Slam Dunk: My physical abilities can be increased indefinitely.

Chapter 14 The Night Before the Interview, Off-Road's Ramblings

On Sunday night, Sendoh lay in bed staring at the ceiling, his phone resting on his stomach, the screen lighting up briefly.

A message from Yueye: Are you really going to meet that reporter at the coffee shop near the school gate tomorrow morning at 10:00?

Xian Dao typed: Hmm.

Off-road: What does she look like? Is she pretty?

Xiandao: I've never seen it.

Off-road: Then go there, take a look, and send me a photo.

Xiandao: No filming.

Off-road: How can you be so boring? I've been getting you food for days, and you can't even take a picture of me?

Xian Dao: You got me food because you owe me a thousand dollars.

Off-road: ...You still remember this? I thought you'd forgotten.

Xiandao: I haven't forgotten. You haven't returned it either.

Off-road: By the end of the month, by the end of the month, I'll definitely pay it back by the end of the month. Speaking of that reporter, what was her name again? Aida something?

Immortal: Yayoi Aida.

Off-road: Your name sounds impressive. Why did she interview you? There are so many amazing people in the prefectural tournament, like Maki Shinichi, Rukawa Kaede, and Akagi Takenori, why did she specifically choose you?

Sendoh typed a few words and then deleted them. After thinking for a moment, he typed again: Go ask her.

Off-road: Do I even need to ask her? I'm not you.

Xiandao: Then don't ask.

Off-road: Okay, okay. What are you going to wear tomorrow? You can't exactly wear your training clothes, can you? That blue shirt in your closet is fine, the one you wore to Fukuda's birthday party last time, wear that.

Sendoh glanced down at the T-shirt he was wearing, the collar of which was already deformed from washing, and didn't reply.

Yueye posted another message: Don't stay silent, I know you're watching.

Xian Dao: What I wear is none of your business.

Off-road: You're Lingnan's ace, and when you meet with reporters, you represent Lingnan's image. If you're dressed like you're going to the market, what will the reporters write? "Lingnan's Ace Dressed Unnecessarily, County Competition Prospects Worrying"?

Sendoh stared at the message for two seconds, a slight smile playing on his lips, before placing his phone face down on his stomach.

Insects chirped outside the window, their sounds faint and dense, like someone shaking a piece of paper in the distance. The fan spun overhead, blowing warm air that made one drowsy.

My phone vibrated again; it was still an off-road game.

Off-road: Are you asleep?

Immortal Dao did not return.

Off-road: You're definitely not asleep. You just don't want to reply to me.

Sendoh still hasn't returned.

Yueye: Okay, okay, go to sleep. When you do the interview tomorrow, ask her if their magazine is still hiring interns. I want to write basketball reports.

Sendoh picked up his phone and typed two words: You?

Yueye: What's wrong? My writing is pretty good. I got 35 out of 50 on my last Chinese exam essay.

Immortal: Thirty-five?

Off-road: ...

Xiandao: The passing score is thirty points. You only scored five points above the passing score.

Off-road: That's a passing grade! It's taller than grass! He only got 32 last time!

Sendoh: You compare yourself to Ueshima?

Yueye: ...Can you please stop talking? I'm going to sleep.

Xiandao: It's you who's been sending messages.

Off-road: I'm not posting anymore. Goodnight.

Ten seconds later, another message appeared: Remember to wear that blue shirt tomorrow.

Sendoh tucked his phone under his pillow and rolled over. The fan was spinning slowly, and his back was stuck to the sheets; turning over was the only way to feel comfortable. He thought about tomorrow's interview. Why had Aida Yayoi come to him? According to the original timeline, she should have only started paying attention to Ryonan after the prefectural tournament.

It's possible that news of Ryonan's victory over Shohoku in the practice match got out, and the outside world started to notice that Ryonan was different this year. It's also possible that someone saw his recent performance in the practice match and it reached the ears of reporters.

Whatever.

They're here, so I'll answer whatever they ask.

Sendoh's breathing gradually subsided. On the verge of losing consciousness, the system panel flashed: PP balance 20, Speed ​​A, Strength B, Flexibility B+, Jumping B+, Endurance B+, Reaction B+.

He didn't open his eyes to look; the panel went out by itself in the darkness.

At 8:40, Sendoh arrived at the school gate on his bicycle. The coffee shop was on the street opposite the teaching building, just across the street. The storefront wasn't big, and there was a small blackboard at the entrance with the words "Today's Recommendation: Hot Latte + Cheesecake, Set Meal Price 500 Yen" written in chalk.

