"Bang!"
"Bang!"
"Bang!"
Sakuragi hammered home three thunderous dunks in a row, even though the scrimmage was only against Shohoku's substitute lineup.
On the sideline, Kogure tilted his head, puzzled. What's gotten into him? I've never seen Sakuragi so serious during practice.
Akagi didn't answer. Instead, his eyes narrowed, following another figure on the court—Rukawa Kaede, gliding past defenders with cold precision.
"I can't let Rukawa be the only one showing off," Akagi muttered under his breath.
But he was mistaken. Sakuragi's fire wasn't sparked by his eternal rival. No, his thoughts were locked on Morishige Hiroshi.
Ever since witnessing the giant's dominance, Sakuragi had sworn to send a message of his own. Charging forward, he squared up against a teammate… and promptly found himself sitting flat on the floor after a single bump.
"Sorry," Morishige said casually, already turning away to laugh with his teammates.
Sakuragi's jaw dropped. He didn't even notice me?!
Kiyota's laughter rang out mercilessly. "Nice one, Sakuragi! You're like a fly swatted off the court!"
Sakuragi's face turned crimson. He clenched his fists, but before he could explode, Maki walked over and whispered, "Tell Akagi to watch out for that rookie. He's dangerous."
"Hmph!" Sakuragi snorted. "A foul machine like him? He won't stand a chance against Gorilla!"
But inwardly, he vowed: Just you wait, Morishige Hiroshi. I'll humiliate you on the big stage!
On the other side of the gym, Rukawa sank a jumper over a double-team with effortless grace.
"Damn fox!" Sakuragi shouted. "Let me guard him!"
Soon, the showdown everyone dreaded was on.
Rukawa caught the ball, feinted, then exploded past Sakuragi. But the redhead's instincts and raw athleticism carried him back into the play.
"No way you're scoring!" Sakuragi roared, swinging his arm with all his strength.
The whistle pierced the gym.
"Beep! Shooting foul, basket counts, one free throw!" Mitsui, acting as referee, raised his arm.
"Damn it!" Sakuragi barked. Not only had he fouled, but Rukawa's layup had dropped.
Rukawa rubbed the welt on his arm, glaring. The imprint of Sakuragi's hand was still visible. For a moment, he wondered if the idiot had gone after him instead of the ball. But then he exhaled. No… as annoying as he is, he's not that cheap.
"Big idiot," he muttered instead.
Watching from the sidelines, Nango dribbled lazily, amused. "Those two really are destined rivals."
He hadn't joined the scrimmage. Akagi had asked him to train separately—if Nango played, the game would become too one-sided to be useful.
That was when Coach Anzai suddenly appeared at the gym entrance, flanked by two familiar faces.
"Akagi," the old coach called, "come here a moment."
Jogging over, Akagi was met by Aida Yayoi and Nakamura from Basketball Weekly.
"They'd like to interview the team," Anzai explained with a gentle smile.
Akagi bowed politely. "Of course. I'll arrange it."
Inside, though, he groaned. Another interview?
Yayoi, cheerful as ever, stepped forward. "Akagi-san, shall we start with you?"
A few polite questions later, she moved on. Akagi wasn't her real target.
Her eyes landed on Rukawa.
"Rukawa Kaede, how do you feel about being named Best Newcomer this year?" she asked, turning up her sweetest smile.
Rukawa gave her one cold glance. Then he turned and walked away without a word.
Yayoi's smile twitched. Did he just ignore me?
Nakamura sighed. "This kid really doesn't cooperate at all."
Inside, Yayoi was screaming: Damn brat! Are you saying this old lady isn't as good as the girls in your fan club?!
"Miss Reporter!" a loud voice suddenly boomed.
They both nearly jumped. Sakuragi had appeared out of nowhere, grinning ear to ear. "Don't worry about him! You can interview me all you like!"
The contrast couldn't have been starker—Rukawa's icy silence against Sakuragi's overeager enthusiasm.
"Then… Sakuragi, as another first-year, what do you think about Rukawa winning Best Newcomer, while Nango was named MVP?"
"It's rigged!" Sakuragi exploded instantly. "Nango I get—but Rukawa?! No way! The Best Newcomer should've gone to me, the Genius Sakuragi Hanamichi! Let me tell you—"
The reporters' faces went pale. If they printed a single word of this rant, they'd be hunted down by half of Japan's basketball community.
"Uh… thank you very much, Sakuragi," Yayoi interrupted, quickly pocketing her recorder. She gave Nakamura a sharp look. "Let's move on!"
"Eh? Wait, I'm not done yet! Ask me more!" Sakuragi shouted, chasing after them.
The pair practically bolted, making a beeline for Nango.
Nakamura wiped sweat from his brow. "One kid says nothing, the other says everything. It's insane."
Yayoi exhaled, dread filling her chest. Please, Nango, just cooperate. Otherwise we're finished.
Nakamura added dryly, "Don't forget, Miss Aida—you trashed him in your last report. If he read it, we might as well go home."
"…Crap."
For the first time, Aida Yayoi truly prayed.
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