Slam Dunk: Sakuragi learned from Kawamura Eiki's experience

Mitsui Hisashi is very happy now.

He stood next to the bicycle shed, his hands in his pockets, a confident smile on his lips.

He had been waiting for half a month, and finally received the news that Miyagi Ryota had been discharged from the hospital and returned to school.

He received the news early yesterday morning that Miyagi Ryota had returned to school.

Now, the bicycle shed and the corner of the teaching building are less crowded and more secluded, making it easier to get things done and retreat.

Horita Tokuo stood to his right, with two other henchmen blocking the narrow passageway from either side.

Mitsui licked his lips. The space where the two broken front teeth were on his upper palate was still empty; when he licked it, there was a dent, slippery and cool.

This pit was given to him by Miyagi Ryota. Today, he's going to pay it back, principal and interest.

Ryota Miyagi is in a terrible mood right now.

The first day back at school should have been a good day. But as soon as the school bell rang, he was cornered here by Mitsui and his three friends.

Miyagi sighed. His luck was truly unbelievable.

Just then, two figures emerged from around the corner of the teaching building.

Sakuragi Hanamichi walked on the right, his red pompadour hair shining brightly in the afternoon sun, his school uniform collar unbuttoned with two buttons undone, and his schoolbag tucked under his arm.

Yuri Yanai walked to his left, one hand naturally linked with his arm, the other carrying her schoolbag, as the two headed towards the basketball court.

As Sakuragi passed the bicycle shed, he slowed down.

He saw a familiar figure from behind. Long hair, parted in the middle, wearing the Shohoku school uniform, and standing next to three other people also wearing school uniforms.

Four people surrounded a short man in a corner. The short man's face was obscured by shadows, so it was impossible to tell who he was.

Yanai saw it too.

Her eyes narrowed slightly. She didn't loosen her grip on Sakuragi's arm, but leaned slightly closer to him, as if confirming something.

Horita Tokuo was the first to turn around. Hearing footsteps, he turned his head with an annoyed expression, his mouth open as if to shoo them away. Then his expression froze.

He recognized that face.

The red-haired man with the pompadour hairstyle, the tall guy—the red-haired monkey who bumped into Mitsui at the corner of the shopping street last time. He's also one of the leaders of Mito Yohei's gang.

"It's you?" Horita's brows furrowed, his chin thrust forward, his voice sharp and harsh. "Red-haired monkey, what are you looking at? Get lost!"

Sakuragi didn't move.

He didn't even look at Horita. His gaze went past Horita's shoulder and landed on the small man who was blocked behind the human wall.

The person was wearing a Shohoku school uniform jacket, had curly hair, and seemed to be wearing an earring.

Sakuragi didn't recognize him. But he recognized Mitsui and his gang. The guy he bumped into in the shopping street last time was this long-haired guy.

After he knocked someone down last time, he apologized, and Mitsui didn't make a fuss and left with his men.

Yuri Yanai released Sakuragi's arm and took half a step forward.

She had a half-smile on her face, her eyes were fixed on Mitsui, and the corners of her mouth were slightly upturned, but there was no smile in the curve.

"Yo," Yanai spoke up, his voice not loud, but each word clearly enunciated, "Young Master Mitsui, are you going to bully the weak, planning to gang up on a small classmate with four of you?"

Mitsui's expression changed.

It's her again, the eldest daughter of the Yanai family, Yanai Yuuri.

Mitsui pursed his lips, his expression as if he had been slapped in the face in public.

Ryota Miyagi was completely stunned.

He looked up at the beautiful girl who was taller than him, with long black hair draped over her shoulders and a smile on her face, but her words were a show of defending him.

Miyagi's mouth was slightly open; he hadn't quite grasped what was happening yet.

What's going on? Who is this girl? Why is she helping me? Also, what did she call Mitsui something? Is she the young master of the Mitsui family? Do they know each other?

Upon hearing Yanai's words, Sakuragi stepped forward, shielding Yanai behind him. He slightly raised his chin, his gaze sweeping over Mitsui and Horita before finally settling on Miyagi, who was cornered against the wall.

"That's right, I also despise this kind of bullying."

Sakuragi knew that since his girlfriend was standing up for him, he had to stand up for her.

Seeing Sakuragi and the other two acting as if they were standing up for what was right, Horita Tokuo's face flushed red.

"What did you say? Red-haired monkey!" His voice rose eight octaves, the veins on his neck throbbed twice, and he took a step forward, clenching his fist.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

Horita's two henchmen also moved forward half a step.

Mitsui Hisashi stood still, without moving.

His eyes were fixed on Yuri Yanai, his mind racing.

The eldest daughter of the Yanai family is a long-time friend of his family. If he gets into a conflict with her here and it gets back to his father, the consequences will be unbearable for him.

His father had been furious about him fighting last time and almost took away all his allowance.

Mitsui gritted his teeth. "Let's go."

He turned around and led the way.

Horita Tokuo was stunned.

"Mitsui?" He looked at Mitsui's back with a surprised expression.

He glanced at Mitsui, then at Sakuragi and Yanai, his expression shifting from anger to confusion.

He didn't understand why Mitsui wanted to leave. Four against one and a half. That short guy had just been discharged from the hospital and was practically half-crippled; it seemed like a sure win for them.

Seeing Mitsui leave, he turned around and followed him. His two henchmen exchanged a glance and followed as well.

Horita quickened his pace, catching up to Mitsui and asking in a low voice, "Mitsui, why did you let them go? That red-haired monkey, Miyagi, and a woman, the four of us..."

"That girl is the eldest daughter of the Yanai family," Mitsui said without turning his head, looking aggrieved. "Her family and my family are old friends. I don't want to cause trouble and have my family find out."

Horita opened his mouth slightly, then closed it again.

The Yanai family. Although he wasn't quite sure what their background was, judging from Mitsui's expression, he knew it was something he couldn't get involved in.

He shut his mouth and obediently followed behind Mitsui, no longer speaking.

Next to the bicycle shed, Miyagi Ryota was still standing there, stunned.

He stared at Sakuragi and Yanai's retreating figures, his face a picture of confusion: "Who am I? Where am I? What just happened?"

He opened his mouth, wanting to call out to them to thank them, but something seemed to be stuck in his throat, and he couldn't utter a single word.

"Let's go!" Yanai took Sakuragi's arm again. The two walked towards the basketball court at a leisurely pace, Yanai's red pompadour and long black hair bobbing up and down in the afternoon sunlight.

Miyagi stared at the red back of the head for two seconds, then looked at the tall girl's back.

Was I rescued out of nowhere?