Third person's point of view

Friday, June 24; 6:30am

Akagi, Y/n, and Sakuragi are inside the gym, practicing shooting.

"96 – Ah!" Sakuragi said his shoot did not went in.

"Stop! That's not right!" Akagi spoke. "You need to use your wrists."

"Really?" Sakuragi questioned.

"Also, you hold the ball wrong." Y/n added.

"Put the right hand on the ball just like this." Akagi instructed. Sakuragi asked about what to do with his left hand, Akagi said it is only for assist. "When you catch the ball, use the same way."

Y/n passes the ball to Sakuragi, and he caught it just like how Akagi told him to. They start practicing shooting again.

The second and third game of the finals are going to start, Shohoku has a special rigorous training program for Sakuragi. Akagi not only has to teach Sakuragi how to shoot, but he also must teach Sakuragi how to join Shohoku's offense, with Y/n's help of course.

Sakuragi tries to shoot the ball in a wrong position with that he got scolding from Akagi. "You body can't be tilted, jump straight up. Don't you know that?"

"You have to think about your posture often, now it is the most critical time." Y/n said to Sakuragi calmly. "If your basic skill is wrong, no matter how you practice is no use."

"The basic is the most important!" Sakuragi shouted. Y/n nodded proudly while Akagi looked stunned. "Right, Gori?"

"Very true!" Akagi shouted back. "What I'm saying is, that you'll have to practice a lot, till your body knows these moves very well."

Akagi even has a planned schedule for Sakuragi's shooting practice. Their shooting practice will continue until Friday.

Saturday, June 26

The day has finally come, Shohoku against Takezato

Today's Game

First Game (10:00)

Shohoku vs Takzato

Second Game (12:00)

Kainan Univ. High School Div. vs Ryonan

Cheers, screams, shouts are heard in the bleachers support for both schools. Akagi is starting to get mad because a certain redhead is not present, and the game is starting.

"Kuwata! go call him again!" Kogure asked his kohai.

"It's better that he isn't here." Rukawa said. Y/n nudge the blunt guy to stop talking and be nice.

"WHAT IS THAT *SSH*L* DOING!?" Akagi yelled, you could see visible tick mark on his forehead.

The started without Sakuragi. In the game, Rukawa scored, with the score of 25-16 to Shohoku. Akagi got subbed out in the game. As the game continues, the score is increasing but the gap is still big with 98-66 to Shohoku and still no sign of Sakuragi. With 5 minutes left in the game Sakuragi finally show up with bits of sweat and heavy breathing.

Akagi punched Sakuragi's head. "You stupid idiot! Did you forget the purpose of the special training?"

"This morning I also... practiced another 200 shots." Sakuragi pouted. "Then I fell asleep... That's all."

"Idiot!" You slept?" Akagi punched his head again. "Today, you won't play. I don't want to let Ryonan see the results of you special training."

Y/n stand beside Sakuragi. "I'm glad that you're practicing your shots but please don't over work yourself. Your practice will be no use if you're tied before the game."

Sakuragi looked at her and pouted more making the girl giggle. The game ended Shohoku now has 1 win and 1 loses. Next game, Kainan vs Ryonan. Shohoku is on the bleachers watching the two schools warm up for their game.

Nobunaga – the number 10 of Ryonan – slammed the ball hard on the ground when the ball bounced back and runs toward the hoop and jumps.

"THAT GUY LOVES SHOWING OFF!" Sakuragi yelled with clenching fists. At the same time beside Sakuragi, there's Rukawa with crossed arms with a visible tick mark.

Unfortunately for Nobunaga, the ball went in without his assistance. "Darn it!"

Sakuragi is laughing out loud for the epic fail that Nobunaga shown beside Rukawa there's Y/n trying to cover her laugh with her hand covering her mouth. On the other side of the court, Rukawa notice someone do a successful dunk shocking everyone in the bleachers. Akagi called him Fukuda just then Sakuragi is wondering if this Fukuda is Fuku-chan.

The game begins.

