This chapter will focus on the training part.
We got 122-91 with a 31 point lead win. Everyone did their best even the bench members. Good job guys
Chuichiro 5points 5 rebound 2assists 1 steal
Yohei 4 points 2 rebounds 10 assists 4 steals
Kogure 8 points 2 rebounds 3 assists 1 steal
Yuji 12 points 3 rebounds 9 assists 2 steals
Akagi 19 points 11 rebounds 2 assists 1 steal with additional 3 blocks
Rukawa 31 ponts 7 rebounds 5 assists 2 steals with additional 1 block
Sakuragi 43 points 16 rebounds 7 assists 5 steals with additional 2 blocks
With this Hanamichi is also considered the MVP of today's game. Keep it up Sakuragi-kun" Ayako cheered.
"GREAT JOB HANAMICHI/SAKURAGI"
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Hanamichi went home alone with springs on his feet. This time, much earlier as the coach wants them to enjoy their shoret breaks before they start with what he thinks is the gruesome training waiting for them. Which he will not be surprise since based on the manga, Coach Anzai is supposedly a demon coach before becoming the Buddha.
As he changed to a comfortable wear, he decided to check his dad's car. 'I don't know things about a car but I still have to see for my self. I think it's a Nissan car. I just don't know what model.'
He entered the garage via the kitchen side door. He turned on the light and soon he sees a Nissan car that is dusty but still looking stylish (at least based on the current time's aesthetics)
'It's actually quite nice. I should probably call Uncle. Whelp nothing beats now.' walking towards the home phone. He dialed the number and not long after the phone rung and auntie's voice were heard.
"Moshi moshi"
"Hello Auntie, how are you?"
"Oh Hanamichi-kun, it's nice too hear from. I'm great. Listen, do you want to drop by? I baked cookies just now. They are your uncle's favorite kind. Would you like me to make you your favorite kind as well? What do you like?"
"That's great Auntie, thanks I want chocolate chips cookies. With overflowing amount of chocolate chips." clearly getting hungry from hearing prospects of possible homebaked cookies just for him. "I will visit later, for now, is uncle busy?"
"HMPF! You're always only looking for your uncle."
"Auntie....it's not like that. I just need some help with Dad's car so I am looking for uncle. I want to do some maintenance to it but I don't know how."
"OHH.... Well your uncle is not busy. We'll go there in an hour."
"Yeah thanks auntie, I don't even know what kind or model of car is this so I really needed some help."
"Oh if it's your dad's car, then it should be the Nissan Cedric. We bought our car at the same shop together."
"Well now I know. Hehe, thanks Auntie. Anyway I'll go clean it up a bit while waiting for you guys. See yah auntie."
"YES YES! We'll be there."
And so an hour passed by with Hanamichi cleaning up the car. At least without moving it. He cleaned with regular soap and sponge for the exterior and vacuumed the interior.
By the time the clock hits 3pm Hanamichi heard the sound of a car stopping in front of his house, he knew without looking that it's the couple . So he wasted no time and welcomed them.
"Uncle!! Auntie!!" he gave the couple a hug. " Thanks for coming"
"Anytime kiddo. Just call anytime you need help."
"But, this time I need you two strong men's help" auntie inserted, " Help me with my groceries, carry them to the kitchen. I will make your chocolate chips cookies you requested earlier. I decided to bake them here instead."
"WOW!! Thanks a lot auntie, let me carry all of it. Uncle might hurt his back and knees if he carry it."
"Oi!! Brat, I am still as strong as when I was in my 20's"
"FUFUFUFUU"
So uncle and I carried the ingredients to the kitchen and left auntie to start baking. While we went to the garage to see the car.
"You cleaned it up nicely kid. Looks good as new."
"Well I have nothing better to do while waiting for your slow ass, so I have to do something productive- WAHH" uncle punched me on my arms "What was that for?!?"
"That's for your loud mouth, you idiot. Now where's the key of this thing anyway?"
"here" handling him the keys.
He turned on the ignition as he started the car.
BRRROOOMMM
"It sounds amazing as always. By the sound of it, well at least it sound like there is nothing to worry about. Let me teach you how to do a proper maintenance for a car." he started teaching me things about car, nothing too complicated yet- just the basics of what we should know first when you get your first car. I also took advantage of the situation and asked him to teach me how to drive. At one point, I saw auntie looking at us thru the door, smiling quietly, like she's looking at her husband and child bonding together. My heart beat fast as I realize once more that they really love me not as just the kid of their friend but as their own son. I decided to stop calling this old man a jeezer moving forward...i'll still call him an old man tho.
about over an hour after everything was checked like the oil and whatnot, we went back in to enjoy the cookies auntie baked. And I am telling you, they are heaven.
"Next time I visit your place, is it ok to bring my friends along. I want to introduced them to you guys formally." I started
"OOOhhhh that is so nice, Hanamichi-kun. I want to meet your friends as well."
