Haruko Akagi decides to keep Hanamichi Sakuragi; she wants to give him an explanation.

When he heard Haruko Akagi call his name, Hanamichi Sakuragi's lips curled up slightly, and a sly glint flashed in his eyes.

But when Sakuragi Hanamichi turned to look at Akagi Haruko, he looked puzzled. "Haruko, what's wrong?"

Haruko Akagi took a deep breath, quickly stepped forward, and grabbed Hanamichi Sakuragi's arm.

Then he forcibly pulled Sakuragi Hanamichi to Akagi Takenori's side.

Haruko Akagi looked at him seriously and said, "Brother, Hanamichi Sakuragi isn't a delinquent. I can vouch for that!"

Sakuragi Hanamichi immediately feigned being flattered, then said with great hesitation, "Oh, Haruko, don't let my situation affect your relationship with your brother. Haruko, I know you mean well, but you can't force things. Since the basketball team dislikes me, there's no need to force it. I think we should just let it go..."

Haruko Akagi first looked at Hanamichi Sakuragi and said softly, "Sakuragi, don't worry, it's alright."

Then she looked at Akagi Takenori and said firmly, "Brother, the basketball team is in dire need of players right now. Sakuragi Hanamichi is such an excellent and motivated person. Don't you really want him to join the basketball team? You could also have him make a promise, like Rukawa Kaede, that he won't get into fights in the future, wouldn't that be enough?"

Takenori Akagi frowned.

Undeniably, Haruko Akagi has a point.

But in Akagi Takenori's heart, Sakuragi Hanamichi still couldn't compare to Rukawa Kaede.

Rukawa Kaede is a true super rookie with exceptional basketball skills. For that reason alone, Akagi Takenori is willing to give Rukawa a chance.

As for Sakuragi Hanamichi, he is a notorious delinquent. Even if such a person behaves himself for a short time, he will most likely still cause trouble and do some messy things.

As for prodigal sons turning over a new leaf? Very few delinquent youths during their school years will actually do so!

Most importantly, Sakuragi Hanamichi has absolutely no basketball skills, so it's almost impossible for him to help the team win games in a short period of time.

Therefore, Takenori Akagi still harbors prejudice against Hanamichi Sakuragi and is unwilling to let Sakuragi join the basketball team.

But since his younger sister, Haruko Akagi, had put it this way, it didn't seem like he could refuse!

Akagi Takenori was caught in a dilemma and didn't know how to answer for a moment.

Kogure Kiminobu, as Akagi Takenori's long-time partner, saw right through Akagi Takenori's thoughts.

Kogure Kiminobu answered on behalf of Akagi Takenori: "Haruko, you're right. The basketball team is indeed in need of players right now. If Sakuragi Hanamichi is really as you say, then I think he definitely deserves to join the basketball team, and we would welcome him very much."

After saying that, Kogure Kiminobu looked at Akagi Takenori and asked, "Akagi, what do you think?"

Akagi Takenori said in a deep voice, "Yes, provided that he has the ability."

Judging from this, it seems that Sakuragi Hanamichi is about to be given an assessment.

Once Sakuragi Hanamichi realized this, he didn't bother to dwell on it too much and decided to focus on passing the test and joining the basketball team first.

Even Sakuragi Hanamichi, a complete novice in basketball in anime, managed to gain everyone's recognition step by step. Now that my head is full of basketball knowledge, I'm sure I'll improve faster than him!

I will conquer you with my strength!

But then Kiminobu Kogure said, "It's like this, because our basketball team has a lot of things to do today, and we were delayed quite a bit earlier, so we might not have time to arrange an assessment for Sakuragi today. How about we talk about this tomorrow?"

This statement seems reasonable at first glance, but it was actually a deliberate attempt to intimidate Sakuragi Hanamichi.

We're just going to delay you, Sakuragi Hanamichi. If you want to join the basketball team, you have to follow orders!

The cunning Sakuragi Hanamichi immediately understood Kogure Kiminobu's intention. He said with a smile, "Kogure-senpai, as far as I know, the new recruit assessment won't take up more than a few minutes. Besides, aren't all these new recruits going to take the assessment today? I can just take the assessment with them, right?"

Sakuragi Hanamichi pointed at Rukawa Kaede and the others.

Kogure Kiminobu thought to himself that Sakuragi Hanamichi was indeed a troublemaker, and his impression of Sakuragi Hanamichi dropped even further. However, he still smiled and said, "Sakuragi-kun, those other students arrived earlier than you, so they will definitely be given priority in the assessment and training. I was worried that you would have to wait too long, so I wanted you to come back tomorrow. Of course, if you are willing to wait, you can also train on your own in this half of the court first."

As expected of Kogure Kiminobu, he portrayed his actions of hindering Sakuragi Hanamichi as being for Sakuragi Hanamichi's benefit.

In that instant, Sakuragi Hanamichi seemed to have returned to his original world.

There are always some people in that world who do heinous things, but claim it's for your own good. If you obey, all is well; if you don't, they'll come and destroy you, this monster, with their light!

Thinking of this, Sakuragi Hanamichi gave a self-deprecating smile and began to feel indignant on behalf of Kogure Kiminobu. Kogure Kiminobu wasn't actually that bad. Before knowing what kind of person Sakuragi Hanamichi really was, it was completely understandable for him to use some tricks. Why did he inexplicably associate this with those hypocritical trash from another world?

Perhaps this is why, after experiencing extremely painful things, many people and things that you once thought would overwhelm you no longer seem like much.

After you've fought a fierce battle with a group of hypocritical imposters, you'll find that many people aren't actually as bad as you imagined.

Sakuragi Hanamichi didn't continue arguing with Kogure Kiminobu. Instead, he picked up a basketball and walked towards the half of the court where no one was using it.

With the leader gone, Mito Yohei and the others naturally followed Sakuragi Hanamichi toward the basketball half of the court.

Seeing that the situation had eased and was developing in a positive direction, Haruko Akagi happily followed Sakuragi Hanamichi and said with a smile, "Sakuragi, this is actually good. You can practice on your own today, and your performance tomorrow will definitely be even better."

Sakuragi Hanamichi smiled and replied to Akagi Haruko, "Yes, that's what I think too."

That's the truth. He really wants to train hard now and use every available moment to train!

Holding the basketball in his hand, looking at his buddies like Yohei Mito and Haruko Akagi, who would soon become his woman, Sakuragi Hanamichi couldn't help but sigh, "This is the feeling of youth!"

I still remember the first time I played basketball with my classmates in junior high school, I was so excited!

I dream of playing basketball!

After school, I played basketball with my classmates. When I got home, I practiced dribbling between my legs while half-squatting in my room, and then I did 50 push-ups and 50 squats.

The walls are covered with basketball posters!

Tireless, fearless of difficulties, bravely charging forward!

That was my youth!