Ayako stood near the whiteboard, flipping through her clipboard. Her voice was steady, but even she couldn't hide the grin tugging at her lips.
"Alright, listen up. Here are the final numbers."
The room quieted. Hanamichi sat on the bench, towel over his head, still catching his breath. Yohei leaned against the lockers, arms crossed, smirking. Rukawa sipped water in the corner, pretending not to care.
Ayako continued "Hanamichi Sakuragi: 71 points, 14 rebounds, 6 assists, 3 steals, 2 blocks, 0 turnovers,. Also… 9 'I'm a genius' declarations. Haruko counted."
The room burst into laughter. Hanamichi raised a fist. "I regret nothing!"
"Yohei Mito: 6 points, 4 assists, 2 steals, 1 alley-oop dunk. And a technical foul for taunting Miuradai's bench."
Yohei shrugged. "They started it."
"Noma: 4 points, 3 rebounds, 2 assists. Also set two solid screens that led to Hanamichi's dunks."
Noma nodded proudly. "I'm basically his agent."
"Takamiya: 2 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block.
"Ohkusu: 0 points, 3 assists, 1 steal.
"Mitsui Hisashi: 22 points, 4 rebounds, 3 assists. Hit five threes, two mid-range jumpers, and one fast-break layup off Hanamichi's outlet."
"Ryota Miyagi: 4 points, 6 assists, 1 steal.
"Kogure: 3 points, 2 rebounds, 1 assist.
"Akagi: 4 points, 5 rebounds, 1 block.
"Kaede Rukawa: 26 points, 5 assists, 2 steals, 1 block.
Haruko stepped forward, holding a stat sheet. "And one more stat," she said softly. "Shohoku: 125. Miuradai: 28."
Silence. Then Hanamichi stood, arms wide.
"Shohoku's era has begun!"
The whole Shohoku groaned. "Here we go again…"
==================
The locker room had settled into a hum of quiet celebration. Shohoku's players lounged, stretched, and swapped stories. But Coach Anzai remained standing, his gaze fixed on the stat sheet Ayako had handed him. Ayako stood near the whiteboard, flipping through her clipboard. She glanced at Coach Anzai, who hadn't said a word since the game ended.
Ayako hesitated, then spoke. "Coach… you saw the numbers, right?"
Coach Anzai didn't look up. "I did."
She stepped closer. "Hanamichi scored 71 points. The room quieted. They all heard it earlier already, but with the way Ayako is saying it again and the silence of the coach is giving it more weight.
Ayako continued, "It's not just a Shohoku record. It's the highest ever in school competition. Junior high, high school, college—no one's ever done this."
That's when everyone realized something...Hanamichi, did something almost impossible to see in Japanese basketball.
The room didn't erupt all at once. It was a slow build—Yohei's eyes widening, Mitsui letting out a low whistle, Akagi turning toward Hanamichi with a look that was half disbelief, half pride.
Then it hit.
"Seventy-one points," Ayako repeated, almost to herself.
"Against Miuradai," Kogure added, voice rising.
"Without a single turnover," Miyagi said, shaking his head.
Rukawa didn't say anything, but he stopped pretending not to care.
And then the noise came—cheers, laughter, clapping, even Takamiya banging a shoe against the bench like a drum. Hanamichi stood in the middle of it all, arms raised like a champion, grinning so wide it looked like his face might split.
"I told you!" he shouted. "I'm the genius of Shohoku!"
Yohei threw a towel at him. "You're the loudest, that's for sure!"
Ayako rolled her eyes but couldn't hide her smile. Haruko looked at Hanamichi like she was seeing him for the first time.
Then, from the corner, a soft chuckle.
Coach Anzai.
He was still holding the stat sheet, shoulders shaking slightly. The team quieted as they turned toward him.
That warm, unmistakable laugh filled the room.
"Ho ho ho…"
Hanamichi blinked. "Coach?"
Coach Anzai looked up, eyes twinkling. "You really are something, Sakuragi."
Hanamichi puffed up. "I know!"
"But," Coach added, "don't let it go to your head."
Hanamichi paused. "Too late!"
The room burst into laughter again. Even Rukawa cracked a smile.
Coach Anzai folded the stat sheet and tucked it into his pocket. "Enjoy tonight. You earned it. But tomorrow… we start again."
