🕓 Scene 1: The Pre-Game Plan
The gym was dimly lit after school. Only a few of us stayed behind.
Coach had told us: "Tomorrow, Fukuda High. They've been watching us. Be unpredictable."
So I did something that felt… inevitable.
"Sakuragi. You and I—we're going to run a play they'll never see coming."
He looked up from guzzling his sports drink. "Huh?"
"You've got the raw strength. The jump. The height.
I've got the timing and the pass. Let's turn that chaos into highlight reels."
Sakuragi blinked. "You wanna… team up with me?"
"Let's make history, genius."
He actually blushed. "O-Of course! As long as I get all the credit!!"
🏀 Scene 2: Training the Monster
We started small.
Day 1:
I threw lob passes. He missed every single one.
Blamed the ball. The lighting. Gravity. Me.
Day 2:
I broke it down: angle, timing, momentum.
We synced up with slow-motion drills.
Day 3:
He dunked the first lob. Clean. Explosive.
The gym shook. Literally.
Sakuragi screamed, "CALL ME THE DUNKING EMPEROR!!"
🎥 Scene 3: Ayako Records the Madness
She came in with her old camcorder. "Coach wants to see your progress."
Cue:
Slow-motion passes from Kudo
Exploding one-handed dunks from Sakuragi
Me pointing like a field general
Him screaming like a pro wrestler
Yohei: "That's… actually terrifying."
Even Rukawa paused to watch.
Ayako handed me the camcorder. "You two might be the most dangerous combo on the team now."
I didn't say it out loud…
But I knew:
Akira never had someone like Sakuragi. But I do.
🌅 Scene 4: Game Day Arrival
The next morning. Bright skies. Packed gym.
Shohoku vs Fukuda High.
Tetsuya Minami on the opposing bench—stone-faced. Watching me.
Haruko waved from the stands.
Sakuragi tied his shoelaces five times out of nervous energy.
Miyagi: "You guys ready?"
Sakuragi grinned.
"We're gonna make the court shake."
I nodded, already hearing it in my head.
The crowd.
The pass.
The dunk.
The moment.
📓 Final Thoughts
I used to think this life was about redemption.
Now I see it's about legacy.
And today—we're carving our names into it.