Slam dunk, hit 100% of the three-pointers at the beginning!

The team training was over, and the spectators left the gym in small groups, still buzzing with excitement.

"Ha ha ha, that Sakuragi Hanamichi! He really is a hilarious genius."

"Yeah, and gutsy too! Who else would dare try to dunk right on Akagi Gori's head?"

"But that first-year… I think his name is Ryu? Not only is he good-looking, but his basketball skills are incredible. I can't wait to see him in real games!"

As they walked away, the crowd kept reliving the highlights of the practice match. It seemed Ryu's name would soon spread across Shōhoku High School.

"Everyone, gather up!"

Akagi roared like a beast.

At his command, the players quickly assembled into a line. From a glance, Sakuragi's forehead sported two large bumps—clearly Akagi's handiwork.

The first-year players stood proudly, their faces full of confidence. Every now and then, their eyes darted to Ryu, full of admiration.

Despite Sakuragi's antics, the first-years had taken a commanding lead in the scrimmage, thanks to Ryu and Rukawa. In their hearts, Ryu was already the pillar of their group.

Coach Anzai slowly walked to the front of the line, his half-closed eyes thoughtful. Then, with his signature gentle smile, he began his feedback.

"First, the first-years. Ryu-kun performed excellently. His explosiveness, shooting ability, and leadership are all at a very high level. He's more than capable of being a regular player. But… you still need to work on your stamina. If you do, then Shōhoku dominating the nation is just a matter of time."

He turned to Ryu with a grandfatherly smile full of approval.

The room was silent, the older players stunned by the coach's praise. Akagi, in particular, was floored. Since Anzai had taken over as coach, he had never heard him speak so highly of anyone.

Feeling everyone's gazes, Ryu blushed slightly, coughed to compose himself, and said firmly:

"Thank you, Coach Anzai, but my goal isn't just to dominate the nation—it's to dominate the world."

The room fell silent again.

Aside from Rukawa, everyone was shocked.

"Dominate the world? This kid's got ambition!"

Initially, some players wanted to refute him, but after recalling his performance today, they reconsidered. With talent like his, rapid progress seemed entirely possible.

Coach Anzai's eyes twinkled with a rare spark as he nodded in approval.

Rukawa, on the other hand, stayed silent. But if you looked closely, you could see a small fire igniting in his eyes as he glanced at Ryu.

Once the shock subsided, Coach Anzai continued.

"Rukawa-kun also performed very well, but remember—basketball is a team sport. Avoid relying too much on solo plays. You'll need to work on building better chemistry with your teammates."

Rukawa listened quietly. He didn't argue because he knew the coach was right. Most of his points came from solo efforts, with little teamwork involved.

"And Sakuragi-kun," Anzai said, "you're full of energy and have amazing athletic ability. But you need to focus on mastering the basics of basketball. Only then can your talent truly shine."

Hearing this, Sakuragi immediately perked up, his earlier gloom disappearing.

"Ha ha ha, I told you! I'm a genius!" he exclaimed proudly.

The rest of the team didn't say a word. They all rolled their eyes in unison, their faces full of exasperation.

After Coach Anzai's feedback, the players all bowed in gratitude.

"Thank you, Coach Anzai! We'll work even harder!"

"Heh heh heh, good. Keep it up. I'll be leaving now," Anzai said with a chuckle, patting his round belly as he walked out of the gym.

The golden rays of the setting sun lit up the players' faces as they stood watching him leave.

Once Anzai was gone, Akagi stepped forward to address the team.

"Everyone did well in today's scrimmage. But don't forget, we have a practice game against Ryonan High School in a week. You all know how tough Ryonan is, so don't slack off in training!"

He spoke with excitement, his mind filled with anticipation for the upcoming match.

With Ryu and Rukawa now on the team, Akagi felt a newfound confidence. Perhaps, in his final year of high school, he could finally achieve his dream of leading Shōhoku to nationwide dominance.

The players grabbed brooms and mops, cleaning the gym together.

About an hour later, Ryu waved goodbye to his teammates and headed to the locker room to change.

After getting dressed, he stepped out of the gym, ready to head to his home in this unfamiliar world.

But as soon as he exited, Hikoichi appeared before him.