Full-time comic artist

As a five-a-side basketball game, Slam Dunk has many shortcomings. It focuses on a few main characters, while the other characters seem dispensable.

"I wonder how Professor Toriaki will handle this next?" Nobuhiro Watsuki pondered, rubbing his chin.

"Huh?" He turned the page; there was more content after that.

"There are less than ten seconds left, right?" Nobuhiro Watsuki wondered.

The players on the Shohoku basketball team were overjoyed by Sakuragi's goal and forgot that the game was not over.

Sakuragi Hanamichi became even more smug, "From today onwards, please call me the God of Victory, hahahahaha."

While Akagi Takenori was letting his guard down, only Rukawa Kaede remembered that the game was not over.

"It's not over yet!" he shouted.

The basketball was passed to Sendoh, and Rukawa quickly caught up.

Shohoku has to retreat urgently!

The time has come to the last 5 seconds.

Sendoh and his teammates kept passing the ball around, keeping their eyes and ears open, and under the double-team of Akagi and Rukawa, they reached the basket.

Finally, Sendoh leaped high, facing Rukawa behind him and Akagi's large hand blocking his shot. He remained calm under pressure, his concentration increasing, and he switched hands for a layup!

Score!

Surpass Shohoku!

Chapter 138 Going Home

The basketball court at Tokai University, Japan.

During the summer vacation in July, the Donghai basketball team was training. The loss to Meiji University left a deep shadow on them, and they practiced basketball even harder.

Students at Tunghai University have all gone home, but the sound of basketballs bouncing inside the basketball court continues unabated.

The floor was soaked with sweat, and to prevent slipping and twisting ankles, they had to rest temporarily. The basketball team manager quickly cleaned it up.

"It's really hot today."

Kyoko Akagi walked in from outside the venue, carrying a bottle of mineral water.

Because of the hot weather, she tied her hair up in a bun at the back of her head. As she walked, the bun swayed back and forth, making her look even cuter and adding to her girlish charm.

"Thank you, Akagi."

Maba took out a bottle of mineral water, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, and quickly drank it all in one gulp. "Ah, that feels so good."

"You're welcome," Kyoko Akagi waved her hand.

Several other basketball team members also came over to get water.

Point guard Tian Bei picked up a bottle of mineral water, then suddenly paused, laughing and teasing Akagi Kyoko, "Speaking of which, Akagi's name sounds similar to the female protagonist of 'Slam Dunk'."

Shooting guard Kobayashi stroked his chin thoughtfully, "Kyoko Akagi, Haruko Akagi... they really do look alike."

Kyoko Akagi covered her mouth and chuckled. No one could possibly guess that she was the real-life inspiration for the character.

If Hua Chao hadn't stopped her from saying it, she really would have loved to show off.

Everyone present, including the basketball manager, was a fan of Akino Mirai, and they were all green with envy.

Kyoko Akagi's ego swelled, but their next words made her face turn dark.

"Their personalities are also very similar," said power forward Baba.

Small forward Yagami nodded in agreement: "He's a fangirl."

Kyoko Akagi got angry. "Since you all look at me like that, then you shouldn't drink the water that this lovesick girl bought."

She pouted and raised her hand to put the bottled water back.

"Haha, sorry, sorry." Baba laughed heartily as he apologized after dodging the attack.

He had wanted to say this for a while, since these two had been making him feel like he was being fed dog food (a Chinese slang term for witnessing public displays of affection).

Maba gulped down a whole bottle of water in one go, then shook the empty bottle to indicate that it was gone.

"Hmph!" Kyoko Akagi stomped her foot. "I'm never buying you water again."

The others quickly apologized.

Yagami changed the subject, "Speaking of Slam Dunk, the ending of the friendly match between Ryonan and Shohoku was really a pity."

Kobayashi understood immediately, "Yes, I didn't expect that a small mistake would be turned around by the Immortal."

Sendoh is undoubtedly the strongest character in Slam Dunk, and Ryonan's victory was entirely due to having Sendoh.

The nonchalant Sendoh is like a great demon king, a powerful and fun-loving boss.