Pushing open the glass door, a whiff of roasted coffee wafted out, mixed with the aroma of milk foam and toasted bread. There were only three tables of customers in the shop. By the window sat a girl with a ponytail, a laptop in front of her, and several magazines and a stack of manuscript paper spread out beside her.

She was looking down at something and didn't notice the door was open.

Sendoh walked over and stood in front of her. Within a meter radius, he could smell the scent of shampoo, a slightly sweet scent, like coconut.

The length of the hair wasn't described much in the original work, but the person in front of me did have a ponytail, with bangs tucked behind his ears, and his profile was very sharp.

She looked up, her eyes scanning Sendoh from head to toe, before her gaze lingered on his blue shirt for a second.

"Sendoh Akira?"

"Um."

"I am Aida Yayoi." She stood up and extended her hand, the movement crisp and decisive. Her palm was dry, warm, and quite strong. "You are taller than I imagined."

Sendoh shook hands. "You're shorter than I thought."

Aida Yayoi paused for a moment, then chuckled, "Are you always this direct?"

"It depends on the person."

"Then who am I?"

"reporter."

She chuckled again, this time a little louder. "Alright, I won't beat around the bush." ​​She sat down, turning her laptop screen towards Sendoh. "I'm currently working on a preview of the prefectural tournament, interviewing a key player from each team. I chose you from Ryonan. Do you mind if I record this?"

"I don't mind."

Sendoh sat down opposite her in a wooden chair that was a bit hard with a straight back. Sunlight streamed in through the window, falling warmly on the back of Aida Yayoi's left hand.

He noticed that her right nails were cut very short, perhaps from typing, or for some other reason.

Aida Yayoi placed the recorder on the table. "First question: What are your expectations for this year's prefectural tournament?"

"champion."

Not in the semifinals? Not the runner-up?

"no."

She looked down and wrote a few words in her notebook: "Do you think Ryonan can beat Hainan?"

"able."

"reason?"

"Because our defense is better this year than last year."

Aida Yayoi looked up, her pen hovering over the paper. "How much better?"

"It's so good that Maki Shinichi won't be as relaxed as he was last year."

She stared at Sendoh for two seconds, then put down her pen. "I'll just write that part of the article, without deleting or changing it. Are you sure you want to say that?"

"Sure."

"What would Maki Shinichi think if he saw this?"

That's his business.

Aida Yayoi smiled again, this time very slowly, her lips curving upwards little by little.

"Second question: What do you think is the biggest change compared to last year?"

Sendoh thought for two seconds, then said, "Speed."

"How much faster?"

"Get on Maki Shinichi's path as fast as possible."

"Have you studied Maki Shinichi's breakthrough habits?"

"I've studied it."

"How long has it been?"

"Starting from the day we lost to Hainan last year."

Aida Yayoi put down her pen and looked up at Sendoh. The air conditioning in the coffee shop was a bit cold, and the cool air blowing down from the overhead vents made Sendoh feel a chill on the back of his neck.

The customers at the next table left, and as the glass door closed, a gust of hot air blew in, mixed with the smell of car exhaust from the street.

"You lost a match, so you spent a whole year studying your opponent?" Aida Yayoi asked this question in a different tone than before. It wasn't in the rhythm of an interview; it sounded more like she was confirming something.

"It's not just about the competition," Sendoh said.

"What else?"

"I'm still not reconciled."

"Third question: What do you think is Ryonan's biggest advantage?"

"Team defense."

"Not Sendoh Akira?"

"no."

Are you sure?

"Confirmed. One person can't stop Maki Shinichi, but five people can."

Aida Yayoi wrote a few words in her notebook, then turned the page, her pen pausing in mid-air. "Okay, one last question. Who do you think is the strongest player in Kanagawa this year?"

Sendoh leaned back in his chair, the wooden chair creaking briefly. A bird flew past the window, its shadow and sound flashing by quickly.

"You'll know after the county tournament."

"Can't you say it now?"

"It doesn't matter now. It only matters after the fight is over."

Aida Yayoi put down her pen and closed her notebook quickly and decisively, without any unnecessary pauses.

"Okay, let's finish the call first." She stood up and extended her hand. "Thank you for your time. The article will be published on Wednesday; I'll send a copy to your school."

"it is good."

Sendoh stood up and shook hands. Her palms were still dry, but warmer than when she had come in.

The sunlight was blinding as he stepped out of the coffee shop. Sendoh squinted as he stood at the door, his blue shirt scorching in the sun. His phone vibrated several times in his pocket; he pulled it out and saw three messages from Koshino.

First question: How was it? Is the interview finished?

Second question: What does she look like? Is she pretty?

Article 3: Could you please reply to me?

Sendoh typed two words: "So noisy."

send.

Thirty seconds later, the off-road vehicle replied: So, does it look good or not?