Sakuragi chances upon Kainan players Maki and Kiyota and accompanies them to watch a basketball match between Sannoh Industry Affiliated High School and Aiwa Academy, which Maki acknowledges will be the new powerful rivals Shohoku will face in the National Championship Games. Meanwhile, Rukawa visits Coach Anzai to ask for his blessing for his wish to study abroad in the United States of America. To his surprise, Coach Anzai refuses, instead telling him to become the top-ranking player in Japan before he even thought of it.