The oversized waffle cone that looked substantial in an ordinary person's hand...
Looked like a tiny LEGO toy in the giant's palm.
Ridiculous.
Pathetic.
The giant stuck out his pink tongue and carefully licked the ice cream that was completely mismatched with his massive frame.
"A center?"
The giant blinked his bell-sized eyes and sized Akagi up from head to toe.
Then he flashed a row of dazzling white teeth and grinned.
"Cool. But you still look tiny, bro."
Akagi Takenori: "..."
A crushing sense of defeat instantly shattered his defenses.
His proud 197-centimeter height.
His powerful physique.
In front of this monster...
He really did look like a guard.
Maybe even an elementary school student.
"Shaq! No!"
A shrill scream suddenly echoed from the distance.
A skinny nutritionist came charging over, waving a clipboard like an enraged Chihuahua.
"You can't eat that!"
"You are already overweight!"
"Put that down!"
The moment he heard the voice, the giant's calm expression changed dramatically.
Like a child caught sneaking snacks.
"Oh shoot! The police is coming!"
The giant known as Shaq let out a strange cry.
Despite weighing over three hundred pounds, he moved with unbelievable agility.
Spinning around dramatically, he practically created a miniature hurricane.
Before running away, he winked at Akagi and pointed at the ice cream in his hand.
"Hey, little center!"
"Remember to eat more!"
"Or you'll get crushed!"
Then the enormous giant took off.
Like a runaway tank charging out of the rehabilitation room.
His booming laughter lingered behind him.
"Hahaha! Catch me if you can!"
The nutritionist chased after him, panting furiously.
"Shaquille O'Neal! Get back here!"
Akagi stood frozen in place like a stone statue.
After a long while, he slowly turned toward his attending physician.
"That was...?"
The doctor shrugged as if this was an everyday occurrence.
"Oh, that's Shaquille."
"The Orlando Magic drafted him first overall last year. Rookie of the Year."
"He's a... beast."
Akagi swallowed hard.
The overwhelming pressure that giant had radiated.
And those words—
"You'll get crushed."
Echoed endlessly in his mind.
So this...
was the difference between people?
Was this what Makino Juro always meant when he talked about freak talents?
Akagi lowered his gaze to his ankle wrapped in layers of bandages.
The pride he'd felt after defeating Kainan vanished instantly.
His heart cooled.
Settled.
In a world filled with monsters like that...
He was still too weak.
"Doctor."
Akagi sat back down on the machine.
The confusion in his eyes disappeared.
Replaced by a blazing fire fiercer than ever before.
"Let's continue. Increase the load."
"Are you sure?"
"Yes."
"I need to become stronger."
If he didn't become stronger—
Forget conquering the nation.
He wouldn't even have the right to stand on the same stage as monsters like that.
Meanwhile, in Japan...
After school at Shohoku High.
Without Akagi Takenori's thunderous roars keeping everyone in line, the basketball gym felt...
Far too wild.
"WAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi stood in the center of the court with his hands on his hips.
Wearing a red vest with the words "Acting Captain" scribbled across it in crooked marker.
Laughing maniacally.
"Listen up, peasants!!"
With his nose pointed proudly toward the ceiling, he gestured grandly at the court.
"The Gorilla isn't here, which means this genius is king now!"
"From today onward, there is only one tactical core!"
"Pass the ball to me!"
"I want to practice that... that Meteor Dunk thing!!"
"Idiot."
Rukawa Kaede spat out two cold words.
Without even looking at him.
He simply rose into a pull-up jumper.
Swish!
Nothing but net.
"Damn Fox!"
"You dare ignore the commands of this genius king?!"
Sakuragi exploded and charged forward, ready for a real-life fight.
"Knock it off!"
Miyagi Ryota dribbled the ball with an annoyed expression while staring at Sakuragi's vest.
"Hey, Hanamichi."
"Who appointed you Acting Captain?"
"Based on seniority, shouldn't it be me, the future ace point guard?"
Nearby, Mitsui Hisashi finished tying his shoelaces and shook his head helplessly.
"A bunch of children..."
"But with Akagi gone, the paint really is a problem."
Everyone's gaze unconsciously drifted toward the bench.
There sat Makino Juro.
Wearing headphones.
Doing training drills.
Holding a bottle of soda.
His entire expression radiated:
"I do not exist. Please do not involve me."
Feeling everyone's eyes on him, Makino Juro sighed and removed his headphones.
"Why are you all looking at me?"
"I'm just a weak little guard."
"Don't ask me to do dirty work in the paint."
Makino Juro rejected the idea immediately.
What a joke.
Battling in the post against an endless-stamina monster like Sakuragi?
That was more exhausting than running ten kilometers.
A losing business deal.
"Master!!"
Sakuragi instantly teleported in front of him.
Rubbing his hands together with a shamelessly flattering smile.
"Since the Gorilla isn't here..."
"How about teaching me that..."
"That Zone thing?"
"As long as I master it completely, I'll dominate the prefecture... no, the entire country!"
Makino Juro stared at Sakuragi's oversized face.
The corner of his mouth twitched.
"You want to learn the Zone?"
"Mm-hmm! Mm-hmm! Mm-hmm!"
Sakuragi nodded so hard his head looked ready to fall off.
"Sure."
Makino Juro stood up.
Rolling his neck.
Crack.
A crisp popping sound echoed.
He walked onto the court and casually picked up a basketball.
In an instant—
His lazy demeanor vanished.
Replaced by a sharp, dangerous aura that made people's hearts tremble.
Like a demonic blade that had remained sheathed for years...
Finally unsheathed.
"Then let's start with a small goal."
Makino Juro pointed at the basket.
Then pointed at Sakuragi.
A frighteningly gentle smile appeared on his face.
"Steal ten balls from me."
"Do that."
"And I'll teach you."
Sakuragi froze.
Then exploded with joy.
"Really?!"
"That's it?!"
"WAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"Master, you're seriously underestimating the genius Sakuragi Hanamichi!!"
Nearby, Rukawa Kaede and Mitsui Hisashi exchanged glances.
Both saw the same thing in each other's eyes.
Deep sympathy.
Easy?
This red-haired monkey...
Was about to get beaten so badly today that he'd start questioning his entire existence.
"Um..."
Standing courtside, Kogure Kiminobu adjusted his glasses.
Watching another round of teacher-versus-disciple carnage about to begin.
A warm smile appeared on his face.
Even though Akagi wasn't here...
This Shohoku team seemed more energetic than ever.
"All right, everyone!"
"Practice starts now!!"
Ayako waved her paper fan and shouted.
"Yes!!"
As the sun slowly set beyond the horizon, a new storm was brewing inside the basketball gym.
And far across the ocean...
Akagi was also sweating and struggling for the very same dream.
The dream of standing at the top of Japan.
END OF CHAPTER
The King Of Slacking Off - MrBehringer's Secret
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