Chapter 14: Lingnan Alumni Association (Part 1)

One evening in the middle of winter vacation, the Kudo family was having dinner together. Nobuko Kudo turned to Shinichi Kudo and said, "By the way, Shinichi, Lingnan High School called today. They're holding an alumni meeting this Saturday and want you to attend."

"Lingnan alumni meeting?" Shinichi Kudo tried to recall any memories of this event but found nothing. It turned out that in the past, he hadn't attended it at all, as he had been busy with intensive training at Fukasawa Sports University.

"Speaking of the Lingnan alumni meeting," Kudo Akitake chimed in, "you've never gone before. But this time, you should attend. Back then, you had the excuse of being in training during the holidays, but now that you've entered society and are part of the Kanagawa high school basketball world, it wouldn't hurt to expand your network and make some connections."

He was right. Alumni meetings are gatherings where graduates reconnect, share experiences, and build relationships through their shared alma mater. For private schools like Lingnan, these events are also beneficial for fostering connections that can help the school's development.

After a moment of thought, Shinichi Kudo replied, "Alright, I'll go. What time does the alumni meeting start?"

"The call said it officially begins at six o'clock this Saturday evening," Nobuko Kudo answered.

Kudo Akitake added, "Although they say to be there by six, I think it's best if you arrive at Lingnan High School by 5:30. That way, you can catch up with your old classmates and get to know some of the seniors and juniors from the Lingnan basketball team. See if any of them are working in the basketball world like you. Building these connections will be very beneficial for your future."

"I understand, Dad," Shinichi Kudo responded.

"That's right!" Kudo Akitake said cheerfully. "Life isn't just about basketball. In the past, when you were still in school, you could focus solely on the sport. But now that you're out in the real world, you need to pay attention to relationships and other aspects of life. Learn to face life as a whole!"

Hearing his father's earnest advice, Shinichi Kudo didn't argue. He knew his father meant well, and deep down, he agreed. The old Kudo Shinichi had indeed been consumed by basketball, leaving little room for anything else. But now, he realized that life was about more than just the game.

At five o'clock on Saturday afternoon, Kudo ate a light meal and headed out to catch the tram. By 5:30, he arrived at Lingnan High School.

Seeing the sign for Lingnan Private High School, memories of his three years there flooded back. After taking a deep breath, Kudo followed the staff's directions and made his way to the designated venue, all while scanning the crowd for familiar faces.

"Well, well, look who it is!" A familiar male voice called out, followed by an arm slung over his shoulder. Kudo immediately recognized the voice—it was an old teammate from the Lingnan basketball team.

"It's you, Torajiro!" Kudo didn't even need to turn around to know who it was.

"Wow! I didn't expect the great Kudo Shinichi to remember me. What an honor!" Torajiro Yamada exclaimed with a grin.

Torajiro Yamada, a former teammate from Kudo's class, had been both a rival and a friend during their time on the basketball team.

"You haven't changed a bit," Kudo said, turning to face him. "Where's the rest of the team?"

"Ha! You've been skipping these gatherings for years, so of course you wouldn't know," Yamada teased. "We've been meeting in the same spot every time. If I hadn't found you, you'd probably be wandering around lost. Come on, I'll take you to them. It's not every day you show up!"

With that, Yamada led Kudo to where the Lingnan basketball team was gathered. When they arrived, Kudo noticed that their former coach, Shigeichi Takaoka, was also there. Kudo approached him and greeted him respectfully.

"Coach, how have you been?"

"Kudo-kun!" Takaoka's face lit up when he saw Kudo. "I'm doing well, and it's great to see you too!"

"I'm doing fine, thank you for asking, Coach," Kudo replied.

The rest of the team quickly noticed Kudo's arrival and began calling out to him.

"Kudo-kun! It's your first time joining us here!"

"I didn't expect to see you, Kudo-senpai! This is amazing!"

"Kudo, it's been so long since we last met! You can't leave early this time!"

Yamada joined in, "That's right! We're not letting him off easy!"

"Kudo-senpai, you have to stay this time!"

"Yeah, no leaving early!"

Amid the enthusiastic chatter, Kudo raised his hands to calm everyone down. "Alright, alright, let's all settle down. I know I've been busy these past few years and haven't had the chance to meet up with everyone. But now that I'm back in Kanagawa, I'll have more time. I'm really happy to see you all so excited to see me today. So, whatever you guys have planned, as long as it's reasonable, I'm in!"

"That's what we like to hear!" the group cheered.

Coach Takaoka then asked, "By the way, Kudo, what are you doing in Kanagawa now?"

"I'm currently the acting coach of the Shoyo basketball team," Kudo replied.

"What?!" someone exclaimed. "You're coaching Shoyo?!"

"Kudo, you're amazing!" Yamada said, clapping him on the back. "You've always been the best among us."

"That's right!"

"No doubt about it!"

"Remember when Kudo first joined our team? He didn't know anything about basketball," one teammate reminisced. "But by the time he got to university, he was a star player. And now he's coaching a powerhouse like Shoyo!"

"Yeah, most of us haven't even found stable jobs yet, and here you are, coaching a top-tier high school team," another added.

Coach Takaoka smiled and said, "Please share your wisdom with us in the future, Kudo."

Kudo quickly responded, "I'm the one who needs to learn from you, Coach. I'm still new to coaching and have a lot to figure out. I'll definitely come to you for advice."

"At my level, there's not much I can teach you," Takaoka said modestly. "But if you ever run into any problems, feel free to discuss them with me. I've got some experience under my belt."

As Kudo and Takaoka exchanged humble words, a woman's voice, filled with excitement, cut through the chatter.

"Kudo-senpai! I didn't expect to see you at the alumni meeting this year!"