The Next Day
Under the official announcement of Coach Taoka Moichi, Ake was appointed as the new captain of the Ryonan basketball team.
The entire gym fell silent—no one objected.
Koshino Hiroaki and Ikegami Ryoji, who had previously questioned the sudden change in leadership, were speechless after witnessing Ake's duel with Uozumi the day before.
Even Uekusa Tomoyuki, who had firmly supported Uozumi until the end, now quietly lowered his head in acceptance.
After all, even Uozumi himself had willingly stepped down. What right did anyone else have to oppose it?
Sendoh couldn't help but feel amazed.
"This guy… he's only been on the team for two days, right?" he thought.
Yet somehow, he had already become captain.
Although Sendoh had a hunch something like this might happen, the sheer speed of it still caught him off guard.
The freshmen, on the other hand, were filled not just with awe, but admiration.
A freshman captain—such a thing was unheard of.
If word got out, it would probably shake not only Kanagawa but the entire national high school basketball scene.
From that day forward, Ake quietly began implementing a series of small but meaningful reforms within the team.
Ryonan's starting lineup was already well established, so he didn't make any drastic changes. Instead, he proposed detailed, precise adjustments to each player's training routine.
At first, most players were skeptical.
But within just a few days, they realized Ake's suggestions fit them perfectly—whether it was fixing technical flaws or optimizing physical conditioning, his insights were sharp and accurate.
The results were immediate.
Gradually, everyone's skills began to improve, and their doubts toward Ake turned into trust—and even gratitude.
However, one thing remained unchanged.
Ake continued to enforce the same iron rule from his middle school days:
"The capable advance; the weak retreat."
Anyone lacking strength, regardless of grade, would remain a substitute.
Coach Taoka Moichi didn't object.
By appointing Ake as captain, he had already entrusted him with full authority. As long as Ake didn't go too far, he had no reason to interfere.
If Ake made a mistake, Coach Taoka would simply step in when necessary.
Later That Day – Ryonan Basketball Gym
Coach Taoka Moichi stood before the gathered players, his expression solemn.
"In one week," he announced, "we'll have a practice match against Shohoku High."
The room stirred slightly, but he continued in a calm, deliberate tone.
"Their captain, Takenori Akagi, is the top center in Kanagawa. His strength should not be underestimated. Moreover, they've brought in a super freshman this year—Rukawa Kaede."
His voice deepened, carrying weight.
"Shohoku is no longer a one-man team. You must take this seriously and never underestimate them."
"Yes, Coach!" everyone responded in unison, their energy reignited.
Coach Taoka nodded with satisfaction.
"Good. Continue training!"
At his command, the players returned to practice, though their conversations quickly shifted toward the upcoming game against Shohoku.
"A practice match with Shohoku, huh…" Aida Hikoichi muttered, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes.
He decided he'd take a trip to Shohoku soon to gather some intel.
It was his assigned role—Ryonan's unofficial information scout.
Though he wasn't particularly strong and lacked height, his sister, Aida Yayoi, worked as a sports reporter. Growing up around her line of work had sharpened his sense for data and observation. Surprisingly, he had a real knack for analysis.
Ake had approved his position.
After all, it wasn't like the captain himself could go snooping around other schools.
Hikoichi wasn't exactly a genius like Satsuki Momoi from Kuroko's Basketball, but he was good enough. Even if his reports weren't perfect, having some intel was always better than none.
"Sohoku, huh…" Koshino Hiroaki sneered. "Aren't they the team that got knocked out in the first round last year? They're not even ranked in Kanagawa."
Ikegami Ryoji smirked. "The only real threat there is their captain, Takenori Akagi. The rest aren't even worth mentioning."
"Don't get careless."
A calm but sharp voice cut through their chatter.
It was Ake.
His tone was even, his gaze unshaken—yet his words carried an invisible weight that made both Koshino and Ikegami instinctively straighten their backs.
Ever since he became captain, Ake's presence had grown sharper, heavier—his very words seemed to press down on those around him.
Their respect for him wasn't born from seniority, but from power—and leadership.
Ake's eyes swept over the two players as he spoke quietly.
"On the court, anything can happen. Even a lion uses its full strength to catch a rabbit. There have always been cases where the weak triumph over the strong."
"Well said," Coach Taoka interjected with a satisfied nod, approval shining in his eyes.
"Shohoku may not have been strong in the past, but we can't underestimate them. We'll defeat them with everything we have. Our goal is the National Tournament."
Off to the side, Sendoh sighed softly, a faint, helpless smile on his face.
"As expected… with him as captain, I won't be having many easy days from now on."
Meanwhile – Shohoku High School Basketball Gym
"Gather up!"
A loud, commanding voice echoed across the court.
The man speaking stood nearly two meters tall, his skin tanned, his face stern and chiseled like stone. His steady demeanor exuded the calm strength of a mountain.
He was Shohoku's captain—Takenori Akagi.
At his call, the players immediately stopped their drills and sprinted to the center of the court, forming a straight line with disciplined precision.
That alone spoke volumes about Akagi's authority.
Looking around, Shohoku's roster didn't appear particularly tall—most players were of average height.
But two individuals stood out.
One was a black-haired freshman nearing 190 cm, with cold, sharp eyes that seemed to care for nothing around him.
He was the super freshman Coach Taoka had mentioned—Rukawa Kaede.
The other was a red-haired boy beside him, roughly the same height, his arrogant smirk betraying a restless, provocative nature. His eyes darted around, full of mischief and challenge.
That was Sakuragi Hanamichi, another freshman who had just joined Shohoku this year.
Aside from them, the rest of the team looked relatively ordinary:
Kogure Kiminobu, a calm and dependable third-year.
Yasuharu Yasuda, Tetsushi Shiozaki, and Kakuta Satoru, all second-years.
And freshmen Kentaro Ishii, Satoshi Sasaoka, and Toki Kuwata.
Standing before them was an elderly man with white hair, a round face, and a gentle demeanor.
He was Shohoku's coach—Mitsuyoshi Anzai.
"I've gathered you all today to talk about our next practice match," he began in his mild, steady voice. "Our opponent is Ryonan High School. The match is scheduled for one week from now."
The words hit like a shockwave.
"Ryonan?!" Yasuharu Yasuda blurted out, his face pale.
Kogure looked equally tense. "We're playing against them—last year's Kanagawa top four?!"
Kakuta wiped sweat from his forehead. "Are we… seriously going up against a team that strong?"
Shiozaki swallowed hard. "I heard Ryonan's Sendoh is a monster…"
The moment the name "Ryonan" was mentioned, anxiety rippled through the older players, spreading quickly to the freshmen. Soon, the entire team looked uneasy.
All except for two.
Rukawa Kaede—who simply didn't care. Strength or reputation meant nothing to him.
And Sakuragi Hanamichi—who didn't know enough to be afraid.
"Ryonan? Never heard of them," he muttered. "And who's this Sendoh guy? Some local nobody?"
He looked utterly lost.
The announcement had come suddenly, giving them no time to prepare.
After breaking the news, Coach Anzai didn't elaborate further. Instead, he called for an intra-squad scrimmage.
He wanted to see with his own eyes how strong this new Shohoku team truly was.
Moments later, the whistle blew.
Shohoku High's intra-squad match officially began…