Chapter Three

In the Basketball Hall, the air was thick with the scent of youthful energy.

In a secluded corner, a tall man with a fiery red punk hairstyle sat on the ground, gazing vacantly at the court.

Frustration seeped through him as he muttered to himself, "Damn it, they assigned a genius like me to do basic training."

He weakly slapped the basketball in his hand, his thoughts tumbling out of his mouth.

This person was none other than Sakuragi Hanamichi, the self-proclaimed genius and leader of the Sakuragi Legion.

Lacking any notable basketball skills, he resented being relegated to basic training, which only fueled his dissatisfaction.

"Snapped!"

Suddenly, a piece of cardboard struck him forcefully from behind.

"Hanamichi Sakuragi! Focus!" Ayako scolded loudly, wielding the cardboard.

"Ah! Who's the jerk who dares to..." He turned his head, but his fiery gaze softened upon seeing Ayako.

He pouted with a hint of grievance and said, "Ayako, I'm a genius. I don't need to train like ordinary people."

Ignoring his protest, Ayako turned to Long Yan and beckoned him to come over.

Long Yan approached Sakuragi's side.

"Oh? Are you okay, beginner?" Having met Long Yan during the team reporting, Sakuragi expressed a semblance of camaraderie, finding solace in the fact that he wasn't the only beginner.

"I'm fine, thank you for your concern, Sakuragi-san," Long Yan replied gratefully. Observing the carefree Hanamichi Sakuragi, Long Yan's eyes twitched.

"A beginner? That's quite a nickname," he thought to himself.

However, seeing Sakuragi's unrestrained manner reassured him that he had indeed crossed into the world of Slam Dunk.

As beginners, both Long Yan and Sakuragi were assigned to practice dribbling.

Sakuragi grinned mischievously, shifting his body to the left.

"Beginner, it's great to have you here, hahaha," he chuckled, relishing the fact that Long Yan was also tasked with dribbling.

Upon hearing Sakuragi's words, Long Yan couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing how naïve he was.

He possessed some basic dribbling skills, making him distinct from the zero-skilled Sakuragi Hanamichi.

Ayako, holding a basketball, threw it towards Long Yan, providing detailed instructions on dribbling essentials.

Long Yan nodded, acknowledging her guidance.

"I understand," he replied, commencing his dribbling practice.

Initially, his technique was a bit rusty, but with each passing moment, the speed and proficiency of his dribbling improved.

The sound of rapid dribbles filled the air, causing Ayako's brows to raise in surprise.

"You call this a beginner?" she exclaimed.

"Isn't this dribble quite impressive?"

It was clear that his dribbling skills surpassed those of Sakuragi, who sat dumbfounded.

At that moment, Akagi's attention was drawn to Long Yan's dribbling.

"Huh? Has that guy returned already?" he wondered aloud. "His dribbling looks good, but I wonder how strong he is."

Having just reported, Long Yan had showcased his dribbling skills, but it was difficult to gauge his true capabilities. However, his improvement since then was undeniable.

Sakuragi couldn't help but furrow his brow as he watched Long Yan's increasingly skilled dribbling.

"Huh? Long Yan, are you actually faster than a genius like me?" Sakuragi exclaimed, standing up in amazement.

"Unforgivable!" He glared at the basketball in his hand, his frustration fueling a burst of movement.

However, his momentary triumph didn't last long.

On his third dribble, the basketball vanished into thin air. Ayako couldn't help but burst into laughter.

"Hahaha, Sakuragi, you should stop showing off and focus on building a solid foundation. Slow down," she advised, knowing him all too well.

Unfazed by the sudden disappearance of the ball, Long Yan remained absorbed in the feeling of the dribble in his hand.

Just then, a notification chimed in his mind.

[Ding!]

[Congratulations to the host: Complete a thousand dribbles voluntarily]

[Reward: Super Start]

Surprised by the unexpected reward, Long Yan couldn't help but wonder, "Is this even possible?" The user-friendliness of the system impressed him.

Eager to explore the capabilities of the Super Start reward, he opened the description.

[Like a lightning-fast first step, your initial move becomes unstoppable.]

His excitement soared. Even with basic dribbling skills, coupled with the Super Start reward, his abilities were not to be underestimated.

Realizing that the team training match would begin soon, he decided to put his newfound skills to the test.

At the same time, a fat, white-haired man with glasses approached the basketball court.