Daifuku Yakiniku Restaurant.
Smoke curled through the air as the irresistible aroma of grilled meat filled every corner of the restaurant.
It smelled like happiness.
"Cheers!!"
Glasses of oolong tea clinked together with a crisp chime.
Sakuragi Hanamichi had claimed an entire grill for himself.
His chopsticks moved so quickly they left afterimages, while his mouth was stuffed full of beef.
Even so, he still managed to shout through a mouthful of food,
"Boss! Five more plates of beef belly!"
"The fatty kind!!"
Akagi Takenori watched his teammates devouring food like starving wolves.
At last, a faint, gentle smile appeared on his usually stern face.
This...
This is Shohoku.
Loud.
Chaotic.
Everyone acting without restraint.
Yet overflowing with raw, untamed vitality.
"Captain, what was America like?"
Kogure adjusted his glasses as he asked.
"Strong."
Akagi put down his chopsticks, his expression turning serious.
"Whether it's physicality or tactical understanding..."
"They're operating on an entirely different level from us."
"Especially that O'Neal..."
"In front of him, I felt like an elementary school kid who had just learned how to play basketball."
Silence fell over the table.
The atmosphere grew noticeably heavier.
If even Akagi said something like that...
Just how enormous was the gap?
"What are you afraid of?"
Makino Juro casually picked up a sizzling slice of grilled skirt steak and tossed it into his mouth.
His face was filled with satisfaction.
"We'll win the national championship first."
"Then we'll head over to America and challenge them."
"Think bigger."
"Exactly!"
Mitsui Hisashi raised his glass high.
"Let's conquer Japan first!!"
"Conquer Japan!!"
The mood instantly became lively again.
The bold declarations of youth mixed with the aroma of grilled meat before drifting off into the night.
...
After everyone had eaten their fill, they parted ways at the intersection.
Akagi walked home alone.
The cool night breeze gradually carried away the smell of barbecue clinging to his clothes.
Looking at the familiar streets...
Warmth welled up inside him.
I'm back.
I'm really back.
And now...
Shohoku was stronger than ever before.
So strong...
That he could hardly wait to make a scene on the stage of the National Tournament.
He pushed open the front door.
"I'm home."
The house was brightly lit.
Haruko came running over.
"Welcome back, Big Brother."
"Mm."
Akagi changed into his slippers before looking at his sister in confusion.
"What's wrong?"
"Why are you still awake this late?"
Haruko pointed toward the living room and lowered her voice mysteriously.
"Um..."
"We have guests."
"They've been waiting for you for quite a while."
"Guests?"
Akagi froze.
At this hour?
Who would come looking for him?
Besides, he had only returned today.
Other than the basketball team, no one should even know he was back.
Filled with confusion, Akagi stepped into the living room.
On the small fabric sofa...
Two towering figures had somehow squeezed themselves into it.
The older man sat on the left.
Gold-rimmed glasses.
A white dress shirt buttoned neatly to the very top.
A perfectly straight necktie that looked as though it had been measured with a ruler.
Even sitting there silently...
He radiated the commanding authority of someone accustomed to giving orders.
Kazuo Karasawa.
The legendary head coach of Fukazawa Sports University.
But the man beside him...
Was the one who truly dominated the room.
Center-parted hair.
Black-rimmed glasses.
A dark blue polo shirt.
The muscles in his thick arms stretched the sleeves so tightly they looked ready to burst.
Even while sitting casually...
The oppressive aura of a top predator made the Akagi family's living room feel painfully cramped.
Shota Sugiyama.
A third-year student at Fukazawa Sports University.
The undisputed king of college basketball centers.
"Th-This..."
"This feels like a dream..."
Akagi sat opposite them.
His hands gripped his knees tightly.
His back was straight as a steel beam.
Cold sweat trickled down his temples.
His heartbeat pounded so loudly inside his chest that he was convinced the two men across from him could hear it.
These were basketball legends who only appeared on magazine covers...
Yet they had actually knocked on his front door.
