Volume 6

Hanamichi and Rukawa get together to stop Ryonan's ace Sendoh from scoring. The score is 85 to 81. A slip in concentrate by Hanamichi enables Sendoh to get pass their defense. Rukawa runs back to defend. However Akagi is already there first, but Sendoh still manages to shoot. At that moment, Sendoh's ball is stolen. Hanamichi unbelievably jumps higher than Sendoh and swat the ball away. Not only did he stop Sendoh scoring, he also recovers the ball before Sendoh. Everyone is surprised. Even though Hanamichi has the ball, with the current skills he has, he isn't able to get pass Sendoh. A voice shouts at him to pass, he passes and much to his horror to find out that he has passed to Rukawa. Rukawa scores 3 points making the score 85 to 84 against Shohoku. 40 seconds remain. Ryonan have possession of the ball, and Akagi, with much determination, manages to steal possession. Akagi performs a long pass to Rukawa, but Sendoh is already running back to defend. Rukawa ends up having the ball knocked out of his hands. The ball heads out of bounds, and still Rukawa gets the ball. Rukawa sees a figure wearing the Shohoku shirt running behind, and passes. The figure is Hanamichi who hearing Haruko's voice, scores using the ' up lay shot'. Score 86 to 85 against Ryonan. Everyone thinks the game is over. Not so, for Ryonan still carry on. The ball is passed to Sendoh, who using all his skill and speed, scores the final basket passed the combined defense of Akagi and Rukawa. Shohoku's side is shocked. The whistle blows, Ryonan wins 87 to 86. Hanamichi on the other side isn't willing to concede defeat, and it takes Akagi to tell Hanamichi the fact that they have lost. The next morning, Hanamichi is really angry at the outcome of yesterday's match against Ryonan that anyone mentioning the event will be greeted with a lump on the head. Haruko along with her friends Fuji and Matsui, convince Hanamichi that he has done well and there is nothing to be ashamed of. During the match, Hanamichi got his trainers in bad shape. Haruko suggests that Hanamichi goes to get a new pair. They end up going to a sport shop to pick a pair. With much eagerness Hanamichi tries out the shoes and finds much improvement. The shopkeeper tries to calm Hanamichi down and ends up getting his shoes trodden on. However the shoes were no ordinary shoes, but were 6th generation Air Jordan shoes. Hanamichi upon seeing the shoes, falls for them. The shopkeeper says the shoes are his, but Hanamichi's reply is that he likes them. (He doesn't know what shoes they are only that they look good. Even the fact that they belong to the shopkeeper doesn't matter). Since they are second hand, Hanamichi offers the handsome sum of 30 Yen. (The shopkeeper can't help but crumple at the price, only the fact that Hanamichi is going to be quite some player gives consolation to him. Else why would he sell the 'prized shoes' at such a price). Elsewhere Sakuragi guntai have found a new target for their celebrations. A person has just been rejected by a girl, Sakuragi guntai observed and end up coming out to tease the person. The person is Ryota Miyagi. He grabs Ookusu and was about to fight, but Yohei stops them and apologizes. Ryota goes back to Shohoku, which is also his school and meets up with the people (3rd year bad boys) who he had a grudge against. Their names Hisashi Mitsui, Honta Naori and others. On the other hand, Hanamichi bumps into Ayako and are walking over to the gym. They pass around the corner and see the gang. Ryota' reaction is shock and then anger. Ayako is the girl of his life (though she has rejected him) and Hanamichi is mistaken for being Ayako's boyfriend. Ryota attacks Hanamichi and a fight ensues. The arrival of Haruko and along with Ayako stop the two from fighting. It runs out that Ryota is a member of the basketball team. Also he has been nominated to be the next captain. Hanamichi doesn't like that and ends up challenging Ryota. The challenge ended with the two once again fighting (This time it is over possession of the ball).