Chapter Twelve: Scouting Mission
Ryonan High School, First-Year Class Three.
"...So the derivation process for this auxiliary angle formula—you must understand its essence, not just memorize it by rote..."
Math teacher Sakamoto Nobuo adjusted his glasses, steadily explaining the intricacies of trigonometric functions. His gaze habitually swept across the back rows—students in sports clubs required his special attention, since those guys basically spent class time either dozing off or mentally checked out as "problem children."
Sure enough, those idiots from the baseball, volleyball, and soccer clubs already had their heads magnetically attached to their desks.
However, there was an exception. Sakamoto noticed one sports club member seemed different from those slackers.
Yagami Sorato sat in the back row by the window, eyes focused intently on the blackboard, occasionally jotting notes with the calm, contemplative expression of a model student.
Teacher Sakamoto nodded slightly to himself. Basketball club, plus one point. Yagami's existence felt like a refreshing breeze, filling him with relief.
Yagami was listening, just not seriously.
This was basic knowledge he'd learned in his previous life—a quick mental review let him grasp the gist. As for following the teacher's movements while taking notes? Please, that might as well be a fundamental skill for any Chinese student.
RING...
The break bell chimed. The classroom atmosphere instantly relaxed.
Yagami had barely closed his textbook when Kobayashi Ken from the front row spun around eagerly, elbows propped on Yagami's desk, eyes brimming with curiosity.
"Hey, hey, Yagami! I heard your basketball team has a super tall center? Uozumi Jun, right? They say he's over seven feet tall—is that true?" He gesticulated wildly as he spoke.
"Standing under the basket, wouldn't he be like a wall?" another classmate chimed in.
"Pretty much." Yagami leaned back slightly against his chair. "Uozumi-senpai's presence in the paint is definitely intimidating."
"Can he palm a basketball easily?"
"Not just basketballs—he could palm your head, one in each hand," Yagami quipped. "Want me to arrange an introduction?"
"N-no thanks..." Kobayashi laughed nervously, unconsciously touching his head.
"Have you seen Sendoh-senpai?" another student asked in a hushed voice. "I heard tons of girls secretly watch him practice—is that true?"
"Seems like it." Yagami recalled both Kise and Sendoh had impressive cheering sections during the practice game.
"Man, I should've joined the basketball team," Kobayashi sighed.
"Give it up. Basketball actually requires athletic ability," the guys teased each other.
At that moment, class representative Nakamura Mariko, who'd been seemingly chatting nearby but actually eavesdropping intently, cleared her throat softly. Her face reddened slightly, though she tried maintaining a serious tone. "Sendoh-senpai isn't just... good-looking. I heard his skills are also elite national level."
"Exactly, exactly." Her comment immediately drew quiet agreement from several nearby girls.
"Yagami, besides basketball, what are Sendoh-senpai's other hobbies?"
"Fishing."
"What?!"
"See! Real men should fish!" Kobayashi immediately changed his goals again.
"..." Yagami wanted to remind him that really wasn't the point.
---
Three-thirty in the afternoon. Ryonan High School's dismissal bell rang right on schedule.
Aside from a minority in the "go-home club," most students headed to their respective clubs.
Though today was basketball team's mandated weekly rest day, Yagami walked toward the gymnasium without hesitation. Before even getting close, he heard the familiar sound of basketballs pounding the floor and the sharp squeak of shoes against hardwood.
"These guys are fast!"
Inside, numerous team members were already running basic drills under Uozumi Jun's leadership. Yagami couldn't wait to join them.
"Hold on, Yagami."
"Hm?"
Coach Taoka stood courtside, arms crossed. "You're not participating in any practice today."
"Huh? Why not?"
"Physical recovery is as important as training. I don't want to see players getting injured from fatigue."
Seeing Yagami about to protest, Coach Taoka's tone softened slightly. "Same rule applies to Sendoh—and he happily ran off to fish at the river behind school."
"You should find something to do outside of training and games. It helps relieve fatigue and stress."
"Coach, playing basketball is my best stress relief," Yagami said seriously. "And I'm not tired at all!"
"No exceptions." Coach Taoka's tone brooked no argument. "And don't even think about playing at some outdoor court, or you'll sit on the bench the entire next game."
"That's not fair..."
Yagami faced the biggest crisis since his transmigration.
"Yagami, I've got a brilliant idea!" At that moment, Aida Hikoichi, who'd been organizing data nearby, suddenly looked up. "Since you can't practice, why not come scout Shohoku with me? I was just planning to research their super rookie Rukawa Kaede!"
Yagami glanced at the resolute Coach Taoka, then at the enthusiastic Aida Hikoichi, considering briefly.
Compared to wandering around aimlessly, checking out Shohoku actually didn't sound bad.
"That works." Coach Taoka approved the idea too. "Hikoichi, keep an eye on Yagami. Don't let him start conflicts with Shohoku's players."
"..." Yagami felt speechless. He only wanted to practice.
"Roger! Mission accepted!" Aida packed up his things. "Let's head out immediately!"
And so, on Ryonan basketball team's rest day, the rookie sensation who should have been resting, Yagami Sorato, along with the perpetually energetic intelligence officer Aida Hikoichi, embarked on their "scouting" mission to Shohoku High School.
"Shohoku's record last year was terrible—they couldn't participate in any major tournaments. But with Rukawa Kaede joining this year, they'll definitely be different..."
The entire journey, Aida briefed Yagami on Shohoku High School basketball team intel. What he didn't know was that his teammate understood Shohoku far better than Ryonan ever could.
Shohoku—the protagonist team in the original story. This year they'd defeat Ryonan and advance to nationals alongside Kainan, then in the Inter-High's second round, they'd topple last year's champions—Sannoh Industrial.
And the reason they could achieve all this was because—
BOOM!!!
By the time Yagami and Aida reached Shohoku's gymnasium, darkness had completely fallen. The instant they opened the door—
A crimson figure blazed through the air like a shooting star, exploding skyward from just inside the free-throw line. An explosive right hand gripped the basketball high overhead, then with almost barbaric force, hammered it viciously through the rim!
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