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

Kanagawa.

Familiar streets, sea breeze carrying a salty scent.

The bus came to a stop in the city.

Everyone got out of the car and stretched, their joints cracking.

"Ah—! I'm finally back!"

"The air in Kanagawa is so much sweeter! Shizuoka is full of sulfur, it's suffocating."

Mitsui Hisashi spread his arms wide and roared to the sky.

Ryota Miyagi spun a basketball, a mischievous grin on his face: "I bet you miss the smell of smoke here, don't you?"

"Stop talking nonsense!" Mitsui glared.

"Alright, stop arguing."

Lin Bei clapped his hands, herding everyone together like ducks.

He glanced at his watch: "It's still early, come with me somewhere."

"Where to?"

"Is there anything good to eat?"

"This genius wants ramen! Double the char siu!"

Sakuragi's ears perked up, and he instantly leaned closer.

Something that smells even better than ramen.

Lin Bei smiled mysteriously and snapped his fingers.

A black minivan glided to the side of the road, and the door slid open automatically.

"Get in the car."

Located in the heart of a bustling commercial street.

In front of a shop with a very futuristic design.

The huge floor-to-ceiling windows exude understated luxury, while the black metal frames add a touch of sophistication.

The signboard is simple yet powerful, featuring only a highly designed logo.

"This...this is?" Akagi Takenori was stunned.

This location, this renovation.

It looks like a high-end store that charges a breathing fee as soon as you enter.

"Let's go in and take a look."

Lin Bei pushed open the door and entered.

The cool air, mixed with the scent of premium leather, wafted towards us.

Inside the store, pairs of exquisite sneakers gleamed with a captivating luster under the spotlights on the display shelves.

Nike, Adidas, Converse, ASICS...

All of them are the latest seasonal styles, and there are even limited editions that are being sold at exorbitant prices on the market.

For basketball players, this is paradise!

"Wow!!"

Sakuragi Hanamichi's eyes instantly turned into hearts; his DNA was activated!

He pounced on the display case like a monkey that had just spotted a banana.

"These are... Jordan shoes!"

"That's Barkley's! Holy crap, there's this too!"

Miyagi and Mitsui were also stunned.

Even Rukawa Kaede's gaze was fixed on a pair of white and red sneakers, and he couldn't tear his eyes away.

Welcome!

The shop assistants, dressed in uniform, bowed in unison, their respectful attitude sending chills down one's spine.

"Lin, Linbei..."

"This shop...could it be...?"

Kiminobu Kogure pushed up his glasses, his speech becoming increasingly stammering.

Lin Bei casually picked up a pair of shoes and twirled them around, his tone as indifferent as if he had just bought a cabbage:

"Yeah, I bought it because I liked the look of it."

"Since we're going to the national competition, we can't have everyone wearing old shoes, can we?"

He turned around, opened his arms, like a generous tyrant.

"Today, Young Master Lin will be paying the bill."

"Each person can choose one pair, any pair you like, there's no limit."

Quiet.

A deathly silence.

Immediately afterwards, a deafening cheer erupted!

"Long live Linbei!!"

"Rich guy! Powerful connections! Godfather!"

Ryota Miyagi shamelessly clung to Lin Bei's leg, rubbing against him repeatedly: "I want those Converse sneakers! I've wanted them for ages! They're too expensive to buy!"

"Go away, don't wipe your snot on my pants, these pants are expensive." Lin Bei kicked Gong Cheng away in disgust.

"Haruko, Ayako, you have some too."

Lin Bei pointed to the women's shoe section, then looked at the Sakuragi Army, who were cowering at the door, too afraid to come in.

"And those four idiots over there."

Mito Yohei and the others were taken aback.

"We...have it too?"

Takamiya pointed at his nose, incredulous.

They're just here to do manual labor; this kind of high-end stuff doesn't suit the image of delinquent youths like them.

"nonsense."

Lin Bei tossed over a pair of oversized Nikes.

"I've helped scare quite a few people these past few days, consider this my payment."

Gao Gongwang caught the shoe, her eyes instantly reddening: "Lin Bei... Waaah! You're like my second parents!"

"Don't disgust me, hurry up and choose!"