"Here you go, Miss Haruko."
"The autograph you wanted."
Sugiyama smiled warmly as he handed over the signed autograph board.
"Th-Thank you so much, Mr. Sugiyama!"
Haruko's face flushed as red as a ripe tomato.
Holding the autograph against her chest with both hands, her eyes sparkled with admiration.
Oh my God...
A real, live Shota Sugiyama!
"Ahem."
Coach Karasawa cleared his throat.
The entire room instantly settled down.
Adjusting his glasses, his sharp gaze swept over Akagi like an X-ray scanner.
It was the look of a master craftsman examining the finest raw material.
Critical...
Yet impossible to hide his satisfaction.
"Akagi."
"Relax."
"We're just here for a casual conversation today."
Karasawa's deep, steady voice naturally commanded attention.
Akagi swallowed hard.
"Y-Yes, Coach."
A casual conversation?
Who would believe that?
Karasawa leaned forward.
His fingers interlocked.
The atmosphere instantly became razor-sharp.
"This year's Kanagawa qualifiers produced quite a few excellent centers."
Akagi immediately straightened up.
"Shoyo's Hanagata Toru."
"The perfect example of a finesse center."
Karasawa raised a finger.
"Kainan's Takasago Kazuma."
"A bit undersized, but he has excellent basketball IQ and solid fundamentals."
"The ideal blue-collar center."
"And then there's Ryonan's Uozumi Jun."
"That physique..."
"He's simply blessed by heaven."
Karasawa paused before staring directly at Akagi.
"But among all those prospects..."
"The one I rate the highest..."
"...is you."
"Shohoku's Akagi Takenori."
Akagi's eyes widened in shock.
Me?
The highest?
"Of course..."
"There's also a player named Makino Juro."
The moment he mentioned that name...
Karasawa frowned slightly, as though struggling to find the right words.
Beside him, Sugiyama immediately picked up the conversation.
His tone carried unmistakable admiration...
Along with lingering fear.
"That's right."
"That first-year..."
"He's truly outstanding."
Akagi's heart skipped a beat.
Even a center of Sugiyama's caliber acknowledged Makino Juro?
But Coach Karasawa shook his head and changed direction.
"Strictly speaking..."
"Juro isn't a traditional center."
"His style is too unconventional."
"And far too versatile."
"His dominance in the paint comes from overwhelming physical gifts and extraordinary reaction speed."
"Not from traditional center techniques."
Looking at Akagi, Karasawa's eyes gradually burned with excitement.
"But when it comes to the fundamentals of a classic center..."
"Basketball IQ."
"Technical skill."
"And the ability to become the spiritual pillar of a team..."
"I value you more, Akagi."
Akagi was completely stunned.
The sudden praise struck him like a massive gift falling from the sky, leaving him dizzy.
"You should know..."
"The basketball program at Fukazawa Sports University is the strongest in Japan."
Karasawa's voice remained calm.
Yet every word carried tremendous weight.
He slowly stood up.
Then extended his right hand toward Akagi.
His eyes blazed with passion.
"Akagi."
"Come to Fukazawa Sports University."
"When this summer ends..."
"Come play for us."
Akagi stared blankly at the hand extended before him.
His breathing nearly stopped.
Fukazawa Sports University...
The number one program in the country...
It was a basketball sanctuary countless high school players didn't even dare dream about.
There...
He could receive the finest coaching in Japan.
He could even become teammates with his idol...
Shota Sugiyama.
"Come."
Sugiyama smiled as he added with a laugh,
"And if that Makino Juro wants to play point guard or small forward for us..."
"I'd gladly welcome him with both hands."
Akagi's mouth fell open wide enough to fit an egg inside.
Good grief...
They're not just recruiting me...
They've already set their sights on Makino Juro too?
The appetite of Fukazawa Sports University...
Was nothing short of terrifying.
They were practically trying to poach the entire Shohoku team.
END OF CHAPTER
The King Of Slacking Off - MrBehringer's Secret
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