Chapter Fourteen: Ryonan vs Shohoku
"Rukawa Kaede?"
Aida Hikoichi only now realized someone had appeared beside him.
"So that's Rukawa Kaede?!"
Indeed, compared to Sakuragi Hanamichi, this person radiated the aura of a true basketball player!
"Damn fox, what are you butting in for!" Sakuragi said irritably.
"To watch you get played like an idiot," Rukawa shot back bluntly, his flat tone carrying maximum lethality.
Just as sparks were about to fly between them, Yagami interjected with a smile. "Sakuragi-san is actually quite strong."
Yagami's tone was sincere, as if he weren't the person who'd just demolished Sakuragi 3-0.
"His defense really put a lot of pressure on me."
"???"
Rukawa's eyes widened slightly, looking at Yagami as if he were incomprehensible—his expression seemed to say, do you even believe that nonsense yourself?
However, Sakuragi—who'd been glaring daggers at Yagami moments ago—visibly deflated after hearing this "high praise." His anger meter emptied completely, and his mouth even began curving upward uncontrollably, clearly eating it up.
"Hmph! Unlike the damn fox, you've got good judgment!" Sakuragi crossed his arms.
"Total idiot," Rukawa said dismissively.
"WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?!" A booming roar echoed from the gymnasium entrance.
Sakuragi turned around. "Why's the gorilla here too?"
After arriving home, Akagi Takenori had felt restless and decided to come teach Sakuragi some rebounding techniques. He just hadn't expected the gym to still be this "lively" at this hour—especially with two unfamiliar faces present.
"A-Akagi-senpai?" Aida could confirm he wouldn't mistake this person—that tall, powerful build and distinctively resolute features could only belong to Shohoku's captain, Akagi Takenori!
"Who are you two?" Akagi's gaze swept across Aida and Yagami as he asked gravely.
"We're first-year students from Ryonan. I'm Aida Hikoichi, and this is Yagami Sorato," Aida quickly answered. "Since Ryonan and Shohoku have a practice game next week, we..."
"So you came to scout us." Akagi directly called out their purpose, then paused before continuing, "I heard from Coach Anzai about the practice game. We look forward to playing you then."
Aida breathed a sigh of relief. At least Akagi wasn't as terrifying as he'd imagined.
At that moment, however, Yagami stepped forward, speaking calmly. "Akagi-senpai, I just arranged a one-on-one with Rukawa. Could you referee for us?"
"Hm?" Akagi's brow furrowed as his gaze locked onto Yagami.
"Yagami!" Aida hadn't expected him to still be thinking about the matchup.
The atmosphere grew tense again.
"It's already late today," Akagi finally said gravely, flatly rejecting the proposal. "Save your competition for the practice game."
His gaze swept across the silent Sakuragi and Rukawa. His instincts told him something had already happened.
"Also, tell Uozumi and Sendoh—"
"This year's Shohoku is completely different from last year."
---
A week passed in the blink of an eye. The day of Ryonan and Shohoku's practice game had arrived.
Inside Ryonan's gymnasium, team members ran through basic drills, the air thick with pre-game tension and excitement.
"GOOD MORNING EVERYONE!"
An exceptionally loud, almost reckless greeting suddenly shattered the gym's atmosphere. Ryonan's players stopped what they were doing, all turning toward the entrance in unison.
Shohoku had arrived.
"It's Shohoku." "Look, that's Akagi—he really is as tall as they say..."
"Is that Rukawa Kaede? He looks so aloof..."
"Why's there a red-haired guy? Is he a player too?"
"Hikoichi mentioned him before—that Sakuragi Hanamichi, right?"
Amid the murmurs, Sakuragi had already pushed his way to the front, one hand on his hip, pointing triumphantly at the Ryonan lineup. "Ha ha ha... Yagami! And that Sendoh guy! This genius Sakuragi Hanamichi is here to defeat you today!"
"IDIOT! Didn't I tell you to mind your manners?!" Akagi's temple throbbed with a visible vein as he delivered a merciless iron fist to Sakuragi's skull.
"Coach Anzai!" On the other side, Coach Taoka hurried forward, his tone extremely respectful. "I'm so sorry to have you travel all this way!"
"Not at all, not at all. It's quite close." Anzai Mitsuyoshi chuckled warmly, his round chin bouncing with his laughter.
"We really should have come to you—that would be proper etiquette..."
Observing from the side, Yagami's gaze fell on Coach Anzai. "So that's the 'White-Haired Buddha.' Seeing him in person, he seems even more kind and gentle."
His thoughts drifted momentarily. "I'm jealous of Sakuragi. Coach Anzai's chin must be really bouncy to touch."
After the coaches finished their pleasantries, Akagi Takenori politely approached Coach Taoka and bowed. "I'm Shohoku's captain, Akagi Takenori. Please take care of us."
"Ah, Akagi-kun, please take care of us as well." Coach Taoka gripped his hand firmly, his tone carrying undisguised admiration. "Our Uozumi has been aiming to defeat you all this time. We're counting on you."
"I will." Akagi nodded, then extended his hand to Uozumi Jun. "Please take care of us."
Uozumi didn't extend his hand, saying only, "I'm going to win."
"Hmph. Big words."
"Yagami, I've been completely reborn!" Sakuragi sidled up to Yagami. "Just wait for me to teach you all a lesson today!"
"Heh heh, that might be pretty difficult," Yagami smiled. "By the way, will Coach Anzai even let you play?"
"!!!"
Yagami's question hit the bullseye. Sakuragi's expression grew troubled. After a moment, he said, "I'll definitely play! It's just... it might be a bit later."
"After all, I'm Shohoku's secret weapon!"
"Oh, I see." Yagami didn't call him out on it. "Then let's face off when you get in the game."
Sakuragi nodded. Just as he turned to rejoin his team, he suddenly remembered something. "By the way, which one is your ace, that Sendoh guy?"
Hearing this conversation, Akagi also asked, "Sendoh's not here today?"
"Oh, Sendoh-senpai should arrive soon," Yagami said thoughtfully. "Though I'd honestly prefer if he didn't come today."
"Huh? Why?"
Sakuragi couldn't help wondering—did their team have internal conflicts too?
"Well, with me here, Ryonan can easily beat Shohoku," Yagami flashed a brilliant smile. "If Sendoh-senpai plays too, the game would be way too boring."
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