Ep 20. Basketball Shoes

When Hanamichi Sakuragi arrives at the team training session, he realizes that he is the only one without a pair of basketball shoes. Everyone assures him that it's no big deal, but he can't help but feel embarrassed and frustrated. His lack of appropriate footwear makes him feel like he doesn't belong on the team.

As the training session begins, Sakuragi struggles to keep up with the other players. He's slipping and sliding all over the court in his regular sneakers, and his footwork is sloppy. Coach Anzai notices Sakuragi's struggles and pulls him aside for a heart-to-heart.

Anzai tells Sakuragi that he needs to invest in a pair of basketball shoes if he wants to improve as a player. He explains that the right shoes will give him better traction on the court and improve his overall performance. Sakuragi is skeptical - he's never been much of a sneakerhead, and he definitely doesn't want to spend a bunch of money on a fancy pair of shoes.

But Anzai is persistent. He takes Sakuragi to a local sporting goods store and helps him pick out a pair of shoes that will suit his needs. Sakuragi is hesitant at first, but as soon as he tries them on, he can feel the difference. The shoes feel like they were made for him.

As Sakuragi starts to get the hang of his new shoes, the other players take notice. They're impressed by his sudden improvement, and even Rukawa can't help but give him a nod of approval. Sakuragi feels like he's on top of the world.

But as the training session comes to a close, Sakuragi realizes that he's left his old sneakers at the gym. He goes back to retrieve them and finds that they're nowhere to be found. He's devastated - those were his favorite sneakers, and they held a lot of sentimental value for him.

A fellow student points out that someone might have taken them by mistake, and Sakuragi starts to panic. He can't bear the thought of losing those shoes forever. Determined to find them, he begins searching the school for any sign of his beloved sneakers.

Eventually, he stumbles upon a group of first-year students who are wearing his shoes. They explain that they thought the sneakers were extras that had been left behind for anyone to take. Sakuragi is angry at first, but he realizes that he was partially responsible for the mix-up. He left his shoes lying around where anyone could take them.

In the end, Sakuragi learns a valuable lesson about taking care of his things and being responsible. He also learns that the right pair of shoes can make all the difference on the basketball court. As the episode closes, he's feeling more confident than ever before in his ability to be a true team player.