The day after the practice match against Ryonan, news of Shohoku's surprising victory spread quickly through the school.
By morning, Nango's desk was surrounded by curious classmates, all eager to hear the details.
Kumaji, who had entered Shohoku with him, leaned forward and asked, "Nango, is it true? Did the basketball team really beat Ryonan—the top-four team from last year—yesterday?"
Nango chuckled. "Of course it's true, you idiot! Our team's really strong this year."
"Seriously?! When's the next game? I want to come cheer for you!"
"Haha, thanks in advance! The tryouts will probably be next month. I'll let you know once the schedule's set."
Another classmate chimed in excitedly, "I heard you even went head-to-head with Ryonan's ace, Sendoh. Is that true?"
Nango waved his hand, smiling humbly. "It wasn't as dramatic as that—just a normal confrontation."
The more the crowd buzzed, the more Nango found himself cornered. At last, he stood up and said, "Alright, class is about to start. If you've got time, come watch the basketball club sometime."
"No problem! We'll definitely support you, Nango! You guys have to make Nationals!"
Unlike the aloof Rukawa Kaede and the eccentric Sakuragi Hanamichi, Nango quickly became popular among his peers. He was diligent in class, polite, and well-liked by both students and teachers. On top of that, he was proving himself as an athlete.
Though he wasn't quite as strikingly handsome as Rukawa, his approachable personality made him especially appealing. Many of the girls in class had already set their sights on him.
Unfortunately for them, Nango's heart and energy belonged entirely to basketball.
That afternoon, Shohoku's basketball team resumed practice as usual. No one allowed the win over Ryonan to make them complacent.
After all, their captain had made his dream clear: dominate the nation. Compared to that lofty goal, a practice-game victory was nothing to dwell on.
The gym echoed with the sounds of basketballs bouncing, sneakers squeaking, and Nango's voice carrying across the court.
"Yasuda, don't hesitate! When you're running plays, shout the call or raise your hand to signal! Take charge and direct your teammates!"
"Rukawa, keep your hands up! Don't just watch the ball—pay attention to the man in front of you!"
"Sakuragi, box out! You want the ball? Then finish your layups first!"
Since the Ryonan match, the team's bonds had grown stronger. Nango naturally found himself stepping in as a leader, guiding drills like a captain. Surprisingly, the others took his advice seriously, and the results showed.
On the sidelines, Ayako smiled and said to Akagi, "He'd make a good candidate for the next captain, wouldn't he, senpai?"
Akagi didn't answer directly. His gaze grew thoughtful. "…Ayako, he's coming back soon, isn't he?"
Ayako's smile faded. "…Senpai, when he returns, how should we handle it?"
Akagi was silent for a long moment before replying firmly, "We'll let his performance on the court decide."
"Damn you, Nango! Who do you think you are, yelling at me like that?!" After practice, Sakuragi stormed over, fists clenched, ready to "teach" Nango a lesson.
Before Nango could reply, Rukawa, standing nearby, muttered coldly, "Idiot."
"What did you say, you stinky fox?!" Sakuragi roared.
Whack! Ayako smacked him with her paper fan. "Cut the nonsense and start your basics."
"Ayako…" Sakuragi whined pitifully. Why is no one on my side? Is there no love in this team?
But just then, Haruko spoke up softly, "Sakuragi, you played really well yesterday. Keep it up."
His eyes lit up instantly. "R-really? Haha, of course I did!" The encouragement revived him completely. There is love in this world after all!
Nango grinned. "Sakuragi, once you master layups, I'll help you find scoring opportunities."
"Who needs your help?!" Sakuragi snapped. "Sooner or later, I'll beat you all!"
Nango raised his hands in mock surrender. "Alright, alright. I'll be waiting for your challenge. Anyway, I'm heading out—see you guys tomorrow!"
Instead of heading straight home, Nango stopped by a nearby gym.
He had spent his recent rewards to boost his agility, knowing that raw speed wasn't the issue yet—agility was. Without it, keeping up with players like Rukawa and Sendoh would be difficult.
But potential wasn't like flipping a switch in a video game. To unlock it, he had to grind it out in training, targeting core muscle groups until his body fully caught up.
That was why he'd gotten a gym membership. Only by combining raw potential with discipline and training could he upgrade both his "hardware" and "software."
Sweat dripped as he powered through his final set. His adult mindset and unrelenting drive pushed him forward—every step solid, every effort deliberate. That was the only way to the top.
By the time he finished, he was exhausted. After a shower, he left the gym, grabbing a cold drink from a convenience store on his way home.
"Ahhh, I'm alive again," he sighed in relief.
But as he stepped outside, he bumped shoulders with a man in black.
"Sorry," Nango muttered, too tired to bother.
The man glared, ready to lash out—until he saw Nango's physique. He clicked his tongue instead. "Watch it, jerk."
His companions burst into laughter. "Hah! Jiro, you chickened out! You didn't dare pick a fight with him, did you?"
"Tch. I'll let him off this time since he apologized," Jiro grumbled. "But if I see him again, I'll definitely teach him a lesson."
Just then, a third-year named Ade squinted. "Wait… isn't that guy Nango Koichiro from the basketball team?"
The bespectacled one adjusted his glasses. "Yeah. That's him."
A long-haired man wearing a mask asked, "What's the big deal, Ade?"
"Nothing," Ade replied. "He's on the basketball team, like Miyagi—but just a first-year."
The masked man's eyes sharpened. "Another one, huh?"
"Forget him for now," Ade said. "Our first target is still Miyagi. When he returns to school, tell me right away. This time, we'll make sure he pays. The rest? We'll deal with them later."
Everyone nodded. "Got it, Mitsui."
Mitsui glanced back at Nango, his eyes darkening. Then, with a sharp stomp, he crushed Ade's half-lit cigarette into the ground.
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