"…So that's what really happened."
Haruko sat stunned after Oliver finished recounting the events on the rooftop. The classroom around them was quiet, the end-of-class bell still echoing faintly in the halls.
"Oh my god… this is so embarrassing…"
After the rooftop battle, class had resumed. Haruko had hurried back to her classroom in a daze, while Sakuragi had collapsed on the floor, devastated. Oliver, seeing the tension still unresolved, went to Haruko's class after school to clear the misunderstanding.
"I can't believe I jumped to conclusions so easily…" Haruko muttered, burying her face in her hands.
Earlier that day, she'd proudly told her friends not to judge people based on appearances. Yet, on the rooftop, she hadn't even asked what happened. She'd assumed—wrongly—that the wound on Rukawa's head was caused by Sakuragi.
How was that any different from judging a book by its cover?
"I'm such a terrible person…" she whispered. "I even said… 'I hate you the most'… right to Sakuragi-kun's face…"
Haruko lay her head down on the desk, distressed.
"Don't worry too much," Oliver said gently, giving her a thumbs-up. "Hanamichi probably didn't take it that seriously. He's tough."
"Do you really think so? But I feel so ashamed… I don't know if I can even face him right now…"
"It's fine! Just go and say hi. Once he sees you, he'll be back to his usual self in seconds!"
Meanwhile, in Class 7, Year 1…
Sakuragi Hanamichi sat slumped over his desk, dark clouds seemingly hanging over his head. His low mood had created an oppressive atmosphere that made everyone avoid him.
"Yikes… he's really taking this hard," Mito whispered as he crouched in the back corner of the classroom with the rest of Sakuragi's gang.
"First, he found out Haruko has a crush on Rukawa… then she outright said she hated him," Noma added, shaking his head. "Two back-to-back hits like that? That'd kill anyone's spirit."
They glanced toward Sakuragi again—his posture hadn't changed at all. It looked like his soul had left his body.
"Didn't Oliver go to explain the situation to Haruko?" Takamiya asked. "Why hasn't he come back yet?"
"No idea. Maybe it didn't go as planned?"
"Even if the misunderstanding's cleared up… Haruko still likes Rukawa, right? That's the real problem here."
"I can't just watch this anymore," Ohkusu declared, standing up. "I'm gonna go talk to him."
He walked over and clapped Sakuragi on the back. "Come on, Hanamichi. It's just a rejection. You've been rejected plenty of times before!"
No response.
"And besides… Haruko only likes Rukawa because he's good at basketball, right? You might suck at it now, but if you just practice a little—"
BANG!
Ohkusu flew backward from a sudden headbutt.
"Wh-why…?"
"That's why I'm mad, idiot!" Sakuragi roared. "I can't stand hearing the word 'basketball' right now!!"
BANG!
Before anyone could react, Noma—who was trying to explain things—was also headbutted to the ground.
In the background, other students on break had started chatting.
"Hey, did you catch the rugby match last night? It was—"
"Basketball!?" Sakuragi snapped, mishearing.
He sprang into action, headbutting an innocent bystander.
"Someone fix that cable over there before class starts again."
"Basketball!?" he misheard again—and another student hit the ground.
"Isn't this a bit… extreme?" Takamiya muttered, wiping sweat from his forehead. "He's too sensitive right now…"
"Please hurry, Oliver…" Mito whispered, watching the destruction unfold. "Bring Haruko before Hanamichi kills someone."
Just then, Sakuragi sighed heavily, stood up, and silently walked out of the classroom.
"Hanamichi!" Mito whispered urgently. "He's on the move! Follow him!"
Sakuragi wandered through the school campus, the cherry blossoms gently falling around him, creating a picture of romantic tragedy. His gang followed at a distance, silent and concerned.
"Hanamichi looks… really heartbroken this time," Takamiya muttered, holding back tears.
Suddenly, Mito spotted something from the corner of his eye—a basketball flying toward Sakuragi.
"Hanamichi! Look out!!"
"?"
Sakuragi turned his head in confusion—just in time to take the basketball square to the face.
"Oh no…"
The group gasped.
"Sorry! I didn't mean to! It flew out during practice—WAIT! Red hair… that's Sakuragi Hanamichi!!"
The two basketball club members froze in horror as they recognized who they'd hit.
The basketball rolled off Sakuragi's face and fell to the ground. Slowly, he touched his nose… and saw blood on his hand.
"?"
His body began to shake. His suppressed rage erupted all at once.
"YOU TWO!!"
He lunged forward, lifting both basketball players off the ground—one in each hand—like dolls.
"Basketball again!! What, do I have a curse!? Do I look like someone who LOVES basketball!? You two just LOVE this stupid sport, huh!?"
"Aaaaaahhh!! Captain!! Help!!"
The two squirmed in terror, while Mito and the others rushed in to hold Sakuragi back.
"Calm down, Hanamichi! I'm part of the basketball club too! Please, spare me!"
"That's right, let's not cause a scene! Put them down!"
"You're all so noisy! No one's allowed to say 'basketball' in front of me!!"
BANG! BANG!
Sakuragi headbutted the two club members. They crumpled to the ground, dazed and trembling.
"Wait, Hanamichi! Behind you!"
Sakuragi blinked and turned around—only to find a towering figure standing behind him.
The boy was built like a tank, with a shaved head, sharp eyes, and thick lips. His presence alone was enough to make anyone stand up straight.
It was none other than Akagi Takenori, captain of the Shohoku basketball team, Haruko's older brother, and the top center in Kanagawa Prefecture!
"Yasuda, Shiozaki! What are you two doing!? Practice already started!" Akagi barked, pointing toward the gym.
"Stop slacking! This year, we're going to the national tournament!"
"Whoa… he's huge," Takamiya whispered.
"He's even taller than Hanamichi," Mito added.
Sakuragi's gang stared at Akagi, stunned. None of them had seen someone this intimidating since enrolling in Shohoku.
"And he looks strong as hell," Ohkusu muttered. "Let's hope Hanamichi doesn't pick a fight with—"
Before he could finish, Sakuragi had already grabbed Akagi by the head.
"Hey, what are you—?"
CRACK!
A brutal headbutt slammed into Akagi's forehead, sending shockwaves through the group.
"Guh… what's your problem, you little—"
"You're too noisy!! Anyone who mentions basketball is getting smacked!!"
Sakuragi pointed at Akagi, his face red with rage.
"Basketball this, basketball that! It's just a stupid game! Rukawa!? He's an idiot! Everyone who plays basketball is an idiot!!"
"Hanamichi, calm down…" Mito whispered, horrified.
"Yeah, don't forget… Oliver likes basketball too…"
"Shut up!!"
Sakuragi had lost all control. The sting of being hated by Haruko had pushed him past the edge.
But he wasn't the only one seeing red.
The club members on the ground trembled.
"He insulted… the captain's beloved basketball…"
"Oh no… he's dead."
Akagi's forehead twitched. A vein popped as he clenched his fists and slowly stood up.
"You said… basketball is just a game of pitching!?"
The air suddenly turned cold.
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