Sakuragi Hanamichi 23: Chapter 23: Rukawa Kaede vs.
Sakuragi Hanamichi The new weekend arrived before anyone knew it.
Early Saturday morning, Wakou Middle School’s bus once again rolled toward the prefectural gymnasium.
Today’s opponent was Takeishi Middle School.
Coach Takeda had already warned them that Takeishi had been the prefectural champions two years ago and the runners-up last year.
As a perennial powerhouse with years of tradition, disciplined fundamentals, and refined team tactics, they were on a completely different level from Wakou’s previous opponents, even if their former ace had already graduated.
When someone asked, “So how should we play against them?” Coach Takeda answered with only one sentence.
“The same way we’ve played the last two games.” Feed the ball inside.
Let the Twin Towers handle the rest.
Simple.
Direct.
Effective.
The game, however, proved tougher than Coach Takeda had anticipated.
Takeishi Middle School truly lived up to its reputation.
Although their ace was gone, the rest of the team defended with remarkable discipline.
Their rotations were crisp, their help defense was lightning-fast, and their double teams arrived with perfect timing.
The first time Sakuragi caught the ball in the paint, two defenders collapsed on him before he even had room to turn.
Without hesitation, he kicked the ball back out.
Oda caught it and buried a mid-range jumper.
Near the end of the first half, Takeishi’s excellent teamwork forced Wakou’s perimeter players into several costly turnovers, cutting the lead to just four points.
Coach Takeda immediately called a timeout.
He didn’t make many tactical adjustments.
Instead, he simply reminded everyone, “Keep feeding Oda and Sakuragi.” Then he looked directly at Sakuragi.
“Today’s game depends on you.
Dominate the boards and crush them!” When play resumed, Sakuragi looked like an entirely different player.
He fought even harder for position in the paint.
Whenever he received the ball, he no longer hesitated.
Instead of looking for fancy moves, he simply exploded upward, overpowering defenders with his height and incredible leaping ability.
He became even more ferocious on the boards.
The instant the ball bounced off the rim, he was already soaring above everyone else, snatching it securely with both hands.
Defensively, he was even more terrifying.
When Takeishi’s small forward drove in for a layup, Sakuragi rotated over from the weak side.
Although he reacted a split second later, his explosive athleticism allowed him to overtake the shooter in midair.
Smack!
The shot was sent flying into the stands.
By the final buzzer, the scoreboard read: 73–60.
Wakou Middle School advanced to the semifinals with a comfortable thirteen-point victory.
The moment the horn sounded, the players on the bench rushed onto the floor.
“We’re in the Final Four!” “We made it!” Coach Takeda stood quietly on the sideline with his arms folded, smiling faintly.
Unlike his players, he wasn’t celebrating.
Because he knew…
The semifinals weren’t the destination.
Tomorrow would be the true challenge.
Sunday.
The prefectural gymnasium was even livelier than the day before.
Every seat was occupied.
Students wearing uniforms from schools all over the prefecture packed the stands until they resembled a colorful mosaic.
Among the crowd were some unfamiliar faces.
They weren’t students.
They were adults.
Dressed in polo shirts and button-up shirts, each carried a notebook while carefully observing the players with sharp, calculating eyes.
These weren’t ordinary spectators.
They were high school basketball coaches scouting future talent.
The Prefectural Tournament was the perfect place to discover promising players.
Talent.
Mentality.
Potential.
Those qualities could still be developed in high school, but their foundation was already visible in middle school.
Two particularly notable figures sat in the guest section.
One was a tall, broad-shouldered man wearing a green polo shirt.
His neatly combed hair and composed expression reflected the confidence of a veteran coach.
It was Coach Taoka Moichi of Ryonan High School.
Sitting beside him was a rotund elderly man whose white beard matched his snowy hair.
His gentle smile never seemed to leave his face.
It was Coach Anzai, the legendary former national player and current head coach of Shohoku High School.
Many people who recognized him respectfully came over to greet him.
Coach Taoka glanced toward Anzai and smiled confidently.
“Coach Anzai.” “My target today is Tomigaoka Middle School’s Rukawa Kaede.” “I hope you’ll go easy on me and won’t compete for him.” His tone remained courteous.
His eyes, however, were deadly serious.
Ryonan already possessed Sendoh Akira and Uozumi Jun.
Those two alone were enough to make every rival school miserable.
If he could recruit Rukawa as well…
The three of them would become an unstoppable trio.
Making Nationals would no longer be a dream.
Thinking of that, the smile on Coach Taoka’s face grew even wider.
Coach Anzai rested both hands atop his round stomach.
“Heh…
heh…
heh…” His eyes narrowed into crescents as he chuckled warmly.
“Don’t worry, Coach Taoka.” “I won’t compete with you for him.” Satisfied with the answer, Coach Taoka turned his attention back to the court.
