The next morning…
"It's so comfortable… it feels amazing to have a home again!" Kudo Shinichi stretched lazily after waking up naturally, feeling truly refreshed.
After getting up and washing up, he ate the breakfast Nobuko had prepared."Mom, I'm heading out. I won't be home for lunch," Kudo said, grabbing his coat.
"Where are you going, Shinichi?" Nobuko asked.
"I'm going to visit Coach Anzai today."
"Really? Then take care on the road," she said gently. "And try to be back early."
"I will. See you later!" Kudo waved and walked out of the house.
Coach Anzai's residence was a traditional Japanese-style home, not far from the city.Surrounded by lush greenery and quiet surroundings, it was the perfect place for someone to rest and recover in peace.
Standing in front of the large courtyard gate, Kudo checked the house number to confirm he was at the right place. Once sure, he pressed the doorbell. After a moment, the door opened.
The one who answered was a kind-looking elderly woman in a kimono. With gray hair and soft features, she appeared to be in her 50s or 60s. She looked at Kudo with slight confusion.
"Excuse me, who might you be?"
"Hello, I'm Kudo Shinichi, captain of the basketball team at Fukazawa University. I came to visit Coach Anzai today."
"Oh, so you're Kudo!" she said warmly. "Mr. Anzai is home—please, come in!"
"Thank you. You must be the coach's wife. Is he feeling better these days?" Kudo asked.
"He's doing quite well now—he's even put on a little weight," she replied cheerfully.
They entered the house, and when they reached the living room, Kudo saw Coach Anzai sitting cross-legged on a tatami mat, dressed in a traditional kimono and reading a newspaper.
"My dear, Mr. Kudo has come to see you," Mrs. Anzai announced.
Coach Anzai looked up and smiled warmly. "Ah, it's Mr. Kudo. Please, come in."
"Sorry to intrude," Kudo said politely, bowing before kneeling across from him.
"I'll go make some tea," Mrs. Anzai said before heading to the kitchen. A few minutes later, she returned with tea in a bamboo tube. "Please chat as much as you like. If you need anything, just call me," she said, then quietly exited to the courtyard.
"Here, have some tea," Coach Anzai said, gesturing.
After taking a sip, Kudo spoke. "Coach, I came today to check on how you've been doing."
"I'm doing much better now. But honestly, I need to apologize to you," Anzai said. "Because of my departure, the team was left without a coach, and all the responsibilities fell onto your shoulders. I didn't consider things thoroughly at the time. I truly regret it."
Kudo quickly waved his hands. "No, no, please don't say that! You had to leave because of your health—it was beyond your control. The most important thing is your recovery."
As Kudo said the words "because of your health," a flicker of discomfort passed across Coach Anzai's face. It was brief—so subtle that Kudo didn't notice. The coach quickly composed himself.
"I watched several recordings of your games this year," Anzai said thoughtfully. "You performed well, Kudo-kun. But I still feel that if I had been there to guide you, you might have done even better."
"Coach, really—it's not your fault. No one blames you. Your health matters more than anything."Kudo paused, then added, "Actually, besides checking in on you, I also came today to ask for your advice."
"Ask away," Anzai encouraged.
"Well... I'm graduating soon," Kudo said with an awkward chuckle. "And honestly, I don't know anything besides basketball."(That's a bit of a stretch,←_← You barely even play anymore, he thought to himself.)
"I want to become a basketball coach—but I don't have any experience. So I came to see if you'd be willing to give me some guidance," he said earnestly.
"You want to coach? What level are you thinking about coaching at?" Anzai asked.
"I don't have enough experience for the university level yet," Kudo replied. "So I plan to start at the high school level. I haven't decided where yet—that's why I wanted to hear your thoughts."
"High school, huh…" Anzai thought for a moment before speaking."Being a high school coach is mostly about sparking students' interest and helping them develop their skills. After all, many of them are just starting basketball at that age. If I remember correctly, you started playing in high school as well?"
