Slam Dunk: Sakuragi learned from Kawamura Eiki's experience

The basketball club's activity area was small, just an old indoor gymnasium with a tin roof and faded characters "Wenwu Liangdao" painted on the wall. The door was half open, and the sound of basketball shoes rubbing against the floor could be heard from inside.

Takamiya Nozomi walked at the front, pushed open the gymnasium door, and stepped inside first. Hands on her hips, she imitated the trembling tongue of a Japanese yakuza, her voice so loud the entire building could hear: "Hey...! Get your boss out here!"

Da Nan followed closely behind, arms crossed, chin held high, and added, "That's right! It's that Xiao Tian guy from your group!"

Looking at him like this, he doesn't seem like he's here to join the basketball club; he's clearly here to challenge them.

Inside the gymnasium, the first few basketball team members who arrived were practicing dribbling in vests when they were startled by the sudden commotion.

The ball, which was being dribbled by a short guard, rolled away and only stopped after hitting the wall.

Another, slightly overweight striker was drinking water and nearly choked to death; water sprayed out of his nose.

They turned to look at the doorway, where Sakuragi Hanamichi, a towering 186cm tall man, stood in the middle of the four, surrounded by the Sakuragi Army like stars around the moon. His shadow pierced through the doorway, exuding an imposing aura.

Upon closer inspection, the expressions on these people's faces changed completely.

Who doesn't know Sakuragi?

Sakuragi Hanamichi's name was synonymous with fighting at school. And none of the four people around him were easy to mess with.

The basketball team members exchanged glances, unconsciously taking a half-step back. One of them muttered under his breath, "What are they doing here... are they here to cause trouble?"

Just as the atmosphere became tense, Oda Ryusei stepped out from behind the crowd.

He was wearing a sports vest, and at 183 cm tall, he was noticeably taller than his teammates, but still a little shorter than the 186 cm tall red figure at the door.

Although he was a little nervous, he still tried his best to appear as the team's leader, with a serious expression, chin slightly raised, eyes fixed on Sakuragi, and a soft but clear voice: "What is it?"

Chuichiro Noma stroked his mustache, took a half-step forward, and looked like a "junior brother relaying a message from his elder brother":

"Of course we're here to sign up our boss Sakuragi for the basketball team!"

The moment the words left his mouth, everyone in the basketball team froze for a moment.

"what?"

The expressions on the group's faces changed from fear to confusion. They weren't here to fight? They were here to join the basketball club?

One of the team members, wearing a headband, whispered, "Are they... serious?"

Oda Ryusei's expression did not soften; instead, it darkened further.

He paused for two seconds, looked at Sakuragi, and said, word by word, "Impossible. We don't accept it."

Sakuragi was stunned. He had thought it was a done deal; even the teacher praised him as a genius, so who did Oda think he was? But being rejected to his face, a surge of anger rose within him.

"Why is it impossible?" Sakuragi's voice turned somber as he stared at Oda.

Oda Ryusei met his gaze without backing down, his tone cold and firm: "Our basketball club doesn't accept delinquents. Basketball is not something a delinquent like you can tarnish."

The word "defile" landed on the ground, and the stadium fell silent for a moment.

Sakuragi's face flushed red instantly, and the veins on his forehead throbbed slightly. He clenched his fist, and his knuckles cracked twice.

Standing to the side, Takamiya Nozomi's eyes lit up when she saw this, and she was the first to stir things up: "Oh my, that's quite a bold statement."

Da Nan followed with a wicked grin: "Boss Sakuragi, you can tolerate this? Let's teach him a lesson."

Noma, hands in his pockets, said casually, "Let him know what it's like to be the boss of our Sakuragi Army."

The three of them chatted away, adding fuel to the fire with great enthusiasm.

Oda Ryusei stood motionless, his neck stiff, with a hint of disdain in his eyes, as if he was certain that Sakuragi wouldn't dare to make a move in the gymnasium.

Sakuragi's anger was burning to his throat, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked. He took a step forward...

"Huh? What are you doing?!"

A familiar voice came from the doorway. Everyone turned to look, and there stood the PE teacher, Hiromitsu Takeda, holding a folder in his hand, his gaze sweeping across the room.

Sakuragi's expression changed instantly.

His previous murderous aura vanished as if doused with cold water, and he immediately shrank back.

He turned around, a sweet smile plastered on his face, and his voice softened: "Mr. Takeda! I'm here to sign up for the basketball club."

His tone and expression were completely different from before. The four members of Sakuragi's gang watching from the side twitched at the corners of their mouths; this guy's change of expression was too fast.

In Sakuragi's eyes, Mr. Takeda was the first person to praise his talent.

For this reason alone, he had an extremely good impression of the teacher.

"You're signing up for the basketball club?" Takeda looked at Sakuragi. "You're here so early."

"Yeah, right!" Sakuragi immediately chimed in, his tone carrying a hint of smug satisfaction, then he quickly turned and pointed in Oda's direction, "But he won't let me in!"

His tone and expression were just like a primary school student who had been bullied and went to the teacher to complain.

Xiaotian's lips twitched.

Takeda glanced at Sakuragi, then at Oda, and roughly understood what was going on.

He nodded, his tone calm: "Okay, I understand. Oda, I've approved Sakuragi's application to join the club."

Oda Ryusei opened his mouth as if to say something, but seeing Takeda-sensei's expression, he swallowed his words.

Sakuragi was standing there, a smug smile on his face that he couldn't suppress. His eyes glanced at Oda, his eyes saying, "Did you hear that? The teacher sent me."

Xiaotian's expression wasn't good, but he didn't say anything more.

Takeda patted Sakuragi on the shoulder: "Come on, come in first, I'll get you the club application form."

"Yes, teacher!" Sakuragi's voice was so loud that it could be heard throughout the entire basketball court.

He followed Takeda inside, and when he passed Oda, he deliberately paused, looking smug.

The two brushed past each other, but something in the air seemed to be subtly vying for dominance.

The four members of Sakuragi's gang leaned against the door. Takamiya nudged Ooku with his elbow: "How long do you think Sakuragi can hold out?"

Da Nan shrugged: "I don't know, but it'll definitely be interesting to watch."

Noma squatted by the door, chewing on a blade of grass he'd somehow pulled out: "Anyway, it's more fun than beating up pachinko."

Yohei didn't say anything, leaning against the door frame with his hands in his pockets, watching Sakuragi follow Takeda toward the table in the corner of the basketball court.

At least, this guy has found something meaningful to do, even if the goal is to attract girls.