The store instantly erupted into chaos, filled with a joyful atmosphere.

"Wow! Those red and black ones!"

"It bears the name of this genius!"

Sakuragi Hanamichi clung to a pair of AJ1s, refusing to let go.

That's Shohoku's color scheme, and it's also Jordan's classic.

"These shoes are very expensive."

The store manager walked over with a smile, "An original replica, extremely valuable to collectors..."

"I don't care! I want these!"

Sakuragi pressed his face against the shoe, looking like a pervert.

"Only these shoes are worthy of a genius's feet!"

"Boss, I have one hundred dollars! Is that enough?"

The store manager's smile froze: "This..."

"Alright, stop teasing him."

"Put it on my tab." Lin Bei walked over.

He then looked at Rukawa Kaede.

The fox was holding a pair of AJ5s, white with red accents.

"Good taste."

Lin Bei nodded, "Good grip, suitable for your emergency stops."

Rukawa Kaede glanced at Lin Bei, and surprisingly did not refute him.

He simply nodded and uttered two words: "Thanks."

In the plus-size shoe section, Takenori Akagi seemed a little awkward.

His feet are so big that buying shoes is like opening a blind box for him.

"Captain Akagi."

Lin Bei waved, and the shop assistant immediately brought out a large box.

"It was ordered especially for you."

"Converse Pro Conquest, wider and reinforced version"

"Protects the ankle and provides strong support."

Akagi opened the box.

The black and white high-top combat boots lay quietly inside, like a heavy suit of armor.

He stroked the shoe, his fingertips trembling slightly.

For a center, a good pair of shoes is like a second life.

"Lin Bei..."

Akagi looked up, his eyes slightly moist.

"Don't be so mushy."

Lin Bei interrupted the spellcasting.

"This is an investment."

"If you sprain your ankle again in the national competition, I'm taking these shoes back."

Akagi took a deep breath and patted Lin Bei's shoulder heavily:

"rest assured."

"Even if my leg is broken, I'll stay in the paint until the very end!"

Over there, Mitsui Hisashi picked out a pair of gold ASICS shoes.

"A man of fire should be dressed in such a flashy color," Miyagi remarked.

"You don't know anything!"

Mitsui was admiring himself in the mirror.

"That's what you call ace-level style!"

"Wearing this, my three-point shooting percentage will be absolutely 100%!"

Even Qingzi managed to pick out a pair of pink and white sneakers, blushing as she quietly thanked them.

Seeing his teammates' excited expressions, Lin Bei felt a sense of satisfaction.

Is this what they call a bond?

A bond built with money?

No, shoes are just tools.

What truly excites them is the impending battlefield.

National competition.

These shoes are combat boots.

It is the first step on the journey.

……

Three days later, at the train station.

The Shinkansen platform was crowded with people, but everyone's eyes were unconsciously drawn to a group of people.

A group of high school students in black uniforms, tall and imposing, seemed to have an innate "keep away" barrier.

Especially the bald man at the front, who had a fierce look on his face.

She was carrying an adorable sports bag, a stark contrast to her usual style.

"Is this Shohoku?"

"I heard they wiped out Hainan?"

"It looks terrifying, like gangsters on the street..." Passersby whispered and gave way.

Takenori Akagi walked at the front, like a moving iron tower, his brand-new Converse shoes thumping loudly on the floor.

Behind him, Rukawa Kaede was wearing headphones, and his AJ5s were gleaming in the sunlight.

Mitsui Hisashi adjusted his wristband, the gold ASICS brass standing out brilliantly.

Ryota Miyagi chewed gum, his hands in his pockets, looking smug.

Sakuragi Hanamichi looked around excitedly, his red and black AJ1s on his feet looking like two burning flames.

Lin Bei walked at the back, wearing a pair of simple black sneakers, looking the least noticeable.

But anyone with eyes can see that he is the core of this team.

"The train is about to arrive at the station..."

An announcement rang out, and a white bullet train slowly pulled in, the wind ruffling the hems of everyone's clothes.

"I'm gone."

Akagi turned around, his gaze sweeping over the group of problem children behind him, his eyes resolute.

"Target: Hiroshima. Target: Nationwide domination!"

"oh--!!"