Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters in this work, who are the creation of Takehiko Inoue. Neither do I have any claim over his work in the manga and anime Slam Dunk. I do not earn any profit from this.

Author's Note: Hello guys! In anticipation of Takehiko Inoue releasing more Slam Dunk this coming April, I've decided to post my take on something I saw up on the web almost twenty years ago. I have no idea what happened to SD Princess's original Marriage Prospects (I suspect it got taken down with all of the other tripod sites all those years ago), but since I could not find anything, I thought I'd give this a go.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, it's basically a prediction of what it would be like to marry a character from the show, i.e. if I were a matchmaker trying to find you someone and giving you information to consider.

This is in no way a complete recreation of the work I saw years ago, but my own interpretation of the concept. Part of the reason I wrote this is because I couldn't find the site I was looking for, and I was so very desperate to reread it because it gave me so much enjoyment! So if you do know where the site's gone, please do link me!

I hope you find something to laugh about! I'll be posting a chapter a week until this stops being funny, haha. Character requests are welcome!

AKIRA SENDOH

Birthday: February 14

Nickname/s: None. He's that cool.

Affiliations: Ryonan High School

Appearance: Sendoh is good-looking in a boyish, clean-featured way, with milky white skin and deep blue eyes. While we could certainly improve on his fashion sense—his black, spiky hair, in particular, has been the root of much debate—in face and form there really is nothing negative to be said about Sendoh. Not as stocky as Hanamichi Sakuragi but of sturdier build than Kaede Rukawa (though at 6'3" he is taller than both of them), Sendoh's versatility on the basketball court speaks not just of his skill and talent, but inborn athleticism.

Personality, Quirks of Note: Sendoh strikes most people as extremely laid back and somewhat irresponsible outside of the basketball court. He is often late and enjoys activities like fishing. Incidentally, this hobby requires a person to have patience, stay relaxed, and pay attention all at the same time. These skills are reflected in Sendoh's approach to basketball: while he genuinely does seem to play for the fun of it and goes into games with that enjoyment in mind, he does play to win. He revels in competition in the purest sense and is a good sport.

Ryonan Coach Taoka considered Sendoh to be prideful and sensitive when he first met him, which led to the assessment that Sendoh would benefit from praise rather than criticism. The coach was infamously wrong about this, as it turned out that Sendoh excelled regardless of praise or criticism, being self-assured and self-aware enough not to need encouragement, able to weather criticism well, and unlikely to let his accolades get to his head.

Sendoh likes lemons—a fact that has triggered endless interpretation.

Finances: Ryonan is a private school, and Sendoh is originally from Tokyo (a city with a notoriously high cost of living), so it's safe to assume that Sendoh lives comfortably. There is no reason to think that he will not continue to do so. While he may be too easy-going to chase after the big bucks, he will certainly not slack off in his responsibilities, so any person shacking up with him should make any financial expectations clear from the get-go. If he doesn't wind up reeling in the millions as a professional athlete, Sendoh would do well making a living in gardening or farming—anything that takes him out into nature, where he can relax and take things at his own pace.

Family: Sendoh would definitely be the perfect dad—steady enough to provide support and reassurance, chill enough to keep things fun and give children room to grow. As a spouse, he certainly seems like he makes the perfect partner. If his courtside play is anything to go by, he understands interpersonal dynamics well, and he can shift when necessary to ensure that the team gets where it needs to be. As long as he's committed to you, you can rely on him to be there and push you along when it counts.

Possible Rivals: Legions of fans, the writer of this piece . . . this is not going to be an easy get.

Overall Assessment: Sendoh is the perfect guy—the type of guy that would inspire grown-ass women to write about how it would be like to be married to him, twenty-five years after being first introduced. If you manage to land this one, DO NOT LET HIM GO. And if you do, send him our way.

End Notes: LOL. Feedback is very welcome.