Passion

Sakura's fortune-telling session ended, and U Amakusa started chatting with her. Surprisingly, Sakura did most of the talking.

U Amakusa simply listened quietly, even though he had been the one to start the conversation.

Watching Sakura like this, U Amakusa was glad he'd learned a little about cameras from his dorm supervisor, the camera nut.

When he brought up cameras, Sakura began enthusiastically sharing her experience with them.

Perhaps these were things she'd already gone over in her head hundreds of times, words she'd been waiting to say—as if she were finally letting out years of loneliness.

Neither of them paid any attention to the passage of time. When they realized how late it had gotten, Sakura felt she'd kept U Amakusa too long.

Not only did U Amakusa seem unconcerned, he also looked quite happy and took the initiative to exchange contact information with Sakura.

Even after Sakura left and another customer arrived, U Amakusa still felt that coming here to tell fortunes today had been a wonderful decision.

There were four or five of them, and it was obvious at a glance that they were athletic types from a sports club.

U Amakusa already had an idea which club they belonged to. One redhead in particular was impossible to miss—he looked more like a delinquent than an athlete.

"Hey, what's the point of this fortune-telling stuff? Why'd we come here?"

Sudo looked thoroughly displeased. He couldn't understand what was useful about coming to a place like this. What could fortune-telling possibly tell them?

"Even if you keep quiet, nobody's going to think you're not here."

A yellow-haired boy shot back without mercy.

"What'd you say?" Sudo was quick to anger, and looked ready to throw a punch at any moment.

"Enough, Sudo!"

At the tall man standing among them, Sudo and the yellow-haired boy immediately fell silent. Both turned away, still looking annoyed.

It was clear that the tall man was the center of the group. The others had probably come for his sake.

The tall man sat down at the table and asked calmly, "Are you still taking customers?"

"Of course."

Who'd turn down a paying customer?

"Mm. I heard your fortune-telling is very accurate, so I wanted to give it a try."

U Amakusa didn't reply. He simply gestured toward the sign beside him, which read: Pay first, 5,000 points per reading.

"That much?!"

Sudo exclaimed in surprise, then glared at the yellow-haired boy in the group. "Hey, Miyamura! This fortune-telling you told us about is ridiculous! It really costs 5,000 points for one reading?!"

"Sudo!" the tall man called out.

"Senior Okuma! Your injury will definitely heal! There's no need to believe in some scammer! Miyamura's the one who got conned!"

As U Amakusa listened, a vein seemed to pop on his forehead.

Oh, so you're here to ruin my reputation, are you?

Miyamura rushed forward and grabbed Sudo by the collar. "You think I don't want Senior Okuma's injury to heal? Everyone around me says this place gives good readings, and sometimes even offers advice. Do you think saying a few words will make him better? Having a little hope is better than having none!"

"Huh?!"

But U Amakusa already knew the whole story, thanks to his Information Glasses.

Okuma had injured his knee while playing basketball. From the way things stood, it was clear that he was deeply admired by his juniors.

"That's enough, Miyamura, Sudo! I know you both want what's best for me, but... the doctor said the chance I'll recover enough to keep playing basketball is less than twenty percent."

Miyamura and Sudo both lowered their heads, their faces filled with pain.

Sudo spoke slowly. "Senior Okuma... you're someone I respect. You're an incredible basketball player. You once told me that we shared the same dream—to become professional players. So I really want to keep playing with you."

Miyamura chimed in, "Me too..."

After hearing their heartfelt words, Okuma smiled and patted them both on the shoulders, then stretched his legs.

"Of course I'll be fine. I'm recovering so well."

After calming them down, Okuma returned to the fortune-telling. Without hesitation, he paid the 5,000 points and then followed the rules by writing his question on a piece of paper.

His question was about his knee injury.

"It's a torn meniscus, right?" U Amakusa said casually.

"That's right."

Sudo's eyes widened. "This guy... actually knows a thing or two."

That was the name of Okuma's knee injury. The others who'd gone to the hospital with him naturally knew it.

But U Amakusa was just a fortune-teller, and he'd identified the injury perfectly. It was hard not to believe he really had some skill.

"So, can I still play basketball once I've recovered?"

"Please wait a moment." U Amakusa held a coin in his hand and tossed it.

After six tosses, U Amakusa slowly spoke. "The result is in. Your injury will heal well. The Child-and-Grandchild line holding the worldly position is an auspicious sign among the stages of birth, aging, sickness, and death. But if you insist on continuing to do what you want, this reading will turn inauspicious—the Official Ghost line will hold the worldly position."

Okuma and the others behind him looked confused. Clearly, they hadn't understood everything U Amakusa had said.

Sudo scratched his head. "Hey, Miyamura, did you understand that?"

"Hmph."

You're probably the only one who didn't understand, Miyamura grumbled to himself. He'd gotten the gist of it.

The injury would heal, but Okuma wouldn't be able to keep playing basketball.

After thinking for a while, Okuma asked, "Master, do you mean I can't keep playing basketball?"

"That's right. If you play basketball, the injury will come back."

Hearing that, Sudo immediately lost his temper.

"Hey! What's the point of getting a reading from you, then? That's exactly what that lousy doctor said!"

Okuma simply looked down at his hands and murmured, "So I'll never be able to play basketball again...?"

U Amakusa waved his hand and pointed at Sudo. "Is that something I can fix? Get it straight: I'm a fortune-teller, not a hospital."

"Tch!"

Sudo thought he never should've put his hopes in this fraud. He was completely useless.

Ignoring Sudo, U Amakusa saw that Okuma had fallen into a melancholy mood and sighed. "If you can, you could try some traditional Chinese medicine techniques. They might have remarkable results."

"Thank you. I'll try them if I get the chance."

Okuma smiled with quiet acceptance, stood up, and thanked U Amakusa.

"Senior Okuma!" x2

"Don't worry. I'm fine."

Seeing this, Sudo seemed about to say something, but Miyamura spoke first.

"Senior Okuma, even if you really can't play basketball anymore, I'll carry your will with me onto the professional court. So... please don't give up!"

Okuma seemed unfazed by Miyamura's words of encouragement. With a faint smile on his face, he walked ahead of the others.

"Miyamura, Sudo, thank you. But you don't need to worry about me."

"Senior Okuma..."

"I might never be able to bounce a basketball again after playing for so long, but my love for the game won't be crushed by an injury."

[May you give it your all and chase your dreams]