Inside the basketball court, Sakuragi Hanamichi, who had already realized his own problems, once again engaged in a rebounding contest with Akagi Takenori under the basket.

"Sakuragi Hanamichi, yes, that's right, you're in a great position!"

Akagi Takenori held a basketball in his hand, competing against Sakuragi Hanamichi while commenting on Sakuragi Hanamichi's moves.

Then, Takenori Akagi slammed the basketball against the backboard.

The basketball bounced back.

They both jumped at the same time!

With a "smack"!

A pair of large hands gripped the basketball.

This time it's Sakuragi Hanamichi!

We finally got the rebound!

After landing, Sakuragi Hanamichi's tense facial expression finally relaxed, and he looked at Akagi Takenori with a bright and cheerful expression.

Akagi Takenori said with a smile, "Well, Sakuragi Hanamichi, you're pretty good. I didn't expect you to be able to change your mindset and grab the rebound so well in such a short time."

Sakuragi Hanamichi dribbled the basketball once on the spot, revealing a happy smile.

Just then, Coach Anzai appeared on the basketball court.

Coach Anzai clapped his hands and smiled his signature smile, saying, "Not bad, not bad, Sakuragi Hanamichi, you are indeed very good."

"Coach Anzai, why are you back again?" Sakuragi Hanamichi asked in surprise.

Takenori Akagi answered for Coach Anzai: "Actually, Coach Anzai asked me to arrange separate training for you."

"Huh? Is that so?" Sakuragi Hanamichi looked at Coach Anzai in disbelief.

Coach Anzai said with a smile, "Sakuragi Hanamichi, I knew I hadn't misjudged you. I didn't expect you to master the rebounding technique so quickly."

Sakuragi Hanamichi awkwardly scratched his head.

What's this all about?

I always thought the area under the basket was my domain.

I never imagined I'd been indulging in self-pity all along.

Coach Anzai then said, "Next, we'll be having a practice match against Ryonan Basketball Team, but I don't plan to start you."

Sakuragi Hanamichi frowned.

Because he clearly remembered that he wasn't scheduled to start in the anime, and the character Sakuragi Hanamichi even got into a fight with Akagi Takenori over it.

Not only that, Sakuragi Hanamichi didn't even get a proper basketball uniform; instead, someone else stuck tape on his clothes and made a number out of the tape.

It's incredibly humiliating just thinking about it!

They're really underestimating geniuses!

But he didn't expect Coach Anzai to come and talk about this in person. "Coach Anzai, what do you mean by that?"

Coach Anzai said, "This year, the Shohoku basketball team not only has the addition of the super rookie Rukawa Kaede, but also you, a genius beginner with amazing physical abilities. With the two of you, the strength of the Shohoku team has obviously improved a lot. After a while, Miyagi Ryota should also be able to rejoin the team. At that time, the overall strength of the Shohoku team will be improved even further."

At this point, Coach Anzai changed the subject, "However, even when Miyagi Ryota returns, Shohoku's overall strength will still be far behind that of a strong team like Hainan. Therefore, Sakuragi Hanamichi, you must improve your basketball skills as soon as possible."

Sakuragi Hanamichi immediately said decisively, "Coach Anzai, don't worry, I will definitely give you a surprise."

If Sakuragi Hanamichi from the anime could help Shohoku High School make it to the national tournament, then of course I can too!

Coach Anzai nodded in satisfaction.

However, Sakuragi Hanamichi asked in confusion, "But what does this have to do with me not being able to start?"

At this moment, a glint seemed to flash in Coach Anzai's eyes, and he said with a smile, "I want to use you as Shohoku's secret weapon, to play your role in crucial moments."

Upon hearing this, Sakuragi Hanamichi was startled.

Wow! This is kind of similar to my idea of ​​pretending to be weak while actually being strong!

Coach Anzai, isn't this just telling me to work hard quietly and then amaze everyone?

Sakuragi Hanamichi's face immediately lit up with a smile, and he said, "Hahaha, I understand, I understand. Don't worry, I won't complain about not being in the starting lineup for the practice match against Ryonan."

Akagi Takenori walked over, patted Sakuragi Hanamichi on the shoulder, and said with satisfaction, "I'm glad you thought of that."

Sakuragi Hanamichi looked strange. Well, so it's because I wasn't assigned to play in the first team practice match, and then I took the initiative to cause trouble, so the gorilla thinks I'm a troublemaker and a person who's being unreasonable.

You underestimate me, gorilla!

Wait, there's something very important!

Sakuragi Hanamichi hurriedly said, "That's right! The number 10 jersey! I want the number 10 jersey!"

Coach Anzai laughed and said, "It's nothing, you can keep the number 10 jersey."

...

Although Aida Hikoichi is a bench player for Ryonan, he is not actually a spy.

His sister is a famous basketball reporter, and under her influence, he also likes to collect information about the core players of each basketball team, nothing more.

Faced with the torture and forced confession by Mito Yohei and others, Aida Hikoichi was completely dumbfounded.

"Brothers, brothers, I really don't mean any harm. I just want to see the brilliance of Shohoku's core players, Takenori Akagi and Kaede Rukawa... My dream is really to become a basketball reporter, just like my sister. Oh, by the way, my sister is Yayoi Aida, a reporter for Weekly Basketball..."

Aida Hikoichi wished he could tell Mito Yohei and the others the names of all the girls he had grown up with, for fear of being beaten up!

"Your sister is a reporter for Weekly Basketball? Aida Yayoi?" Mito Yohei asked in return.

Aida Hikoichi nodded hurriedly and said, "Yes, yes, yes, a senior reporter, a senior reporter."

Takamiya Nozomi suddenly revealed a lewd expression and said, "Yohei, what? Do you know this kid's sister?"

Mito Yohei rolled his eyes at Takamiya Momo and said, "I was just thinking that if Ichiban got a story on it, he could brag about it for a long time."

Takamiya Nozomi was taken aback, then said, "Then why doesn't he just take off from where he is?"

Oonan Yuji laughed and said, "You know what, if Hanamichi becomes a news figure, we brothers will also have face."

Noma Chuichiro nodded and said, "Yes, yes!"

Yohei Mito smiled, then gestured for Nozomi Takamiya and Yuji Oonan to release Hikoichi Aida.

Then, Yohei Mito smiled and put his arm around Hikoichi Aida's shoulder. "Besides Takenori Akagi and Kaede Rukawa, we also have a genius basketball player on our side. Are you interested in looking up his information? He's really good. He's the kind of man who will dominate the national tournament in the future."

Upon hearing this, Aida Hikoichi immediately became interested and excitedly asked, "I never expected that the Shohoku team would have such a formidable figure that I've never heard of! I must go and pay him a visit!"

Yohei Mito said happily, "Haha, you'll definitely find this trip worthwhile."