The Wakou Middle School Basketball Club didn’t have much of a facility.
It occupied nothing more than an aging indoor gym with a corrugated metal roof.
The faded words “Scholarship and Martial Spirit” were still painted across one wall, their color long since worn away by time.
The gym door stood half-open, and the squeak of sneakers against the hardwood echoed from inside.
Takamiya Nozomi took the lead.
He shoved the door open with a bang, planted his hands on his hips, and, imitating the exaggerated rolling tongue of a yakuza, shouted loud enough for the entire gym to hear, “Hey!
Get your boss out here!” Ohkusu Yuji strode in right behind him, arms folded across his chest and chin raised proudly.
“That’s right!
Tell Oda to get out here!” The way they carried themselves, they looked nothing like students coming to join a basketball club.
They looked like they had come to wreck the place.
Inside the gym, the few club members who had arrived early were already wearing practice jerseys and working on their dribbling.
The sudden commotion startled everyone.
A short point guard lost control of his dribble, and the basketball rolled all the way across the floor until it hit the wall.
Another, a slightly chubby forward who had been drinking water, nearly choked and sprayed water out through his nose.
Everyone instinctively turned toward the entrance.
Standing at the center of the doorway was the towering 186-centimeter Sakuragi Hanamichi.
The four members of the Sakuragi Army surrounded him like stars orbiting the moon.
Backlit by the sunlight streaming through the entrance, Sakuragi’s imposing figure cast a long shadow across the gym floor, giving him an overwhelming presence.
The moment they recognized him, everyone’s expressions changed.
Who didn’t know Sakuragi Hanamichi?
His name was practically synonymous with fighting at Wakou Middle School.
And the four guys standing beside him weren’t exactly harmless either.
The Basketball Club members exchanged nervous glances and instinctively backed away.
Someone whispered, “…What are they doing here?
They’re not here to start a fight…
are they?” Just as the atmosphere froze— Oda Tatsumasa stepped out from the crowd.
Dressed in his basketball jersey, the 183-centimeter ace stood a full head taller than most of his teammates.
But standing before the 186-centimeter red-haired delinquent…
He still came up slightly short.
Although he was clearly nervous, he forced himself to maintain the dignity of the team’s captain.
His expression was stern.
His chin lifted slightly.
Looking directly at Sakuragi, he asked in a calm but unwavering voice, “What do you want?” Noma Chuichirou stroked the tiny mustache on his chin and stepped forward half a pace, looking every bit like an underling delivering his boss’s message.
“Simple.” “We’re here to sign our boss, Sakuragi, up for the Basketball Club.” The gym fell silent.
“…Huh?” The club members’ expressions shifted from fear…
…to utter confusion.
They weren’t here to pick a fight?
They were actually here to join?
A player wearing a headband muttered, “They’re…
serious?” Oda Tatsumasa’s expression didn’t soften.
Instead, it darkened.
After a brief silence, he looked straight at Sakuragi and spoke firmly.
“Impossible.” “We won’t accept you.” Sakuragi froze.
He had thought everything was already settled.
Teacher Takeda had called him a genius.
Who did Oda think he was?
Being rejected to his face instantly ignited his temper.
“Why not?” Sakuragi’s voice dropped.
His eyes locked onto Oda’s.
Without retreating in the slightest, Oda answered coldly, “Our Basketball Club doesn’t accept delinquents.” “Basketball isn’t something someone like you should stain.” The word “stain” echoed through the gym.
Silence followed.
Sakuragi’s face instantly turned crimson.
The veins on his forehead throbbed violently.
His fists clenched until his knuckles cracked.
Takamiya, standing off to one side, immediately sensed trouble.
His eyes lit up.
“Ooh…
those are fighting words.” Ohkusu smirked.
“Boss Sakuragi, you gonna let him get away with that?” “Show him who’s stronger.” Noma casually stuffed his hands into his pockets.
“Teach him why our Sakuragi Army has a boss.” One after another, the three shamelessly fanned the flames.
Oda stood his ground without moving.
A trace of contempt lingered in his eyes, as though he was certain Sakuragi wouldn’t dare cause trouble inside the gym.
Sakuragi’s fury had already reached its limit.
His fists creaked under the strain.
He took one step forward— “Huh?
What’s going on here?” A familiar voice interrupted the tension.
Everyone turned.
Standing at the entrance was P.E.
teacher Takeda Hirohitsu, a folder tucked under one arm as he calmly surveyed the room.
Sakuragi’s expression changed instantly.
The murderous aura surrounding him vanished as though a bucket of ice water had been dumped over his head.
He immediately straightened up.
Turning around, he put on the most obedient smile imaginable.
“Teacher Takeda!” “I’m here to join the Basketball Club!” His tone…
His expression…
He looked like a completely different person.
Watching from the side, the four members of the Sakuragi Army couldn’t help twitching their mouths.
This guy changed faces faster than flipping a page.
To Sakuragi…
Teacher Takeda was the very first teacher who had ever praised him.
The first person who had acknowledged his talent.
For that reason alone, Sakuragi genuinely respected him.
“Joining the Basketball Club?” Takeda looked at him.
“You came pretty early.” “That’s right!” Sakuragi answered immediately, sounding as if he were proudly asking for praise.
Then he spun around and pointed directly at Oda.
“But he won’t let me join!” The way he said it…
The expression on his face…
He looked exactly like an elementary school kid running to a teacher after being bullied.
Oda’s eyelid twitched.
Takeda glanced at Sakuragi.
Then at Oda.
He immediately understood the situation.
Nodding calmly, he said, “Very well.” “Oda.” “I approve Sakuragi’s application to join the Basketball Club.” Oda opened his mouth, clearly intending to object.
But after seeing Teacher Takeda’s unwavering expression…
He swallowed his words.
Meanwhile, Sakuragi stood there grinning from ear to ear.
Unable to hide his smugness, he deliberately glanced sideways at Oda.
His face practically screamed, See?
The teacher personally invited me.
Oda’s expression darkened further.
But he remained silent.
Takeda patted Sakuragi on the shoulder.
“Come on.” “I’ll get your registration form.” “Yes, Teacher!” Sakuragi answered so loudly that his voice echoed throughout the gymnasium.
Following Takeda inside, he deliberately slowed his pace as he passed Oda, unable to resist giving him one more smug look.
The two brushed past one another.
Neither spoke.
Yet an invisible rivalry had already begun.
The four members of the Sakuragi Army leaned against the doorway.
Takamiya elbowed Ohkusu.
“How long do you think Sakuragi will stick with this?” Ohkusu shrugged.
“No idea.” “But one thing’s certain.” “This is going to be entertaining.” Noma squatted beside the entrance, lazily chewing on a blade of grass he’d picked up from somewhere.
“At least it’s more fun than going to the pachinko parlor.” Yohei remained silent.
Hands tucked into his pockets, he leaned against the doorframe and quietly watched Sakuragi following Teacher Takeda toward the registration table in the corner of the gym.
Whatever his reason might be…
Even if he was only doing it to impress girls…
At least now…
Sakuragi had finally found something he truly wanted to pursue.