That’s super helpful, thanks!
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Only 2 chapters left woohoo!
24th chap
Not many thoughts on the 23rd chapter, but the 24th one was really good! I feel like the pace picked up a bit, and they’re about to play their first practice match with Ryonan school - ahhhh!!! So!! Excited!!
I love how the captain comes up with creative ways to motivate Sakuragi to stay behind and teaches him how to rebound ahah. I have a feeling we’re going to see some really cool shots/moments in the 25th chapter! 
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I just finished ch 23, oof was that kansaiben? Yet another slang 
I’m hoping ch 24 is back to “normal”
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haha yes, that was kansai-ben, but don’t worry, I don’t think we encounter that dialect again in the 24th or 25th chapters if I remember correctly. Surprisingly, I didn’t notice the dialect change at all because I think I kinda got used to it after reading はなものがたり 
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lucky you! I guess at some point I need to delve into that and get it over with, lol. I thought the teenage male rough slang was bad enough and so far I’ve avoided Kansai-ben like the plague 
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hellooo I just finished reading the 3rd volume!
overall thoughts
Like I suspected, the match starts only in the 4th volume. We’ve finally met some characters from the team and from the other school, so I’m very hyped for the 4th volume when the match starts and when we get to see everyone in action! 
Although it’s interesting to watch the characterization of 桜木 as a reader, I can imagine that it’d be very hard to deal with him in real life. But I guess the character development will have its own sweet spot.
いくぞー
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Yay! Then I’ll plan on cozying up with Slam dunk tomorrow morning 
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Vol 3 Response
HAHA, that’s so true. I love him as a character so much, but if someone was like that in real life it’d be a different story 
Hooray for the first match being up next!!
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vol 3 response
yesss omg I can’t wait! Seems like 仙道 is very similar to 桜木 in some ways and that’s why they have the “I like you but I can’t wait to defeat you” vibes?
This is just a big speculation, but I have a feeling that sakuragi’s team is not going to win (mostly because of the patterns I’ve observed in other sports manga and also because it’d be such a fun game where they actually get to observe their strengths and weaknesses) - and mayyyybe this could also be the turning point for the team to gel together?
Idk my thoughts are getting more weird and vague now I’ll stop hahah
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Ch 24
Yeah, even though Sakuragi is still so stuck on calling himself a genius, captain manages to have the patience to teach him something
There was a saying I got curious about. Since captain said in basketball they say he who controls the rebound controls the game, then Sakuragi says, oh that’s like 左を制するは世界を制す
I was curious what that was and found out it’s from boxing:
ボクシングにおいては、ジャブの技術に長けた選手が、試合における優勢、ひいては世界最強の 座を手にするとする格言。基本的な技とされる左ジャプ、あるいは左ジャブに象徴される基礎 的な技術の重要性を説く言葉である
In boxing, this proverb says that a boxer who excels in jab technique will gain an advantage in the match and ultimately become the strongest in the world. This is a saying that emphasizes the importance of the left jab, which is considered a basic technique, or the basic technique symbolized by the left jab.
Of course Sakuragi knows about boxing
Ch 25 question
OK what the heck is going on in the train ??
The big guys are trying to pick a fight and captain says no? And then?.? It looks like they’re holding their breath and doing pelvic floor training. Surely not? So random
Moving on - I love the whole entrance scene. What is their main coach’s past, so mysterious…
Ch 26 and end of volume thoughts
OMG the biggest fit I’ve ever seen!
brutally honest opinion
Sooo I’ve had mixed feelings about this the whole time. I’m getting frustrated that Sakuragi is so ultra reactive and how much he and captain beat each other up. I really don’t want to say this but I feel like after 3 volumes it’s getting a bit old. I know it’s a kind of over hyped manga behaviour but maybe that’s not for me? it annoys me constantly.
the art and story telling, humour and character development when it happens keeps me going (5/5), but these parts are a drag for me (0/5) I’m going to finally admit. I’m really hoping vol 4-5 start moving past it
that aside, I liked the widening world here seeing the other team. This Sendou character is interesting
Oh maybe I missed something?! To me they seem like opposites. Sendou seemed really chilled and polite, everyone on the team likes him. No growling or fufus, he’s just like, cool game on
From a story point of view, my speculation is that Sakuragi has to lose face and lose them the match. Like he refuses to cooperate with Rukawa or something and has to learn a harder lesson. But I guess Inoue will have a twist and has something more surprising in store for us 
I’ll get the next thread up!