Tanakita sighed softly, "Ryonan is a formidable opponent... just like Meiji University..."

They recalled their own match, and the feeling of resentment at losing to their opponent was the same.

The basketball court fell silent, everyone bowing their heads.

"Pass the ball!"

"Pass the ball quickly!"

"I feel like there are still five seconds left..."

This was Sakuragi Hanamichi's angry roar after the game, filled with resentment. He had experienced the bitterness of losing and the regret of not giving his all at the last moment.

The Donghai basketball team shared the same idea as Sakuragi.

If the game could have continued a little longer, just a little longer, maybe we could have won if we had given it our all...

Hua Chao, who had been silent all along, put down the empty mineral water bottle, picked up a basketball with one hand, and stood aside to practice dribbling.

Captain Yagami glanced at him and said to the other members, "Although we are unwilling, we lost, and the game is over. Remember how you feel now, and keep trying."

He turned around, snatched the basketball from Hua Chao, ran towards the basket, and finally slammed it into the hoop.

Huachao: ? ? ?

"Yes!" Baba shouted.

"I never want to lose again!"

"I will try my best!"

"To become number one in Tokyo!"

At that moment, their eyes burned with fire.

Kyoko Akagi stared in shock at the scene. "A college student and still acting like a middle schooler? Boys are so immature."

Until she saw Hua Chao shout, "I'm going to be the rebounding king!"

They suddenly changed their tune; they really are all passionate men.

……

The Slam Dunk manga has come to a temporary end, and Hibiki Higashino is boarding a bus.

He had just gotten off the tram and was walking home.

The bus wasn't crowded. The sun was high in the sky, the hottest time of day, and people who weren't working were at home enjoying the fans and air conditioning.

There were only a few children, carrying nets and storage boxes hanging from their waists, with several rhinoceros beetles inside. They had a good haul and seemed to have gone to the park.

But right now he's tiredly dozing off with his head down.

Only children have the energy to play in the sweltering summer heat.

Seeing this scene, Higashino Hibiki felt better, as if the heat had dissipated.

When Higashino got off the bus at the bus stop near his home, he regretted it.

It's definitely cooler on the bus.

He felt like the asphalt road was about to melt.

Was Tokyo this hot in 1996?

Hibiki Higashino wanted to go to the countryside to escape the summer heat, but considering he still had to draw manga, he could only shake his head.

This line of work is too demanding; there's simply no time to spare, unless you become Yoshihiro Togashi.

"What is Togashi-sensei doing now?"

Looking up at the bright sun, Higashino Hibiki suddenly thought.

At this point, Togashi...

"Haha, summer's here, it's definitely time to go skiing, haha!"

Wrapped in a coat, Yoshihiro Togashi laughed heartily as he enjoyed himself at an indoor ski resort in Tokyo.

"That's exactly how it should be."

……

When Dongye arrived at his doorstep, he couldn't wait to go inside and cool off, but he saw the housewives chatting idly in front of their own doors, their hearts at peace.

Higashino was chatting with Mrs. Haruno next door, covering her mouth and smiling with her eyes narrowed, not noticing that Higashino Hibiki had returned.

She seemed to have aged a bit, with more wrinkles on her face, but she still looked the same as before, with a gentle smile.

"Your child is amazing!" Mrs. Haruno flattered. "Was that little Dongye on the TV the other day? He's actually started learning Go! Even though he only beat a little kid, he must be really good to be on TV! How did you teach him?"

Higashino Shio didn't know exactly how amazing this was; she just felt that her son was incredibly talented.

"Higashino has always been very mature. He didn't need anyone to take care of him. He suddenly became successful on his own. I don't feel any sense of accomplishment at all."

Mrs. Yuanye waved her hand, "Look at what you're saying."

"Ohara has started her internship at a law firm," Higashino Shiori reciprocated, "and she'll become a renowned lawyer in the future. It's truly enviable."

"Hahahaha." Mrs. Haruno laughed heartily.

The two women were quite influential in the neighborhood self-governance committee because of their sons.

After all, as a housewife, in addition to her husband's social status, she also has to consider her children's education level.