Shohoku High School · Academic Building.
3rd Year, Class 6.
There was still a bit of time before class started.
Akagi Takenori sat quietly at his desk.
His expression was focused, eyes fixed on the open textbook in his hands.
On the cover, the word "Math" stood out clearly.
Stacks of thick books were neatly arranged on his desk.
Each one filled with detailed notes.
Next to them sat a pad of scratch paper and a calculator.
He looked every bit like someone preparing for university entrance exams.
He was no longer the "gorilla" who once dominated the court.
Now, he was just a third-year student devoted entirely to studying.
Kogure Kiminobu sat at the front of the class.
Fiddling with the pen in his hand, he couldn't help but glance back at Akagi Takenori.
Looking at Akagi so seriously immersed in study stirred up a jumble of emotions in Kogure's heart.
Ever since the end of the Autumn National Athletic Meet, he and Akagi had announced their official retirement.
They were no longer part of Shohoku's basketball team.
From now on—
The gym, the matches, the shouting in the locker room…
Those once-familiar scenes were now nothing but memories.
Kogure let out a sigh, feeling a bit reluctant.
But reality didn't care.
As third-year students, the pressure of university exams weighed on them like a mountain.
There was no room left to waste time.
Even if they loved basketball, life had more pressing chapters ahead.
Still…
Kogure glanced down at the textbook on his desk.
Then he peeked again at Akagi Takenori.
He couldn't help grumbling to himself in his head.
'It's one thing if you're good at basketball… but how can a guy that big also be that smart?!'
…
Shohoku High School · Basketball Team Room.
Sunlight streamed through the window into the slightly worn but memory-filled room.
Shimizu Kanon stood at the table, holding a thick stack of papers against her chest.
Each page was neatly organized, with player names and analysis from various high schools written cleanly on the covers.
She gently closed the topmost file.
A satisfied smile appeared on her face after finishing the task.
"All done! Ayako-senpai, let's go!"
Her voice rang crisp and confident, like handling all that paperwork was nothing unusual for her.
Ayako stood nearby, looking at the thick pile with clear admiration in her eyes.
She couldn't stop herself from saying, genuinely impressed,
"You're amazing… I can't believe you gathered this much detailed intel without complaining once. I would've quit halfway."
Shimizu Kanon smiled brightly at that.
Determination sparkled in her eyes.
"Because this is my job! And I'm really good at it too! I love doing this kind of work."
Sigh…
Ayako rubbed her forehead and sighed softly, with a trace of envy.
"Talented people really are built different."
Shimizu Kanon grinned.
"Hehe… it's about time. Let's head out!"
The two continued chatting as they packed up, then walked out of the team room together.
…
Shohoku High School · Gymnasium.
Bounce…
Bounce…
Bounce…
The sound of basketballs echoed nonstop.
Inside the gym, the atmosphere was hot and intense.
Players were spread out across the court, focused on their individual drills.
These were customized training routines made by Shimizu Kanon for each player.
Every move was broken down precisely.
From the angle of every step, to strength application, conditioning, rhythm, and even mental fortitude.
Everyone understood her ability.
They knew what her training plans meant.
So no one objected.
Only sweat and dedication silently filled the air.
But outside all the hustle and grind, on a bench by the court—
Aoi Kunisaku lay sprawled lazily.
His hands folded behind his head.
Eyes gently closed, like he had drifted into a nap.
His laid-back posture clashed with the tense training vibe.
Yet somehow, it felt completely natural.
Because it was autumn, the sunlight outside was bright.
But with winter drawing near, a chill had already crept into the air.
Autumn wind blew steadily, rustling the trees and carrying away the last traces of lingering warmth.
The rooftop, once perfect for soaking up the sun, no longer felt appealing.
Naturally, Aoi Kunisaku wasn't the type to insist on sunbathing in such cold.
He gave up the rooftop without hesitation and moved into the gym instead.
There, he sprawled out on a bench by the court, lounging without a care.
His eyes were closed, his face full of lazy comfort, like nothing in the world was worth paying attention to.
The rest of the team, seeing this, sensibly chose silence.
No one bothered him.
No one complained.
They just kept training quietly.
Sometimes they'd glance over at him.
Their eyes showed a bit of awe, mixed with a kind of habitual submission.
Then—
Still resting with his eyes closed, Aoi Kunisaku suddenly sensed a familiar presence approaching.
He didn't move.
Didn't even shift his breathing.
The next second, he slowly opened his eyes.
Standing beside him was Rukawa Kaede.
A basketball was tucked under his arm.
His hands hung at his sides.
His gaze burned into Aoi Kunisaku like fire.
Those usually cold eyes were now lit with a fierce will that almost scorched.
"Let's play."
His voice was as flat as always, but carried a weight that couldn't be ignored.
The air around the court froze.
Players stopped what they were doing and turned their heads toward the scene, eyes wide with shock and anticipation.
Aoi Kunisaku sat up.
He looked up at Rukawa Kaede, clearly feeling the wave of determination radiating from him.
He spoke softly.
His tone was so calm it was nearly indifferent.
"You're not my opponent."
Rukawa Kaede might now be able to activate his 'Wild Instinct' state.
To most people, that alone made him terrifying.
But to Aoi Kunisaku, 'wild instinct' was just the beginning of another tier.
Rukawa Kaede wasn't strong enough.
Not enough to make him interested.
Yet Rukawa Kaede's gaze didn't waver at all.
He didn't flinch.
Didn't lose confidence at those words.
Instead, he stepped forward and said firmly,
"1v1."
Nearby, others had noticed the odd atmosphere and quietly gathered.
A small circle formed, whispers flying under hushed breath.
Miyagi Ryota was the first to speak, curiosity and a bit of excitement gleaming in his eyes.
"You guys think Aoi Kunisaku's gonna accept the challenge?"
Mitsui Hisashi shrugged, looking totally uninterested.
"How the hell would I know?"
Sakuragi Hanamichi, meanwhile, wore a smug grin that nearly split his face in two.
His eyes gleamed, flickering wildly.
"Hmph hmph hmph… That stupid fox dares to challenge the no-spirit ghost? This is divine timing! I hope they both go down together. Then the Shohoku basketball team will belong to me—Sakuragi Hanamichi, the genius!"
Hahahahaha...
Just imagining himself as the star of the team had Sakuragi bursting into laughter.
That weird cackling sounded like a cartoon villain finally getting his way.
Miyagi Ryota and Mitsui Hisashi both twitched at the sound.
Without exchanging a word, they each shuffled a few steps away.
As if worried they might catch something.
'This kid might be seriously messed up…'
Back on the sideline, Aoi Kunisaku and Rukawa Kaede were still locked in a stare.
Time itself felt frozen in place.