A Fortune of 30 Yen

Haruko suddenly remembered something.

Hanamichi Sakuragi's basketball shoes had seemed to be broken when she watched the game yesterday.

"Hanamichi, your shoes yesterday..."

Hanamichi Sakuragi blushed furiously and instinctively scratched the back of his head.

"Th-that..."

"It was because yesterday's game was too intense!"

"That monkey boss stepped on my feet several times!"

"It's fine, it's fine! This genius's feet are tough!"

"It's just that the shoes are a little old..."

Hanamichi hurriedly explained.

Haruko covered her mouth, a hint of heartache appearing in her eyes.

She shook her head, her gaze becoming especially serious.

"No, this isn't old."

"This is proof of Hanamichi's hard training!"

"Only after countless runs, sudden stops, and jumps would shoes become like this."

"These are medals!"

Hanamichi froze.

Medals?

These battered shoes he had worn for three years were medals?

A warm current instantly spread through his entire body.

Miss Haruko... she understood him!

"But if this continues, you'll get hurt."

Haruko raised her head and looked at Hanamichi expectantly.

"If you don't mind, shall we go buy a new pair of basketball shoes?"

"I know a very professional shop nearby."

Buy shoes?

Us?

The two of them?

Hanamichi's brain spun at top speed before reaching a shocking conclusion.

Th-this was the legendary...

A date?!

"Let's go! I'm going!"

"Let's go right now!"

Hanamichi Sakuragi roared, startling a passing student so badly that he nearly threw his book.

Shopping district.

This was one of the busiest areas in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Walking beside Haruko, Hanamichi Sakuragi was as stiff as a robot.

His arms and legs moved in unison.

His eyes darted everywhere.

"Calm down, Hanamichi! You have to stay calm!"

"This is a date! The pinnacle of life!"

"You have to act like a gentleman!"

He roared wildly in his heart.

"Hanamichi, it's here."

Haruko stopped before an extravagantly decorated sporting goods store.

Behind the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, basketball shoes of every style were displayed.

Under the lights, every pair gleamed.

"Wow..."

Hanamichi stared blankly.

He had always bought shoes from little general stores before.

He had never dared enter a place that looked this upscale.

"Welcome!"

The clerk enthusiastically pulled open the door.

Haruko walked in as though she knew the place well and pointed at a row of shoes along the wall.

"Hanamichi plays power forward, so he needs ankle protection and good traction."

"How about trying these? Jordan 6s!"

Haruko picked up a pair of white-and-red basketball shoes and handed them to Hanamichi.

Hanamichi held the shoes in both hands, his hands trembling.

So light.

So soft.

Were these professional basketball shoes?

"Try them on!" Haruko urged.

Hanamichi sat on the changing bench, carefully took off his battered shoes, and put on the brand-new Jordan 6s.

He stood up.

He stomped his feet hard.

That snug fit, that springy feeling.

It was like stepping on clouds!

"How are they?" Haruko asked eagerly.

"Good, amazing!"

Hanamichi excitedly jumped twice on the spot.

"I feel like I could jump into the atmosphere!"

"Look, Miss Haruko!"

Carried away in the moment, Hanamichi began demonstrating moves right in the store.

Defensive slides.

A spin.

A pump fake.

"Hah! Hah!"

He leaped and bounded through the narrow aisle, his exaggerated movements stirring gusts of wind.

"Amazing! You're so agile!" Haruko clapped and cheered from the side.

Hearing Haruko's praise, Hanamichi completely forgot himself.

"Watch this! Genius defense!"

He suddenly slid sideways.

Crash!

His butt slammed into a display rack.

Fortunately, the rack was sturdy. It only shook and did not fall over.

"Ahem!"

Hanamichi awkwardly straightened up and adjusted the collar of his school uniform.

"Mistake, mistake."

"These shoes have too much traction. This genius hasn't gotten used to them yet."

Haruko covered her mouth and giggled. "Then let's get these, shall we? They suit you very well, Hanamichi."

"Fine! These ones!"

Hanamichi waved his hand grandly.

As long as Haruko had picked them, he would wear them even if they were made of iron!

The two went to the register.

The store manager was a bespectacled middle-aged man who looked shrewd and capable.

"Thank you for your patronage."

The manager glanced at the label on the shoebox and said with a smile:

"These Jordan 6s are the latest model. They cost 20,000 yen."

"How much?!"

Hanamichi's smile froze on his face.

20,000?!

Was this robbery?!

A bowl of ramen usually cost him only a few hundred yen!

"What's wrong, Hanamichi?" Haruko looked at him in confusion from not far away.

"N-nothing!"

Hanamichi turned around and gritted his teeth.

He couldn't embarrass himself in front of Haruko!

Absolutely not!

Though his pockets were usually emptier than his face.

But as a genius, how could he be defeated by mere money?

"Um... sir."

Hanamichi took a deep breath and reached into his pants pocket.

He fumbled around for a long while.

Then he pulled out several coins.

Clatter.

He placed them on the counter.

They were a few pitiful coins, looking especially bleak beneath the lights.

The manager pushed up his glasses and counted them carefully.

"One, two, three..."

"The total is... 30 yen."

"Young man..."

The manager looked up at Hanamichi, the smile on his face tinged with helplessness.

The air instantly became awkward.

"This is very important money!"

Hanamichi craned his neck, trying to overwhelm the other man with sheer force of presence.

"This genius saved it up for a long time!"

"Could you... give me a discount?"

"A... discount?"

A vein bulged on the manager's forehead.

"A discount from 20,000 yen to 30 yen?"

"That's not a discount. That's robbery!"

"No! Absolutely not!"

The manager pushed the coins back, his attitude firm.

Hanamichi's face turned the color of liver.

Just as he was about to drag Haruko away and end this awkward "date" by fleeing.

"Um..."

Hanamichi suddenly had an idea. He grabbed the manager's hand, his eyes sincere.

"These shoes may be expensive, but once they're on a genius's feet, they'll appreciate in value!"

"When I become the national champion, these shoes will be antiques!"

"I'm trading you future antiques right now. You're making a huge profit!"

Manager: "..."

He looked at Hanamichi as though he were looking at an idiot.

"Sorry, but I'm not the owner either. I can't make that decision."

The manager sighed and pointed toward the VIP lounge at the very back of the store.

There was a genuine leather sofa there, half-hidden behind a screen.

"The real owner is over there."

"This store was just acquired, and the new owner is trying on shoes."

"If you can persuade him, forget 30 yen. He might even give them to you for free."

The new owner?

Hanamichi Sakuragi and Haruko looked in the direction the shop manager was pointing.

On that luxurious genuine leather sofa,

someone was sprawled out flat on their back.

A white towel covered their face.

One foot wore a limited-edition sneaker, while the other was bare and propped on the armrest.

They were... sleeping soundly.