"Yeah kid, you told me that you want them to be with you when you get rich but I haven't seen them yet"
"Sorry about that uncle, we are too busy with the basketball team. They joined the team together with me so they don't have the time yet. But, maybe next weekend I'll bring them along to your house."
"That would be great Hanamichi-kun, will it be a Saturday or a Sunday then?"
"I'll try it on a Saturday afternoon or evening, but I will make a phone call to you auntie once I confirm it with the boys."
"Do let me know at least 2 hourse before going so I can cook more for your friends."
"Oh how lucky of them to have me as a friend, as I will let them taste the dishes of an angel."
"FUFUFUFFU, I heard that kind of line from your uncle already long time ago. Try a new one."
"HEH, you hear that boy?"
"What are you smug about? Be thankful auntie married you. with your pitiful ugly face" I shot back as this guy is irritating me with his smug face. Doesn't he know that he is one sandwich away from fat. That his face is one punch away from being an ugly bastard?! Nonetheless, deep inside me, I enjoy this moments with them. The lonely quiet house feel so much homey and warm. They cannot replace my dad but I am more than happy to see them as my second parents, in auntie's case, the mother I never had.
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Monday comes and a new school week starts. Today will also be the day coach Anzai will start his hellish training.
So for the next few weeks, coach Anzai is present everyday in the gym. training and guiding everyone witht the intensity they never seen before. But if someone who has seen coach Anzai in his heyday, they will no doubt be surprise as the white haired demon is back. At least what coach Anzai's health can allow him.
Because for him, it is worth it. As he quietly return his White-haired demon persona mindset after witnessing Sakuragi's potential and talent.
In the first two weeks, coach focuses on removing bad habits, reinforcing the basics and experimentting with the team combination and dynamics.
All members of the team, from the starters to the bench, started with rebound drills against 2 defenders.
"Rebound is a very important aspect of the game. In our previous practice game with Ryonan high, we scored 122 compared to their 91 points. throughout the game, we had a total of 46 rebounds across all the players. Each one of you contributing to second chance points in the game. Sakuragi-kun, you got 16 rebounds in total. Shinichi Maki of Kainan have a record of 22 rebounds in one game. But that record was done with a comparatively weak team against Kainan. You on the other hand did it against a strong team like Ryonan. Keep it up. As the more rebound we get, the more chances to score."
Together with rebounding drill, we also did defensive shell drill, layup under contact, no-dribble passing circuit and 3-point challenges
Everyone understood the task and the importance of the drill as everyone puts their 100%.
By the 3rd and 4th week we are introduced to structured plays. We already have plays we master during the training match with Ryonan but the coach wants us to know more.
I honestly don't understand the name of these drills the coach have us do.
Motion Offense Sets – Simple plays with timed cuts and screens
Zone Defense Rotations – something about more coverage
Blind Scrimmage – coach let's us do inter team matches and let us fix mistakes real time
Fast-Break Simulation – 3 passes max, finish in 6 seconds
Clipboard Challenge – Coach leaves play diagrams; Yohei and Kogure study and land the other point guards and shooting guard lead drills
Another big thing is that coach Anzai started wearing stopwatch around his neck. He doesn't raise his voice, most probably for health concerns but he have a professional grade whistle that, for fucking reason always scared the crap out of me! And I am not the only one...all of us...even the manager girls...
In the 5 and 6 weeks we focus more in our physical limits.
"Demon's Circuit" – Suicides, push-ups, wall sits, jump rope, free throws( definitely helpful in case enemy have no choice but to foul us)
Full-Court Scrimmage – No subs, no fouls called, first to 15 with 1 point each shot, doesn't matter wether a dunk or a supposedly 3 point shot...
Leadership Rotation – Each player leads one drill; Yohei shines here as well. I knew he would.
Three-Point Scramble – Everyone try to shoots 3's. We alternate with 3's and perimeter shots. Once you have 10 3 points in then move to jump shots, you get 10 of it, you move back out in the 3's but diffrent position.
Silent Conditioning – No talking during sprints---long sprints
By the end of the 6 weeks hell training, everyone visibly improve. The bench can now probably beat Miuradai as long as that big bald guy doesn't play. I guess this solves Shohoku's weakness in the anime and manga, the depth of the team and the bench. In the anime and manga back in my last life, the bench players we're pitifully weak. So if someone from the starting line-up gets sent to the bench, no one can stand up to play and carry the missing link. That weakness is also what almost all the teams our team get to face in canon events always take advantage of it.
On a completely unrelated side note, The gang finally met Uncle and Auntie. It was a happy day I supposed, But I will tackle it next time.
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So here is next chapter. I am sorry if it looks shorter than the normal ones I posted before. I want to have this training montage out of the way so I can focus on the next part of the story.
Next up is Miyagi and Mitsui making their appearances.