At the rooftop of Shohoku High School, Kanagawa Prefecture…
Su Xiaoqi looked at Sakuragi Hanamichi and the girl beside him, Akagi Haruko, with a smirk. "Sakuragi, what's this about?"
Sakuragi scratched the back of his head sheepishly. "Big Bro, let me introduce you—this is Haruko, the Gorilla's sister!"
Su Xiaoqi rolled his eyes. "I know who Haruko is. Get to the point."
Sakuragi blinked in confusion. "Wait, when did you meet Haruko? I didn't know—"
"Sakuragi!" Haruko tugged at his sleeve, then turned to Su Xiaoqi with a shy smile. "H-Hello, I'm Akagi Haruko… Sakuragi's girlfriend now. He talks about you all the time. Thank you for always taking care of him."
Sakuragi grinned, his face red. "Yeah, Big Bro! Haruko's my girl now!"
Su Xiaoqi chuckled. "Look at you, grinning like an idiot." He turned to Haruko. "Nice to meet you properly. I'm Su Xiaoqi. This knucklehead never mentioned you two were dating, so I didn't bring a proper gift. I'll make it up to you later."
Haruko waved her hands. "Oh, no need for that!"
"Nonsense. If you're calling me 'Big Bro,' it's only right. And if this idiot ever gives you trouble, I'll beat him up for you."
Haruko giggled. "Sakuragi's been really good to me. And… please don't blame him for telling me about the chat group."
Su Xiaoqi shook his head. "Of course not." He then shot Sakuragi a look. "You better treat her right, or else."
Sakuragi saluted dramatically. "Don't worry, Big Bro! I'll protect Haruko with my life!"
Watching the two, Su Xiaoqi couldn't help but feel a wave of nostalgia. This pair was the ultimate 'what-if' for so many fans. Seeing them together now… it's like fixing a childhood regret.
"Sakuragi, when are the others arriving?"
Sakuragi waved a hand. "Eh, the side characters can come tomorrow. With me and you here, who needs 'em?"
Haruko frowned. "Sakuragi! That's not nice!"
"Ah—right! Sorry, Haruko!"
Su Xiaoqi smirked. Even the most reckless guys turn into obedient puppies around their girlfriends.
"Big Bro, let me introduce my boys!" Sakuragi yelled toward the rooftop door. "Hey, idiots! Get your butts out here!"
The next second, the infamous Sakuragi Gang tumbled out, grumbling.
"Who you callin' an idiot, idiot?!"
"Yeah! Just 'cause you got Haruko now doesn't make you special!"
Mito Yohei stepped forward first, extending a hand. "Yo. I'm Mito Yohei. If Sakuragi calls you 'Big Bro,' then you're ours too."
Su Xiaoqi shook his hand. "Appreciate it."
Takamiya, Noma, and Nogami crowded around.
"Big Bro, do you know my name?"
"And mine!"
"And me!"
Su Xiaoqi grinned. "Of course. You're the legendary Etc. Trio of the Sakuragi Gang."
Sakuragi and Yohei burst out laughing, Haruko covered her mouth to hide her giggles, and the "Etc. Trio" immediately turned their rage on Sakuragi.
On the way to the gym…
Students bowed respectfully as Sakuragi passed, leaving Su Xiaoqi puzzled.
"Why's everyone treating you like some big shot?"
Yohei smirked. "Because this idiot beat up every delinquent in the area. Shohoku's now the safest school in Kanagawa."
"Though his grades are still dead last," Noma added.
Sakuragi fumed. "Shut up! Grades don't matter to a genius like me!"
Haruko smiled sweetly. "But Sakuragi, don't you want to go to the same college as me?"
Sakuragi immediately grabbed her hands. "Haruko! I'll study so hard! We'll never be apart!"
Haruko blushed. "I-I know! But let go, people are staring!"
At the gym…
The moment Su Xiaoqi and Sakuragi walked in, all eyes locked onto them—especially the Shohoku starting lineup: Rukawa Kaede, Akagi Takenori, Miyagi Ryota, and Mitsui Hisashi.
Miyagi whispered to Mitsui, "Dude… he's got a tail."
Mitsui nodded. "Yeah, but he looks way less scary than I imagined."
"What'd you think he'd look like?"
"…A gorilla."
Miyagi slowly inched away. If Sakuragi hears that, he's dead.
Akagi Takenori stepped forward. "Welcome. I'm the captain of Shohoku's basketball team. Glad to have you join us."
Su Xiaoqi nodded. "Thanks for having us." Then he shot Sakuragi a look. I thought you were the captain?
Sakuragi coughed. "Uh, technically the Gorilla's captain, but I'm the real boss."
Akagi's fist immediately crashed onto Sakuragi's head. "I TOLD YOU TO HAVE HARUKO HOME BY 8 PM LAST NIGHT!"
"OW! Damn Gorilla! Next time, she's staying at my place!"
"WHAT WAS THAT?!"
Su Xiaoqi stared blankly. Yeah… real 'boss' material here.
Then—Rukawa Kaede walked up, basketball in hand.
"Show me your skills."
Silence.
Everyone scrambled to the corners.
Sakuragi recovered first. "YOU DUMB FOX! YOU WANNA CHALLENGE MY BIG BRO? BEAT ME FIRST!"
WHAM! Akagi punched him again. "Rukawa just wants to learn. Go easy on him."
Su Xiaoqi's eye twitched. Oh, so this is how Sakuragi's been talking about me?
Ten minutes later, a bruised Sakuragi dangled from Su Xiaoqi's grip as he addressed the team:
"Sorry about this idiot. If he ever brags about me again, just punch him."
Sakuragi sniffled. "Big Bro… my reputation…"
The Sakuragi Gang howled with laughter. Haruko buried her face in her hands.
Su Xiaoqi turned to Rukawa. "I'm nowhere near your level skill-wise. Just… physically stronger. By a lot."
Rukawa nodded and turned to leave—
"Rukawa."
He paused.
"Do you love basketball?"
Rukawa didn't hesitate. "Basketball is my life."
Su Xiaoqi smiled and tossed him a card. "Then get stronger."
If Sakuragi's been learning moves from Kuroko no Basket, he's already ahead. But what's Slam Dunk without their rivalry?
Rukawa stared at the card—**[Aomine Daiki's Skills]**—then met Su Xiaoqi's gaze.
"I'll surpass him."