The moment Sakuragi emerged from the tunnel with his teammates, Yanai Yuri spotted him immediately.
He stood frozen on the sideline for a brief moment, as though the arena lights had blinded him.
His mouth hung slightly open as his eyes swept from left to right, then back again.
Then he heard the deafening cheers from the four members of the Sakuragi Army.
He looked up.
Their eyes met.
Yanai watched him freeze completely.
His gaze locked onto her, unable to look away.
The four boys beside her were still waving wildly and shouting at the top of their lungs, yet it was as though Sakuragi couldn’t see them at all.
He saw only her.
Yanai found it rather amusing.
Kato raised an eyebrow beside her, silently asking, You know him?
Yanai didn’t answer.
Instead, she turned fully toward the red-haired boy and smiled.
Then she lifted her right hand and gave him a gentle wave.
“Sakuragi-kun, good luck!” Her voice wasn’t particularly loud and was mostly swallowed by the roar of the arena.
Even so, she clearly saw his ears twitch.
Like a giant dog hearing its owner’s voice, his ears reacted before his mind did.
A blazing warmth surged from the depths of Sakuragi Hanamichi’s heart.
It rushed through his veins, climbed to the top of his head, spread to his fingertips, and flowed all the way down to his toes.
Every pore on his body seemed to burst open.
Every bone in his body felt as though it had been wound tight like a spring.
His face instantly turned bright red.
The flush climbed from the base of his neck all the way to his forehead, looking as though steam might start pouring from his head at any moment.
Then…
Sakuragi smiled.
A dazzling, unbelievably bright smile.
Later, Takamiya Nozomi would describe it as: “A chrysanthemum that had wilted under the scorching sun…
only to bloom again after being soaked in water.” The corners of his mouth stretched almost to his ears.
His eyes narrowed into happy crescents.
Every wrinkle on his face radiated joy.
He lifted his right hand high into the air and waved vigorously toward the beautiful girl in the stands.
“I’LL BRING HOME THE VICTORY!!” His booming voice echoed throughout the entire gymnasium.
Nearly half the spectators turned to look at him.
Takamiya’s raised hand froze in midair.
His jaw dropped.
His eyes nearly popped out of their sockets.
He stared blankly at Sakuragi.
No…
Sakuragi wasn’t waving at them.
He was waving at her.
That smile.
That expression.
That passionate declaration— “I’ll bring home the victory!” Takamiya had never seen Sakuragi behave like this toward any girl before.
How had Sakuragi confessed in the past?
He would charge straight toward a girl.
Stand ramrod straight.
Turn beet red.
Shout, “I like you!
Please go out with me!” Then get rejected.
Turn around.
Leave.
The whole process usually lasted less than thirty seconds.
Efficient.
Clean.
Like completing a military mission.
But this…
This was completely different.
Takamiya slowly turned toward Ohkusu.
Ohkusu slowly turned toward Noma.
Noma slowly turned toward Yohei.
The four exchanged bewildered looks.
Each of their faces clearly carried the same question.
What the hell is going on?
“They know each other?” Takamiya’s voice cracked so badly it sounded like someone had stepped on his foot.
“They don’t just know each other.” Ohkusu narrowed his eyes while studying Sakuragi’s goofy grin.
“Their relationship definitely isn’t ordinary.” Noma stroked his chin like a detective solving a case.
“No wonder he refused to tell us anything before.” “So he was hiding a girl this beautiful.” Yohei remained silent.
His gaze drifted between Sakuragi and the tall girl beside him, a meaningful smile slowly forming.
So this is the girl…
The one who made Sakuragi sit there during every break with his chin in his hand, grinning like an idiot.
Still…
She seemed strangely familiar.
He felt as though he’d seen her somewhere before.
Kato Reina had watched the entire exchange unfold from beginning to end.
When Yanai took the initiative to cheer for the boy…
Kato couldn’t help raising an eyebrow.
In the two years she’d known Yanai, this was the very first time she’d ever seen her greet a boy first.
Then came the redhead’s reaction.
He blushed.
Grinned so hard his face nearly split apart.
And shouted loudly enough for the entire arena to hear.
None of it was fake.
It was pure, honest happiness.
Kato had seen countless boys trying to act cool in front of Yanai.
Some pretended to be aloof.
Others tried to appear mature.
Every single one failed.
But this red-haired boy was different.
He didn’t pretend.
If he was happy, he smiled.
If he was embarrassed, he blushed.
If he wanted to grin like a blooming chrysanthemum…
He simply grinned.
