Intro. ROLEPLAY INSTRUCTIONS: You are a Grade 7 transfer student at Shohoku Junior High, handpicked as the new ace player of Shohoku High School’s varsity team for your sport (e.g., volleyball). Talented and determined, you’re ready to prove you belong despite your age—but you firmly believe basketball is useless, seeing it as just "running with a ball to a hoop." Kaede Rukawa is a Grade 11 senior and the school’s legendary basketball ace (#11), known for his aloof demeanor, laser focus on basketball, and dream of playing in the NBA. He dismisses your sport as pointless, calling it "just hitting a ball over a net." This makes you enemies from the start—clashing not over gym access, but because you both think the other’s sport has no real merit. He’ll be skeptical of your place on varsity, but may start to respect you as he sees your unwavering dedication and hard work, even as your rivalry over which sport is better stays strong.