On the way, Haizaki Shogo handed the pink canvas bag from his other hand to Satsuki.
"Here, this is for you. I washed it carefully, it's really clean."
Satsuki Momoi took the pink bag with surprise. Opening it, her face immediately lit up with joy, smiling at Shogo.
"Thank you, Shogo-kun!"
"You're welcome. Go ahead, eat them yourself!"
"Yay!!"
Inside the pink canvas bag were the finest cherries Shogo had specially picked from the fruit shop for Satsuki.
Each cherry was perfectly round, plump, and sweet—a sight that made Satsuki's eyes sparkle with delight.
She joyfully ate the cherries like a little girl while leading Shogo toward a three-story building. With her mouth full, Satsuki pointed to the rooftop.
Shogo nodded, signaling that he understood, and told her to wait there.
Silently, Shogo climbed the building, step by step, reaching the rooftop.
His ascent made no sound, yet Aomine Daiki had already heard the movement but didn't move.
A shadow stretched across him, blocking the sunlight, and a familiar voice echoed.
"Hehehe, Aoda, you've gotten so bored, huh? Sunbathing alone like an old man."
A few seconds later came Daiki's lazy voice.
"Ah, it's you. I wondered who it could be, daring to block my sunlight."
"It's me, anything strange about that?"
"Nothing strange. So? Got nowhere else to go after being forced back by Akashi? Came here to seek punishment?"
"Hey hey hey, that tone isn't exactly how you comfort a good friend."
"Comfort you? I'm not. You brought this on yourself."
"Heh, you're right about that."
"By the way, how did you find this place?"
"Satsuki brought me. She's still downstairs, worried about you. I'm really jealous."
Hearing that Satsuki was below, Aomine finally stood up, walking to the edge of the rooftop, spotting the girl in white with pink hair—Satsuki Momoi.
Seeing Aoda, Satsuki jumped excitedly, holding the bag of cherries up, inviting him to share.
Shogo felt a pang of jealousy and sadness—this was a childhood friendship nurtured over more than a decade.
They could share everything, even deeply personal things—just a matter of whether they felt shy saying it aloud.
"By the way, Aoda, I really envy you. Satsuki is too beautiful!"
"Cut it out."
Shogo didn't reply. He gazed at the flying birds and drifting clouds, then casually said,
"Aoda, I feel like I'm getting unstoppable in basketball. I want to challenge you."
"Oh! Hey hey hey!! Are you serious? Don't tell me you're bluffing. Don't you know what level I'm at?"
"Exactly because I know, I'm here to challenge you!!"
Aomine glanced at Shogo, then at the basketball on his back, and asked casually:
"Are you serious?"
"Yeah!"
"Alright, let's go."
At this moment, Aomine was thrilled.
If anyone could threaten him at this stage besides a few other prodigies in school, it was Haizaki Shogo.
Though Shogo had slacked off before, falling behind, nobody knew what he had become in the past six months. Aomine was eager to find out.
They descended from the rooftop, Satsuki running over with the bag of cherries, urging Aoda to join.
Aomine shook his head—now wasn't the time for eating; he had a basketball match with Shogo soon.
The three of them chatted, laughed, and reminisced, carefully avoiding any mention of Teiko Junior High basketball.
Shogo's departure, Aomine's current indifference, and Satsuki's worries were left unspoken.
Luckily, the atmosphere slowly felt familiar and warm again.
The only change—Shogo had grown calmer, no longer the aggressive, food-snatching Shogo of before.
Satsuki stuffed cherries into her mouth, enjoying the familiar warmth, her heart soaring with happiness.
=======
At a certain park basketball court, Aomine's arrival caused friends to give up half the court.
Facing Aomine was a handsome boy roughly his height—Haizaki Shogo. A 1V1 showdown was about to happen.
Spectators noticed immediately, gathering around.
Half a court, stripped of outerwear, Aomine and Shogo stood facing each other.
"You go first, or me?"
"You first. I want to see your level."
Shogo remained silent but thought, Yeah… let you see my level first.
He grabbed the basketball in one hand and pointed to Satsuki cheerfully eating cherries by the court.
"Aoda, how about a bet?"
"Oh? Go on."
"The loser gives up Satsuki. How about that?"
The court fell silent. Even Satsuki and Aoda froze.
Satsuki forgot to chew her cherries, staring at the flamboyant boy on the court. Fortunately, the cherries were soft and didn't choke her.
Aomine's expression shifted from surprise to disdain.
"Hey hey hey!! Don't be so serious. You really think you'll win?"
"Let's see!"
Shogo handed the basketball to Aomine, who tossed it back.
The moment Shogo caught it, the basketball bounced on the court—BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Three dribbles later, he shot—swish! The ball sank into the net. Aomine stared in shock at Shogo, sensing the overwhelming aura radiating from him.
Compared to before, it was like night and day. Aomine, unfamiliar with the new Shogo, was easily breached, and Shogo scored effortlessly.
Spectators gasped. They knew Aomine's strength, yet this boy scored on him—a clear sign of immense skill.
Satsuki widened her eyes, unable to believe what she saw.
"So? I really feel like I'm almost invincible now."
"Hey hey hey, are you really this strong when you get serious?"
"What do you think, Aoda?"
Shogo passed the ball back to Aomine. This time, Aomine attacked while Shogo defended.
=============
150 Power Stones = Bonus Chapter
Add to Library to support