Love

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

U Amakusa simply acted as a quiet listener, even though he was the one who had initiated the topic.

Watching Sakura like this, U Amakusa felt grateful that he had learned a thing or two from the camera geek who served as his dorm head.

When he brought up cameras, Sakura began to speak incessantly about her experiences in that field.

Perhaps these were words Sakura had rehearsed in her mind a thousand times over, as if she were venting years of loneliness all at once.

Neither of them paid any mind to the passage of time. It wasn't until they realized it was getting late that Sakura felt she had been intruding on U Amakusa.

U Amakusa didn't just seem unbothered; he appeared genuinely happy, taking the initiative to exchange contact information with Sakura.

Until Sakura left and a new customer arrived, U Amakusa felt that coming here to tell fortunes today had been a great decision.

The newcomers numbered four or five, and at a glance, it was clear they were athletes from a sports club.

U Amakusa already had an inkling about which club it was, as a certain redhead was far too conspicuous; he looked more like a delinquent than an athlete.

"Hey, what's the point of this fortune-telling? Why are we even here?"

Sudo looked thoroughly dissatisfied. He couldn't grasp the utility of such a place; what could one possibly gain from a fortune?

"Nobody asked you to speak."

A boy with yellow hair retorted without mercy.

"What did you say!" Sudo was easily provoked, looking as if he might jump in and start a fight the next second.

"Stop it! Sudo!"

As soon as the tall man standing in the middle of the group spoke, Sudo and the yellow-haired boy fell silent instantly, both turning their heads away in defiance.

It was clear that this tall man was the core of the group, and these people had likely come here for his sake.

The tall man approached the table, sat down, and said slowly, "May I ask if you are still taking fortunes?"

"Of course."

Only a fool turns away business.

"I see. I heard from others that you are quite accurate, and I would like to give it a try."

U Amakusa didn't speak, merely gesturing for the tall man to look at the plaque on the side: pay first, then divine—5,000 per session.

"That expensive?!"

Sudo shouted in surprise, then glared viciously at the yellow-haired boy in the group. "Hey! Miyamura! The fortune-telling you mentioned is way too ridiculous! 5,000 Private Points a pop!?"

"Sudo!" the tall man called out.

"Okuma-senpai! Your injury will definitely heal! There's no need to believe a scammer like this! This guy Miyamura just got conned!"

U Amakusa listened from the side, a vein throbbing on his forehead.

Oh, so you're here to smash my sign, are you?

Miyamura rushed up, grabbed Sudo by the collar, and shouted, "Do you think I don't want Okuma-senpai's injury to heal? Everyone around me says the fortune-telling here is good and that he gives advice from time to time! Do you think it'll just get better on its own? Having a shred of hope is better than having none at all!"

"Huh!?"

However, U Amakusa already knew the ins and outs of the situation through his information glasses.

Okuma had injured his knee while playing ball. From the current situation, it was evident that Okuma was deeply loved and respected by his juniors.

"Enough! Miyamura, Sudo! I know you both want me to get better, but... the doctor said the chance of me recovering enough to continue playing basketball is less than 20 percent."

Miyamura and Sudo both lowered their heads, their expressions looking incredibly pained.

Sudo said slowly, "Okuma-senpai... you are a senior I respect, and you are truly amazing at basketball. You told me that you and I share the same dream of becoming professional players, so I really want to keep playing with you."

Miyamura echoed, "Me too..."

After hearing their touching words, Okuma smiled, patted both of them on the shoulders, and moved his legs.

"Isn't that obvious? I'm recovering quite well."

Having pacified the two, Okuma returned to the matter of the fortune-telling. He paid the 5,000 Private Points without hesitation and followed the rules, writing his question down on the paper.

His question concerned his knee injury.

"It's a meniscus tear, isn't it?" U Amakusa said casually.

"Yes."

Sudo's eyes widened as he stood to the side. "This guy... he actually has some skill."

That was the name of the injury to Okuma's knee, which the others who had accompanied him to the hospital naturally knew.

But U Amakusa was just a fortune-teller; for him to state it so precisely made it hard not to believe he truly had some ability.

"So? Can I still play basketball with this injury?"

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

After six tosses, U Amakusa spoke slowly: "The result is out. Your injury will recover very well. In the cycle of life and death, the 'Descendant holding the World' is an auspicious sign. However, if you insist on continuing to do what you desire, this hexagram will shift into an ominous one—the 'Official Ghost holding the World'."

Okuma and those behind him looked bewildered; it was clear that they didn't fully understand a word of what U Amakusa had said.

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

"Hmph."

You're the only one who didn't understand, Miyamura complained inwardly, though he had grasped the general meaning.

It meant the injury would heal, but he could no longer play basketball.

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

"That is what I mean. If you play basketball, the condition will recur."

Hearing U Amakusa say this, Sudo immediately grew agitated.

"Hey! Then what's the point of your fortune-telling! It's exactly the same as what that lousy doctor said!"

Okuma just looked down at his own hands, murmuring to himself, "I can never play basketball again... is that it?"

U Amakusa waved his hand and pointed at Sudo. "Is this something I can control? Get it straight: this is a fortune-telling shop, not a hospital."

"Tch!"

Sudo felt he shouldn't have pinned his hopes on this charlatan; he was completely useless.

Ignoring Sudo, U Amakusa saw Okuma lost in sorrow and sighed, "If you can, you might want to try some traditional Chinese medical techniques. They might have miraculous effects."

"Thank you. I will give it a try if I have the chance."

Okuma smiled with relief, stood up, and expressed his gratitude to U Amakusa.

"Okuma-senpai!" x2

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

Seeing this, Sudo, standing to the side, wanted to say something, but Miyamura stepped in first.

"Okuma-senpai, even if you really can't play basketball anymore, I will carry your will to the professional stage, so... please don't give up!"

Okuma didn't seem to mind Miyamura's words of encouragement; he walked ahead of the group with a faint smile on his face.

"Miyamura, Sudo, thank you both, but your worries are unnecessary."

"Okuma-senpai..."

"A basketball that has been played with for too long might never bounce again, but my passion will not be crushed by this injury."

[May you exhaust all your strength in pursuit of your dreams]