Volume 22

Rukawa is at Anzai sensei's house talking about his future in basketball. Anzai sensei tells Rukawa of a ex student of his, who had bright prospects in the basketball world. Back then Anzai sensei is known as the 'white hair ghost' and well known for discipline. It turns out that his Over discipline was the final straw for the student and he went to America to make his own name. It turns out that the student's mother phoned to give a video of her son's performance. Anzai found to his horro that the student was playing by himself no one was willing to support him. In the next few months , a newspaper reports a studnet has been killed in America in a car accident. Anzai sensei received a letter from the student sent a day before the tragic car accident. The letter relates to the truth of Anzai sensei's discipline, in AMERICA the student was having a hard time, no one passed to him and he had to get the ball himself. The student's words express his shame and that he couldn't come back to face Anzai sensei until he has managed to show some fame. Rukawa ponders on what happened to the ex student and decides to ask Anzai sensei to train him. Next morning in the sport hall, Rukawa is playing like a different person. He has a pressure about his presence. Hanamichi gets angry at the fact that Rukawa is so self important. Everyone thinks Rukawa is really incredible. At the end of the training, Rukawa goes up to Mitsui to challenge him. Mitsui takes up the challenge, and Hanamichi is at the side doing his usual basic ball handling skills. The two people played until night fell. Ryota sees Rukawa gaining the advantage. Rukawa breaks passed Mitsui, and leaps up to score, however Mitsui has formed a defense, blocking the basket from Rukawa's view. Rukawa diverted to slipping the ball under and behind Mitsui and scores. Mitsui and all in the sports hall are stunned. Hanamichi wanted to challenge Rukawa, but Rukawa (Mitsui in agreement) rejects. Mitsui claims that it is now his turn to attack. Using a cheating way of winning, Mitsui shoots a 3 pointer and wins the challenge 3 to 2. Rukawa obviously doesn't like this and contests. Hanamichi acts as the judge and says Mitsui wins (Kind of obvious). Rukawa is walking off and Hanamichi calls Rukawa for avoiding him, because he is afraid of being defeated. Rukawa deosn't like that comment and goes with the challenge. Mitsui and Ryota immediately clears everyone outside and close the door. Kogure asks why, Mitsui says the insult of being defeated is very hard to bear (particularly when there is so many people watching). A while passes and Rukawa appears out of the sports hall, tired. Ryota asks if Rukawa spared Hanamichi and, the reply was no. In the sports hall, Hanamichi sits defeated and speechless. Mitsui and Ryota all comfort him but he feels pitiful. Mitsui then says there are other much pressing opponents in the national championship that await them. Hanamichi remebers the 1st year monk head who injured Aiwa's Seidai. An unexpected crisis comes to the Shohoku basketball team. Hanamichi, Rukawa, Ryota, and Mitsui are not allowed to go into the national championship because they didn't pass their exams. Akagi pleads with the principal to allow them one more chance to take the exams again. (Also Judo leader Awuta failed his exams and needs to retake them in order for him to enter the Judo championship. That night all 4 people went to Akagi's house to revise. Hanamichi face the horror of Akagi's undivided attention, whilst Haruko supervises Rukawa (Hanamichi is angry at how unfair it is). Besides Rukawa could only think about sleeping. Thankfully the revision pays off and all of them passed the exams (Awuta also passed). When the holidays arrive, Shohoku basketball team have organised a practice match against Jousei. However Hanamichi is kept back, Anzai sensei wants to train him on how to jump shoot. Hanamichi had to shoot 20 000 shots, and he was being filmed by the Sakuragi guntai in order that he can see for himslef were he should improve. Shohoku manages to win Jousei(ranked 8th in the national championship), drawn one game and lost one game. When they came back, Hanamichi also finishes his jump shoot training. Then again at a cost, Haruko noticed that Hanamichi's shoes are worn through (Jordan Air 6th generation). They decide to visit the shopkeeper again. The shopkeeper meanwhile is facing a collector of Jordan shoes who would like to buy his 1st generation Jordan Air. The shopkeeper tells him that it isn't the right size for him, it doesn't matter for he only wants to collect it. The collector notices that the shopkeeper is missing the 6th generation of Jordan Air. The shopkeeper remembers the horror of it and decides to not do the collector any business. At that moment, Hanamichi comes into the shop, the shopkeeper is stunned at the state of the 6th generation Jordan Air. Hanamichi wants to exchange it for another pair (I suppose some kind of guarantee). The shopkeeper finds out that Hanamichi has grown slightly taller hence his feet must have gone bigger. The shopkeeper ends up giving Hanamichi the 1st generation of Jordan Air (its colour Red and Black the same as Shohoku's team colour). Hanamichi in gratitude gives 100 yen. With his new shoes, Hanamichi heads for the national championships.