Prologue: Infiltration at Dawn
The day after Shohoku's victory, a strange man entered the school grounds posing as a water inspector. No one stopped him. He wore a maintenance jumpsuit, cap tilted low, and carried a strange tablet that glowed faintly.
In the gym, while everyone rested, he paused by the hardwood and pressed a small disk against the floor.
"Beginning Variable Stimulation," he whispered. "Target: Subject 002—Sakuragi Hanamichi."
The Clocktower wasn't done testing us.
And their next experiment?
Was my red-haired best friend.
Morning in the Dorm – Sakuragi's Dream
"BWAHHHH!!!"
I woke up choking on my pillow as Sakuragi screamed from his bunk.
He sat up, eyes wide, drenched in sweat. "I was flying! Over the court! And then… I DUNKED THROUGH A BLACK HOLE!"
"…That's oddly specific," I croaked, rubbing my temples.
He grabbed me by the collar. "Kudo! Tell me! Is this a sign?! Have I… finally become THE CHOSEN ONE?!"
Mitsui walked in holding coffee. "More like the frozen one. You fell asleep with a wet towel on your face."
But I knew better.
Sakuragi's aura had shifted.
Subtly. Quietly.
The Variable was activating.
Training – Power Surge
At practice, we were running basic offensive sets. Akagi called for a screen, and Sakuragi stepped in.
BOOM.
He slammed his feet down—and the floor cracked slightly.
Everyone froze.
"…Did the floor just flinch?" Yasuda asked.
Sakuragi blinked. "I—I didn't do anything! I just stood here!"
Rukawa, mid-dribble, turned. "Try again."
We reset the play.
Akagi posted up. Sakuragi cut baseline, received a pass—
And exploded into the air.
His head cleared the rim by a full hand.
BOOM!
He dunked so hard the entire backboard shivered. Not shattered, but shivered like a living thing.
Silence.
Then…
"HOLY—" Mitsui choked. "Did you inject him with gorilla steroids?!"
I laughed nervously. "I—I think we need to talk…"
Private Conversation – Me and Sakuragi
Later that day, I pulled Sakuragi aside.
"You feel different lately?" I asked.
He blinked. "Well, I did eat three bowls of rice this morning—"
"No. I mean… here." I tapped his chest. "Like something inside you is… waking up."
He looked down at his hands.
"…Yeah," he said softly. "Like my body's catching up to something I've always believed. That I'm not just a fluke. That I can be great."
He looked at me. "Is it bad?"
I hesitated.
"No," I said. "But we need to be careful. It's not just strength. It's design."
"Design?"
"You're becoming something the world wants. Or maybe… something it's trying to stop."
He frowned. "Then I'll punch the world, too."
"…Of course you will."
Side Story – The Observer Returns
That night, Ren Kisaragi appeared at the top of the bleachers during our cooldown jogs.
"Enjoying your new toy?" he asked me casually.
"You mean my friend?" I said, stepping up to him. "Yeah. He's been great lately."
"Did you know he's not supposed to awaken until year two?"
"What?"
Ren turned, his coat flapping in the windless gym.
"Sakuragi Hanamichi is one of the purest 'Constants' in this world. The system was supposed to suppress him until a late narrative beat. But now he's spiraling. Clocktower's forced the Trigger."
My heart dropped.
"You're saying they're trying to break him?"
He nodded. "They want to see what happens when chaos awakens too soon."
"And you're okay with that?"
Ren didn't smile this time.
"No. That's why I came to warn you."
Then he vanished into the stairwell.
Rukawa Confronts Me Again
That evening, as I reviewed strategy sheets, Rukawa walked in and closed the door behind him.
"You knew this was coming," he said. "Didn't you?"
"…Yeah."
He leaned against the wall. "And if he snaps?"
I met his eyes. "Then we don't let him. No matter what happens… we bring him back."
There was a long pause.
Then Rukawa pulled out something from his jacket: the disk Ren had left behind in the gym. It was flickering, almost like a heartbeat.
"You're not the only one watching," he said. "Let's be ready."
Match Day – Shohoku vs. Hakodate West
Hakodate was fast, gritty, and foul-happy.
Their plan was clear: Wear us down, agitate Sakuragi, and break our rhythm.
First quarter—Sakuragi took a hard elbow to the ribs. No call.
Second quarter—one of their centers stepped on his shoe "by accident." Still no whistle.
By third quarter, his aura had changed.
His pupils shrank. Breath slowed. Muscles twitched.
He was slipping.
"Sakuragi," I whispered. "Look at me."
He did.
"Don't fight their game. Play yours. You're more than a hammer."
He blinked.
Then smiled.
"You're right. I'm a JACKHAMMER!"
"Close enough…"
Sakuragi Awakens – Controlled Chaos
With 5:12 on the clock, Shohoku up by only three, Sakuragi snapped into action.
He began reading plays before they happened.
Spinning out of traps.
Switching on defense without being told.
Cutting into passing lanes like he'd seen them two seconds early.
And then, the final blow:
Akagi boxed out. Rukawa ran a decoy.
Mitsui fed me.
I lobbed it.
And Sakuragi flew.
Higher than ever.
BOOM!
A 360 reverse alley-oop slam dunk that left the crowd gasping.
The rim wobbled. The court shook.
Even the Clocktower agent in the stands stood up, stunned.
Shohoku won: 77–69.
Post-Game Celebration – And a Warning
In the locker room, the guys were lit.
Akagi patted Sakuragi's back. Mitsui offered him his half-drunk sports drink. Rukawa even nodded. That was basically a hug.
And me?
I just smiled.
Until I saw the message on my phone.
From an Unknown Sender.
"You triggered the Variable. But can you contain it?"
Below it was a video of Sakuragi's dunk.
And in the final frame…
His eyes were glowing red.
Shohoku Status Update – The Balance Shifts
Name
Role
Change
Kudo Hirata
Strategist
Balancing awakening chaos and protecting team integrity
Sakuragi Hanamichi
Variable PF
Triggered early; displays preternatural athletic instinct
Rukawa Kaede
SF
Loyal defender of team against outside interference
Mitsui Hisashi
SG
Veteran glue; tactical shooter and emotional steadyhand
Akagi Takenori
Captain
Leading with calm strength, observing changes quietly
Ren Kisaragi
Traveler
Watches the system bend under pressure
Closing – The Path Ahead
As we left the arena that night, Sakuragi looked up at the sky.
"Hey, Kudo."
"Yeah?"
"…Do you think I'm still me?"
I looked at him—wide smile, sweat-stained jersey, bag of rice balls in hand.
"You're still the idiot who screams at clouds."
He laughed.
And for now…
He was still ours.
But deep inside, I knew the truth.
Sakuragi Hanamichi had become the wild card of fate.
And the game was only getting started.
[Next Time on Benchwarmer Chronicles — Chapter 39: "Storm Signal – The Return of the Prophet"]
A mysterious player enters the bracket—one who hasn't existed in the current timeline. Coach Anzai recognizes his face. Rukawa begins dreaming of a court he's never seen, and Kudo faces the most painful clue about his transmigration yet.