The first class after lunch was P.E.
At Wakou Middle School, physical education classes were separated by gender, with two or three boys’ classes usually combined for activities.
Today, the boys from the third-year Class 3, Class 5, and Class 6—including Sakuragi’s class—were all assigned to the same session.
The school grounds buzzed with energy.
Under the teacher’s supervision, everyone completed three warm-up laps around the field.
Once that was finished, the students were free to play.
Normally, this was the part Sakuragi Hanamichi excelled at.
He and the four members of the Sakuragi Army would immediately find a shady patch of grass, flop down together, and spend the rest of class doing absolutely nothing.
But today…
Something was different.
Even Sakuragi couldn’t explain why.
Instead of heading toward the shade, he walked over to the steps beside the basketball court, sat down, and silently watched the game.
Class 3 was facing Class 6.
On Class 3’s side, one player stood out immediately.
He was tall, exceptionally quick, and the basketball seemed glued to his hands as he darted through defenders with ease, tearing apart Class 6’s defense.
Oda Tatsumasa.
The ace of Wakou Middle School’s Basketball Club.
Standing at 183 centimeters, he was unquestionably one of the school’s best players.
He crossed over his defender, drove into the lane, and finished with a smooth layup.
Swish.
The ball slipped cleanly through the net.
Outside the chain-link fence surrounding the court, a group of girls instantly erupted into cheers.
“Oda-kun!
You’re amazing!” “Go!
Go!” “He scored again!
So cool!” The girls stomped excitedly, their shrill cheers echoing across the playground.
Sakuragi watched the scene with an irritated expression.
Meanwhile, Oda casually jogged back on defense, chin held high, wearing the unmistakable smirk of someone fully aware of how popular he was.
That expression…
That attitude…
“Tch.” A voice full of disdain sounded nearby.
Takamiya Nozomi squatted on the steps, glaring at the court.
“So what if he can play basketball?
What’s so impressive about that?
Are those girls blind?” Ohkusu Yuji nodded vigorously.
“Exactly!
Just look at that smug face.
Makes me want to punch him.” Noma Chuichirou delivered the finishing blow.
“The funniest part is that Oda isn’t even as tall as Sakuragi.
What’s he so full of himself for?” Takamiya’s eyes suddenly lit up.
“That’s right!” “If Sakuragi stood out there, he’d be at least half a head taller!” The three of them turned toward Sakuragi simultaneously.
At the far end, Mito Yohei slowly curled the corner of his mouth into his trademark mischievous grin.
“Sakuragi.” He spoke leisurely.
“Haven’t you been dreaming about basketball lately?” Sakuragi’s ears twitched.
“You want to give it a shot?” Yohei tilted his chin toward the court.
“You’re taller than Oda.” “Go out there and crush him.” “Maybe all those girls will start cheering for you instead.” “You might even get a pile of love letters.” Takamiya immediately slapped his thigh.
“Exactly!” “Go for it, Sakuragi!” Ohkusu clenched his fists excitedly.
“Show that pretty boy the strength of the King of Brawlers!” “Beat him!” Noma grinned so hard his eyes disappeared.
“This is going to be fun.” “So much fun.” The three of them laughed as they shoved each other around.
Sakuragi, however, froze.
Play basketball?
Almost instinctively, the memories from his dream resurfaced.
The rough texture of the basketball.
The rhythmic vibration traveling through his fingertips every time the ball struck the floor.
It all felt…
Strangely familiar.
Without another word, he stood up.
He didn’t even bother dusting off his pants before walking straight toward the court.
Behind him, Takamiya blinked in disbelief.
“He’s…
actually going?” Yohei simply smiled, clearly enjoying the unfolding spectacle.
The P.E.
teacher stood near the sideline with a whistle around his neck, busy arranging substitutions.
One of the boys from Class 6 was bent over with his hands on his knees, breathing heavily.
“Teacher.” A voice suddenly called out.
The teacher turned around.
The first thing he saw was a head of bright red hair.
His expression stiffened immediately.
Sakuragi Hanamichi.
Wakou Middle School’s most notorious delinquent.
The King of Brawlers.
The student who skipped every P.E.
activity he possibly could.
Despite his outstanding height and athletic build, no one had ever seen him voluntarily touch a basketball.
“…What is it?” the teacher asked cautiously.
“I want to play.” Sakuragi answered simply.
