Thursday, 8 August 2001
Zaboru was currently buried under the preparation for next week's AKAI phone showcase. The timing had become far more important than before. After discovering Apple and ZUSUGA's plan to push iPlay's next major game next week, Zaboru had decided to move AKAI's phone reveal into the same battlefield. Because of that, ZAGE Tower had become even busier than usual. Engineers, designers, marketing staff, and executives were all moving as if the entire building had transformed into a war room.
But even in the middle of that chaos, there was one thing that completely stole Zaboru's attention.
Slam Dunk had just ended.
In this world, Slam Dunk began serialization in 1995 under Hakushensha, one of ZAGE's publishing subsidiaries. It was published in Hakushensha's weekly manga magazine, Weekly Shonen Shock!, and from the beginning, the series had become a monster. Not only was it popular as a manga, but it also changed the culture around basketball in Japan. Courts became more crowded. School basketball clubs gained new members. Children began imitating jump shots, rebounds, and stupid arguments from the characters. Even parents who had never cared about basketball before started recognizing the names Sakuragi Hanamichi and Rukawa Kaede.
The anime adaptation, produced by YaDo, ZAGE's animation subsidiary, had also become a major hit. Its final season was already being prepared, and the production team knew very well how emotional the ending would be for fans.
For most people, Slam Dunk ending was simply the end of a legendary manga.
For Zaboru, it was something far stranger.
Because the story was almost the same as the Slam Dunk from his previous world.
That was what bothered him.
The iconic ending still happened. Sakuragi Hanamichi and Rukawa Kaede, after everything they had gone through, still gave each other that legendary hand clap. The scene had the same power, the same energy, and the same feeling that made Zaboru remember why Slam Dunk was such a masterpiece in the first place.
But the strange part was not the ending.
The strange part was Sakuragi himself.
In Zaboru's previous world, Sakuragi Hanamichi was often connected by fans to Dennis Rodman because of the red hair, rebounding obsession, aggressive hustle, strange personality, defensive intensity, and almost chaotic energy on the court. Even their physical profile and playing spirit felt similar in a way that made the comparison difficult to ignore.
But in this world, that comparison should not exist yet.
When Slam Dunk started in 1995 here, the basketball world was still roughly equivalent to the mid-1980s from Zaboru's previous world. The NBA's biggest stars at the time were names like Magic Johnson, Larry Bird, and other legends from that era. Dennis Rodman had not even debuted with the Detroit Pistons in this world yet.
And yet, somehow, Sakuragi Hanamichi still became Sakuragi Hanamichi.
The red hair.
The rebounding instinct.
The wild athleticism.
The stupid confidence.
The emotional growth.
The strange beauty of a beginner discovering basketball through pure stubbornness.
It was almost identical.
Zaboru had met Takehiko Inoue several times before because of ZAGE's connection with Hakushensha and YaDo, but strangely, he had never properly asked him about it. Maybe it was because he did not want to sound suspicious. Maybe it was because he was afraid of hearing an answer that would make the world feel even weirder. Or maybe, deep down, he simply wanted to enjoy Slam Dunk as a fan without thinking too much.
But now, after hearing that Takehiko Inoue was considering continuing Slam Dunk after taking a break, Zaboru could no longer hold back his curiosity.
He wanted to know.
He needed to know.
And honestly, as a fan, he was just excited as hell.
Zaboru walked through a quiet residential area in Tokyo while carrying a small bag of groceries and snacks he had bought from a supermarket. His steps were calm, but his face betrayed him. He was grinning like a kid.
"I can't believe it…" Zaboru thought, barely able to hide his excitement. "Slam Dunk will continue."
For a man who had built an entertainment empire, acquired companies, changed the gaming industry, and was preparing to ambush Apple's major week with an AKAI phone reveal, this kind of excitement seemed almost ridiculous. But Zaboru did not care.
A continuation of Slam Dunk was different.
This was not business.
This was personal fandom.
