Kenichi Uesugi hadn't expected Coach Taoka Moichi to arrange a full-on match for the newcomers on their very first day.
He vaguely recalled that, according to the original story, new players at Shohoku were simply allowed to join the team without much formality. But now it was clear—Ryonan's standards were much higher.
And that made sense.
Shohoku was a public school with limited resources and little prestige. The basketball team had languished for years, and just last season, they'd been crushed by Ryonan. For Akagi, the team captain, getting anyone to sign up at all was already a small victory. He couldn't afford to be choosy.
As Kenichi bent down to tie his shoelaces, a voice suddenly piped up behind him.
"Hey, classmate! We're counting on you!"
Kenichi turned around and found himself looking down—literally—at a boy whose head barely reached his chest. The kid was watching him with a serious expression. Kenichi immediately recognized the face.
Aida Hikoichi.
The younger brother of the famous basketball journalist, Aida Yayoi. He'd nearly forgotten that Hikoichi had also entered Ryonan this year. Judging by his presence here, they were on the same team.
Kenichi smiled.
"Don't worry," he said confidently. "With me here, we've got this in the bag."
"Great! Let's give it our all!" Hikoichi replied with enthusiasm. "Let's make sure both of us survive this tryout!"
Of course, in reality, Coach Taoka wasn't judging them based on which team won—he was evaluating each player's individual potential for high school-level competition. But Hikoichi didn't care about that. To him, a match was a match, and every match had to be taken seriously.
Unfortunately, his physical limitations were hard to ignore.
He was barely 165 centimeters tall, and his confidence in his own ability to win the game was nonexistent. So, naturally, he pinned his hopes on the tallest guy on his team—Kenichi Uesugi.
Maybe, just maybe, this guy could pull it off.
Soon, both teams stepped onto the court, ready for action. Kenichi, Hikoichi, and three other unfamiliar newcomers were placed on the red team. The two out-of-county players recruited by Taoka were on the blue team.
After a quick huddle, it was unanimously decided that Kenichi, being the tallest, would play center. He wasn't particularly fond of the position, but he didn't argue. After all, none of the others even cracked 180 cm. Competing for rebounds would've been a nightmare for them.
Kenichi walked straight to the center circle, where his opponent was already waiting.
The boy opposite him was Masao Makoto, one of the players Taoka had handpicked from outside the prefecture. As someone specifically recruited by the coach, Masao felt slightly insulted by being lumped into a match with these rookie-level players.
In junior high, he'd been the core of his team. And from what he'd skimmed in the player profiles just minutes ago, none of these other newcomers had even been starters—some hadn't even played seriously.
Especially the guy standing across from him now: Kenichi Uesugi. Masao couldn't believe what he'd read—that Kenichi had only started playing basketball in his second year of junior high. No wonder Coach Taoka had shaken his head while reading his file. How could someone with barely two years of experience be a threat?
He scoffed internally.
Basketball isn't just about height. You need skill. Strength. Game sense. This towering newbie wouldn't stand a chance.
He was already imagining all the ways he could humiliate Kenichi during the game.
But when Kenichi glanced at Masao and saw the smugness in his expression, he immediately knew what the other boy was thinking. He's underestimating me. Big mistake.
On the sidelines, the veteran Ryonan players were watching with curiosity and mild amusement. Some of these newcomers might end up joining their ranks, potentially even becoming teammates in the prefectural tournament. Deep down, they were all hoping to discover the next Sendoh—but they knew that kind of talent was rare.
"What do you think of these rookies?" one of them asked.
"I've got my eye on that tall kid—Kenichi Uesugi. He's got the height, maybe even the presence. Could be another Sendoh in the making."
"Eh, I'm not so sure. I'm betting on those two Coach Taoka brought in. His scouting eye's never wrong."
None of them had seen the player profiles like Masao had, so there was still some hope floating around. But next to Coach Taoka, Yuzumi—Ryonan's captain—noticed something else.
The coach's brows were furrowed.
He didn't look impressed at all.
Yuzumi followed his gaze and immediately understood. These rookies weren't living up to expectations.
Looks like this year, it would be up to him and Sendoh again to carry the team.
He felt the weight on his shoulders grow heavier with that realization.
Back on the court, the teams were ready. Koshino Hiroaki, stepping in as the referee for the scrimmage, raised his whistle and blew sharply. The game was on.
"Haah!"
With a sharp shout, Masao leapt for the tip-off.
But just as his fingers reached for the ball, another hand shot up—faster, higher. With surprising force, Kenichi Uesugi swatted the ball out of reach.
He'd beaten him cleanly.
Masao landed, stunned. He stared at Kenichi, wide-eyed.
He hadn't expected that.
This guy—this so-called rookie—had just out-jumped him. And not by a little. Kenichi had risen almost a full head above him.
But jumping was Masao's specialty. Even in junior high, he'd been praised for his vertical leap. It was the very reason Coach Taoka had brought him to Ryonan.
And now this?
No way.
"I must've misjudged the timing," he muttered to himself, trying to rationalize the loss. "Didn't give it my full effort. That's all. Next time, I'll crush him."
He couldn't bring himself to acknowledge the gap. Couldn't admit that he might have underestimated this quiet, towering stranger.
On the sidelines, Yuzumi's eyes narrowed. Watching Kenichi move across the court, he murmured under his breath.
"That kid… Kenichi Uesugi… he might be something special after all."