Shohoku's players nodded, the energy still buzzing. They hadn't just won. They'd made history.
And somewhere in the middle of it all, Hanamichi Sakuragi stood tall—loud, proud, and just a little bit legendary.
_______________
The Next Morning – Shohoku High
The school gates were buzzing before first period. Students crowded around the bulletin board, where someone had taped a copy of the Kanagawa Sports Daily. The headline read:
"Red-Haired Phenomenon Drops 71—Shohoku Crushes Miuradai!"
Hanamichi's photo—mid-dunk, mouth wide open—was front and center.
Inside the halls, whispers turned into shouts.
"That's Sakuragi, right?"
"He scored seventy-one?!"
Hanamichi stepped through the school gates, posture relaxed but unmistakably sharp. His bag hung loosely off one shoulder, and a quiet smile played at his lips.
Students turned. Conversations paused. The buzz from last night's game had spread. What Hanamichi did caught the attention of even the local news last night.
At lunchtime, the cafeteria TV played a clip from Kanagawa Sports Focus. The anchor grinned as highlights rolled.
"Shohoku's Hanamichi Sakuragi stunned the region last night with a record-breaking 71-point performance. Coaches across the prefecture are calling it one of the most dominant displays in high school basketball history."
The footage showed Hanamichi's dunks, fast breaks, and even one of his "I'm a genius!" poses. Students cheered every time his name was mentioned.
____________
In another side of Kanagawa, Shoyo High – Basketball Gym...
The sound of sneakers squeaking echoed through the gym as Shoyo's team wrapped up morning drills. Fujima stood near the baseline, arms crossed, watching the final reps with quiet focus.
Hasegawa jogged over, holding a folded newspaper. "You've seen this, right?"
"Shohoku blew out Miuradai," Hasegawa said. "A guy named Sakuragi dropped seventy-one."
The gym quieted for a moment.
Fujima glanced at the headline, then leaned back against the wall. "Miuradai?" he said. "They're barely a mid-tier team."
Hasegawa shrugged. "Still. Seventy-one's not nothing."
Fujima didn't look impressed. "It's a flashy number. But against a team that can't defend the paint? That's just stat-padding."
One of the younger players chimed in, "They won by almost a hundred."
Fujima raised an eyebrow. "And what does that prove? That Miuradai wasn't prepared? That Shohoku ran up the score?"
He stood and walked toward the court. "Let's see how Sakuragi does against a team that actually rotates on defense."
Hasegawa smirked. "You think he's just hype?"
"I think he's new," Fujima said. "And new players get figured out fast."
The rest of the team nodded, confidence intact. Shoyo wasn't rattled. Not yet. But somewhere in the back of Fujima's mind, he was already thinking about tape. About matchups. About what Shohoku might look like if Sakuragi kept improving. He didn't say it out loud.
-------------------
Kainan High – Film Room
The lights were dim. A paused frame of Hanamichi mid-dunk was frozen on the projector screen.
Coach Takato stood at the front, arms behind his back. Maki sat in the center row, elbows on knees, watching silently. Jin leaned against the wall, flipping through the stat sheet. Kiyota was in the back, legs stretched out, chewing gum.
"Shohoku scored 125," Coach said. "Sakuragi had 71."
No one reacted.
"Miuradai," Maki said. "They're not built to handle pressure. No interior defense. No transition coverage."
Jin nodded. "Still. No turnovers.
------------------------------
A sleek silver sedan pulled smoothly into the driveway of a clean, modern two-story home. The garden was trimmed, the porch polished, and the basketball hoop by the garage still had fresh scuff marks from morning practice.
Hanamichi stepped out from the front door, towel around his neck, his hair still damp. He smiled as Uncle Masaki climbed out of the driver's seat, adjusting his watch, while Aunt Yaeko emerged from the passenger side with a paper bag and a familiar warmth in her eyes.
"You didn't have to come all the way," Hanamichi said, walking over.
Masaki grinned. "You think we'd miss the chance to congratulate the guy who just rewrote Kanagawa's record books?"
Yaeko handed him the bag. "We brought dinner. And cake. You're not celebrating alone tonight."
