"Whew... whew..." A familiar sound of breathing. A familiar posture. Even the rhythmic rise and fall of the chest was unmistakable.
Sakuragi Hanamichi's eyebrows twitched. A premonition surged in his heart. He strode over and yanked the towel away. "Who is it?! Sleeping here in broad daylight!"
The towel fell away, revealing a face wearing headphones and eyes bleary from sleep. Those "dead fish eyes" opened slightly, radiating the pure annoyance of someone being disturbed. "Too noisy..." "Who is it...?"
Hayashi Rin rubbed his eyes and saw the giant, red-haired face Looming over him. "Uh..." "Sakuragi?" Hayashi Rin was stunned for a moment, then saw Haruko standing nearby. "Haruko?" "What are you guys doing here?"
"MASTER?!" "HAYASHI RIN?!" Sakuragi and Haruko exclaimed in unison. The sound was so loud it practically blew the ceiling off the shop.
"Why are you here?!" Sakuragi pointed at Hayashi Rin, his finger trembling. Hayashi Rin yawned, sat up, and slowly pulled on his other shoe. "Oh, I came to buy shoes, too."
"Buy shoes?" Sakuragi looked around the luxurious shop, then at the manager, who was bowing respectfully to Hayashi Rin. "But he said you were the boss..."
"Yeah." Hayashi Rin picked up a bottle of ice-cold Cola, took a sip, and said as if it were the most natural thing in the world: "I originally just wanted to buy a pair of shoes. But I got too sleepy while trying them on and wanted a nap. The clerk told me I couldn't sleep here. I thought it was too much trouble to find another place... so I just bought the shop."
He didn't mention that he also bought it because he wanted a place to "work hard"... or just to make changing shoes easier in the future.
Silence. A deathly silence. The manager stood to the side wiping cold sweat, frantically thinking: I will never understand the world of the rich!
Haruko's mouth hung open as she stared blankly at Hayashi Rin. Sakuragi was completely petrified. Because he wanted to sleep... he bought the shop?! What kind of reason is that?! Is this even legal?!
"Damn it!!" "Is this the ugly face of the wealthy?!" "I want to be that reckless, too!" Sakuragi wailed, clutching his head in envy.
Hayashi Rin's head throbbed from the noise. He stood up and stretched his ankles. "Alright, stop howling." He glanced at the Air Jordan 6s on Sakuragi's feet, then at the pitiful 30 yen sitting on the counter. He understood the situation immediately. "You want those shoes?" Hayashi Rin pointed at Sakuragi's feet.
Sakuragi stopped wailing and nodded frantically. "Yes! I want them even in my dreams! But that Four-Eyed Manager won't sell them to me!" The manager chirped in aggrievedly, "Boss, he wanted to buy them for 30 yen..."
Hayashi Rin waved his hand, silencing the manager. He walked up to Sakuragi and patted him on the shoulder. "Sakuragi. How does your Master usually treat you?" "Uh..." Sakuragi thought for a moment. "Aside from always stealing my bento? Pretty good."
Hayashi Rin's mouth twitched. "Listen. Those shoes are yours." "Really?!" Sakuragi's eyes instantly turned into searchlights.
Hayashi Rin then swept his hand toward the entire store. "Not just this pair. From now on, I've got your shoes covered. As long as you wear out a pair, I'll give you a new one. Wear out ten pairs, I'll give you ten more. Consider this... compensation for your hard work."
Sakuragi was stunned. "Hard work compensation?" In order for Shohoku to win the National Tournament... and to train you into a Rebounding Monster and Defensive Anchor... this investment is a bargain, Hayashi Rin added silently.
But Sakuragi Hanamichi didn't think that far ahead. He only heard one thing: Take any shoes you want! "Bwahahaha! Master! You're the best!" "I knew you were won over by This Genius's charm!" Sakuragi grabbed Hayashi Rin in a suffocating bear hug.
"Let go... I'm actually... going to die..." Hayashi Rin rolled his eyes, feeling his ribs groaning under the pressure. Haruko stood to the side, watching with a gentle smile. Hayashi Rin might look lazy, but he really does care about Sakuragi. Is this what they call the bond between boys? It's really nice.
Ten minutes later, Sakuragi Hanamichi walked out of the store wearing his brand-new Air Jordan 6s. He looked down with every step, terrified that a single speck of dust might dirty them. "Miss Haruko! Look! These shoes were made for a Genius!" Sakuragi twirled in front of her. "Yes, they look very handsome," Haruko agreed with a nod.
Just then, Hayashi Rin pushed the door open, carrying a bag of burgers he'd sent a clerk to fetch. "Let's go. Time to head home." Hayashi Rin clicked his keys, and a black sports car nearby let out a low, powerful growl. "Get in, I'll give you two a ride."
"Whoa! A sports car!" Sakuragi's eyes lit up, and he was about to rush over when he suddenly froze. He glanced at Haruko, then at the car, which clearly only had two seats. If he took the car... he wouldn't be able to walk home with Haruko.
The sports car was cool, but... "No thanks, Master!" Sakuragi waved his hand with an air of sudden righteousness. "A Genius must measure the earth with his own two feet! I'm going to do some special training on the way home in my new shoes!"
Hayashi Rin raised an eyebrow, glanced at Haruko, and understood instantly. "Suit yourself. Have fun with your 'special training.' I'm going back to sleep." Vroom! The sports car sped away in a cloud of dust, leaving Sakuragi and Haruko by the roadside. As the sun set, their shadows stretched long across the pavement.
"Um... Sakuragi?" Haruko clasped her hands behind her back and leaned forward slightly. "Since you have new shoes... do you want to do morning practice together tomorrow? I'll come and cheer for you."
Morning practice? Together? Cheering?! The combined lethality of those three phrases was ten thousand times greater than the shoes. Sakuragi felt his soul trembling. He took a deep breath and, facing the sunset, let out the most determined shout of his life: "YES!!!! I'll be there!!! Even if it rains knives, I'll be there!!!"
Looking at Sakuragi's hot-blooded intensity, Haruko's eyes curved into crescents as she smiled. "Then it's a promise. See you tomorrow, Sakuragi." "See you tomorrow, Miss Haruko!"
Watching her walk away, Sakuragi looked down at his new Jordans and clenched his fist. That Master guy... he's annoying sometimes. But this time... thanks, Master, he thought silently.
And then: "Bwahahaha! I am a GENIUS! National dominance begins with tomorrow's practice!" Like a madman, Sakuragi Hanamichi began to sprint down the street under the golden setting sun. At that moment, the red-haired boy seemed to have truly fallen in love with basketball—or perhaps, he had fallen in love with a youth that included basketball, Haruko, and his strange, wonderful teammates.