He wanted to know what happened after that ending. Would Sakuragi recover and become even better? Would he finally become Japan's basketball monster? Would he enter the professional league? Would he somehow reach the NBA? Would Rukawa become his rival on an even bigger stage? Or would the story stay grounded, focused on high school basketball, friendship, and the painful beauty of youth?
Zaboru wanted to see it.
After a while, he arrived at Takehiko Inoue's modest home in Tokyo. It was not flashy. It was not the kind of house people would expect from someone who had created one of Japan's biggest manga hits. It looked normal, quiet, and peaceful. Somehow, that suited Takehiko.
Zaboru pressed the doorbell.
A moment later, the door opened.
Takehiko Inoue, now in his early thirties in this world, appeared with a gentle smile. He looked slightly tired, the kind of tired that came from years of deadlines, drawing, planning, and pouring emotional weight into fictional characters who somehow became real to millions of people.
"Ah, Zaboru-san," Takehiko said warmly. "Please come in."
Zaboru chuckled and lifted the grocery bag. "Sorry for bothering you, Takehiko-san. I brought some things."
Takehiko smiled and stepped aside. "No, no, not at all. Thank you for coming."
The two entered the house, and after some simple greetings, tea, and casual conversation, the atmosphere became relaxed. Zaboru asked about Takehiko's health, his schedule, and how he felt now that Slam Dunk had reached its ending. Takehiko answered honestly. He was relieved, exhausted, proud, and strangely empty.
"It feels like sending your own child away," Takehiko admitted with a small laugh. "I thought I would feel free after finishing it, but instead, I keep thinking about them."
Zaboru smiled knowingly. "That's because they're still alive in your head."
Takehiko nodded. "Exactly."
Zaboru waited for the right moment, then finally asked the question that had been burning inside him.
"So… you want to continue Slam Dunk?"
Takehiko looked at him, then sighed.
"I want to," he said. "But I also don't want to destroy it."
Zaboru leaned forward slightly. "Will Sakuragi go to the NBA?"
Takehiko made a complicated expression. "Maybe, boss. But I'm not sure yet. If I make Sakuragi go straight to the NBA as the main focus, I'm afraid it might kill the spirit of Slam Dunk."
Zaboru nodded slowly.
Takehiko continued, "Slam Dunk is not only about basketball. It is about youth. Failure. Pride. Friendship. Rivalry. The feeling of discovering something you love before you even understand why you love it. If I take Sakuragi too far away from that feeling, it may become a different story."
Zaboru smiled. "I understand. If Sakuragi becomes too big too quickly, the emotional scale changes."
"Yes," Takehiko said. "Exactly."
Zaboru rubbed his chin for a moment.
Then his grin returned.
"What if Sakuragi is not the main character?"
Takehiko blinked.
Zaboru continued, "What if the continuation takes place years later? Sakuragi has already become a famous player, maybe even an NBA player, but the story follows a new beginner who becomes inspired by him. Someone rough, someone awkward, someone who sees Sakuragi and thinks, 'Maybe I can do it too.'"
Takehiko's eyes widened.
Zaboru continued, "That way, Slam Dunk can continue without losing its soul. Sakuragi becomes proof that the dream is possible, but the main emotional journey belongs to someone new. The story can still be about youth, failure, effort, and falling in love with basketball."
For a moment, Takehiko did not speak.
Then he suddenly grabbed a nearby notebook.
"That…" Takehiko muttered, quickly writing it down. "That could work."
Zaboru laughed.
Takehiko's eyes were already shining with the dangerous excitement of a creator who had just found a new door in his own story.
"If Sakuragi becomes a symbol instead of the center…" Takehiko murmured. "And the new character carries a different weakness… not the same as Sakuragi… maybe someone who loves basketball but has no confidence, or someone with talent but no fire…"
He kept writing quickly.
Zaboru smiled. "Please think about it later. Don't force yourself too soon. You deserve a break."
Takehiko looked up and laughed awkwardly. "You're right. But now you made me think too much."
