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

A brief silence fell over the ward.

Only Coach Anzai's rhythmic snoring seemed to be responding to his wife's words.

Lin Bei stood at the door, watching this scene, a playful smile tugging at the corner of his mouth.

This is Shohoku.

It's not just a team, it's a family.

"Alright, the emotional part is over, the background music can be turned off now."

Lin Bei suddenly spoke, breaking the warm atmosphere.

He raised his wrist and looked at the expensive sports watch.

"Since the old man is alright, let's not be third wheels here."

He turned around, his gaze sweeping over the crowd, his tone instantly becoming serious, carrying an undeniable domineering air.

"The doctor said the coach needs to rest."

"He probably won't be able to attend the next few national competitions."

Everyone felt a chill run down their spines.

This is the worst news.

Without the coach's guidance, can Shohoku, like a warship without a helmsman, manage to face their next opponent?

"What's wrong? Why does everyone have that look on their face?"

"Scared?"

Lin Bei raised an eyebrow, his eyes filled with a hint of mockery and arrogance.

"Are you kidding me!"

"How could this genius be afraid!"

"Even without Dad, genius can lead you to victory!"

"Just give me the ball!" Sakuragi Hanamichi was the first to jump up.

"idiot."

Rukawa Kaede coldly uttered two words, but the fighting spirit in his eyes was burning.

"Lin Bei is right."

With Akagi Takenori absent, Mitsui Hisashi stepped forward.

He glanced at the sleeping Coach Anzai, took a deep breath, and turned to face the crowd.

"The coach collapsed from exhaustion because of us."

"Then we absolutely cannot afford to lose."

"We're going to bring the championship trophy into this hospital room so the old man can use it as a pillow!"

Mitsui's voice wasn't loud, but it had the unwavering determination that only a man who had experienced setbacks could possess.

"oh!!!"

The crowd roared in low voices, vows suppressed in their throats.

Looking at the group of spirited children, the teacher's wife smiled with satisfaction.

"Go on, children."

"Leave this to me."

……

Stepping out of the hospital building, the night breeze was cool, carrying the heat unique to early summer.

The night sky over Kanagawa is dotted with stars.

"Hey, Lin Bei."

Miyagi Ryota suddenly leaned over and nudged Lin Bei's waist with his elbow, a mischievous grin on his face.

"Was that deadpan look on your face intentional at the ward door just now?"

"What do you mean, intentionally?" Lin Bei pretended to be clueless and opened the car door.

Stop pretending!

"You must have known all along that the coach was alright, and you were just trying to scare us!"

"You almost made me cry!"

"You're awful! You're a devil!"

Mitsui Hisashi finally realized what was happening and yelled angrily.

"I was just tired."

Lin Bei got into the driver's seat and started the engine.

The silver-gray supercar let out a deep roar, like a beast awakening.

"Besides, if I don't put some pressure on you, do you think you'll give it your all in the national competition?"

He rolled down the car window and held the steering wheel with one hand.

His profile looked particularly striking under the streetlights, exuding a nonchalant handsomeness.

"Get in the car."

"Where to?"

"Daifuku BBQ".

Lin Bei raised the corners of his mouth, revealing his signature, slightly roguish smile.

"To celebrate that the old man is alright, I'm treating tonight."

"Please don't be shy about bringing plenty of meat."

"Hooray!! Long live Linbei!!"

Sakuragi Hanamichi instantly regained his full strength and immediately stopped a taxi at the door.

"I'm going to eat you out of house and home!! I'm going to eat enough for ten people!"

"Add one! I'm going to make the boss cry!"

The sports car roared into the night, leaving behind a trail of youthful laughter and curses.

Behind them, in a window of the hospital building.

Coach Anzai rolled over and smacked his lips.

I could almost smell the aroma of barbecue in my dream.

……

Orlando, USA.

The scorching midday sun pierced through the floor-to-ceiling windows of the rehabilitation center, baking the ground until it was scorching hot.

Akagi Takenori gripped the receiver tightly, his knuckles turning pale from the excessive force.

The towel in his other hand was soaked with cold sweat and could be wrung out.

His chest heaved violently, like a bellows pulled to its limit, hissing and gurgling.

"Really...that's good...that's good..."

The teacher's wife's voice on the other end of the line was soft, but it was like a bucket of ice water, extinguishing the wildfire of anxiety in his heart.

After hanging up the phone, Akagi felt as if his spine had been removed, and he slumped to the ground against the wall.

"call--"

As I exhaled a breath of stale air, the burning pain in my lungs finally disappeared.

Coach Anzai is fine.

My dad, who always smiled like a Maitreya Buddha and occasionally acted mischievously, is still around.

The soul of Xiangbei is still alive.

National competition.

just wait.

The worries are gone.

Next, I will make everyone hear Shohoku's roar on that highest stage!

……

Meanwhile, at the Kanagawa Prefectural Gymnasium.

The awards ceremony was a highlight.

Spotlights were being slammed into the center of the court as if they were free.

The spectators in the stands craned their necks, eager to see what this dark horse team that had dethroned "King of Hainan" looked like.

"Next, please welcome the champion of this year's Kanagawa Prefecture Tournament—"

"Shohoku High School, take the stage!"

The host's voice was so passionate it was almost cracking.

The audience erupted in applause, and flashbulbs went off everywhere, illuminating the scene as if it were daytime.

however.

When that team stepped onto the podium, the previously bustling stadium suddenly fell into an eerie silence.

no one.

That arrogant red-haired monkey is not here.

That dead-fish-eyed, icy Rukawa Kaede isn't here.

That arrogant delinquent, Mitsui Hisashi, isn't here.

Even Lin Bei, the "Great Demon King" who knocked down Maki Shinichi, was not there.

Standing in the center was a round-faced boy with his eyes closed, hands clasped together, and a solemn expression as if he were cultivating immortality.

Satoru Kakuta.

He is known in the martial arts world as "Emperor Kakuta".

Behind him were Yasuda, Shiozaki, and several first-year substitutes who were so nervous they were walking in the wrong direction.

They looked like a flock of lambs who had wandered into a pack of wolves.

"Well……"

The host looked at the star-studded list in his hand.

Looking at the group of "harmless" mascots on stage, their professional fake smiles froze on their faces.

"Um... what about Shohoku's main players?"

Kakuta Satoru slightly opened his narrow eyes, which seemed to see through the world's illusions, and stretched out his hands to accept the trophy.

His movements were slow and methodical, as steady as an old dog.

"The coach is hospitalized, so they went there first."

Kakuta's voice was flat and even, carrying throughout the venue through the microphone.

The entire audience erupted in uproar.

"In that case, we also hope that Coach Anzai can recover as soon as possible."

"Ahem, next up is the MVP award for this competition!"

"The winner is—Lin Bei from Shohoku High School!"

The spotlight swept wildly, trying to capture that godlike figure.

However, the beam of light eventually stopped awkwardly on Satoru Kakuta's bald head.

Emperor Kakuta calmly took a step forward.

Reach out.

He accepted the MVP trophy, the highest honor, once again.

"Lin Bei called and said this thing was too heavy and he was too lazy to carry it, so he asked me to bring it back on my way."

Kakuta remained calm.

It's as if they're saying, "I'm getting fried rice for my roommate."