On one side is the basketball team that's deliberately making things difficult for them.
On one side is the judo team, which has extended a warm invitation.
To be honest, Sakuragi Hanamichi did have the thought of joining the judo team.
But it was just a thought.
After all, to be transported to the world of Slam Dunk and then have to join the judo team is just ridiculous!
However, it must be said that Aota Tatsuhiko's appearance really gave Sakuragi Hanamichi a lot of face, to the point that Akagi Takenori's face is still dark.
Needless to say, the person who was most frustrated at that moment was Takenori Akagi.
If it weren't for Aota Tatsuhiko's appearance, the 10-round one-on-one duel between Akagi Takenori and Sakuragi Hanamichi would probably have ended long ago.
Regardless of whether Sakuragi Hanamichi passes the test, Akagi Takenori is the winner and the one who holds the initiative.
Now, things have gotten even worse. Aota Tatsuhiko suddenly appeared out of nowhere, maliciously slandering Akagi Takenori and Akagi Haruko from the very beginning, and then showed off a series of shameless and unscrupulous actions.
Now Akagi Takenori is in a difficult position.
If Aota Tatsuhiko had appeared before Sakuragi Hanamichi's dunk, it would have been fine, because Akagi Takenori already had a problem with Sakuragi Hanamichi at that time, and Akagi Takenori didn't care at all whether Sakuragi Hanamichi would join the judo team.
However, Aota Tatsuhiko appeared right after Sakuragi Hanamichi's powerful dunk, which shocked everyone. At this moment, Akagi Takenori's heart had already wavered. He decided to believe Akagi Haruko's words, to believe that Sakuragi Hanamichi was not a delinquent, and to believe that Sakuragi Hanamichi was willing to work hard to improve his basketball skills and help Shohoku enter the national tournament.
Although Akagi Takenori said he would test Sakuragi Hanamichi, it seemed he was still deliberately trying to make things difficult for him.
But isn't this also a way for Takenori Akagi to intentionally give both sides a way out?
If Sakuragi Hanamichi passes the test, then Akagi Takenori will officially recognize him.
If Sakuragi Hanamichi fails the test, Akagi Takenori can give him a warning first, and then generously give him a chance to join the basketball team.
It's basically the carrot and stick management method.
In this way, Akagi Takenori would have both face and substance.
At this moment, the scheming Sakuragi Hanamichi looked at Akagi Takenori again, wanting to see if Akagi Takenori would have any reaction.
But face is too important for a man.
Therefore, Akagi Takenori would never take the initiative to ask Sakuragi Hanamichi to stay. At this moment, he still had a dark face, staring straight at Sakuragi Hanamichi without saying a word.
Unexpectedly, the basketball team's vice-captain, Kiminobu Kogure, stepped forward at this moment.
"Sakuragi-kun!"
Kogure Kiminobu pushed up his glasses and called out Sakuragi's name with a smile, though his smile seemed a little guilty.
Sakuragi Hanamichi looked at Kogure Kiminobu.
Although Sakuragi Hanamichi's face remained expressionless at that moment, he was secretly overjoyed.
The basketball team finally spoke up!
We've been waiting for you to speak up!
Beg me!
Kneel down and beg me!
Kogure Kiminobu continued, "Sakuragi-kun, that dunk you just made was amazing. It's clear you really love basketball. I'd like to invite you to join the Shohoku basketball team. Would you like to?"
Before Sakuragi Hanamichi could even feel happy, he had barely finished speaking.
A reprimand rang out throughout the entire venue!
It's Takenori Akagi!
Akagi Takenori angrily rebuked Kogure Kiminobu: "Kogure, our basketball team has its own rules. He can only join the team if he passes my test!"
Kogure Kiminobu replied anxiously, "But..."
"There are no 'buts'!" Takenori Akagi ruthlessly interrupted Kiminobu Kogure. "These are the team rules!"
This is not just a rule for the basketball team, but also a matter of the team's dignity and reputation!
A guy who was just considered a delinquent by the basketball team, and now the team is begging him to join? Takenori Akagi can't afford to lose face like that! The basketball team can't afford to lose face either.
But Kogure Kiminobu, the vice-captain of the basketball team, just had the audacity to invite Sakuragi Hanamichi.
Like Takenori Akagi, Kiminobu Kogure is a third-year student this year, and it's his last chance to compete in the national tournament.
In this world, whether it's basketball, football, judo, or any other sport, the phrase "National Championship" represents the most sacred dream in everyone's heart.
As the vice-captain of the basketball team, Kiminobu Kogure is extremely eager to lead the Shohoku basketball team to the national tournament.
If I can really make it to the national competition, then I will have no regrets in this life!
Therefore, everything Kiminobu Kogure does is from the perspective of the basketball team.
When Akagi Takenori rejected Sakuragi Hanamichi on the grounds of being a delinquent, Kogure Kiminobu naturally sided with Akagi Takenori and protected the basketball team.
After all, he had heard Sakuragi Hanamichi's name from Mitsui Hisashi. Without knowing who Sakuragi Hanamichi was, he would definitely help Akagi Takenori stop Sakuragi Hanamichi from joining the basketball team in order to protect the team.
However, after Akagi Haruko's repeated assurances and Sakuragi Hanamichi's stunning dunk, Kogure Kiminobu felt that Sakuragi Hanamichi did indeed have the talent to play basketball, and was exactly the kind of talent that the Shohoku basketball team needed at the moment.
The Shohoku basketball team is desperately short of players, especially talented individuals!
Unexpectedly, Aota Tatsuhiko came out to snatch the person away.
This also proves that Sakuragi Hanamichi is indeed an outstanding talent.
This also strengthened Kogure Kiminobu's resolve to ask Sakuragi Hanamichi to join the basketball team.
That's why Kogure Kiminobu had the courage to step forward and help the basketball team retain Sakuragi Hanamichi when everyone else was silent.
Unexpectedly, when he mustered up the courage to persuade Sakuragi Hanamichi to stay, Akagi Takenori refused to allow him to do so for the sake of the basketball team's reputation and dignity.
This time, Kiminobu Kogure decided to rebel.
Kogure Kiminobu retorted, "Akagi, rules are rigid, but people are flexible. Sakuragi just demonstrated his dunk, and I think that meets the requirements for a newcomer joining the basketball team."
Akagi Takenori stubbornly said, "No! I already told him that I would give him 10 chances. If he can get past my defense and put the basketball in the hoop even once, I will admit that he is qualified to join the basketball team."
In this situation, Akagi Takenori's words only make people feel that anyone with a temper would turn around and join the judo team!
The judo team said that as long as you were willing to join, they would immediately arrange for you to be the vice-captain of the judo team.
Your basketball team is something else; if you want to join, you have to pass a hellish test first!
Isn't this blatantly pushing Sakuragi Hanamichi towards the judo team?
Sakuragi Hanamichi stood quietly to the side, watching Akagi Takenori and Kogure Kiminobu's argument.
Whether you're acting or genuinely trying to invite me to join, I'll just observe and remain silent, thus keeping the initiative in my hands.
At this moment, Aota Tatsuhiko laughed loudly and said, "Sakuragi, did you see that? This is the attitude of the basketball team. With an attitude like that, do you still want to join the basketball team? Come on, I'll take you to the judo team."
At the same time, Aota Tatsuhiko waved to Mito Yohei and the others, laughing and shouting, "Brothers, are you Sakuragi's brothers? How about joining our judo team?"
Aota Tatsuhiko's actions impressed even the cunning Sakuragi Hanamichi.
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