"Yoshi! Another goal!!"
In the center of the court, Sendoh seized the ball again, swiftly changing direction and slicing through two defenders like a blade through water. With a burst of speed, he charged inside, fierce and unstoppable—like a tiger descending a mountain.
"Stop him!!"
The opposing players under the basket immediately sprang into action, spreading their arms wide to block Sendoh's path.
But Sendoh merely raised his eyebrows and smoothly dribbled behind his back, passing the ball to a teammate positioned in an open space.
"Thanks, Sendoh!!"
The teammate's eyes lit up with excitement as he caught the ball and leaped into the air for a clean shot.
"Snort!"
"Bang!!"
Just as the ball left his hands, a defender from the opposing team blocked it. The rebound was instantly claimed, and the other team wasted no time counterattacking toward the opposite basket. Sendoh and his teammates reacted quickly, sprinting after them with relentless energy.
Watching the intense match from outside the court, Oliver couldn't help but clench his fists.
"So intense…"
From their height and playing style, it was clear that Sendoh and his teammates were up against a college-level team with solid coordination and sharp execution.
In contrast, Sendoh's own team looked like a temporary assembly of players with no real chemistry. They lacked cohesion, functioning more like scattered sand than a proper unit.
They were holding on, but only because of Sendoh's extraordinary individual strength.
Yet as Oliver had said from the very beginning—
Basketball isn't a one-man game.
"Damn... My hands are getting itchy..."
Oliver licked his lips, eyes blazing with anticipation.
He hadn't played in days. Watching such a thrilling game ignited a fire inside him. He needed to play.
"Big brother…"
Feeling the increasing pressure in his grip, Qianhua looked up at Oliver, who was lost in thought, and gave a soft, bitter smile.
Sure enough, in her brother's heart, basketball was still his greatest love.
"Big brother!"
Snapping out of his daze, Oliver turned to see Qianhua smiling brightly at him.
"There's a basketball court right over there! Why don't you show Chika your skills?"
"Me?" Oliver hesitated. "But I haven't bought the pot yet… What if the mall closes?"
Qianhua chuckled and shook her head.
"Ever since I heard you beat Kaede Rukawa, I've been waiting to see you in action again! Chika really wants to see how strong you've become!"
She clung to Oliver's arm like a spoiled child.
"Just do it for Chika~ please~!"
"…Okay, okay, I get it. Geez, there are so many people around. This is a bit embarrassing."
It was peak time for office workers to leave, and the sidewalks were bustling with pedestrians. Qianhua, already adorable, acting all cutesy in public? Passersby cast judgmental looks at Oliver.
Scratching his head awkwardly, he patted Qianhua on the head.
"All right! I'll go play for a bit. I'll finish up quickly so we can go shopping together!"
With that, Oliver and Qianhua made their way to the nearby court. At the moment, all eyes on the field were focused on the ongoing game in the center.
"Swish!"
Another shot hit the net cleanly. The scoreboard read 30:36—both teams were locked in a dead heat.
"Come on! Sendoh-san!!"
In the stands, a stylish woman with short hair and striking red lipstick was cupping her hands around her mouth to cheer for Sendoh.
Beside her stood a boy with a flat-top haircut, feverishly scribbling notes in a small notebook.
"Wait a second…"
Oliver's eyes widened in surprise as he recognized them.
The Aida siblings from Slam Dunk!
"Sis! Sendoh-senpai just made another awesome play! Even against a college team, he's dominating! He really is Ryonan's ace! I have to pay close attention and write this all down!"
Aida Hikoichi, in his distinctive Kansai dialect, excitedly documented every moment of Sendoh's brilliance.
"Hmph! That's only natural—Sendoh's a rare talent!"
Aida Yayoi puffed her chest proudly, feeling a sense of fulfillment as others praised her beloved Sendoh.
Both were significant side characters in Slam Dunk.
The overly enthusiastic younger brother, Aida Hikoichi, was a benchwarmer on Ryonan's basketball team. Though he didn't play much, his passion for the sport was sincere. He was also Ryonan's only and best "intelligence officer," often providing critical tactical insights through his meticulous notes.
His catchphrase?
"Pay close attention!"
Then there was his older sister, Aida Yayoi, a dedicated sports journalist covering the national high school basketball league. She worked for Basketball Weekly and shared her brother's devotion to the sport. Like him, her catchphrase was also:
"Pay close attention!"
She often traveled extensively to attend major games in person and gather firsthand intel. Though professional and strict with her juniors, she had the odd habit of always running into traffic jams on assignment.
Aida Yayoi held a deep admiration for Ryonan's star player, Akira Sendoh. She considered him a once-in-a-generation talent with a limitless future. So much so that she even clashed with her editor to write a dedicated feature on him.
Interestingly, she was also there during the match where Oliver had unexpectedly defeated Kaede Rukawa. She even penned a brief write-up about him afterward.
"...Huh?"
Spotting Oliver and Qianhua approaching, Hikoichi froze for a second. Then, after confirming who it was, he suddenly pointed at Oliver and shouted:
"Ah! Why are you here too?!"
"Thud!"
His loud outburst earned him a swift knock on the head.
"What the heck, Hikoichi? You scared me!" Yayoi patted her chest to calm down, then followed his gaze.
Upon seeing Oliver walking toward them, her expression shifted instantly.
"Ah—! It's you, Oliver!?"
She pointed at him, blinking in disbelief.
"Uh… do you know me?" Oliver asked, instinctively stepping in front of Qianhua to shield her.
What was going on?
He could understand himself knowing these characters because he was a time traveler.
But why did so many characters from this world seem to know him already?
"Of course I know you! Don't you remember? A month and a half ago, you played against Kaede Rukawa in the finals! That was a huge game!"
Yayoi ran over excitedly.
"I was the reporter covering the event for Basketball Weekly! I recorded every second of your amazing performance!"
"Oh… thanks for noticing," Oliver replied sheepishly.
Now that he thought about it… maybe he had heard Haruko mention something about him being featured in Basketball Weekly.
But since the magazine came out weekly, by the time he found out, several issues had already been published. He didn't bother trying to hunt them down.
So, in the end, the very person who was featured in the article never actually saw it or had any idea how he was portrayed.
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