no worries."
"HOHOHO you guys are practicing. Thanks for the assist young man" Get it? Assist? HOHOHO" coach Anzai continued walking as Akagi also came to his side to welcome him.
Good morning coach Anzai"
"You too Akagi"
"By the way, I organized a practice match, the opponent will be Ryonan High."
The senior members are shock " Ryonan High School? The fourth strongest team in Kanagawa last year?"
Anzai looked around and notice a lot of new faces "Wow ther are so many new members this year."
"UMU!! OK, I decided, let's have a match between the first years and all the seniors members."
And so for the first years, we have Hanamichi as center, Rukawa as power forward, Yuji as small forward, Chuichiro as shooting guard and Yohei as point guard.
Although the other three don't know much about the sports, they are the physically strongest in the year.
Sakamoto playing as the ref. "Game starts!!"
Akagi and Hanamichi as centers of the two team met at the middle of the court to start the game.
"Don't be nervous Sakuragi"
"HEHE...." a quiet laugh came from Hanamichi, a shiver run through Akagi's spine. Eyes' widening,' What the hell was that?'
--------------------
Quick flashback:
Coach Anzai stood at the sideline, his expression unreadable. His white hair and gentle gaze gave off the aura of a retired librarian, but the way he watched the court made even the seniors uneasy.
Akagi frowned. "Coach, they're not ready. Half of them started only this week."
Anzai smiled. "Then let's see what they can do."
END of flashback////AN: to lazy to go back and do some changes so just added this, if you don't mind
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Sakamoto stepped to center court, ball in hand. Akagi and Sakuragi faced each other, towering figures with very different energies.
Akagi stood like a fortress—stoic, grounded, confident.
Sakuragi bounced on his heels, red hair flaring like a warning light, eyes locked on the ball like a predator sizing up prey.
The whistle blew.
The ball soared upward.
Akagi leapt with practiced form, arms extended.
But Sakuragi? He exploded off the ground like a spring uncoiled—higher, faster, cleaner.
His hand met the ball at its peak and swatted it toward Rukawa with a force that made the seniors flinch.
Rukawa caught it without blinking and immediately drove past his defender for a smooth layup.
The RUKAWA FANS CLUB getting excited with Hanamichi and Rukawa's teamwork.
"HEHE captain, did you not have your breakfast?" As he started jogging to the opposite court.
Akagi blinked. That wasn't luck.
Coach Anzai's eyes twinkled. "Interesting."
The seniors regrouped. Akagi posted up, demanding the ball. He turned, powered through—
But Sakuragi was already there.
He didn't just block Akagi's shot. He snatched it mid-air and launched a full-court pass to Rukawa, who caught it in stride and laid it in without breaking expression.
Akagi stared at his hands. Did I just get outmuscled?
This time the RUKAWA fans club exploded even louder
The seniors collected themselves and put the ball to restart.
Yohei guarded Yasuda , although Yohei is a complete newbie in the game, he makes it up with his physical strength. They may not look like it but aside from Hanamichi, all member of the Sakuragi Gang--even Nozomi--is actually pretty strong.
'I can't pass through, ughh is he really a beginner?' Yasuda panicked and soon have no choice but to pass the ball to Kogure, who is near him.
A white blur suddenly stole the incoming ball.
Hanamichi, in his white training jersey, stole the airborne ball, mid-pass. Without waiting for anyone, he run with the ball directly to the free throw line.
He gathered his strength, from the sole of his feet to the core of his body. As he reach a good distance from the ring, about a step after the free throw line. He jumped as hard as he can, he pumped up, swinging the ball with both hands, all the way down, then all the way back up just like a windmill finishing a wonderful dunk with his left hand.
The board shakes as he slams the ball down into the ring.
Everyone in the basketball team, either members currently playing or member son the bench, Ayako, and the managers, including coach Anzai, who is already staring wide eyed while standing up. 'A windmill dunk'
As Hanamichi landed at the same time as the ball, the people were release from their stupor and buzzed. The people watching went wild, his teammates slapping his back.
"Where did you learn that, Hanamichi?"Yohei asked "Nah, I just thought of it, don't know if anyone have done it before.
Rukawaw's eyes are burning fircely with fightning spirit as he gaze at Hanamichi.
The seniors, regrouped and managed to end their scoring drought with the help of vice capatain Kogure. Next possession, Sakuragi didn't wait under the rim. He cut diagonally across the lane, caught a bounce pass from Yohei, and finished with a reverse layup.
A lazy pass from a senior guard—Sakuragi lunged, intercepted it mid-air, and took off like a sprinter. One bounce, two strides, and a soaring dunk that rattled the backboard. This time, just a classic tomahawak dunk.
Akagi turned, stunned. He's everywhere.
Rukawa played like a machine—fadeaways, eurosteps, no-look passes. Yohei, Yuji, and Chuichiro held the line—no fumbles, no flash, just quiet support.
But Sakuragi was chaos incarnate.
He cut through screens, chased down loose balls, and even dove into the scorer's table once to save a possession. He wasn't just rebounding—he was disrupting.
Akagi countered with discipline. He boxed out, timed his jumps, and scored with clean footwork. He didn't panic. He adapted.
"You're strong," Akagi said after a contested rebound. "But strength alone isn't enough."
Sakuragi grinned. "Good thing I've got more than that."
Final Minutes: The Turning Point
Score: 75–47. First-years lead.
Yohei passed to Yuji, who lobbed it—
Sakuragi didn't wait under the rim. He cut from the weak side, caught the ball mid-air, twisted, and dunked over Akagi.
The gym echoed with the sound of impact.
Akagi landed hard, but stood tall. He didn't glare. He didn't sulk. He looked at Sakuragi and nodded.
The whistle blew. Game over.
Final score: 80–52. First-years win.
Coach Anzai clapped once. "Well done."
The first year team celebrated as they beat the seniors.
Rukawa, as usual, said nothing. But his eyebrow twitched—just slightly—as the cheer squad broke into a chant:
🎶 "Rukawa's cool, Yohei's smooth, Sakuragi's got that dunkin' groove!" 🎶
Sakuragi puffed up like a rooster. "See?! I am the groove!"
Chuichiro, Yuji and Nozomi,screeming like crazy. Rukawa walked past the three of them, yawning. "Too noisy."
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The gym lights dimmed, but the court still held the heat of battle. The lines on the floor glowed faintly under the fading light—scars of the match that had just rewritten Shohoku's hierarchy.
Sakuragi lingered at center court, bouncing the ball once, then again. Not out of habit—out of hunger.
Coach Anzai approached slowly, hands behind his back.
"You surprised them," he said. You surprised me.
Sakuragi didn't look up. "I'm not done surprising people."
Anzai smiled. "Good. But remember—basketball isn't just about power. It's about rhythm, timing, trust."
Sakuragi nodded, gripping the ball tighter. "Then I'll learn all of it. I'll learn everything."
From the far end of the gym, Rukawa walked past without a word, towel slung over his shoulder. Yohei gave a quiet thumbs-up. Chuichiro and Yuji exchanged nods, already halfway out the door.
Sakuragi turned toward the hoop, eyes sharp.
"I'll make this court mine," he whispered.
Coach Anzai chuckled. "Just make sure you leave room for your teammates."
Outside, the night deepened over Kanagawa. Inside, the echoes of first steps lingered.
Shohoku's future had just taken its first breath.
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A little shirt this chapter....anyway...
quick poll until this weekend
Sakuragi dyeing his hair back to black
YES-
NO-
I'll wait until Sunday evening, if no decision then don't complain to what I will decide.