Some words from Shohoku

Sendoh was shaken from his thoughts by a now irate Miyagi arguing that he, and not Fujima and Maki, was the number one point guard in Japan, to which Mitsui had laughed so hard at upon hearing that some Coke he had been drinking had spurted out of his nostrils. Bemused, Sendoh began wandering through the Heat locker room, smiling to himself as the others now began arguing over who had actually been the best player back in high school. He knew now that, while he had had the skill to be the best, only Maki had had the passion to be the best, to bring out the best in both himself and those around him. A pointless argument? Not to his friends, but to him …

As Sendoh was lost in his thoughts, he was surprised to find himself standing in front of Sakuragi's locker. As he opened it to see what was inside, the first thing he saw was a worn, much loved, small lined notebook, the kind high school students back in Japan used to take notes. Curious, he flipped it open, and read the first few lines:

"I have been called many things in my career, the "white-haired devil" foremost amongst them … but when I see you, Rukawa and Sakuragi, on the court together, I see purity of motion, the strength and endurance of the spirit over what your body says you cannot possibly do, and most of all, teamwork despite yourselves. Basketball … this is what it means to me … to help build and make work a team which can work together despite your differences. These are lessons for life, Shohoku, and I urge you not to forget these lessons, but to write them down, for you to remember where you started, what you have learned, and to better use your knowledge when you move forward in your lives, on your chosen paths. Write and learn, Shohoku, and be teammates for life …."

Absorbed in what he was reading, Sendoh didn't even notice Rukawa quietly sidle up next to him and look over his shoulder at the book.

"Ah, the team diary. I haven't seen that for a long time. I thought it was a stupid idea when we did it, but now, I know why Anzai-sensei made us do it," said Rukawa.

Sendoh didn't reply at first, reading what Mitsui had written so many years ago:

"I know how the red-head feels … basketball was my way back to myself, even after I gave it up. It never really gave up on me, just like Anzai-sensei. I'm still a part, yet not part of, Shohoku, and always regret what I did, and almost did, to the team in my anger. But, I have a year to redeem myself, one more year of basketball. I will renew myself, get a scholarship, and then … who knows? But, I know I will try with all my heart ... "

Sendoh, the calm one under pressure, turned to face Rukawa with tears in his eyes. "It's like a last will and testament, of Shohoku …."

"Yes," replied Rukawa. "In a way, it was. We didn't know at the time, but Anzai-sensei was seriously ill, and had never recovered from his heart attack just before our game with you. This was the last thing we did as a team, just before our captain and vice-captain left for university. Sakuragi and I stayed on the team, but our coach never made it back on the court again to help us, as he put all of his remaining energy into creating a pathway for us to keeping playing basketball in Japan. And then ... he was gone … I always wondered what happened to this book, but it's not surprising that Sakuragi kept it."

Sendoh flipped to the end of the notebook, and both he and Rukawa silently read the last words:

"The old man told me to write something in this book about basketball and what I have learned, and I thought it was a joke. I don't know how. I'm not a writer, so how can I put into words what this Tensai feels when he can be just a basket-man, and not a thug or loser in love. How can I put into words the pain I felt, not when I was injured, but when I couldn't play anymore, maybe forever, lying in that hospital and not knowing what would happen in my future? Basketball is my everything … I started it so I could be closer to Haruko-san, but it gave me so much. A place to be myself, make friends, have direction … and then I saw what the others had written. Mitsui, Gori, even Rukawa. This has been the best time in my life. Leading a gang … was never truly fulfilling. My gang are a part of me, we have fought and laughed together, and they will always be a part of me, Youhei and the guys, but basketball … it has given me a future, something to strive for. This is my lesson, old man: I learned never to give up, and to always be true to yourself. It takes a genius to be the best basket-man, but it takes honesty, respect and resiliency to be the best person you can be. I now know that Gori, Megane ... even Rukawa, they all understand this ... and now so do I. I'll make you proud, old man. Believe it.

Sendoh looked at Rukawa, and said, "I had just been thinking back to our 4 on 4 match-up that year, you know …."

Rukawa smiled. "Yes. I remember, especially the second half … we had agreed to play first to 50, but no one wanted to stop, so we just kept on going. We never gave up in that game either."

Sendoh laughed. "No, no one did. I remember …"

The next chapter will flashback to our already started game. Stay tuned …