Capítulo 23: Newspaper
As usual, he woke up four in the morning and starts the day w/ ten minute jogging around the community.
Then did his strength and conditioning in the renovated gym is followed by the shooting and other basic drills in his newly furnished indoor basketball court.
By seven in the morning, he arrived first in the school's gate and listened to the conversation inside the gymnasium while drinking his hot cocoa.
"Do you know what a dunk is, Sakuragi-kun?"
"You're incredible, Sakuragi-kun!!"
"You absolutely should join the basketball team!!" Haruko said
"Re... really?" Sakuragi replied.
"Yeah for real! You definitely have to!!" Haruko said. Sakuragi recalled his first encounter w/ her and basketball. Holding the ball w/one hand and staring far away while Mito tried to shoot a three from the center.
"Mito for three... huh yeah!!" the shot was either an air ball or hit the rim. Mito returns the balls to the racks and went beside the stupidly looking friend.
"Hey, Hanamichi! What're you doing standing over there so dazed? Is it because you couldn't sleep that you got up early and ended up bringing me here w/ you" Mito's words entered Sakuragi's left ear and exited to his right ear.
Standing from the arch, Sakuragi drives thru the basket in three steps and demonstrated a one handed slam dunk easily.
"Boom!!" the basket shook for a few seconds, he let go from the rim and landed safely on two feet.
"Whoa?!" Mito thought that his friend is destined to be a basketball player. Hanamichi looked at his hands and said.
"I feel... like I've really improved..." Sakuragi did some basic moves and he feel the changes from when he started.
"Yeah, of course you're a genius, Hanamichi!!" Mito said.
"Yohei... was I really that incredible in yesterday's game?" Sakuragi asked.
"Didn't you heard all those cheering when you returned to bench?" Mito said.
"Hahaha...2x!! Being a Tensai is really nice!!" He replied.
"Hey, Sakuragi-kun!!" Haruko and Akagi opened the door while Mitsui followed them from behind and sat in the corner while enjoying his drink.
"Haruko-chan and the big gorilla... Did you watch my performance yesterday?" he said.
Before Haruko could reply, Akagi faced him and replied. "What is it? Coming so early in the morning... thinking of making up for always getting five fouls always and being forced to return back to the bench?" Akagi said.
"Aren't you also very early today and I'm here always like this every day!" he replied.
"After I read the newspaper article really also felt a great confidence and you're probably also preparing for the arrival of the final four, Sakuragi-kun!!" Haruko replied.
"Ooh... newspaper?" Mito and him said, Haruko give them the newspaper printed today.
"Would this punk read a newspaper?!" Akagi said.
"Oh... You haven't seen it yet brother?" Haruko said.
"Isn't that obvious! Did you guys ever saw a gorilla read one?" Mitsui asked.
"Nope!" Haruko said.
"In movies!" Mito replied.
"Maybe for the first time here!" Sakuragi pointed his fingers towards Akagi who face kinda ugly after hearing the name.
"You shut- up, Mitsui!!" the two chased around the gym while Haruko opened sports page about yesterday's game.
"Shohoku's no. ten Hanamichi Sakuragi brings out a strong and emphatic dunk against Shoyo's two players Nagano and Hanagata" as written in the article w/ picture of Sakuragi posturized the two.
"Extra!! 3x, Here!" Sakuragi gave a photo copy of the article at the school entrance.
"What? Ah! This is xerox copy of this morning's paper! The basketball team has finally made into the finals!" a male student said.
"This photo is kinda awesome! It's a slam dunk and done by the first year Sakuragi!!" a second male student said.
"To have an opportunity to be in the paper is really awesome!!" a third male student said.
"He already became a celebrity!!" a female student said.
"Just thinking that a person in the paper is going to the same school like me, gives a kind of proud feeling!!" a female friend said.
""Hehehe... I become a celebrity?" Sakuragi listened to the students discussions.
"So what! Isn't he just a complete moron?" a student said.
"I don't even know he was really playing basketball!" his friend replied.
"What did you say?! It's genius and a celebrity!!" Sakuragi said.
"Bang!!" Sakuragi got hit on the head by Akagi.
"What are you bragging about early in the morning!?" Akagi dragged him to the gym for their morning practice.
"Aww... for real, a celebrity is scolded for being a genius..." Sakuragi said, he see Rukawa dozing off while riding his bike.
"Bang!!" he got hit twice by this people whom he hated the most.
"What's goin on?" Miyagi asked.
"Yo! Why there's a red haired monkey in the news?" Mitsui fix the trash can that Rukawa crashed into and threw his empty bottle
"Rukawa! Are you trying to kill a celebrity!? Not you too Mit-chi!!" Sakuragi said.
"Whoa! It's really scary..." a female student hid behind her male classmate.
"Aahhh! It's the basketball team's starting five!!" her classmate said.
"Looks like this year there's a chance... when these five people come together, they really looked powerhouse!" a student said.
"Akagi-senpai!! Let's advance to the nationals this year!!" an avid basketball fan said
"Fighting!! Shohoku basketball team!!" the crowd shouted in unison.
"What's this fuss?!" Miyagi is still clueless on what's happening.
"Don't' get hype by the basketball team! You fouled out again yesterday, Sakuragi... Join the judo team! It's not too late, Sakuragi!" Tatsuhiko Aota is the captain of the Shohoku judo team.
"This newest celebrity and super genius here will lead the basketball to championship!!!" Sakuragi shouted to the crowd.
"Aahhh...!" the crowd replied to his words.
"Next time I will be on tv!!" Sakuragi said.
"Fighting! Sakuragi! Shohoku!" the crowd replied.
"Rukawa!! 3x" his cheering squad is always there.
The team did some warm-up and light practice during this morning practice.
"Gather around! The finals will be here very soon... Group A's Kainan high scored a game record of 150 points in their victory, Group C's Ryonan high also won by a huge margin!
We secured a spot after winning the Group B and Group D's Takezato... these four teams are the final four." Ayako said.
"Facing teams in the round of eight... Kainan is still overpowered and scored 150 points...?" Miyagi said what everybody thought.
"Huh! We also defeated strong team like Shoyo!!"Sakuragi said it out of nowhere.
"We're also a strong team!" Mitsui follow-up what Sakuragi said.
"Sakuragi-kun and Mitsui-kun spoke were correct. The most important now is to have confidence.
W/out desire for victory is like saying that we're surrendering and not capable of defeating anyone or even play against Kainan.
So in the following days, mental factors will become the keys to our victory and basketball life.
Does everyone want to win?" Coach Anzai said.
"Yeaaahh!!!" the whole team replied positively and their voices can be heard outside the gym.
"Very good!! Then our first battle will be against Kainan High!" Coach Anzai announced their first opponent in the final four.
"123!! Shohoku!!!" Akagi shouted.
"Fighting!!!" the entire Shohoku replied w/ great energy and the team began to disperse back to their classes.
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