Chapter 14 My name is Onizuka Eikichi
"Coach Anzai, thank you for your guidance. We'll see you again at the prefectural tournament."
Taoka Moichi shook hands with Anzai Mitsuyoshi, his smile composed but carrying unmistakable competitiveness.
"If we meet again," Akagi Takenori said firmly, "we won't lose."
Uozumi Jun nodded, eyes sharp. "Next time, I'll beat you under the basket."
Their rivalry ended with mutual respect. Sendoh Kaede gave Sakuragi a casual wave, as relaxed as ever.
As Ryonan's team began to leave, Sakuragi suddenly stepped toward Taoka.
"Hey, Coach Taoka! Do you have a daughter named… Maruko?"
Taoka paused, genuinely surprised. "Hm? I do have a daughter. Why?"
Sakuragi froze.
It can't be… I thought her family name was Sakai…
Before he could ask more, Akagi grabbed him by the collar and dragged him toward the station with the others.
The train ride back to Shohoku was filled with noise and laughter.
"We beat Ryonan!"
"They were last year's runner-up!"
"If we keep this up, we'll go to the national tournament!"
Mitsui smirked, arms behind his head. Kogure smiled gently. Akagi sat with arms folded, stern as always, but his eyes betrayed satisfaction.
Rukawa leaned against the window with his headphones on, eyes half-closed, ignoring everyone.
And in the center of the commotion, Sakuragi basked in praise.
"Nice passes, Sakuragi!"
"That block on Uozumi was insane!"
His chest swelled with pride.
I'm a genius… a basketball genius!
But as he shifted his feet, a cold draft brushed his toes.
He looked down.
The sole of his cheap school sneakers had split open, the rubber peeling away like a yawning mouth.
"…Damn."
Reality struck hard.
He was still poor.
No allowance. No savings. Just odd jobs. A new pair of basketball shoes was far beyond reach.
He clenched his fists.
Am I supposed to steal like some delinquent? No way! I'm a genius athlete — I have dignity!
Sunday. No practice.
Sakuragi spent the day standing behind a convenience store counter, wearing a loose uniform apron, scanning items endlessly as the freezer hummed in the background.
"Thank you. Please come again."
By nightfall, his legs trembled from standing all day.
He left work, shoulders slumped, walking through dimly lit streets. A pack of modified motorcycles roared past, their exhaust rattling the night.
He turned into the narrow alley near his apartment.
Then—
A sharp shout.
"Hey! Tall girl, think you're better than us?"
"What school are you from, huh?"
"Don't ignore us!"
Sakuragi frowned and looked ahead.
Several delinquent girls in flashy clothes surrounded a lone girl in a plain hoodie and skirt. They shoved her back and forth, laughing cruelly.
Normally, Sakuragi wouldn't bother with random street fights.
But then—
He saw her face.
Long black hair. Clear eyes. A delicate, familiar expression.
…No way.
His heart skipped.
She looked exactly like the singer etched into his past life's memories — the voice that once filled his headphones late at night.
Yet this world had no ZARD. No Izumi Sakai.
And still— here she was, standing in front of him like a ghost from another life.
Sachiko Sakaizumi's mind was blank.
She had only been walking home from school.
But her height and appearance had drawn attention — and now she was trapped.
Shoves. Laughter. Cigarette smoke.
Fear tightened her chest.
Is this really happening…?
Just as despair took hold—
A loud voice cut through the alley.
"Hey. What do you think you're doing to my woman?"
The alley froze.
A towering figure stepped forward under the streetlight.
Red pompadour. Broad shoulders. School uniform shirt hanging loose. A delinquent's swagger—but with eyes blazing like a warrior.
Sakuragi Hanamichi.
The girls hesitated. Even among delinquents, size mattered. And this guy was enormous.
The leader forced a sneer.
"Who the hell are you? Stay out of this!"
Sakuragi cracked his neck.
"You heard me. She's with me. So if you're picking on her… you're picking on me."
He took one step forward.
The air itself felt heavy.
The girls backed off instinctively.
"…Tch. Fine! Give us your name then, tough guy!"
Sakuragi grinned, thinking fast.
"Hear it well! I'm Onizuka Eikichi of Shonan! Come find me if you've got guts!"
(Somewhere in another manga universe, a certain biker-turned-teacher sneezed violently.)
"O-Onizuka… we'll remember this!"
The gang fled, heels clattering as they disappeared into the night.
Silence returned to the alley.
Sachiko exhaled shakily.
She turned toward her rescuer.
Tall. Red-haired. Intimidating. Loud.
He had just called her "my woman."
Her relief mixed with fresh anxiety.
Did I just escape one group of delinquents… only to be claimed by another?
She hugged herself nervously.
Sakuragi, meanwhile, scratched his cheek, suddenly unsure what to say.
"…Uh. You okay?"