Starter players (Ryonan):

Number 13: Fukuda Miccho (2nd year)

Number 8: UekusA Tomoyuki (2nd year)

Number 7: Sendoh Akira (2nd year)

Number 6: Koshino Hiroaki (2nd year)

Number 4: Uozumi Jun (3rd year)

Starter Players (Kainan):

Number 10: Kiyota Nobunaga (1st year)

Number 8: Mutou Masashi (3ed year)

Number 6: Jin Souichirou (2nd year)

Number 5: Takasago Kazuma (3rd year)

Number 4: Maki Shinichi (3rd year)

While players are going to their respective places. Both captains started to challenge each other.

Game starts.

Ryonan got the ball first, the ball almost got stolen from Sendoh fortunately he got it back quickly. Sendoh passes the ball to Uozumi, the pass is too high. Everyone in the court thought it will be a missed pass, no one expected that Fukuda dunk the ball making the crowd yells in surprise. As game continues, Ryonan is on the lead with 8-16 to Ryonan. 14-25 to Ryonan, the coach of the Kainan calld for a timeout. Timeout over, Maki has the ball with Sendoh guarding him.

At the bleachers

"The other four players are used to guard Sendoh, while Maki cuts inside. It begins there, and Kainan has yet to reveal its attack tactic." Miyagi said.

"It's about to come anytime now." Akagi spoke.

At the court

Maki successfully got out of Sendoh's guard, two players form Ryonan blocks Maki, Nobunaga caught the ball form Maki. He was about to shoot the ball, but Sendoh pushes the ball out of this hand.

The first half has ended, Ryonan, on the upper hand ahead by 10 points. 29-39 to Ryonan. Although it has entered the second half of the game, the teams are still the same situation.

The audience are starting to recognize Fukuda's strength in the game. Fukuda keeps scoring and Kainan is starting to get frustrated.

Last Spring. The Sendoh that Ryonan's coach has been keeping an eye on entered the school from a middle school in Tokyo. Even though he was new, Sendoh's skills in basketball showed that he has potential to defeat even the key player Uozumi. There was also someone else who wished to challenge Uozumi, and he was their new student Fukuda. Of course, he was unable to defeat Uozumi, his techniques were the worst among the newbies. Fukuda always held a strong desire to compete against Sendoh. Back then, Ryonan's coach still haven't realize the great mistake he made.

A year later, the impatience and anger piled up in a year. Fukuda startd to poke the coach forehead with his pointer finger repeatedly. In the end the one has a greater self-pride is Fukuda, who has been yelled at all the time. The coach thought he has a strong, willful personality but he really is sensitive and easily hurt. What occurred during the practice game spread throughout the entire school, Fukuda decided not to participate in the team for an uncertain period. It's great that he is willing to come back.

44-59 to Ryonan. Kainan has now figure out that Ryonan made Sendoh to play their point guard because they've got Fukuda to play as their power forward, with that they have strong defense.

Sakuragi suddenly announces that he will be going home.

"Oi wild monkey! Carbon head! (Nobunaga)! Don't slack off! You don't want others to think we're weaklings, right?" Sakuragi yells from the bleachers' stairs.

"Be quiet read head! Shut up and look at yourself!" Nobunaga yells back.

"I'm going home! Idiot!" Sakuragi yells.

Back to the game.

Nobunaga got hype up on what Sakuragi said, with that he scores. 48-61 to Ryonan.

At the bleachers.

"Idiot..." Rukawa said while picking up his bag. "Let's go Y/n."

Y/n hummed and stands up with Rukawa.

"Oh? Rukawa, Y/n. You're going home too – " Rukawa cuts Kogure. "We already know enough about Ryonan, no need to continue watching."

"I'm leaving too." Mitsui said.

"Mitsui!" Kogure said.

"Leavin'!" Miyagi butted in.

"Ryotta!"

"Let's go." Rukawa said to Y/n and dragged her with him to the exit. Following behind them – Mitsui, and Miyagi.

The boys have different thoughts about Ryonan's game but there tis one that they all thought; 'Looks like this game will be up to me!'

As they parted ways, Y/n looped her arms around Rukawa's

"I'll be leaving my brother a text to let him know I left in the middle of the game." Y/n said as she starts to type her message for her brother. "Done!" Y/n puts her phone into her pocket.

Y/n was about to unloop her arm when Rukawa stopped her. Y/n looks at him confused.

"Where do you want to eat? My treat." Rukawa said.

"Aww Kaede-kun." Y/n said. "Let's go!" Y/n dragged Rukawa to where she wanted to eat.