Haruko had a sudden thought at that moment. When she was watching the game yesterday, she noticed that Sakuragi's sneakers had been completely ruined. "Sakuragi, your shoes from yesterday..." Sakuragi's face flushed red, and he subconsciously scratched the back of his head. "That... well..." "It's because the game was just too intense!" "That Monkey Boss stepped on me several times!" "It's fine, really. This Genius has very tough feet!" "It's just that the shoes were a bit old..." Sakuragi explained flusteredly.
Haruko covered her mouth, a trace of heartache showing in her eyes. She shook her head, her gaze becoming exceptionally serious. "No, they aren't just old." "They are proof of all your hard practice, Sakuragi!" "Shoes only end up like that after countless sprints, sudden stops, and jumps." "They're like medals!"
Sakuragi was stunned. Medals? This pair of worn-out shoes he'd had for three years was a medal? A warm current instantly surged through his entire body. Miss Haruko... she truly understands me!
"However, you'll get injured if you keep playing in those." Haruko looked up at Sakuragi expectantly. "If you don't mind, shall we go buy a new pair of basketball shoes together? I know a professional shop nearby."
Buying shoes? We? The two of us? Sakuragi's brain spun at high speed, finally reaching a startling conclusion. This... this is the legendary... DATE?!
"I'll go! I'm going!" "Let's go right now!" Sakuragi Hanamichi let out a roar so loud it scared a passing student into nearly dropping their books.
The Commercial District. This was one of the most prosperous areas in Kanagawa Prefecture. Sakuragi walked beside Haruko, his entire body as stiff as a robot. He was "marching"—moving his right arm and right leg at the same time. His eyes darted everywhere.
Calm down, Hanamichi! You have to be cool! This is a date! This is the peak of your life! You must act like a gentleman! he roared frantically in his heart.
"Sakuragi, it's right here." Haruko stopped in front of a luxuriously decorated sporting goods store. Through the massive floor-to-ceiling glass windows, rows of sneakers were on display. Under the spotlight, every pair radiated a premium luster.
"Wow..." Sakuragi was dazed. He usually bought shoes from discount general stores; he had never dared to enter a shop that looked this high-end.
"Welcome!" The shop assistant enthusiastically pulled open the door. Haruko walked in as if she knew the place well, pointing at a row of shoes on the wall. "Sakuragi is a Power Forward, so he needs ankle protection and good grip. How about trying these? The Air Jordan 6!"
Haruko picked up a pair of white and red sneakers and handed them to him. Sakuragi held the shoes, his hands trembling. So light. So soft. Are these real professional shoes?
"Hurry and try them on!" Haruko urged. Sakuragi sat on the bench, carefully peeled off his worn-out shoes, and laced up the brand-new Jordan 6s. He stood up and stepped down hard. That feeling of being cushioned—that rebound—it was like walking on clouds!
"How are they?" Haruko asked. "Great! They're amazing!" Sakuragi jumped twice in excitement. "I feel like I could jump straight into the atmosphere! Miss Haruko, look!"
On a whim, Sakuragi started performing moves right there in the shop. Side-shuffles. Spins. Fakes. Whoosh! Whoosh! He leaped and bounded in the narrow aisle, his movements exaggerated, whipping up gusts of wind.
"Amazing! Such agile movements!" Haruko clapped and cheered. Hearing her praise, Sakuragi completely lost himself. "Watch me! Genius Defense!" He suddenly made a sharp lateral move.
Clatter! His backside slammed into a display rack. Fortunately, the rack was sturdy; it only wobbled without falling over. Cough, cough! Sakuragi stood up awkwardly and straightened his school collar. "A mistake, just a minor mistake. These shoes have too much grip; This Genius hasn't fully adapted yet."
Haruko giggled behind her hand. "Then shall we get these? They suit you very well." "Okay! These are the ones!" Sakuragi waved his hand with heroic abandon. As long as Haruko picked them, he'd wear them even if they were made of solid iron!
The two went to the checkout counter. The manager was a middle-aged man wearing glasses, looking shrewd and professional. "Thank you for your patronage." The manager glanced at the tag and smiled. "These Jordan 6s are the latest model. The price is 20,000 yen."
"How much?!" The smile froze on Sakuragi's face. 20,000?! Is this a robbery?! I only pay a few hundred yen for a bowl of ramen!
"What's wrong, Sakuragi?" Haruko asked, looking confused. "No—nothing!" Sakuragi turned around and gritted his teeth. He couldn't lose face in front of Haruko! Absolutely not! Even though his pockets were usually cleaner than his face, as a Genius, he would not be defeated by mere money.
"Um... Boss." Sakuragi took a deep breath and reached into his pants pocket. He fumbled around for a long time before pulling out a few coins. Clink. He placed them on the counter. They were a few pitiful coins, looking exceptionally miserable under the bright lights.
The manager pushed up his glasses and counted them carefully. "One, two, three... it's a total of... 30 yen." "Young man..." The manager looked up, his smile turning helpless. The air in the shop instantly became awkward.
"This is very important money to me!" Sakuragi stiffened his neck, trying to overwhelm the man with his presence. "This is what This Genius has saved up for a long time! Can you... give me a discount?"
"A... a discount?" A vein popped out on the manager's forehead. "A discount from 20,000 to 30 yen? That's not a discount, that's a mugging! No way! Absolutely not!" The manager pushed the coins back, his attitude firm.
Sakuragi's face turned the color of a beet. Just as he was preparing to grab Haruko and run away to end this nightmare... he had a brainwave. He grabbed the manager's hand, his eyes burning with sincerity. "These shoes might be expensive, but on the feet of a Genius, they will appreciate in value! Once I become the national champion, these shoes will be a cultural relic! I'm trading you a future treasure right now—you're making a huge profit!"
Manager: "..." He looked at Sakuragi as if he were looking at a complete idiot. "I'm sorry, but I'm not the owner; I can't make that decision."
The manager sighed and pointed toward the VIP lounge at the back of the shop. There was a leather sofa there, half-hidden by a screen. "The real owner is over there. This shop was just acquired, and the new owner is currently trying on some stock. If you can convince him, he might even give them to you for free."
New owner? Sakuragi and Haruko looked in the direction the manager pointed. On the luxurious leather sofa, a person was sprawled out. A white towel was draped over his face. One foot was wearing a limited-edition sneaker, while the other was bare, resting on the armrest.
He was fast asleep.