You'd think teaching Sakuragi one move wouldn't change my life.
But ever since his surprise hook shot, he's been buzzing around me like a caffeinated golden retriever. Now everyone thinks I'm his coach. Which means people have started noticing me.
I hate it here.
Haruko Appears (Soft Piano Cue)
"Um… excuse me? You're Kudo-kun, right?"
I looked up from my bent knees. Post-practice. Out of breath. Drenched.
And there she was—Haruko Akagi. Sweet, kind, soft-spoken. Basically the opposite of her terrifying gorilla-brother, Akagi-senpai.
"Sakuragi's been really focused lately. He said… you've been helping?"
I blinked. She was smiling.
I might've choked on my sports drink.
"U-Uh… y-yeah. Just a little. I mean—just tips! Just friendly tips! Not a coach! Haha!"
She giggled.
"Thanks for supporting him. He's a little… loud. But he means well."
I didn't know how to respond, so I nodded like a malfunctioning Roomba.
Ayako Appears (With Clipboard and Judgment)
Then came Ayako. Shohoku's assistant manager. Tactical genius. Known for smacking people with her fan.
"You. Kudo. I've got my eye on you."
Me: "Hi?"
"You trained Sakuragi?"
"I—I corrected his foot once!"
"Same thing. Starting tomorrow, you're helping us run drills."
Me: "Wait, I didn't sign up—"
"You are now. Congrats."
She handed me a clipboard.
"By the way, nice spin move during tryouts. You've got talent. Hidden, but not that hidden."
I swear she winked before walking off.
I just sat there.
Kudo Hirata: Student. Benchwarmer. Now… voluntold assistant coach??
Then the Boys Showed Up…
Miyagi Ryota: "So, you're Sakuragi's sensei now?"
Rukawa Kaede: silent glare of suspicion
Akagi Takenori: grunts approvingly but warns me not to turn Sakuragi into a 'reckless beast'
Sakuragi: "KUDO! We must invent a secret handshake!!"
I had entered a sports anime I didn't audition for.
But...
I wasn't completely hating it.
Final Thoughts
I came to Shohoku to coast through life.
Now I'm tutoring the school's loudest idiot, getting cornered by clipboard queens, and awkwardly blushing in front of kind-eyed girls who thank me for helping their crush.
And the weirdest part?
It feels... familiar.
Almost like I've lived through this team dynamic before. Like this—this chaotic energy—is what I lost when I died.
Maybe helping Sakuragi isn't a burden.
Maybe it's how I find myself again.