Inside Wakou Middle School’s locker room, the atmosphere was more tense than ever before.
Everyone had already changed into uniform.
Some players retied their shoelaces for the third time.
Others repeatedly adjusted their knee pads.
No one spoke.
The only sounds came from rustling fabric and the tightening of shoelaces.
Sakuragi sat on the bench wearing the same plain canvas basketball shoes as always, carefully tightening the laces.
Coach Takeda stood in the center of the room with a clipboard.
Gone was his usual easygoing smile.
His lips were pressed into a thin line as his eyes swept across every player.
“Offensively…” “We’ll play exactly the same way.” “Feed the ball to Oda and Sakuragi inside.” He paused before writing a single name across the tactical board.
Then he circled it heavily.
Rukawa Kaede.
“Number 11 from Tomigaoka Middle School.” “Rukawa Kaede.” “The moment he gets the ball…” “Double-team him.” “If he catches it beyond the three-point line, stay glued to him.” “If he drives, send help immediately.” “No matter where he receives the ball…” “I want at least two defenders on him.” His gaze settled on Oda.
Then shifted to Sakuragi.
“Do not give him any space.” Sakuragi tilted his head.
He slowly raised his hand.
The gesture looked less like a basketball player asking a tactical question and more like an elementary school student politely asking permission to speak.
“Coach Takeda.” His expression was completely serious.
Mixed within that seriousness, however, was unmistakable confusion.
“Is this guy…
Rukawa Kaede…
really that good?” The locker room instantly fell silent.
Several teammates exchanged strange looks.
Someone’s lips twitched.
Oda, sitting beside Sakuragi, stopped tying his shoes and stared at him.
His expression was incredibly complicated.
It was the kind of look one might give a lifeform that had just landed from another planet.
After confirming that Sakuragi genuinely had no idea who Rukawa was…
Oda sighed.
“Rukawa Kaede…” “From Tomigaoka Middle School.” “They call him the Fox of Tomigaoka.” “He became Tomigaoka’s ace as a first-year two years ago.” “Last year, he led them all the way to the National Tournament semifinals.” “As for his scoring average…” Oda paused briefly.
“More than thirty points a game.” “He can dribble.” “He can drive.” “He can shoot.” “He can pass.” “He has no weaknesses.” “What ‘Fox of Tomigaoka’?” Sakuragi sprang to his feet confidently, tucking his jersey into his shorts.
“That’s only because he hasn’t met This Genius yet!” “Just watch.” “I’ll crush him today.” “Leave him to me!” Silence fell over the locker room once again.
Several teammates opened their mouths, then quietly closed them.
After glancing at Oda, they all decided to keep their thoughts to themselves.
Oda lowered his head.
The corners of his mouth twitched.
He wasn’t sure whether he wanted to laugh…
Or sigh.
Ignorance really is bliss.
He silently repeated the phrase in his heart.
He had faced Rukawa Kaede two years ago as a first-year himself.
He knew exactly how terrifying that emotionless prodigy truly was.
But he didn’t say any of it.
There was no point.
Someone like Sakuragi would never believe it until he experienced it firsthand.
And strangely enough…
Oda found himself thinking that perhaps Sakuragi’s complete ignorance wasn’t necessarily a bad thing.
Inside Tomigaoka Middle School’s locker room, the atmosphere was entirely different.
Everyone calmly went about their preparations.
There was no tension.
No anxiety.
Everything felt like another ordinary day.
“The strategy remains unchanged.” The coach looked around the room before finally stopping on the lone figure sitting quietly against the corner wall.
“Give the ball to Rukawa.” The boy in the corner never even looked up.
He stood around 185 centimeters tall.
His build was lean yet athletic, with broad shoulders and well-defined muscles.
His face was sharp and handsome.
His fair skin contrasted with his messy black hair, whose long bangs partially concealed his eyes.
Most striking of all…
His face was completely expressionless.
Not because he was trying to hide his emotions— He simply…
had none to show.
The coach continued, his tone becoming more earnest.
“Wakou Middle School’s interior is extremely strong.” “Oda Tatsumasa.” “Sakuragi Hanamichi.” “Especially Number 15, Sakuragi.” “His physical ability is extraordinary.” “You need to be careful.” He looked directly at Rukawa.
“Today’s game…” “Try to settle things from the perimeter whenever possible.” “Don’t force your way into the paint unless you have to.” Rukawa Kaede simply gave a slight nod.
Without saying a single word.
(END OF CHAPTER) If you’re enjoying the story so far, please let me know in the comments!
Your feedback helps me decide whether to continue this series.
A simple comment, your thoughts on the latest chapter, or even telling me your favorite character means a lot and lets me know there are readers looking forward to more.
Thank you for your support!