August 23rd.
The heat was still strong, but no longer unbearable.
Yohei gripped the handlebars and shouted in frustration:
"Can't you three just get off and walk?! At this rate we're all going to be late!"
"Takamiya! Did you hear him?! Get off already!"
Okusu yelled while lying on top of Noma's back.
He even smacked Takamiya's head over Noma's shoulder.
"Stop moving!" Noma complained. "If you fall, I'm not responsible!"
Takamiya squatted stubbornly on the rear platform.
"No! We're almost late! If we die, we die together!"
"You idiot!"
The three argued endlessly but no one got down.
The overloaded scooter crawled toward school at a tragic speed.
"Huh? Look ahead!"
Okusu suddenly shouted.
"Aren't those Nango and Kano?"
They looked forward.
At the traffic light were two nearly identical scooters — except that one only carried two passengers.
Nango and Kano.
Takamiya rubbed his chin in confusion.
"Doesn't Kano go to a different school?"
"Idiot!" Okusu snapped. "Look carefully she's wearing our uniform! She transferred here!"
Noma blinked.
"Seriously? Isn't Ryokufu High a prestigious private school? Why would she come here?"
Okusu answered instantly:
"Isn't it obvious? For Nango!"
"Let's catch up and say hi! Hold tight I'm speeding up!"
Yohei twisted the throttle.
"WAAAAH!!"
The rear wheel screeched loudly.
The speed… barely changed.
"…You sped up?" Noma asked softly.
Yohei frowned.
"One of you get off."
"Takamiya! Did you hear that?" Okusu smacked him again.
At that moment, the light turned green.
Nango accelerated smoothly and rode away.
Yohei and the others could only watch helplessly as the distance grew larger… and larger…
Until the pair disappeared.
Classroom
"Please introduce yourself."
"Okay."
Kano wrote her name on the blackboard, turned around, and smiled.
"Hello everyone. My name is Kano. Please take care of me."
Unlike most transfer students, she showed no nervousness at all calm posture, confident tone, and a gentle smile.
Instantly, the classroom buzzed.
"She's beautiful… totally my type!"
"Give up," another boy said. "She's Nango's girlfriend."
"What?!"
"I saw them holding hands this morning."
"…I've been rejected before even confessing…"
The teacher pointed to a seat.
"Kikuharu, you may sit behind Akagi Haruko."
Although she couldn't be in the same class as Nango, being classmates with Haruko at least made things easier.
After a brilliant summer, the Shohoku basketball team finally reunited.
The principal spent several minutes praising them during the opening ceremony.
Captain Akagi and vice-captain Kogure even went on stage to present the national championship trophy, receiving thunderous applause far grander than the prefectural championship.
At the gym entrance:
"We're here to interview! Why are you kicking us out?!"
"We just want to watch practice!"
Ayako blocked the doorway with arms crossed, facing reporter Mari Kawai and the crowd.
"Interviews and observation are fine but the team has something to discuss first. Please wait."
She closed the door behind her.
Akagi nodded.
"Thanks for the hard work."
Ayako smiled and stood beside him and Kogure.
"Before practice, we have three important announcements."
"No way…"
"Wait, what?!"
The first announcement:
Captain Akagi Takenori and Vice-Captain Kogure Kiminobu are retiring to focus on college entrance exams.
Everyone was stunned.
Kogure's decision was understandable.
Akagi's was shocking.
They had just won the national championship.
They were strong enough to win the Winter Cup.
He even had a recommendation from Fukazawa Sports University.
Yet he still chose to retire.
Not because he disliked basketball.
Because he wanted to challenge himself academically.
Akagi was not only the team captain he was also a top student.
He wanted to see how far his studies could take him.
This was something the problem-child group absolutely could not comprehend.
Exams alone already terrified them.
Akagi turned to Mitsui and Miyagi.
"The team… is yours now."
Second announcement:
Captain — Mitsui Hisashi
Vice-Captain — Miyagi Ryota
Mitsui wanted to refuse, but Miyagi, as a second-year, lacked authority. For team stability, he accepted.
After the explanation, Nango suddenly asked:
"Senpai… what if you get into the University of Tokyo?"
Akagi froze.
He had never seriously imagined it.
His grades were good… but Tokyo University?
…But what if?
He immediately fell into deep contemplation.
Kogure laughed and patted his back.
"Stop dreaming and finish the last announcement."
Akagi snapped out of it.
He nodded firmly.
"Although we achieved our goal this summer… the Winter Tournament still awaits us. Therefore, our objective remains—"
Before he could finish, the team shouted together:
"Dominate the nation!"