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I’m with foodaddict for most of the part since I’m also a Sendoh simp from day one. However, despite my blind love for this boy, some parts of me remain skeptical of his too-good-to-be-true impression. Sendoh is a rather mysterious character that even his trusted teammates know little of. So what can we make of the limited information about him?
Background: There isn’t much to say that hasn’t been said by foodaddict. A Tokyo boy who most likely grows up comfortable and loves fishing, Sendoh is someone who has no trouble blending in and seeing the beauty of anywhere he lives. High agreeableness, high adaptability, and readiness to appreciate whatever your environment can give you are all excellent green flags in a life partner. Given that he has lived away from home since at least 10th grade, it’s also not a stretch to think that Sendoh can take care of himself sufficiently, which is a very attractive quality in people, especially men. Considering how nobody in Ryonan knows what he does outside of school or basketball, I have a feeling that he has his place instead of living in a dorm, which is another plus. All of these paint a picture of someone from a good background not only in terms of finance but also familial relationships.
Personality, Quirks of Note: Sendoh’s most glaring flaw is his warped sense of punctuality and priority, something not quite irredeemable per se but are warning sign for a frustrating courtship nevertheless. While we have no concrete evidence that this boy’s forgetfulness would carry over to his dating life, we must carefully keep our infatuation in check (you bet I had a hard time doing so, heavy sign ). After all, he was late at the practice game with Shohoku, which his teammates confirmed was not a one-time incident, and he repeatedly skipped practices to go fishing!
Yes, indeed, he always shows up when it counts the most, but would you want to be with someone who seemingly coasts through the entirety of your relationship and only desires to show up during the big occasions like the wedding day since the rest of your relationship wasn’t make-or-break enough? I mean, he doesn’t even bother to put much of his thoughts into important matters regarding his supposed passion for basketball! That certainly makes you wonder what could actually hold his attention day-to-day.
Secondly, Sendoh may not be a playboy or a fuck boy, but dating him is not for the faint of heart. Why do I say that? I don’t see Sendoh as a commitment phobe at all. Quite the contrary, his high sense of intrinsic motivation suggests otherwise. The real question is whether he would want to commit yet. This is someone who takes the word “chill” to the next fucking level. Out of the entire Slam Dunk cast, Sendoh will thrive in the modern online dating landscape, not necessarily because he can pull every girl (everyone and their pets, let’s be real) but because he’s capable of managing his expectations, getting to know a person, having a hell of a time, all while being upfront of his intentions, respecting his dates' boundaries, and protecting his personal peace. The kicker? Unlike Sendoh, most of us aren’t cut out for modern dating.
When you think you start to kind of get a hang of this dating-around thing, enter Sendoh. He’s handsome, he’s tall, he’s friendly, he’s considerate, he’s interested, he’s it. He likes to take things slow, understandably. Gradually though you start finding yourself wanting to lock down this magnificent specimen ASAP. Ever so patient still, he calmly explains that he does not see himself settling down yet. Again, not because he’s leading you on, as you know Sendoh doesn’t waste his time with something he deems unimportant or uninteresting for the sake of nicety. Nor is he dragging his feet because he has second thoughts, as you know if there’s anything he’d have no trouble communicating. That’s just Sendoh’s natural pace. And unfortunately, few people are built for that pace. Nor could many have the resolve to put their foot down and assert their stand because that would spell the end of their moonlight and roses. Many of those whom Sendoh politely but frankly declines will still delude themselves into thinking they’re actually in a situationship with him, and the few who officially date him may not have it to be with him long-term.
Make no mistakes, yours truly does not suggest that Sendoh is this perfect, otherworldly creature that no one is ever good enough to date. The assessment is quite a few of his initial relationships will be duds since it will be some time before he can pick up on his relationship approach versus what others expect out of him, plus I don’t see him wanting to settle down that soon tbh. If love is an arcade then Sendoh would be a coin pusher. You see all the shiny rewards laid in front of your eyes, you watch all the previous participants come in with high hope and energy and all are eventually left dejected. It will be different for you though, or so you told yourself. Then before you know it you keep sinking your hopes and dreams into this boy because the rewards are there, are real and eventually the time will come and you just have to be the one who’s there at the right time. You get the picture.
Overall Assessment: Sendoh is an especially excellent option if you have uncompromisingly unconventional ideas of life with lots of self-confidence to boost, don’t have control freak tendencies or at least can manage it. Just to list a few examples, he will have no qualms about supporting you in traveling to the other side of the earth to pursue your prestigious academic position while maintaining the relationship without wandering eyes or wavering heart. He would be the perfect dad if he had the chance, but if you were child-free by choice he would also accept that without a hitch. None of that jealous possessive husband bs, he will trust you 100%. But that trust needs to go both way. You can’t be with this guy if you waste your time with those relationship test bs.
Going back to the coin pusher analogy, scoring a guy like Sendoh is quite literally winning the big prize or hitting the jackpot, but that also means it’s a matter of having a lot of luck on your side. Being the right person at the right place at the right time, it’s no exaggeration to say all stars need to align. Dating someone like him is quite an unforgettable experience, but you need a lot going on for yourself in terms of emotional maturity and self-awareness to enjoy that ride and to fall back in case you eventually decide that ride is not for you anymore.
Or maybe all of this is just the author's ploy to scare all of Sendoh's suitors away so she can keep him for herself.
The moment the author you fell for Sendoh: During Ryonan’s match with Kainan, someone pointed out to Sendoh that he had forgotten about his teammate Uekusa. Sendoh immediately recognized, admitted, and apologized to Uekusa, although it was technically Uekusa’s fault that Ryonan missed a scoring chance. Such humility!