Kuroko's Basketball template: the king of slacking off, Shohoku's strongest sixth man.

Fujima's fingernails dug into his palm, the stinging sensation bringing him back to his senses.

"You're a monster, aren't you?"

"So strong...it's incomprehensible."

He took a deep breath, turned and disappeared into the darkness.

The other side of the stands.

The students of Hainan University Affiliated High School, clad in purple and gold battle robes, stood up.

Mu Shenyi crossed his arms.

His overly mature old face was now filled with solemnity.

"Let's go."

"It's a deep voice," Maki Shinichi said.

As he turned around, his gaze lingered on Sendoh in the audience for a second, filled with regret.

Immediately, his gaze turned to Lin Bei like a razor's edge.

"It's our turn next."

Kiyota Nobunaga bristled from the side:

"Damn it! That arrogant first-year student!"

"Amu, in the next match, we must show him the true value of being the Kanagawa champion!"

"I'm going to dunk on him!"

Jin Soichiro smiled gently, but there was no smile in his eyes:

"Nobunaga, don't be careless."

Maki Shinichi remained silent.

But his taut muscles revealed...

The emperor of Kanagawa had already felt the violent shaking of his throne.

……

Lingnan Rest Area.

The atmosphere was oppressive, like a graveyard.

Hikoichi Aida held the crumpled notebook in his hand.

Tears fell onto it, blurring the ink.

"We lost..."

"Sendoh-senpai lost... Captain Uozumi lost too..."

The feeling of his faith collapsing made him almost unable to stand.

"Hikoichi."

A gentle hand rested on his head.

Seeing her younger brother like this, Aida Yayoi felt bad.

As a journalist, she witnessed the rise of Shohoku firsthand.

They also witnessed the terror of that boy named Lin Bei.

"Don't cry."

Aida Yayoi handed him a tissue, her tone firm.

"The game was lost, but Ryonan is not dead yet."

"If we win the next match, we still have a chance to qualify for the national tournament."

"and……"

She looked at Sendoh, who was talking to Rukawa Kaede in the arena.

"Look at Sendoh, he wasn't defeated, on the contrary... he became even more excited."

Yan Yi looked up, her eyes blurry with tears.

really.

Although I was exhausted.

But in Sendoh Akira's eyes burned a flame hotter than ever before.

……

In the center of the stadium.

The referee blew the assembly whistle.

Line up.

In contrast to Shohoku's jubilant mood, Ryonan's players looked dejected.

But when the two teams stood face to face, the tense atmosphere dissipated.

Instead, a tacit understanding called "mutual appreciation" has taken its place.

The handshake.

Takenori Akagi walked up to Jun Uozumi.

The two giants battled it out under the basket for three years.

From initial mutual dissatisfaction to fierce confrontation, and now to a life-or-death situation.

Uozumi looked at Akagi's swollen ankle.

I originally wanted to say some harsh words, but the words turned into a long sigh.

"Akagi."

"You won."

Uozumi stretched out his large, fan-like hand, his voice low and deep.

Akagi looked at his old rival and reached out to grip his hand tightly.

"Uozumi".

No nonsense.

next second.

Two burly men, covered in sweat, embraced tightly amidst the approving gazes of the audience.

"Don't embarrass Kanagawa's center team in the national tournament," Uozumi said fiercely in his ear, her eyes reddening.

"Of course." Akagi patted Uozumi's back repeatedly.

"Don't give up, there's still a chance."

On the field, they are mortal enemies who wish they could devour each other.

Off the field, they are the comrades who understand each other best.

This is a man's romance.

On the other side, Sendoh held Rukawa's hand.

"You played well today."

"But next time, I'll get it back with interest."

Sendoh smiled and resumed his calm and composed demeanor.

Rukawa Kaede looked at him coldly, increasing the pressure on his hand: "Next time, I'll beat you one-on-one."

"Hehe, let's wait and see."

Xian Dao released his grip and turned his gaze to Lin Bei, who was at the very end of the line.

Lin Bei looked like he might fall asleep at any moment; his outstretched arms were limp.

"Lin Beijun".

"Although I'm very unwilling, you won today."

"That state..."

Sendoh grasped that hand, his gaze instantly sharpening like a knife.

Lin Bei raised an eyebrow in surprise:

That's called a "Zone".

"The ability to eliminate all distractions outside the court and unleash 100% of one's full potential is a realm only the 'chosen ones' can enter."

Sendoh's lips curled into a mysterious smile. "Next time we meet, maybe I can go in and take a look at that world."

"Oh?"

"Good luck then. The tickets are quite expensive; not just anyone can get in."

Lin Bei withdrew his hand and waved it lazily.

The handshake ended.

The Shohoku team formed a circle, enjoying their moment of victory.

Coach Anzai grinned like a Buddha, his chin jiggling: "Hehehe... Everyone, you've worked hard."

"Coach! I want to eat!"

"To beat that monkey boss, even the genius's energy bar is empty!" Sakuragi Hanamichi was the first to jump out.

"Hungry."

Rukawa Kaede touched his stomach; although his face was still grumpy, his body language betrayed him.

All eyes immediately focused on...

On the captain.

At this moment, Lin Bei suddenly regained his strength, and his previous half-dead state vanished.

He suddenly raised his right hand, focused his energy in his dantian, and shouted in a voice that could be heard by the entire audience:

"To celebrate Shohoku's victory! To celebrate advancing to the finals!"

"We're having barbecue tonight!!"

"The captain's treating!!!"

That shout was full of energy and had a penetrating power comparable to a high-pitched speaker.

"Ohhhhhhh!!!"

The cheers from the Shohoku team were even louder than when they won the game.

"Barbecue! Barbecue! Barbecue!"

Sakuragi Hanamichi immediately started dancing an unknown indigenous barbecue dance.

"I want to eat premium beef brisket! All you can eat!" Mitsui Hisashi retorted, his ambitions expanding.

"Me too!!" Miyagi Ryota chimed in.

Even Rukawa Kaede silently raised his fist and uttered a single word: "Meat."

Akagi Takenori stood there, his face turning from emotion to ashen in an instant.

He clutched his chest, which wasn't injured, feeling a hundred times more pain in his heart than in his ankle.

"asshole……"

"Why me again???"

"Lin Bei, you bastard!"

"You're clearly a tycoon!"

"You bought that sports store yourself, you know?!"

Akagi's roar was drowned out by the cheerful shouts of "barbecue," making him seem weak, pitiful, and helpless.

Lin Bei turned around, and Akagi gave him a kind and innocent smile:

"team leader……"

Lin Bei pointed to the scoreboard.

"Such a brilliant victory deserves a premium barbecue, doesn't it?"

Akagi looked at the bright red 92:68.

He glanced again at his teammates, who, though noisy, had a gleam in their eyes.

In the end, he sighed helplessly, but the corners of his mouth couldn't help but turn up in a crazy smile.

"Only regular beef brisket is allowed!"

"Premium grade... limited to two plates per person!"

"Tch~ Stingy!" Everyone sneered in unison.

As the sun sets, golden rays bathe the area outside the stadium.

The boy's laughter, the roasted meat about to be eaten, and the thrill of dreams.

This is summer in Shohoku.

This is youth.

Of course, this also applies to Takenori Akagi's wallet.

This was a catastrophe.