At the same time, on a neighborhood street court not far from the Akagi residence...
A cool night breeze drifted through the air as the dim streetlights stretched everyone's shadows across the pavement.
Having just survived what they jokingly dubbed the "Great Barbecue Battle," the Shohoku players waddled onto the court with their stomachs bulging, looking like a flock of penguins.
"Burp!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi let out an earth-shaking burp without the slightest concern for his image.
Patting his swollen stomach, he sighed in bliss.
"That thick-cut beef tongue was absolutely heavenly... Master is the best!"
Miyagi Ryota strolled along with a toothpick hanging from the corner of his mouth, both hands tucked into his pockets.
"Juro may be lazy enough to make people speechless, but when it comes to treating everyone to a meal, he never holds back."
Only Rukawa Kaede remained expressionless.
A basketball rested in his hand while his sharp eyes stayed fixed on Juro, who was sprawled lazily across a bench, waiting for his food to digest.
Even after stuffing himself full of grilled meat...
Not even a fraction of his fighting spirit had faded.
"Hey."
Rukawa walked up to Makino Juro and bounced the basketball hard onto the ground.
Bang!
"One-on-one."
One extra word would have been too many.
Juro lazily raised his eyelids and looked at Rukawa as though he were looking at an idiot.
"Have you lost your mind?"
"You just inhaled several pounds of barbecue, and now you want to play hard?"
"Trying to get appendicitis? Or a prolapsed stomach?"
"No thanks."
"I'm digesting."
He waved his hand dismissively before melting even deeper into the bench.
Rukawa frowned.
"I'll play."
A voice overflowing with confidence interrupted them.
Mitsui Hisashi walked over while loosening his wrists.
He casually tossed aside his jacket, revealing a black T-shirt underneath, his eyes filled with challenge.
"If Juro wants to take care of his health, I'll play you instead."
"I ate too much anyway."
"Perfect time to work it off."
Rukawa glanced at Mitsui.
After two seconds of silence, he nodded.
"Fine."
He wasn't as monstrous as Makino Juro...
But Senior Mitsui barely qualified as a worthy opponent.
The others immediately gathered around the court, eager to watch the show.
"Whoa! Former middle school MVP versus the super rookie!"
"This is gonna be good!" Miyagi whistled.
Meanwhile, Sakuragi dug casually at his nose with a look of disdain.
"Tch."
"Just two weaklings pecking at each other."
On the court.
Rukawa held the ball.
Mitsui defended.
The atmosphere instantly became tense.
Although it was just a casual game after dinner...
One was an obsessive perfectionist with sky-high pride.
The other was a prodigal veteran determined to prove himself.
Neither had any intention of taking it easy.
Rukawa lowered his stance.
The basketball flew rapidly between his legs.
His eyes locked onto Mitsui's shoulders, searching for even the tiniest opening.
I won't lose to anyone.
Not Makino Juro.
Not Sendoh.
He roared inwardly...
Then exploded forward.
His first step was as fast as lightning.
Mitsui's pupils shrank instinctively as he retreated to cut him off.
But it was only a hesitation move.
The instant Mitsui's center of gravity shifted...
Rukawa crossed over again and blew past him on the right.
"So fast!"
Mitsui's heart skipped a beat.
Fortunately, his years of experience kicked in immediately.
He spun around and stayed glued to Rukawa's hip.
Rukawa attacked the basket and leaped.
Mitsui rose with him, both arms extended, sealing every possible layup angle.
"Too naive, Rukawa!"
Mitsui shouted.
But in midair...
Rukawa displayed inhuman core strength.
He tucked his body back, pulled the ball away from the block with an exaggerated double-clutch...
Then gently flipped it up with a reverse finish.
Swish!
Off the backboard.
Nothing but net.
The movement was fluid.
Elegant.
A picture-perfect finish.
"Beautiful!"
Miyagi couldn't help applauding.
Rukawa landed silently and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"Damn fox!"
"He got to show off again!"
Sakuragi jumped up from the sidelines, pointing furiously at Rukawa.
