The elderly man stepped into the gymnasium and casually found a chair to sit on. Then, in a calm yet commanding voice, he called for Akagi.
Hearing the voice, the ever-restless Sakuragi Hanamichi squinted his eyes, tossed the ball aside, and smirked. An opportunity to slack off had just presented itself.
In a flash, he darted over to the old man's side. "Hey, old man, this isn't a place for you. If you get hurt here, that'd be a problem."
He grabbed the man by the arms and started escorting him toward the doors.
The upperclassmen froze, their expressions stiff with shock.
"Sakuragi Hanamichi!!" But held back by Sakuragi's infamous reputation, they could only watch helplessly at his outrageous behavior.
Completely oblivious, Sakuragi continued until—
BAM!
A heavy fist crashed down on his head. "Idiot! Take your dirty hands off him!"
Akagi's face was crimson with rage, steam practically billowing out of him like a boiler. It was obvious he was furious beyond words.
"Argh! You damn gorilla, what do you think you're doing?!" Sakuragi yanked the old man aside, glaring furiously back at Akagi.
"You fool—that's Coach Anzai!"
Akagi's fist came down again, another solid blow to Sakuragi's skull. Even someone as tough as Hanamichi couldn't withstand two direct hits from the captain gorilla.
He collapsed onto the floor, clutching his aching head and groaning. "Damn gorilla…" he muttered under his breath.
Before the situation could escalate further, Kogure hurried over, pulling Sakuragi away and quickly explaining the elderly man's identity.
With the troublemaker subdued, Akagi rushed to the coach's side and bowed deeply, his tone filled with respect. "Coach Anzai, I apologize. Please forgive his ignorance."
The white-haired old man simply chuckled, his voice soft and leisurely. "Hohoho… Akagi, no need to worry. If anything, it shows this year's freshmen are full of energy."
Akagi blushed with embarrassment and bowed again, apologizing sincerely.
From the sidelines, Shouya watched the whole comedic scene unfold. That old man was none other than the famous Coach Anzai, nicknamed the White-Haired Devil, and the current head coach of Shohoku's basketball team.
"Everyone, gather up!!"
Akagi's booming roar thundered across the gym. In an instant, the players lined up in two rows, backs straight.
"Coach Anzai!!" they greeted in unison, voices strong and sharp.
"Hohoho… not bad, not bad. I see many new faces this year." Coach Anzai's eyes swept over the gathered players.
When his gaze fell on Shouya, his brows knit slightly. Unlike the others, Shouya's eyes carried no fear—only pure fighting spirit. Something about it felt oddly familiar.
After surveying the team, only three newcomers caught his attention. The first was the boundlessly energetic Sakuragi Hanamichi. The second, the highly anticipated Super Rookie, Rukawa Kaede. The third, unremarkable at first glance—Tatsuhiko Shouya.
"I came here today to make an announcement." Coach Anzai's calm voice carried to every corner of the gym. "In one week, Shohoku will play a practice match against Ryonan High."
The moment the name Ryonan was spoken, the upperclassmen stiffened. A heavy pressure filled the air.
Ryonan High—the powerhouse that finished in the top four of Kanagawa last year. Led by their ace, Sendoh Akira, they had crushed Shohoku by a wide margin. It was a bitter memory that weighed heavily on every returning player.
Shohoku was known as an easy one-and-done team in tournaments. It wasn't that Akagi lacked strength, but the rest of the roster had always been a burden. Shame forced them to bow their heads.
"That's all I needed to say." Coach Anzai's smile returned. "Since everyone is here, let's have a game: first-years against the upperclassmen. I want to see what kind of strength our freshmen possess. Hohoho…"
Excitement rippled through the gym.
"Understood!" Akagi immediately began selecting players.
The moment he announced the lineup, Shouya stepped forward without hesitation. His blood burned with anticipation. With the skills he'd gained, he was eager to test himself.
"Tatsuhiko? Is your body really up for this?" Akagi asked, frowning.
"Yes. I have no issues now," Shouya answered firmly.
Though Akagi hadn't yet seen him in actual play, he had noticed Shouya's solid ball-handling earlier. Curious about his true ability, he agreed to let him join.
But before long—
"Gorilla! If even that rookie gets to play, then of course a genius like me should be on the court too!" Sakuragi shouted, puffing up his chest. "Rukawa, sit this one out! Watch how I shine!"
Strutting proudly, he headed for center court—only to be lifted off the ground like a kitten by the back of his jersey.
"You're going back to basics," Akagi growled, expression cold and merciless.
Sakuragi's protest died in his throat. He sulked back toward Ayako, grumbling in defeat. His eyes then fell on Rukawa, filled with jealousy and irritation.
Rukawa didn't even spare him a glance. "Idiot," he muttered flatly before stepping onto the court.
The players took their positions. The first-years versus the upperclassmen—about to begin!