"Yes. Back when I was at Ryonan, it was Coach Tanaka who introduced me to basketball. I had just started learning, so I wasn't that strong in high school. I wasn't able to help Coach Tanaka realize his dream of reaching the national tournament."
"Coach Tanaka from Ryonan… he's a fine coach," Anzai said approvingly.
"He really is," Kudo agreed with a smile. "He helped me fall in love with basketball. It's just a shame I wasn't able to live up to his expectations."
"As a coach," Anzai began, "you must first focus on the fundamentals. A strong foundation is essential for everything. After all, a tall building starts from the ground."
He took another sip of tea before continuing, "In high school, nurturing a student's interest in the game is key. Every player has their own spirit and growth curve. Some may be new to basketball, others might struggle to cooperate, and some may even be self-centered. But you can't force them to change. Let them find their way on the court—guide them slowly, and they'll grow into better players."
Kudo raised an eyebrow. "But… isn't that different from how you taught us before? Didn't you always say, 'The team doesn't exist for the players. The players are part of the team and must exist for the team'? You emphasized that basketball is a five-player sport—and learning to cooperate is critical."
He was confused. Whether from his past life's understanding or from what he remembered from the old Kudo's memories, Anzai had always promoted team basketball. A player who couldn't cooperate would only drag the team down.
Coach Anzai's expression tightened again, though only for a second. He then smiled calmly and said,"No, Kudo—you misunderstood me. Teamwork is absolutely important in basketball. I still believe that. But when you're coaching high school students, you may encounter players who have been self-reliant for years. Maybe they never had good teammates, so they're used to doing everything alone. Their efficiency is higher when they play solo, so they develop a reluctance to pass the ball."
"But if you try to force them into a certain mold too quickly, you could crush their spirit—or worse, ruin their development entirely. Instead, guide them patiently. Let them understand and adapt in their own time. That's how they'll truly grow and unlock their potential."
"But when you coached us, I don't remember anyone with that kind of problem…" Kudo said, still puzzled.(Clearly inexperienced—and also forgot most of the Slam Dunk storyline, he grumbled inwardly.)
Coach Anzai fell quiet for a moment. Then, with a faraway look, he finally said,"If you coach one day… I hope you'll avoid making the mistakes I made. My coaching wasn't always successful. In fact, I failed in certain ways. I was too strict at times. Some players couldn't take it. I hope you'll be more understanding. Every player is different. You have to be flexible—not rigid. Otherwise, you risk doing more harm than good."
"No way, Coach! If you weren't successful, then no basketball coach in Japan is," Kudo said, full of admiration.
Coach Anzai didn't respond. He simply sat in silence, lost in thought. The mood grew slightly awkward.
What really happened to you, Coach? Kudo wondered.I think this was mentioned in the Slam Dunk manga, but I must've skimmed past it… Damn it! If I'd known this would happen, I would've read more carefully back then!(Too bad there's no medicine for regret… ╮(╯▽╰)╭)
After a while, Coach Anzai stirred. "Sorry, Kudo. I got lost in thought for a moment."
"No, it's alright, Coach. Don't worry about it," Kudo said quickly.
"As a coach, beyond training players, you'll also need tactical knowledge, quick decision-making, and the ability to manage your team's mental state," Anzai continued. "Especially with high schoolers, emotional support is crucial—both before and during games."
He took another sip of tea."And about tactics—you don't need to dive into complicated plays. High schoolers are still developing, and advanced tactics can be too much for them. They won't have time to absorb it all, especially with limited club hours. If you force it, you'll burn them out."
"Instead, focus on the basics: passing, running, cutting, screening, and off-ball movement. That's all they need right now. The rest depends on your in-game leadership, which will come with experience."
"Watch more game tapes," he advised. "Study how experienced coaches manage their teams. Put yourself in their shoes. Ask yourself what you would've done. That's how you'll find your weaknesses—and grow."