"Rukawa!"
"If you've got guts, face this genius one-on-one!"
Rukawa didn't even look at him.
He picked up the ball and coldly replied with three words.
"...Big idiot."
"What?!"
"You dare ignore this genius?!"
Sakuragi screamed in outrage, rolling up his sleeves as if he were about to start an actual fight.
Just then, Mitsui stopped him with an outstretched arm.
A stubborn look filled his face.
"Hold it."
"You attacked first."
"By the rules, I still get one possession."
Rukawa frowned and muttered quietly,
"What a hassle..."
"He's so competitive."
The words were soft.
The emotional damage was catastrophic.
A vein bulged on Mitsui's forehead.
"You little punk!"
"You used every ounce of strength you've got on that last play too!"
"Give me the ball!"
Rukawa sighed helplessly and tossed it over.
"Last possession."
Mitsui caught the ball and walked directly to the three-point line.
He took a deep breath.
His eyes instantly sharpened.
No fancy dribbling.
No unnecessary fakes.
Catch.
Bend.
Jump.
Release.
A textbook shooting motion.
Smooth and effortless.
Rukawa had barely begun to react before the ball had already left Mitsui's fingertips.
"A three?"
He froze for a split second.
The basketball traced a towering rainbow across the night sky.
Everyone held their breath.
Swish!
The crisp sound of the net was as beautiful as music.
Nothing but net.
Three points.
Mitsui held his follow-through, the corners of his mouth curling higher and higher.
"Victory."
"Three to two."
"I win."
Rukawa stared at the basketball rolling across the ground.
Speechless.
"Shameless!"
"That's totally shameless!"
Sakuragi immediately pointed at Mitsui and started yelling.
"You actually shot a three!"
Miyagi wore a mischievous grin.
"Exactly."
"Bully the junior with a three-pointer?"
"Mitsui, you're way too crafty."
Without saying a word...
Rukawa walked over and tapped Mitsui on the shoulder.
Mitsui was still immersed in the joy of hitting the game-winner.
He turned around.
"What?"
"Want me to teach you?"
Rukawa pointed calmly toward the spot where Mitsui had jumped.
"You stepped on the line."
Mitsui blinked.
"Huh?"
Rukawa pointed at the nearly faded white boundary line.
His face remained completely serious.
"You were on the line."
"So it only counts as two."
"Two to two."
"It's a tie."
Mitsui's face instantly turned the color of pig liver.
"Bullshit!"
"I didn't step on it!"
"That was NBA range!"
"I was miles away from the line!"
"And how could you possibly have seen that?!"
"That's slander!"
"Terrible officiating!"
Rukawa's dead-fish expression never changed.
"I saw it."
"You're lying!!"
Mitsui instantly regressed into an elementary school kid, arguing until his face turned red.
"You stepped on it."
"I didn't!"
"You did."
"I absolutely didn't!"
"My shooting touch tells me I didn't!"
The two of them stood in the middle of the court, bickering like fighting roosters.
The level of childishness was simply astounding.
Everyone watching had black lines running down their faces.
One was the cool, aloof prince.
The other was the reformed delinquent.
How did their combined IQ plummet the moment they stood together?
"Enough! Enough!"
Sakuragi Hanamichi barged between them with the air of someone in charge.
"Stop arguing!"
"You guys are fighting over something this trivial?"
"What a bunch of little kids."
With his hands behind his back and his chest puffed out, Sakuragi assumed the posture of an enlightened master.
"Since neither of you can settle this..."
"The genius Sakuragi, blessed with the 'Eyes of an Eagle,' shall deliver the final verdict!"
Mitsui and Rukawa both stopped arguing and turned toward him.
Neither trusted the redhead...
But they really did need a referee.
Sakuragi looked left.
Then right.
He cleared his throat dramatically.
Finally, with a completely expressionless face...
He raised Mitsui's arm high into the air.
"Mitch wins."
END OF CHAPTER
The King Of Slacking Off - MrBehringer's Secret
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