Full-time comic artist

Higashino nodded groggily, then sat cross-legged and brought his uncleaned right ear close to Akemi Akemi.

The cicadas are chirping outside; the time is just right.

Shortly afterward, the right ear was also cleaned.

Akemi Akemi got up and threw the used cotton swabs into the trash can.

They then turned back.

Looking at Higashino Hibiki, who was swaying with his head down, Akemi Akimiya shook her head helplessly.

"Who told you to work until so late at night..."

She knelt down, supported Higashino Hibiki's body, stroked Higashino Hibiki's head, and finally gently placed it on her lap.

"Get a good night's sleep."

The wind chimes tinkled outside the window, and there were few pedestrians on the street. It was so quiet that it seemed as if only Higashino and I were there.

Akemi Akemi sighed.

"It's so quiet."

Chapter 147 Never give up until the very last moment.

During the practice match for the first-year students of Shohoku High School, Mitsui Hisashi's performance was outstanding, and his opponents were all impressed.

"All of us combined are no match for Mitsui."

However, back then, Akagi was still around.

His height of 193 centimeters, robust physique, and daring and aggressive personality make him a force to be reckoned with.

Mitsui was defending under the basket when Takenori Akagi launched a powerful dunk.

Just like a gorilla, Mitsui trembled under Akagi's crotch.

He couldn't get the basketball at all.

"A gorilla dunk," Mitsui blurted out.

Because of Akagi's dunk, the one-sided situation gradually began to turn around.

Akagi defends against Mitsui.

The huge size difference between the two made it impossible for Mitsui, who is 178 cm tall, to find an opportunity to attack.

His hard-won shot was blocked by Akagi, like swatting a fly.

Akagi dunked again, raising the team's spirits.

His imposing presence and relentless dedication to basketball stunned Mitsui, igniting a sense of hostility within him.

When he saw Anzai standing by.

Mitsui's fighting spirit grew stronger.

"I can't lose! I absolutely cannot lose to Akagi!"

Mitsui attacked again with the ball, but he was blocked by Akagi.

Faced with the colossal Akagi, who resembled a gorilla, Mitsui chose to compensate with speed and skill.

Akagi was a novice, and his body was very stiff.

Mitsui kept looking for opportunities to break through, his footwork getting faster and faster, and the sound of his basketball shoes rubbing against the floor echoed continuously.

After a feint, Akagi jumped high to defend, and Mitsui quickly turned his body, used his feet to break through from the right side.

He finally got past Akagi's defense.

Just then, his right foot slipped, his ankle twisted and he couldn't support his body. Mitsui's body flew out with the inertia, and his knee slammed heavily onto the floor.

"it hurts!"

……

“I see,” Kanda Takehito nodded as he looked at the next issue of the manga. “This injury may be a turning point for Mitsui.”

However, the manga did not reveal more about this aspect of the plot in the later chapters, but instead shifted to the reason why Mitsui came to Shohoku.

It was still the same match between Takeshi and Yokota.

With twelve seconds remaining, the ball is in the opponent's hands.

Although Mitsui was encouraging his teammates, he himself didn't have much confidence.

Later, while trying to save the basketball, he crashed heavily into the VIP section.

Only nine seconds remain.

Mitsui was in great pain; he had given up hope.

Just then, Coach Anzai picked up the basketball.

"Never give up hope until the very last moment. Once you give up, the game is over."

Because of Coach Anzai's words, Mitsui's fighting spirit was rekindled, and he scored a basket in the final moments, winning the game.

He came to Shohoku to repay Coach Anzai's kindness.

When he said this, Mitsui's eyes were shining. He was not defeated by the pain and all he could think about was making a comeback.

……

On September 2nd, summer vacation ended and Musashino Art University started its new semester.

At the same time, Weekly Shonen Jump was released.

Hibiki Higashino returned to school.

He had to come to Akemi Akimiya's traditional Chinese painting class today.

Moreover, he still cherishes the teachings of Hirohiko Araki, hoping to draw inspiration from traditional Chinese painting and imbue his paintings with spirit and a unique style.

As soon as he entered the traditional Chinese painting studio, he felt someone grab his clothes. Looking down, he saw it was Kazuya Takasugi.

"Wow, that's amazing! Mr. Toriakino!"

From this angle, Kazuya Takasugi looked up at him with longing, his eyes sparkling like stars in the sky, just like the gaze one would give to a celebrity.

Higashino coughed twice and pushed Takasugi Kazuya out.

"What's wrong? What's so special about it?"

"Slam Dunk! Slam Dunk!"

Kazuya Takasugi was so excited that he danced around.

"I initially disliked Mitsui Hisashi, but the story took an unexpected turn. Although I don't know the full story yet, I'm surprisingly interested in Mitsui!"

He was originally a fan of Ryota Miyagi, but now he's become a fan of Mitsui.

"Yes!" a voice came from behind.

"What exactly is going on?"

Higashino looked back and saw several classmates standing at the door, looking at him with unfriendly expressions.

"Hurry up and finish drawing Mitsui's storyline!"

"I want to know the result!"

"He'll turn over a new leaf, won't he?"

Hibiki Higashino felt a chill run down his spine, as if countless berserk Chitanda Eru were staring at him.

He forced a smile, "It'll be ready soon, it'll be ready soon."

If it weren't for Akemi Akemi's intervention, Higashino Hibiki was worried that things would be in serious trouble.

The popularity of "Slam Dunk" is growing, and readers' strong thirst for knowledge is influencing Hibiki Higashino.

……

Meanwhile, on the Shinkansen from Tokyo to Kanagawa Prefecture, Takehito Kanda still came to see off his friend Takago.

The other party is going to work in Kanagawa.

"Goodbye, warrior."

Takago waved, carrying his suitcase; the Shinkansen was about to depart.

Kanda Takehito's lips trembled. "Goodbye, Takago."

"Warrior, I'm starting a new life," Gao Xiang said nonchalantly. "From now on, there will be no more legends about me."

"You bastard." Kanda Takehito's sadness vanished.

“Listen to me, warrior,” Gao Xiang said seriously. “If you don’t know what to do, go back to playing basketball. It’s not a pleasant feeling to be idle and empty.”

“I…” Kanda Takehito opened his mouth.

“When I arrived, the basketball court in the park had already been built, and there were high school students playing basketball there. I noticed your gaze, Kanda,” Takago interrupted him, speaking to himself, “You still like playing basketball, don’t you? That kind of absorbed look in your eyes.”

Kanda Takehito lowered his head. "I'll consider it."

Takago disappeared from Kanda Takehito's sight as the Shinkansen bullet train sped along.

With Takago's departure came Kanda Takehito's absurd years.

Without friends to go crazy with, there's one less thing he can do.

I walked home listlessly, and as I passed the park, the sound of basketballs hitting the ground kept ringing out.

Kanda Takehito walked over without thinking; the boys were still playing basketball.

His younger brother, Kandagawa, was also among them.

The younger brother shouted, "Become number one! Dominate the whole country!"

"Haha," Kanda couldn't help but laugh, "Can you say you've conquered the whole country with this level of skill?"

He ran over, easily snatched the basketball from his brother's hands, and then sprinted towards the basket.

While everyone else was at a loss, Kanda Takehito leaped high under the basket and, amidst the astonished gazes, slammed the basketball into the hoop with all his might.