I never wanted to be a coach.
I still don't.
But apparently, fate had other plans. Fate, and Sakuragi's complete disregard for physics.
Practice – Day 4 of "Oops, I'm Good"
"Alright, full-court scrimmage!" Coach bellowed.
I tried to quietly vanish behind the water cooler.
No such luck. Sakuragi spotted me.
"KUDO! I CALL YOU TO MY TEAM! I SHALL MAKE YOU STRONG THROUGH ASSOCIATION!"
I sighed. "I'd rather associate with a vending machine."
He dragged me onto the court anyway. I limped to the starting line like a man facing execution.
Sakuragi got the ball. He dribbled like he was pounding mochi and charged straight into Akagi like a battering ram.
WHAM.
The ball flew into the air like a meteor.
Sakuragi crashed to the floor. Again.
"WHY DIDN'T THAT WORK?!" he shouted from the ground, flailing like a turtle.
My brain twitched. Something inside me clicked into "coach mode."
I opened my mouth before I could stop myself.
"You telegraphed your movement. Don't just charge—use a jab step to bait the block. Then pivot and hook. Simple physics."
He blinked.
"...What's a jab step?"
And just like that, I was explaining. Demonstrating. Even correcting his footwork.
What the hell am I doing?!
Internal Screaming
Kudo: I am NOT a coach.
Also Kudo: "No, you're leading with the wrong foot. Again."
Sakuragi, after 5 failed attempts:
"HAAA!? You sound like a real coach or somethin', Kudo!"
Me (sweating):
"N-no way! Just… muscle memory! From all the… uh… YouTube videos…"
Even I didn't believe me.
Ten Minutes Later…
Sakuragi, to everyone's shock, scored.
Clean pivot. Hook shot. Nothing but net.
The gym fell silent.
Then erupted.
Miyagi: "What the—Sakuragi can DO THAT?!"
Rukawa (narrowing eyes): "That wasn't luck."
Sakuragi puffed up. "HAH! With the GREAT KUDO by my side, I shall DOMINATE THE LEAGUE!"
Kudo: Oh no. What have I done.
🌙 After Practice
We sat on the steps outside the gym. Sakuragi was beaming, sipping a sports drink like it was champagne.
"You're hiding something, y'know."
I froze mid-sip. "Huh?"
"You play like someone who knows. Not just guesses. Even when you fall on your face."
I stared at the ground.
He wasn't wrong.
"Were you… some kind of middle school prodigy or somethin'?"
I laughed nervously. "You'd never believe me if I told you."
"Try me."
I looked up at the stars. And for a second, I almost told him.
"I used to be Akira Shindai."
But instead, I just said:
"I think… I used to be someone else. Someone who lived for basketball."
He nodded.
"Well. That guy should've met me sooner. I would've dunked him into friendship."
I actually laughed.
Final Thoughts
Today, I taught Sakuragi a real move.
Tomorrow, he'll probably try to dunk a scoreboard.
But something's happening.
The more I help him… the more I remember.
Maybe this is how I wake up again.