Slam Dunk:Starting with perfect copy

Since the distance between Tokyo and Kanagawa was not far, the bus ride took less than an hour for Ryonan's team to return home. Surprisingly, Taoka Moichi, usually a strict disciplinarian, seemed satisfied with the results of the practice matches. For the first time in memory, he granted the players a half-day holiday.

The announcement was met with pure elation. The team, accustomed to relentless training, scattered like birds freed from a cage. Even Sendoh, who often endured scoldings for sneaking away to fish, immediately fetched his fishing rod and supplies. With a grin, he approached Kenichi Uesugi.

"Hey, Kenichi! Want to go fishing together?" he asked, full of enthusiasm.

Though Uesugi respected Sendoh, he couldn't help but decline. "I'm sorry, but I don't think fishing suits me. I'm not one to sit still for long."

Sendoh, visibly disappointed, sighed and muttered as he walked away, "You don't even like fishing? What a boring guy."

No sooner had Sendoh left than Aida Hikoichi appeared, his usual energy on full display. "Kenichi, any plans for the afternoon? Let's go for a walk!"

Having joined the team at the same time, Hikoichi had developed a deep admiration for Uesugi, who had been instrumental in their first victory together. After some thought,

Uesugi agreed. The stroll seemed like a good opportunity to familiarize himself with his surroundings, especially since he had barely explored the area since transferring.

The two wandered through the town, with Hikoichi acting as an enthusiastic tour guide. As they explored, Hikoichi couldn't help but ask, "Kenichi, you're not from around here, are you? You seem unfamiliar with the place."

Uesugi, not wanting to reveal too much,

replied casually, "Yeah, I'm from another area and transferred here recently."

Their lighthearted conversation was abruptly interrupted by a sharp female voice behind them. "Hikoichi!"

Hikoichi's face went pale as he turned to see Aida Yayoi, a well-known reporter for Basketball Weeklyand—unfortunately for him—his older sister. She parked her electric scooter and stormed over, grabbing Hikoichi by the ear.

"I pulled strings to get you on the basketball team, and instead of training, you're out here wasting time with this yellow-haired guy?" she scolded.

"Yellow-haired?" Uesugi looked around before realizing she meant him. Before he could clarify, Hikoichi cried out, "Sister, it hurts!"

Reluctantly, Yayoi released him, allowing Hikoichi to explain, "We just got back from a two-day trip to Tokyo for practice matches. Coach gave us the afternoon off!"

Yayoi's stern expression softened slightly. "You went to Tokyo? Why didn't I hear about this?" She gave her brother a hard look before turning her attention to Uesugi. "And who exactly is this?"

Hikoichi introduced him enthusiastically. "This is Kenichi Uesugi, our team's newest star! He's so good, even Sendoh can't beat him!"

Yayoi's skeptical gaze shifted to Uesugi. "Better than Sendoh? I'll believe it when I see it."

Uesugi, modest as ever, smiled. "Hikoichi's exaggerating. I still have a lot to learn."

Before the conversation could continue, a colleague called out to Yayoi, reminding her of an upcoming interview. With a hasty goodbye, she hopped back on her scooter and sped off.

After a bit more wandering, Hikoichi and Uesugi parted ways, each heading home to rest. The next day, Taoka Moichi returned to his usual strict demeanor. Training resumed with added intensity, and the players who had lost in previous in-team games faced their postponed punishments.

With the county competition drawing closer, the team's morale was soaring. Uesugi's remarkable skills had injected new energy into the squad, and alongside stalwarts like Sendoh and Uozumi, Ryonan's confidence in reaching the national stage was higher than ever.

One morning, as Uesugi entered the basketball hall, he noticed something unusual. The players were already deep into their drills, but Taoka Moichi was nowhere to be seen. Curious, he asked a teammate, "Where's the coach?"

"He's with someone," the teammate replied. "A fat, white-haired old man showed up, and the coach went to meet him."

The description immediately brought a name to Uesugi's mind: Coach Anzai. It seemed likely that Anzai was there to arrange a practice match with Ryonan in preparation for the upcoming tournament.

A few minutes later, Taoka Moichi appeared with Coach Anzai in tow, his demeanor unusually respectful. Uesugi watched the interaction with interest. With the competition fast approaching, he knew this was only the beginning of the challenges ahead.