Chapter 15: Lingnan Alumni Association (Part 2)

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

Kudo turned around to see a beautiful young woman with fair skin, a slim yet curvy figure, long shiny black hair, and a vibrant, youthful aura. She was looking at him with excitement.

"She looks so familiar," Kudo thought as he studied her face. However, despite the familiarity, he couldn't immediately recall her name.

As Kudo was trying to remember, Coach Takaoka spoke up from the side. "Aida, you're here!"

"Yes, long time no see, Coach Takaoka! And Kudo-senpai too!" Aida smiled warmly as she greeted them.

"Yeah, long time no see, Aida," Kudo replied, finally recognizing her.

"Yayoi is here too," Yamada interjected with a teasing grin. "You must be thrilled to see your Shinichi-senpai again!"

Yayoi Aida blushed in embarrassment and said, "Yamada-senpai, don't make fun of me."

"Wow! It's rare to see someone as strong-willed as you blush!" Yamada continued to tease her.

"Torajiro, you're really something," Kudo said, stepping in to defend Aida. "You're such a big guy, yet you still enjoy teasing others."

At this point, Kudo had fully remembered Yayoi Aida. In his memories, she was two years younger than him and had been the manager of the Lingnan basketball team during their high school days. She was a vibrant, basketball-loving young woman. Kudo, familiar with the original story, now clearly understood who she was—the sister of Hikaru Aida, a substitute player on the Lingnan basketball team, and an official reporter for a basketball weekly magazine. She was a sharp, strong-willed woman who greatly admired Sendo's basketball skills.

"By the way, I just got here. What were you all discussing so intensely earlier?" Aida asked, changing the subject.

"We were talking about Shinichi, of course!" Yamada replied. "He's now the coach of the Shoyo High School basketball team. No matter what, Shinichi always outshines the rest of us!"

"Really? Kudo-senpai is still as outstanding as ever!" Aida exclaimed.

Kudo chuckled modestly. "Torajiro, don't exaggerate. You're making me blush."

"By the way, Aida, what are you studying now?" Kudo asked.

"I'm in the journalism department at Yokohama National University," Aida replied. "But I'm still very passionate about basketball, so I joined the university's basketball club. However, as you all know, I'm not exactly athletic, so I didn't join the women's basketball team. Instead, I became the manager, just like I did at Lingnan."

She continued, her face reddening slightly, "Because of that, I've been watching a lot of university league matches. I've seen your performances many times, senpai! Your skills are truly incredible. It's just a shame about this year's finals."

Kudo smiled at her praise but didn't respond directly. Instead, he engaged her in conversation about other topics. After all, talking to a beautiful woman was always a pleasant experience.

While Kudo was chatting with his former teammates, Coach Takaoka approached him again.

"Kudo, come with me for a moment," Coach Takaoka said, gesturing for Kudo to follow him.

Kudo followed him out and asked, "Coach, what did you want to talk to me about?"

"Now that you're a coach and part of the basketball community, I want to introduce you to some seniors who graduated from the Lingnan basketball team. It'll be helpful for you in the future," Coach Takaoka explained.

"Thank you so much, Coach. I really appreciate it," Kudo said gratefully.

"It's nothing. Meeting seniors is one of the main purposes of the alumni association," Coach Takaoka said with a smile. "Besides, you're my student. Who else would I help if not you?"

.........

Coach Takaoka began introducing Kudo to various influential figures.

"This is Coach Ofuna. He's currently the coach of the Yokohama National High School basketball team and is one of Kanagawa's most renowned coaches. His team has won the National Middle School Prefectural Competition several times. You two should get to know each other."

Coach Ofuna smiled humbly. "Senior Takaoka, you're too kind. My skills are nothing special."

Kudo quickly said, "Senior Ofuna, I'll look forward to learning from you."

"Of course, of course. We're all in the same circle," Ofuna replied warmly.

.........

Next, Coach Takaoka introduced Kudo to Coach Fujisawa of Sunrise West High School.

"Sunrise West is one of Kanagawa's strongest teams and made it to the Elite Eight this year," Coach Takaoka explained.

"Fujisawa-senpai, I hope to learn a lot from you," Kudo said respectfully.

"Likewise, likewise. Shoyo is a powerhouse, so I hope our teams can play more practice matches. It'll be a great learning experience for my players," Fujisawa replied.

"Absolutely. Let's help each other improve," Kudo agreed.

.........

Coach Takaoka then introduced Kudo to Coach Maekawa of Tokyo Teikoku Junior High School.

"Maekawa-senpai, I'll look forward to your guidance," Kudo said politely.

"The same goes for me. I hope we can learn from each other," Maekawa replied.

.........

Next was Aso-senpai, the head of Kanagawa TV's sports channel.

"Aso-senpai, I'll be counting on your support," Kudo said.

"Of course, of course. We're all here to help each other," Aso replied.

.........

Finally, Coach Takaoka introduced Kudo to Masao Takashi, a senior working in the Basketball Association and one of the organizers of the Summer Nationals.

"Senior Takashi still cares deeply about the Lingnan basketball team," Coach Takaoka said solemnly. "It's a shame that the current team hasn't lived up to his expectations, failing to even reach the prefectural tournament finals. As the coach, I take full responsibility."

Takashi Masao shook his head. "Takaoka, we've all seen your efforts. The school's resources are heavily focused on the soccer team, and basketball remains a niche sport in our country. Despite that, you've managed to keep Lingnan as one of Kanagawa's top eight teams. That's no small feat, especially in such a competitive region."

Kudo bowed slightly. "Takashi-senpai, I'll look forward to your guidance."

"Kudo-kun, you're already one of the most accomplished talents to come out of Lingnan's basketball team," Takashi said with a smile. "I've followed your career closely, and your performances on the court have been nothing short of impressive."

Kudo humbly replied, "Senior Takashi, you're too kind. I still have much to learn from you."

"Don't be modest," Takashi said. "You're one of the mainstays of the national team, and none of us old-timers have achieved what you have."

Kudo chuckled awkwardly. "I'm truly flattered."

Under Coach Takaoka's guidance, Kudo met many influential seniors from the Lingnan basketball team, connections that would undoubtedly benefit him in the future. After the alumni meeting, Kudo, Yamada, and Aida went to a karaoke bar and spent the night singing and reminiscing. They didn't return home until 2 or 3 a.m., and Kudo was scolded by his mother, Nobuko, for an entire week afterward!