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

Several figures walked in against the light.

The man in the lead had a pompadour hairstyle, his hands in his pockets, and a cynical smile on his face.

Yohei Mito and others.

The Sakuragi Army is all present.

"Yohei?!"

Sakuragi Hanamichi shouted in surprise.

"I originally wanted to check if anyone was slacking off in flower arranging."

Yohei glanced at the situation on the field and then focused his gaze on Mitsui Hisashi and his group.

"I didn't expect to stumble upon such a good show."

"Since it's a friend of flower arrangement who's being bullied."

"We can't just stand by and do nothing."

Yohei flexed his wrists, his eyes sharpening.

Takamiya Nozomi patted her round belly and chuckled, "Perfect for some exercise before dinner."

With the addition of the Sakuragi Army, these fighting experts...

The situation instantly became one-sided and overwhelming.

Yohei's movements were clean and efficient, almost one punch per kill.

Using her weight advantage, Takamiya Nozomi charged through the crowd like a human bomb.

In just a few minutes.

Of the delinquents brought by Mitsui Hisashi, only Tetsuo was still struggling to hold on; the rest were mostly lying on the ground groaning in pain.

What started as a menacing challenge turned into a one-sided beating.

"hateful……"

Mitsui Hisashi gripped the mop handle in his hand, his knuckles turning white from excessive force.

He looked at the group of energetic teenagers who were fighting to protect their teammates.

Jealousy and resentment gnawed at his heart like venomous snakes.

Why...

Why are you so dazzling?

Why do you get everything I've lost?

"It's ruined..."

"I'm going to destroy all of this!!"

Mitsui Hisashi, his eyes bloodshot, raised his stick like a madman and charged at Kogure, who was closest to him.

"Stop! Mitsui!"

Kiminobu Kogure did not dodge.

He took off his glasses and looked directly at the once spirited young man.

"Snapped!"

The stick stopped a few centimeters above Kogure's head.

It was grabbed by a hand.

It wasn't Lin Bei, nor was it Sakuragi.

It was Kogure himself.

This is the usually gentle and mild-mannered deputy captain who always acts as a nice guy.

At this moment, he was gripping Mitsui's stick tightly, his eyes filled with heartache.

"How long are you going to keep making a scene?"

"You actually... didn't want this to happen, right?"

Kogure's voice trembled slightly.

"Shut up!!"

"What do you know?!"

"This is just a club activity! Just a boring game!"

"I won't allow you to be so happy! I won't allow it!" Mitsui Hisashi roared hysterically.

"Then come back!!"

Kogure suddenly roared, interrupting Mitsui's rant.

This shout silenced the entire arena.

Even Lin Bei stopped what he was doing and looked at the usually timid, bespectacled man in surprise.

"Since you care so much, since you can't let go..."

"Then come back, Mitsui!"

"Our team is still here, basketball is still here..."

"If you want to come back..."

Tears streamed down Kogure's face.

"Who wants this lousy team?!"

Mitsui shoved Kogure aside and staggered backward.

"I'm just here to destroy this place!"

"I'll never play basketball again! That stuff..."

Just then.

A heavy and oppressive atmosphere suddenly enveloped the entire stadium.

The feeling was like a sleeping giant awakening.

The door was opened again.

A tall figure, as imposing as an iron tower, slowly walked in.

Takenori Akagi.

He was wearing a school uniform and carrying a schoolbag.

Looking at the mess in the stadium, the delinquents lying on the ground, and my teammates with injuries on their faces.

Finally, his gaze fell on the long-haired man.

Akagi's face was terrifyingly dark.

But he didn't roar or howl.

He walked with heavy steps toward Mitsui Hisashi.

"Aka...Akagi..."

I saw that familiar face.

Mitsui Hisashi's previously insane arrogance was instantly dampened, as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over him.

My body began to tremble uncontrollably.

That was a deep-seated reverence for this former rival and teammate.

Akagi walked up to Mitsui.

The two looked at each other.

One remains as steady as a mountain.

One, however, has already degenerated into mud.

"Smack!!!"

A loud bang.

Akagi Takenori swung his arm and slapped Mitsui Hisashi hard across the face.

That slap contained so much emotion.

Disappointment, anger, and heartbreak.

Mitsui Hisashi was spun around by the slap, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth.

But he didn't fight back or curse.

She just stood there blankly, covering her face.

Do you know what time it is?

Akagi's voice was deep and authoritative.

"Do you know how much effort everyone put into preparing for the county competition?"

"And you..."

"What the hell are you doing?!"

Akagi pointed at the basketball on the ground and then at his teammates around him, scolding them.

"What's it to you...?"

"I'm just a delinquent..."

"It has nothing to do with a top student like you..."

Mitsui Hisashi lowered his head, his body heaving violently.

"Stop pretending!!"

Kogure rushed over and grabbed Mitsui by the collar.

With tears streaming down his face, he shouted to the bewildered crowd around him:

"Do you even know who he is?!"

"He's Mitsui Hisashi!"

"The ace of Takeshi Junior High School!"

"That year's county MVP!!"

These words struck Sakuragi and Miyagi like a thunderclap.

"MVP?!"

"This middle-aged woman... is she the MVP?"

Sakuragi stared wide-eyed at the thug in front of him who was missing a front tooth and had long, flowing hair.

The other newcomers were also stunned.

They had all heard of that name.

That legendary sharpshooter.

It's... this person right in front of me?

Lin Bei leaned against the wall, quietly watching this scene.

He knew the climax was coming.

This is probably one of the most touching moments in the entire comic.

Kogure was still recounting the past in tears.

It tells the story of how Mitsui persevered despite his injuries.

And how did he have to leave the court due to a recurrence of his knee injury?

It tells the story of how that spirited young man gradually got to where he is today.

"His leg is healed!"

But he never came back!

"Because of pride! Because I can't face Akagi's growth!"

"Idiots! They're all idiots!"

Every word was like a knife piercing Mitsui's heart.

That was the past he desperately wanted to cover up, to forget, but could never let go of.

The floodgates of memory were opened.

That version of myself running on the track.

That version of myself that made the game-winning shot.

That version of myself, surrounded and cheered by the crowd.

and also……

That plump, kind figure.

"Hehehe..."

A familiar laugh rang out.

Coach Anzai appeared at the door at some point.

He remained so serene, as if he had embraced everything.

"Oh……"

"It's Mitsui."

Coach Anzai looked at Mitsui as if he were looking at a lost child.

There was no blame, only regret.

The moment I saw Coach Anzai.

Mitsui Hisashi's last psychological defenses completely collapsed.

The person who once told him, "If you give up now, the game is over."

The person he respected most and wanted to repay the most.

Tears welled up like a burst dam.

The mixture of snot and blood blurred that once arrogant face.

My former pride.

The current depravity.

All the grievances, regrets, and resentment.

At that moment, it transformed into the most primal impulse.