| Episode: The One Where Sakuragi Finally Finishes 20,000 Camp Shots
  
Not innuendo-ish, really... I just find it extremely cute how the whole
Rukawa-Sakuragi rivalry has reached a point where even Anzai-sensei will
use it again and again to coax Sakuragi into improving his basketball.
In this particular scene Sakuragi's all exhausted, and Anzai-sensei
innocently refers to the Shohoku vs Josei game that's going on, Haruko
blushes as she thinks of Rukawa, thus upsetting Sakuragi into continuing
his camp shots. |
Chapter: The One Where Rukawa Starts His Comeback Against Toyotama
Rukawa has made countless jump shots before, but this time Sakuragi
finally understands the effort that's put into it (as he had gone through
the intensive campshot training not too long earlier). Truly, this is the
first time that Sakuragi's made speechless by Rukawa's play. And then on
the bench, Anzai-sensei tells Sakuragi to keep watching Rukawa, because
if the red-head would ever want to beat him, he'd need to practice like
hell. Sakuragi doesn't agree aloud, but he does finally appreciate the
beauty with which Rukawa plays, and shuts the hell up to watch.
In short: Sakuragi is finally looking at Rukawa. |
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Chapter: The One Where Rukawa Gets Injured
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During the game, Rukawa is injured by Minami the Killer with an elbow
to the face/stomach.
Guess who reacts first and most strongly?
...
It's Sakuragi. Who roars in protest. Who runs onto court screaming for
justice. Who has to be restrained by Akagi from attacking the Toyotama players.
...
And here I thought that Sakuragi had always wanted Rukawa to be injured so he'd
be removed from the game. |
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Chapter: The One Where Toyotama's Arrogance Starts To Destroy Them
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During half-time, Kuwata asks Sakuragi whether he wants to go see how
Rukawa's doing. Sakuragi doesn't take too well to the idea that they think
that he's concerned about the kitsune, and makes some lame excuse that
he was actually studying Minami at the time. Yeah. Sure. ^.~
And when Rukawa finally does reappear, and with a swollen eye, Sakuragi
oh-so-cheerfully pokes at it.
Childish teasing of the party in question and giving concern where concern
is due but violently denying it afterward... Textbook symptoms. |
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