Chapter 8: Entering Xiangyang

"Hello, Mr. Kudo! I'm Yoshie Gamiya, Chairman Sasaki's assistant. The chairman asked me to escort you to his office as soon as you arrived," Ms. Gamiya said warmly as she greeted Kudo.

The day after Shoyo's match against Musashi, Chairman Sasaki had called Kudo Akitake and requested a meeting with Shinichi Kudo. Now, Kudo stood in the lobby of Shoyo High School, where Yoshie Gamiya, Sasaki's secretary, was waiting for him.

"Thank you, Ms. Gamiya. I appreciate your help," Kudo replied politely.

"It's no trouble at all. Please follow me to the chairman's office," Gamiya said, leading the way.

Chairman Sasaki's Office

Knock, knock, knock!

Gamiya gently rapped on the door. "Chairman, this is Yoshie. Mr. Shinichi Kudo is here for his appointment. I've brought him to your office."

"Ah, Yoshie! Since Kudo-kun is here, let him in," a deep, authoritative voice called from inside the room.

Ms. Gamiya smiled at Kudo and gestured toward the door. "Mr. Kudo, the chairman is ready to see you."

As Kudo stepped into the office, he was greeted by a stern-looking man in his fifties or sixties, seated behind a large desk. His sharp eyes and serious demeanor immediately conveyed his authority. Recalling his father's description of Chairman Sasaki Kantaro, Kudo knew this was the man he needed to impress.

"Hello, Chairman Sasaki! I'm Shinichi Kudo," Kudo introduced himself with a respectful bow.

"Kudo-kun, please have a seat," Chairman Sasaki said, gesturing to the chair in front of his desk. Once Kudo was seated, the chairman continued, "Your father spoke to me about your situation. As you know, Shoyo's basketball team has underperformed for the past two years. My decision to replace Coach Otake is no secret, and many have recommended potential replacements. Your father suggested you, and I'm curious—what would you do if you were to coach Shoyo?"

Kudo took a deep breath, gathering his thoughts. "Mr. Chairman, I'm sure many candidates have shared their team-building ideas with you. I can't claim to offer anything entirely new, but my goal would be to help Shoyo rediscover its original spirit."

Chairman Sasaki raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Go on."

"Coach Otake's approach over the past two years has been to emulate the team-building philosophy of Hakata Shogun University Affiliated High School, which has dominated the high school basketball scene in recent years," Kudo explained. "Hakata Shogun has risen from an average team to a national powerhouse, winning the summer tournament two years ago and the winter tournament last year. They've even challenged Yamako Industry, the reigning champions, and are the only team to have beaten them in recent years. What's remarkable is that Hakata Shogun doesn't rely on star players. Instead, they excel through teamwork, tactical discipline, and minimizing turnovers."

Kudo paused to take a sip of the tea Ms. Gamiya had brought him before continuing. "However, not every team can replicate Hakata Shogun's success. Over the past two years, many teams, including Shoyo, have tried to adopt their system, only to fail. Some have even performed worse than before. This shows that Hakata Shogun's success is unique to them, much like how Yamako Industry's full-court press is unmatched despite many teams attempting to copy it."

Kudo leaned forward, his tone earnest. "Every team has its own identity, its own soul. For Shoyo, that identity is encapsulated in its motto: 'Fighting Spirit.' But under Coach Otake's system, the players have become too passive. They've lost their competitive edge, hesitating in critical moments and relying too much on passing instead of taking initiative. A team without fighting spirit cannot succeed."

Chairman Sasaki nodded thoughtfully. "And what would you do differently?"

"If I were to coach Shoyo, my first priority would be to reignite the team's fighting spirit. A team without courage and determination cannot achieve greatness," Kudo said passionately. "Next, I would focus on player development. As you know, I trained under Coach Anzai, who is renowned for his ability to develop players. When I first joined Fukasawa University, I was far from a star player. But under Coach Anzai's guidance, I became one of the top guards in college basketball. After Coach Anzai retired, I served as the interim coach for the Fukasawa team for half a year, so I'm very familiar with his methods. I believe I can bring that same level of development to Shoyo."

Sasaki leaned back in his chair, considering Kudo's words. "What about tactics? Do you have a specific system in mind?"

"Mr. Chairman, I firmly believe that the most important element in basketball is the players themselves. Tactics are secondary. The key is to adapt the system to the players, not the other way around," Kudo explained. "Shoyo is a respected team in Kanagawa, but nationally, we can't compete with powerhouses like Yamako Industry or Hakata Shogun in attracting top talent. Even within Kanagawa, Hainan and Musashi have more appeal to promising players. Therefore, we must build our tactics around the players we have, not force them into a system that doesn't suit them."

Kudo concluded with conviction, "Only by aligning our tactics with the players' strengths can we unlock the team's full potential."

Chairman Sasaki's stern expression softened slightly. "Kudo-kun, your perspective is refreshing. Unlike others who come here pushing their rigid systems, you understand the importance of adaptability and player development. I agree with you—the key to success lies in the players executing the tactics, not the tactics themselves."

He leaned forward, his gaze intense. "That's why I've decided to appoint you as the new coach of the Shoyo basketball team. You'll officially take over after the prefectural tournament concludes next week."

Kudo's heart swelled with gratitude and determination. "Thank you, Chairman Sasaki! I won't let you down."

"However," Sasaki added, his tone serious, "I have one condition."

"Please, go ahead," Kudo said, bracing himself.

"I want you to lead Shoyo to the Nationals within two years. If you can't achieve that, you'll face the same fate as Coach Otake."

Kudo met the chairman's gaze without hesitation. "I understand. I will fulfill your request."

"Good. I'll be watching your progress closely. You may report to the team after the prefectural tournament," Sasaki said, dismissing him.

"Thank you, Chairman. I'll take my leave now," Kudo said, standing and bowing before exiting the office.