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ch 24
I know right? It’s always beyond me how the captain tolerates Sakuragi, especially when he’s constantly trying to hit or insult him lol
wow that was interesting, thanks for sharing the quote! And yes, ofc our boy knows all about punching someone
ch 25
okay so I had to borrow this volume from a friend and already gave it back. My memory is pretty vague, so I might need to take another look before jumping in - I’ll leave it to TheNerdyNova if they can help!
ch 26 + overall thoughts
oh I completely 100% agree with you on this. The characterization we’ve seen so far in 3 volumes and the art are what keep me going. Since I love good character development, I’m hoping to see more of that as well.
Honestly, I don’t think I’ve ever seen this much “over-hyped manga behavior” in other sports manga, but maybe I just haven’t read enough haha! I don’t think this will change much, though, because Sakuragi seems like a naturally reactive and loud character. I’m curious to see how his character unfolds in the upcoming volumes.
Yeah, you’re right. I didn’t articulate it properly and still can’t figure out a way to explain why I said that. I didn’t mean their personality or style, really - it’s more of a vibe they give off. I’m sure I still don’t make sense.
Thank you!!
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ch 25
I meant to write - I’ll take some pictures (hopefully Sunday) and then call NerdyNova for help
ch 26
Thanks 
I was so worried I was the only one
oooh, like, they’re probably both super dedicated to being their best, everything else comes second?
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Heyo! Sorry for a slow response haha
Chapter 25
Haha! Sorry not sorry to disappoint, but that’s kind of, in fact, what’s going on
Put more clearly I guess, the thugs are already on the train before the basketball team, and are already being annoying and loud. It looks like they already got into a fight earlier and are talking about it amongst themselves. So they’re acting all big and tough, and then Shouhoku walks on, and yeah they don’t pay attention to these thugs at all. I don’t think they even interact haha.
And then yup! The captain talks about getting fired up and then they do an… exercise thing Their butts are floating off the chairs so they’re using their abs and legs to stay up haha
Ooh ooh, okay there’s actually a funny personal story I’ve been waiting to share that’s about this chapter!!
Unnecessary Funne Personal Story
So for a few years I took Japanese lessons from a guy my friend knew, and I became friends with him and his wife! And when I told him I started reading Slam Dunk he was like “ohhhh my childhood!!” He said he had all the volumes and everything (which I think would have been some 15-20 years ago), so every now and then he would ask me how my slam dunk reading was going haha
And one day in particular this man earned my rESP E C T! I had a question about the sentence where the thug says: 「あいつをさんざん蹴りまくった後よ俺は言ってやったよ」which I feel like, is a pretty innocuous and not very important line right? All I did was read the line, I didn’t even show the picture, and he goes “Ahh! I know this part! They are about to have their first match and there are thugs and then Shouhoku steps on the train 
”
And I laughed so hard I was like wHAAAAAT THATS CRAZY BRO. That moment made my WEEK
And he just kind of sheepishly went “yeah well I told you I had all the volumes as a kid” 
Ch 26 & Overall Thoughts/Qualms Convo
I’m sorry you both haven’t been enjoying all of it!! That’s the worst when most other stuff in a series you loVE, but then there’s just one thing that ruins it 
I feel like… it does get better? But it’s also hard for me to say, because that aspect of it to me was always a “mm that’s not my favorite, but oh well” at worst haha. I feel like it’s not completely just my bias saying once matches start it gets a little better though, and relationship slowly improve. Hopefully it’ll get to a place where you both enjoy it all more
The first match is fun, but I feel like it does still take a little bit to feel like real matches, hopefully that’s not too off-putting.
Also it could just be me, but I feel like sometimes that’s maybe a downside to enjoying stuff in a target language. Because if there’s something you don’t like or something that’s dragging, it probably feels eeeeeven longer since it takes more time to get through than your native language.
Hopefully since you both feel the same though, maybe commiserating together will help you get through! Haha
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Thanks so much!
Ch 25
Aaaah, no thanks so much I’m so glad I got it roughly right! That’s a rarity for me when there’s so much you have to get from the panels
Ah, see this is what I didn’t quite pick up, that helps
Haha that’s so funny, ok if that’s two of interpreting it like that! Here’s the panel @prath
great story thanks!
Woah how fun!
no kidding, remembering that line and scene so well is wild.
Ch 26
Don’t worry too much! I wouldn’t go as far as to say it ruins it. It’s more like whaaaaaat and how often do I have to ignore this
I talked to my SO and he thought it was playing on American tropes and the idea that American schools are that violent. At first I was shocked but then he mentioned basically every tv series and they all show punch up style bullying. Luckily that’s not what I saw at school, but fair point. Maybe in the 90s and for the basketball topic it’s giving an exotic “American” flare since none of this behavior would remotely happen in Japanese schools right
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