Inside, the house was bright and spacious. Hardwood floors, clean lines, and quiet elegance—Hanamichi had kept the place simple but personal. A framed photo of his father sat on the shelf beside a signed basketball. On the kitchen counter lay the magazine with his face on the cover, half-folded beside a stat sheet.
Masaki glanced at it and chuckled. "You're officially on the radar now."
Hanamichi shrugged, but the smile lingered. "It's just one game."
Masaki opened a bottle of iced tea. "And your investments are holding steady. We'll go over the numbers next week. But for now—just enjoy this."
Yaeko looked around the house, then back at him. "Your dad would've been proud."
Hanamichi nodded. "Thanks. For everything."
They ate together, laughter mixing with quiet pride. Just the kind of evening that reminded Hanamichi where he came from—and how far he'd come.
___________________
Two days later, in Kanagawa Stadium. Shohoku vs. Ryokufu High.
Akagi wins the jump ball cleanly. Shohoku sets up with sharp spacing. Hanamichi grabs two offensive rebounds off missed shots and kicks out to Mitsui, who drains two clean threes from the wing. Miyagi pushes tempo, slicing through Ryokufu's zone and dishing assists, setting up Mitsui and Rukawa for clean finishes.
Hanamichi scores 12 points in the quarter—putbacks, a fast-break dunk, and a high-post jumper. Yohei subbed in midway, stabilizes wing defense and makes a smart cut for a layup off a Rukawa assist.
By the end of the quarter Shohoku leads 28–12. Mitsui finishes with 8 points (2 threes, 1 mid-range jumper). Rukawa adds 6. Hanamichi leads with 12.
Early 2nd quarter plays with Hanamichi opening with a high-post jumper over a late contest—his 20th point. Akagi asserts himself in the paint, scoring twice off clean entry passes from Miyagi.
Ryokufu tries to double Hanamichi—he calmly finds Yohei cutting baseline for a reverse layup. Coach Anzai being the great coach he is keep on rotating his bench to make sure everyone gets a chance to play to better improve their skillsets.
Takamiya sets a hard screen that flattens Ryokufu's guard, freeing Mitsui for a mid-range jumper.
Hanamichi grabs a defensive rebound, pushes the break himself, and dishes to Okusu for a transition finish. Shohoku's physicality starts wearing Ryokufu down. The gang plays with them like adults playing with kids. The gang surprisingly making the coach even more firm with his decision to guide them more.
Hanamichi hits a turnaround jumper from the elbow—his 30th point.
Akagi blocks a shot, Hanamichi recovers the loose ball, and outlets to Mitsui for a spot-up three.
Ryokufu switches to a press—Hanamichi breaks it with a sharp bounce pass to Miyagi, who feeds Akagi for a dunk.
Noma checks in and immediately hits a corner three off a Hanamichi skip pass.
Hanamichi's court vision is on full display showcasing talent not only in scoring but with everything that makes a player a desirable teammate.
Hanamichi hits a fast-break layup through contact—his 40th point.
He grabs his 12th rebound and threads a no-look assist to Mitsui for another three.
Coach Anzai calls timeout with 2:10 left. Shohoku leads by 30.
Hanamichi's stat line: 40 pts, 12 reb, 10 ast. Coach Anzai pats his shoulder. "That's enough." Hanamichi nods and heads to the bench.
With Hanamichi resting, Rukawa and Mitsui take over the scoring.
Rukawa hits a fadeaway and a coast-to-coast layup.
Mitsui drills another three off a Yohei swing pass.
Akagi anchors the defense while the gang rotates in and out, maintaining pressure.
Halftime Score: Shohoku 62 – Ryokufu 28
The air was humid with sweat and quiet confidence. Shohoku players sat scattered—some stretching, some sipping water, others just catching their breath.
Hanamichi leaned back against the wall.
Coach Anzai stood near the whiteboard, calm as ever. "Good first half. Now show me you can finish without rushing."
Hanamichi sits on the bench, towel around his neck, sipping water. He watches quietly as the starters retake the court—Rukawa, Mitsui, Miyagi, Akagi, and Yohei.
Coach Anzai leans in. "Let's see how they move without you."
Hanamichi grins. "They better not slack off!"
______________
Rukawa drives past two defenders and scores. Hanamichi jumps up. "THAT'S IT, FOX BOY! KEEP GOING!"