“I want to play basketball.” Teacher Takeda blinked several times, looking Sakuragi up and down.
Had this troublemaker suddenly changed overnight?
After a brief hesitation, he glanced at Sakuragi’s height, then looked at the exhausted student on the court.
“…Fine.” “You go in.” He blew his whistle.
“Yamamoto!
Come off!” “Sakuragi is taking your place!” The exhausted student looked as though he’d just received a royal pardon.
He practically crawled off the court.
Sakuragi stepped onto the hardwood.
Then…
His expression slowly froze.
A problem immediately surfaced.
How exactly…
did basketball work?
His mind was completely blank.
What counted as a foul?
How did you score?
Were you allowed to run while holding the ball?
He had absolutely no idea.
Still, relying solely on the instincts from his dreams, he began moving without the ball.
Just then…
A pass came flying toward him.
Seeing Sakuragi standing completely open beyond the three-point line, none of the Class 3 defenders bothered to guard him.
The basketball whistled through the air.
Thump!
It struck his chest perfectly.
Before his brain could react…
His body already had.
Both hands shot out instinctively.
He caught the ball securely.
The feeling…
It was exactly the same as in the dream.
The rough leather brushed against his fingertips.
The familiar weight settled comfortably into his palms.
He lowered his head to look at the basketball.
Then slowly lifted his gaze toward the hoop.
It wasn’t very far away.
The white net hanging beneath the rim swayed gently in the breeze.
At that moment…
The memories came flooding back like a tidal wave.
Yuki Kawamura.
The short guard.
Lightning-fast dribbling.
Deadly shooting.
Especially…
His three-point shot.
Sakuragi unconsciously bent his knees.
A rhythm seemed to awaken within his body.
Raise the ball.
Bring it into the shooting pocket.
Tilt the wrists.
Guide the elbow.
Eyes locked on the basket.
Every movement flowed together naturally.
From his feet…
To his knees.
His waist.
His core.
His shoulder.
His elbow.
His fingertips.
Every joint moved with flawless coordination, as though his body had practiced the motion tens of thousands of times.
He rose into the air.
For a brief instant, his body seemed to float.
Then…
His wrist snapped forward.
The basketball rolled gracefully off his fingertips, spinning rapidly as it soared toward the basket.
His shooting form was elegant.
Smooth.
Beautiful enough to look like a textbook illustration.
On the sidelines.
The water bottle in Yohei’s hand stopped halfway to his mouth.
His eyes widened slightly.
Takamiya’s sunflower seeds slipped from his fingers onto the ground.
His eyes were as round as dinner plates.
Ohkusu and Noma unconsciously leaned forward, stretching their necks.
“…Was that…” Takamiya’s voice cracked.
“…Really Sakuragi?” “He actually knows how to shoot?” Ohkusu stared in disbelief.
Noma rubbed his eyes repeatedly.
“Am I seeing things?” Yohei said nothing.
His eyes remained fixed on the perfect arc soaring through the air.
Even Teacher Takeda stood frozen.
That shooting form…
It was almost flawless.
From the catch…
To the jump…
To the release…
Every movement was clean, efficient, and perfectly connected.
Even several starters on the Basketball Club couldn’t execute a textbook jump shot this beautifully.
Countless pairs of eyes followed the basketball.
It climbed higher…
And higher…
Then…
It sailed cleanly behind the backboard.
An airball.
It didn’t even graze the rim.
Silence.
For exactly one second.
Then— “Hahahahaha!” Takamiya exploded with laughter first.
He laughed so hard he rolled right off the steps and tumbled across the ground.
Ohkusu clutched his stomach, tears streaming down his face as he pounded the floor.
“An airball!” “Hahaha!” “It was an airball!” Noma laughed even harder, lying flat on the steps while repeatedly pounding the concrete with his fist.
“I thought it was going in!” “The form looked so cool!” “And then…” “It was an airball!” “Hahahaha!” Even Yohei couldn’t help laughing.
Though unlike the other three, he merely covered his forehead and shook his head with an amused smile.
On the court…
Sakuragi remained frozen in his shooting follow-through.
His arm was still extended toward the basket.
After a long moment, he slowly lowered it.
Then looked up at the rim in confusion.
The motion…
It had been exactly the same as in his dream.
So…
Why hadn’t the ball gone in?
Frowning deeply, Sakuragi began seriously pondering the question.