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

The next morning—

"Shōhoku! Let's go!"

Akagi raised his fists and shouted with determination after everyone had gathered.

This wasn't his first time facing Ryonan High School. In every past match, Shōhoku had suffered crushing defeats due to the lack of strong teammates.

But this time, with Ryu and Rukawa Kaede on the team, Akagi believed they had a real chance to win.

Hearing Akagi's powerful yell, everyone's spirits rose, including Ryu, who was excited for his first official match against another high school.

"Yeah! Shōhoku will win!"

The team roared in unison, clenching their fists with passion.

Coach Anzai watched, his heart full of pride. "Heh heh heh, everyone, make sure to give it your all!"

Though it was just a practice match, scouts from other schools were expected to attend. This game wasn't about Shōhoku—a team often dismissed as weak—but about Ryonan High, one of the top four teams in Kanagawa.

When Coach Anzai and the Shōhoku team stepped into Ryonan's gym, they were met with unfriendly stares from the Ryonan students.

"Look, Shōhoku is here."

"The team that always gets eliminated in the first round? What are they doing here? They're going to embarrass themselves again."

"Ha ha, exactly! They only have Akagi Takenori, and maybe that Rukawa guy from Fukawa Middle School. The rest are useless."

"This is going to be a one-sided match."

The mocking comments filled the air, and the students' faces were full of disdain.

Hearing the ridicule, Akagi and the others couldn't hide their anger.

Sakuragi Hanamichi was the first to snap. He stood up, ready to lash out, but Akagi grabbed him firmly and scolded him with a dark expression.

"Sakuragi, calm down! Let them say whatever they want."

Even though Akagi himself was furious, he chose to endure it.

Ryu placed a hand on Sakuragi's shoulder and said calmly, "Weak people rely on words, while strong ones let their actions speak. If they look down on us, we'll crush them on the court."

Sakuragi, still fuming, took a deep breath and reluctantly calmed down after hearing Akagi and Ryu's advice.

Meanwhile, Kogure glanced at Ryu with surprise. This kid may be young, but he's incredibly mature.

As the Shōhoku players moved into the gym, the eyes of Ryonan's female students shifted from Akagi to Ryu.

"Look! That guy from Shōhoku is so handsome!"

"Where? Where?"

Their gazes scanned the team before locking onto Ryu.

Within moments, dreamy expressions filled their faces, and they melted on the spot.

Even Sendo Akira, Ryonan's usual heartthrob, seemed to pale in comparison to Ryu in their eyes.

Coach Taoka Moichi, Ryonan's head coach, approached with a brisk pace.

"Coach Anzai, I look forward to this match," he said politely.

Coach Anzai responded with a smile, and the two exchanged pleasantries.

Soon after, Ryonan's team captain, Uozumi Jun, walked up to greet Coach Anzai before turning to Akagi.

"Akagi, I'm going to beat you today," Uozumi said, his tone full of challenge.

Although Ryonan had always defeated Shōhoku in their matches, Uozumi, as a center, was often regarded as inferior to Akagi by the basketball community.

To surpass this perception, Uozumi saw Akagi as the obstacle he had to overcome.

The first-years, including Kuwata, gawked at Uozumi's towering figure.

"He's so tall! Is that Ryonan's captain? Akagi-senpai's rival?"

"This pressure is insane! I can barely breathe just looking at him."

Ryu quietly activated his system to scan Uozumi.

[Character: Uozumi Jun]

Height: 202 cm

Weight: 90 kg

Stamina: B

Speed: C

Strength: A

Jumping Ability: B-

No wonder he's Akagi's lifelong rival, Ryu thought.

Uozumi's physique was imposing, and his strength even surpassed Akagi's, making him a formidable presence. However, his basketball skills seemed to fall slightly short, which explained why Akagi often had the upper hand in their matchups.

Akagi smiled slightly and said, "Uozumi, it's been a while. Let's see how much you've improved."

Though his words were polite, his eyes burned with a fiery determination.

Uozumi smirked back.

As their eyes met, the tension between them was almost palpable, like the crackling of electricity.