Mitsui hits a three off a Yohei swing pass. Hanamichi points at him. "THAT'S MY GUY!
Miyagi threads a no-look assist to Akagi for a dunk. Hanamichi slaps the bench. "CAPTAIN! THAT'S HOW YOU HAMMER IT!"
____
Hanamichi's voice echoes across the gym. He's standing half the time, fist-pumping, shouting instructions like he's still on the floor.
The coach laughing by his side as he see Hanamichi who can't sit still.
"HOHOHOHOO"
The other players on the bench being impacted by his energy , along with Mitsui's gang cheering behind them on the stands. Rukawa's cheering squad along with Hanamichi's cheering squad also cheering even tho Hanamichi is not playing.
Behind the bench, a group of girls in coordinated outfits hold up signs: "SA-KU-RA-GI #10"
They cheer loudly every time he's shown on the scoreboard or waves to the crowd.
Across the gym, the Rukawa squad is in full force—matching headbands, synchronized chants, and a banner that reads: "RUKAWA-SAMA L-O-V-E
Near the scorer's table, a smaller but passionate Mitsui cheering group—mostly upperclassmen—holds up signs like: "MITSUI: 3-POINT SNIPER"
Rukawa scores 10 straight points—fadeaways, drives, and a baseline reverse. His squad erupts in cheers, waving pom-poms.
Mitsui hits two threes off screens. His fans chant rhythmically: "Mi-tsu-i! Mi-tsu-i!"
Miyagi threads a no-look assist to Akagi for a dunk. Hanamichi stands and claps once, nodding.
Yohei makes a key steal and assists Mitsui for a transition three.
Coach Anzai sends in the bench. Noma, Okusu, Takamiya, and Yohei take the floor with Miyagi guiding.
Noma hits a corner three. Hanamichi smiles and gives a subtle thumbs-up. His cheering squad cheers anyway.
Okusu finishes through contact. Takamiya sets hard screens and scores on a putback.
Yohei controls pace, directing traffic and keeping the team composed.
Rukawa checks in briefly, scores two smooth buckets.
Mitsui hits his sixth three.
Miyagi finishes with a slick layup off a steal.
Yohei dribbles out the clock, calm and steady.
Final Score: Shohoku 108 – Ryokufu 62
As the buzzer sounds, Hanamichi, together with the bench stands and raises their fists to their teammates.
____________________
he buzzer echoed through the gym, sealing Shohoku's 108–62 victory. The crowd roared, but one section stood out—Hanamichi's cheering squad, packed with girls from his class, other second-year sections, and even a few first-years. They lined the railing near the tunnel, waving signs and towels:
"#10 – Sakuragi Hanamichi!" "Genius Power Forward!" "Sakuragi Squad – Shohoku's Pride!"
Hanamichi walked off the court.
"SA-KU-RA-GI! SA-KU-RA-GI!" The chant rolled like thunder. He raised a hand, not too high, just enough to acknowledge them.
Yohei jogged beside him, grinning. "You've got half the school in your corner."
Hanamichi smirked. "Not half. Just everyone who's got taste."
As they passed the tunnel, Rukawa's cheering squad—mostly girls from his class—held their own banner: "RUKAWA-SAMA! RUKAWA-SAMA!" They chanted in perfect rhythm, eyes locked on their silent ace.
Mitsui's cheering squad stood near the scorer's table. They weren't all students. They were burly men, ex-gangsters, and old street friends—some in leather jackets, others with shaved heads and visible scars. One had a toothpick. Another had a bandana tied like a headband.
They shouted in gravelly voices: "MITSUI! YOU'RE STILL THE MAN!" "THREE-POINT KING, BABY!"
Mitsui turned mid-step, eyes wide. "Why is it always you two with the girls?!"
Hanamichi didn't even look back. "Genius attracts genius."
Rukawa didn't respond. He just kept walking, deadpan.
Mitsui groaned, pointing at his own squad. "Can't I get one banner without a skull on it?!"
One of the burly men shouted, "We made you that towel with flames on it!"
Mitsui sighed. "That's not helping!"
Yohei laughed as they reached the locker room doors. "At least they're loyal."
Mitsui muttered, "Yeah, loyal and terrifying."
_______________________
Here. This is for @Black_Angel15
I promised you this chapter, so here it is.