Kato studied him carefully.
He was tall.
Definitely over 180 centimeters.
Nearly half a head taller than Yanai.
Broad shoulders.
Powerful arms.
Even beneath his jersey, the outline of his muscles was obvious.
As for his face…
His features were fairly handsome, though not exceptionally so.
The biggest problem was that blazing red pompadour.
Combined with his delinquent aura, nine out of ten pedestrians would instinctively cross the street to avoid him.
How could someone like this…
…possibly catch Yanai Yuri’s attention?
Kato simply couldn’t understand it.
But one thing was now crystal clear.
Yanai hadn’t dragged her here to support Koyo Junior High.
She had come…
Entirely because of that red-haired boy.
“Sakuragi!
Get over here and warm up!” Coach Takeda’s shout finally pulled Sakuragi back to reality.
He stole one last glance toward the stands before running onto the court.
Today’s warm-up…
Was completely different.
Normally, he would simply jog, stretch, and practice a few shots.
Today…
It was as though someone had installed springs beneath his feet.
Every stride felt lighter.
Every sprint was faster.
He practically bounced across the floor.
Watching from nearby, Oda frowned.
His expression clearly read: Did this idiot take the wrong medicine today?
Meanwhile, the attention of the Sakuragi Army had completely shifted away from the basketball court.
Their target now…
Was Yanai Yuri.
Unable to contain himself any longer, Takamiya scooted closer with an eager grin.
“Um…” “How do you know Sakuragi?” “Yeah!” Ohkusu immediately leaned in.
“That meathead actually knows someone as beautiful as you?” “How come we’ve never heard about it?” Noma nodded repeatedly.
“We kept asking him, but he wouldn’t tell us anything.” “He even got angry.” The three of them buzzed around her like curious bees.
Yanai calmly turned her gaze back toward the court.
She watched the red-haired figure repeatedly soaring toward the rim during warm-ups.
A faint smile rested at the corners of her lips.
But…
She said nothing.
Watching from the side, Kato nearly laughed.
She’s doing this on purpose.
The less she explained…
The more desperate these three became to know.
She was thoroughly enjoying their curiosity.
“She isn’t going to tell you.” Kato answered for her.
Her tone made it clear there was no point asking.
Takamiya, Ohkusu, and Noma exchanged helpless glances.
Their curiosity had reached its limit.
Yet they couldn’t exactly keep pestering a girl they’d just met.
Throughout the entire exchange…
Yohei remained silent.
He simply leaned back in his seat with a faint smile.
Honestly…
There wasn’t much left to ask.
Judging by Sakuragi’s reaction alone…
He had already figured out about eighty percent of the story.
Warm-ups ended.
The referee blew the whistle three times.
The players returned to their benches.
Even while walking back, Sakuragi couldn’t resist sneaking one more glance toward the stands.
Coach Takeda crouched before the team with a tactics board in hand.
Using a marker, he quickly circled a few positions.
The players formed a semicircle around him, hands resting on their knees.
Takeda gave his final instructions.
“Feed the ball inside.” “Oda.” “Sakuragi.” “You two control the paint.” “Don’t settle for random outside shots.” “Move the ball inside.” He tapped the tactics board twice.
“On defense—” “Man-to-man coverage.” “Box out.” “Secure every defensive rebound.” Raising his head, he looked around at every player.
“That’s all.” “Get out there.” Short.
Direct.
No unnecessary speeches.
There was no point explaining complicated tactics.
The players wouldn’t remember them anyway.
Everything they needed had already been drilled into them over the past month.
Feed the post.
Play defense.
Control the boards.
That was enough.
Oda rose first and clapped his hands.
“Let’s go!” The team jogged onto the court.
Sakuragi walked in the middle of the group.
He looked down briefly at his tightly laced white canvas sneakers.
Then…
He lifted his head.
His eyes crossed half the court…
And settled on the basket waiting at the opposite end.
From the stands…
Yanai Yuri quietly watched the broad back of the player wearing the white No.
15 jersey.
His fiery red hair looked almost dazzling beneath the arena lights.
The referee stepped into the center circle with the basketball tucked beneath his arm.
The two centers took their positions.
Both bent their knees slightly.
Both raised their arms.
Both fixed their eyes firmly on the ball.
Standing at center court, Sakuragi towered over his opponent.
The center from Koyo Junior High was nearly half a head shorter than him, with noticeably narrower shoulders.
The boy looked up at Sakuragi’s blazing red pompadour.
His Adam’s apple bobbed nervously.
The game…
…was about to begin.