Kiminobu Kogure, vice-captain of the Shohoku basketball team.
He wears glasses, has a refined and scholarly demeanor, and is 178cm tall. His basketball skills are generally average, but he can occasionally make a few three-pointers.
However, it cannot be denied that in the current Shohoku basketball team, his basketball skills are second only to Takenori Akagi and Kaede Rukawa.
He and Takenori Akagi are quite adept at managing the basketball team, often playing the good cop/bad cop routine.
Akagi Takenori was naturally the stern one, while he was the kind one.
At this moment, Akagi Takenori unleashed his full power against Sakuragi Hanamichi, while he had to act as a peacemaker to appease Sakuragi Hanamichi.
"Hello, Sakuragi-kun, I'm Kogure Kiminobu, the vice-captain of the basketball team."
Kiminobu Kogure came between Takenori Akagi and Hanamichi Sakuragi, and greeted Hanamichi Sakuragi with a smile.
Sakuragi Hanamichi, who was squinting, was about to use Rukawa Kaede as a target when he suddenly heard Kogure Kiminobu speak to him. He had to pause for a moment and greeted Kogure Kiminobu as well: "Hello, Kogure-senpai."
"Sakuragi-kun, let me explain. The biggest taboo for the basketball team is players fighting with others. If the school finds out that a player is fighting, that player will be suspended. There was a reason why Captain Akagi acted that way just now, and you should know that without me saying it."
Kogure Kiminobu's attitude was very good, but his last sentence made Sakuragi Hanamichi squint his eyes again.
The reason? Do I know?
So you're saying I should have self-awareness and clearly realize that I'm a delinquent youth?
Brother with glasses, I never knew you were this kind of person!
Sakuragi Hanamichi countered, "Kogure-senpai, I don't quite understand what you mean."
Kogure Kiminobu smiled and then pointed behind Sakuragi Hanamichi.
Sakuragi Hanamichi turned around in confusion.
Turning around like that really startled him.
Yohei Mito, Nozomi Takamiya, Yuji Oonusu, and Chuichiro Noma, these four good brothers had somehow appeared behind him!
Moreover, judging from this situation, as long as Sakuragi Hanamichi dares to make a move, his four brothers behind him will definitely rush up and fight without saying a word!
This damn sense of security! I love it so much!
Sakuragi Hanamichi grinned at his brothers, and they smiled back.
No matter how many people are on your basketball team, if you dare to mess with my brother Sakuragi Hanamichi, our Sakuragi Army will definitely fight to the bitter end!
At this moment, Yohei Mito said loudly, "Senior Kogure, I think you've misunderstood. Sakuragi Hanamichi is not some delinquent. He's a man who aspires to become an excellent basketball player and help the Shohoku basketball team reach the national tournament."
Kogure Kiminobu, still smiling, said, "Oh? What are you four doing here?"
Yohei Mito said, "Of course we came to see how our good brother Sakuragi Hanamichi is doing in training, and also to see if there's anything we can help with."
Takamiya Nozomi and the other two said casually, "Yeah, yeah, if Sakuragi Hanamichi needs us to practice with him or something, we'd be happy to help him!"
Kogure Kiminobu clearly sensed a threat in the words of Mito Yohei and the others: if the basketball team bullied Sakuragi Hanamichi, or if Sakuragi Hanamichi tried to cause trouble, the four of them would join in.
This is getting a bit tricky.
Haruko Akagi, who was watching, didn't really understand the messy things between men, but she could still feel the tense atmosphere between the two sides.
So she first said to Takenori Akagi, "Brother, I don't think Sakuragi Hanamichi is a delinquent."
Then she approached Sakuragi Hanamichi and said softly, "Sakuragi, I don't know what happened either. My brother had a very good impression of you yesterday. Don't worry, there must be some misunderstanding. We can explain it away."
After seeing Haruko Akagi step in, Kiminobu Kogure seemed to calm Hanamichi Sakuragi down, so he quickly added, "Yes, Sakuragi-kun, there must be some misunderstanding here. How about this, if you guys want to play basketball, you can play on that half of the court. As for other things, we can talk about them another day."
Kogure Kiminobu felt that doing this was a way of giving Sakuragi Hanamichi and the others face.
Sakuragi Hanamichi did not answer immediately, but his attitude was clearly much more relaxed.
Unexpectedly, as soon as Kogure Kiminobu finished speaking, Akagi Takenori behind him angrily said, "Kogure, get out of the way, this is none of your business."
Kogure Kiminobu turned around in shock to look at Akagi Takenori. He couldn't understand what had gotten into Akagi Takenori at this moment. Why didn't he just appease these delinquents first, and then privately tell Sakuragi Hanamichi that he wasn't suitable for the basketball team?
Why insist on tearing off all pretense of civility?
At this moment, Takenori Akagi was facing Sakuragi Hanamichi and Mito Yohei, and he was not afraid of these delinquents.
Even if we really have to take action today, it doesn't matter. It's better to have a short, sharp pain than a long, drawn-out one. Let's resolve this once and for all and leave no loose ends!
This will prevent these delinquent youths from causing trouble at the basketball team in the future.
After sensing the terrifying aura emanating from Akagi Takenori, Mito Yohei and the others immediately went into high alert!
Haruko Akagi, standing in the middle, was torn between her own brother and a promising young talent she had worked hard to invite to join the basketball team.
Now, they're actually preparing to fight!
"Brother, Sakuragi, what are you doing?" Haruko Akagi was almost in tears.
Sakuragi Hanamichi glanced at Akagi Haruko, took a deep breath, then looked at Akagi Takenori and said, "I know I have a bad reputation outside, and many people say I'm a delinquent. But ever since I came to Shohoku and met Haruko, I've been determined to play basketball and help the Shohoku basketball team reach the national tournament. And I haven't deliberately caused any trouble. I don't understand why you're treating me like this?"
Akagi Takenori shouted angrily, "You still dare to say you didn't cause trouble? I'm asking you, did you fight with Horita Tokuo and his gang from the third year?"
Upon hearing this, Sakuragi Hanamichi was taken aback at first, then overjoyed.
This is like a pillow being delivered to someone's head when they're just trying to sleep. I was just thinking about how to criticize Rukawa Kaede for being a delinquent who gets into fights, and then you brought it up on your own initiative.
Sakuragi Hanamichi feigned a conflicted expression and asked, "Are you asking about the fight with Horita Tokuo and his gang on the rooftop?"
Akagi Takenori mistakenly thought Sakuragi Hanamichi had admitted it himself, and angrily said, "Yes! That's what happened!"
At the same time, Haruko Akagi let out a soft gasp and subconsciously glanced at Kaede Rukawa.
Sakuragi Hanamichi then pretended that he was going through a very painful internal struggle.
A moment later, Sakuragi Hanamichi suddenly looked at Rukawa Kaede and said loudly, "Rukawa Kaede, don't worry. Although you fought with Horita Tokuo and his gang that day, in the end, you were trying to help me. After all, Horita Tokuo and his gang stormed into our classroom and challenged me."
Then, Sakuragi Hanamichi looked at Akagi Takenori and said righteously, "This matter has nothing to do with Rukawa Kaede. Horita Tokuo and his gang were indeed after me. If you don't believe me, ask Haruko. She saw with her own eyes that it was Rukawa Kaede who beat up Horita Tokuo and his gang."
Takenori Akagi: "..."
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