"That's my specialty."
After a while, Zaboru's curiosity returned to the other question.
"Takehiko-san," Zaboru said carefully, "what inspired you to create Sakuragi Hanamichi the way he is?"
Takehiko tilted his head. "The way he is?"
"The red hair, the wild personality, the beginner who is terrible at basketball but strangely incredible at rebounding and defense. His tenacity. His athleticism. His stupidity too."
Takehiko laughed. "Ah, that."
Zaboru watched him closely.
Takehiko leaned back and thought for a moment. "To be honest, it started when I casually watched a high school basketball game years ago. There was this boy with red pompadour hair. He looked like a delinquent. At first, I thought he was just there to cause trouble."
Zaboru's eyes sharpened slightly.
"But then the match started," Takehiko continued, "and he was terrible at basketball. Truly terrible. His shooting was awkward. His positioning was bad. He made stupid mistakes. But whenever the ball bounced from the rim, he jumped like a beast. He chased loose balls like his life depended on it. He did not understand basketball properly, but his body moved with so much hunger."
Takehiko smiled fondly.
"He was angry, loud, emotional, and clumsy. But somehow, he was beautiful to watch."
Zaboru's eyes widened.
"So that was the inspiration…"
Takehiko nodded. "Yes. I never spoke to him directly, but that image stayed in my head. A beginner who did not know basketball, but whose body already belonged to the court. That became the seed of Sakuragi."
Zaboru chuckled softly.
In his previous world, there had been many rumors online about a "real Sakuragi Hanamichi." Some people claimed he was a real basketball player. Some said he died tragically. Some treated it like a hidden legend behind the manga. But most of it had been fake information, nothing more than internet myth.
But this world was different.
Here, apparently, someone like that really existed.
Takehiko then looked at Zaboru with a slightly amused expression.
"Actually, Zaboru-san," he said, "there is something even stranger."
Zaboru raised an eyebrow. "Stranger?"
Takehiko nodded. "There is a high school player right now who is extremely similar to Sakuragi."
Zaboru froze.
"What?"
Takehiko laughed at his reaction. "I'm serious. His name is Hanamichi. He is in his third year of high school right now. He is around 187 or 188 centimeters tall, has incredible jumping power, and plays with ridiculous energy. I heard about him from someone connected to local basketball. When I saw him, even I felt uncomfortable."
"Uncomfortable?" Zaboru repeated.
"Yes," Takehiko said. "Because it felt like my character had walked out of the page."
Zaboru stared at him.
Takehiko continued, "He is not exactly the same, of course. Reality is never exactly like manga. But the resemblance is uncanny. The way he moves, the way he attacks rebounds, the way he shouts, even the way people around him react… it feels strangely familiar."
Zaboru slowly leaned back.
His mind began moving quickly.
A real Sakuragi-like player.
In 2001.
In Japan.
A third-year high school student.
Around 188 centimeters.
Jumping like crazy.
Zaboru could not help but laugh under his breath.
This world was becoming more absurd again.
And yet, instead of feeling disturbed, he felt excited.
"I would love to see him," Zaboru said.
Takehiko smiled. "Why not now?"
Zaboru blinked.
"Now?"
Takehiko stood up and grabbed his jacket. "I believe his school has practice today. If we leave soon, we might be able to catch them before it ends."
Zaboru's grin widened.
For a moment, he no longer looked like the founder of ZAGE, the man preparing to wage a corporate war against Apple, Microsoft, and ZUSUGA.
He looked like a basketball fan.
"Okay then," Zaboru said. "Let's go."
Takehiko chuckled at his excitement. "You really love Slam Dunk, don't you?"
Zaboru laughed as they stepped out of the house together.
"More than you think."
The two men left Takehiko's quiet home and headed toward the school where the strange high school player was practicing. Neither of them knew exactly what they were about to find there.
But Zaboru felt it.
That familiar pull of destiny.
As if the world was once again trying to show him something impossible.
To be continued.
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