Principal's Office, Todai High School.
Principal Murakami took a drag on his cigarette, watching his old friend Shinkawa with a helpless pout. "Still no one for your roster?"
Shinkawa let out a heavy sigh. "Not yet."
"Shinkawa-kun, you do realize you could coach any national team," Murakami reminded him. "Why are you so determined to build a club at a school that doesn't even have a proper gymnasium?"
Shinkawa stared into the distance. "I found a kid... a kid with a complicated family situation. A boy named Sora Kurumatani. His mother, Mihoko, was a former national team player. I made him a promise. If I don't recruit anyone else this year, we'll start again next year. But I'm not leaving."
Todai Outdoor Field.
Meanwhile, Ueno and Sora began their first impromptu training session. Ueno observed Sora's agility, struck by his short-range vision and technical skill despite his small stature.
"Sora... who else lives with you?" Ueno asked.
Sora's face darkened for a moment. "My mother and father. But my father runs a farm in Nagano, and my mother... she's hospitalized in Tokyo."
Sora turned abruptly toward the basket, a perfectly inflated basketball in his hand. Ueno knew he'd struck a nerve. He focused on his own shot. Nine out of ten. His accuracy was returning after his forced rest.
"Ueno..." Sora suddenly called out, his eyes shining. "Can you dunk?"
Ueno recalled his one and only dunk against the Miracles. He nodded. "We can try."
"That's awesome!" "Wow!" exclaimed Sora. "I know I'll never be able to fly that high. But I'll do everything I can to give you the best passes in Japan!"
"In that case, Sora-kun… I'll dunk for both of us."
With that promise, five figures entered the court. Miya Ryoichi (3rd year, Captain/PG), flanked by Murasame and Kimura Satoshi. Behind them, two second-year boys stepped forward.
"Hey… we finally have some new recruits this year?" Miya wondered, sizing Ueno up.
Kamijo Ichi (2nd year, SG) stopped dead in his tracks, staring at Ueno with growing confusion. He turned to Yoshimori Shin (2nd year, PF). "Shin… don't you think this giant looks familiar?"
Shin adjusted his glasses. His stony gaze fixed on Ueno. "Teikō's preliminary round last year. He's the one who scored against Aomine Daiki."
Kamijō jumped up in surprise, nearly tripping. "WHAT?! THE MONSTER WHO DEFYED MIRACLES IS IN OUR SCHOOL?!"
The seniors' indifference had just been shattered. Todai High School hadn't recruited just any player; they had just inherited a legend.