As evening falls, the bustling Toyomi Market sheds its daytime hustle and bustle, leaving only fishmongers preparing for the next day's sales.
Kawamoto Kazuki pushed open the door of Kobayashi Fisheries's shop.
The old wind chimes hanging on the lintel immediately emitted a series of crisp tinkling sounds.
The shop Boss Kobayashi, was checking the shipping order behind the counter.
He looked up at the sound, glancing habitually at the old-fashioned round clock on the wall, a gentle smile spreading across his face, "You're here, Kawamoto- kun. You're twenty minutes later than usual today."
There was no reproach in his tone; it sounded more like an elder confirming the schedule of a younger person.
"I'm very sorry, Mr. Kobayashi."
"I encountered a small problem on the way, which delayed you."
"No need to be so polite. Did you encounter any trouble?"
Boss Kobayashi asked.
"It's been resolved, please don't worry about it."
Kawamoto's answer was concise and clear.
Boss Kobayashi nodded and didn't ask any further questions.
He bent down and took a heavy, waterproof apron from a compartment under the counter and handed it over.
"That red-haired kid who always came with you before, isn't his name Sakuragi? I haven't seen him for the past couple of days. Is he feeling too tired and unable to keep going?"
Kawamoto took the apron and put it on while answering Boss Kobayashi's questions.
"That's not it. His name is Hanamichi Sakuragi, and he's a very determined person. The reason he didn't come is because the basketball team's training has entered a crucial stage."
Upon hearing this, Boss Kobayashi's face showed a look of understanding and approval.
He has always held hard-working people in high regard.
"Oh, I see. No wonder..."
"I heard Sakuragi- kun mention it before, that you've joined the Shohoku basketball team? Isn't the Kanagawa High School Basketball Summer Prefectural Tournament about to start?"
He didn't ask Kawamoto why he didn't need training, because he knew what the boy truly needed.
"Yes, Mr. Kobayashi. The preliminary rounds start in a week."
Kawamoto confirmed this and began skillfully sorting and stacking the styrofoam boxes scattered throughout the store.
Boss Kobayashi's gaze followed Kawamoto's tall and imposing figure, and he couldn't help but sigh, "With your height and physique, you must be quite valued in the team, right?"
His question carried the expectation of an elder who had high hopes for the younger generation.
Kawamoto neatly stacked the last styrofoam box and calmly replied, " The Shohoku Basketball Team has several very strong players, and everyone is working very hard. We are striving to dominate the nation."
"That's fantastic! To dominate the entire nation... What a magnificent dream!"
Boss Kobayashi nodded, then sighed softly.
That sigh was tinged with worry for the future of young people.
"But Kawamoto- kun..."
Boss Kobayashi's voice lowered slightly, "After the bursting of Japan's economic bubble, every industry is facing difficulties now."
"Basketball in Japan has never been as highly regarded as baseball or sumo."
"If I remember correctly, the country has missed the Olympic basketball tournament for many years since the 1976 Montreal Olympics, and now there isn't even a decent professional league in the country."
"Most of the best players end up joining corporate teams sponsored by large corporations."
He paused, then continued, "Those teams are ultimately part of a corporation, so the salaries and benefits are just so-so. As far as I know, newly selected young players can earn a little over 200,000 yen a month."
"A better corporate team might offer a monthly salary of 250,000 or 260,000 yen. But in the Tokyo Metropolitan Area area, after deducting taxes, insurance, and pension, the remaining money is barely enough for rent and food."
"It's very difficult to live a more comfortable life."
What Boss Kobayashi said is the truth.
Following the bursting of the bubble economy in 1991, Japan officially entered a period of economic recession in 1992.
The lost decade has just begun.
The stock market and real estate market crashed, leading to a wave of business closures, rising unemployment, and weak consumer confidence.
The remaining corporate budgets are also generally tight, and non-mainstream sports are naturally the first to be affected.
In the high-cost Tokyo Metropolitan Area, a monthly salary of over 200,000 yen is indeed barely enough to make ends meet for a young person who needs to live independently.
Therefore, being a basketball player is by no means a dream profession in Japan today.
Kawamoto listened quietly, his face expressionless, as if Boss Kobayashi was not discussing a heavy topic that might concern his future plans.
His calmness made Kobayashi feel a pang of heartache.
This child seems to have learned to hide any of his emotions far too early.
Perhaps sensing that the topic was a bit heavy, Boss Kobayashi changed the subject.
" Kawamoto- kun, Saturday is the day after tomorrow. I have an old captain I know well, Mr. Matsusaka, you've met him."
"His boat is planning a trip off the coast of Izu to try his luck and see if he can catch some high-value seasonal fish. This season is when first skipjack tuna and top-quality tuna are most active."
" Matsusaka's regular partner has run into some family trouble and is temporarily short of help. It's a physically demanding job, so I recommended you to him."
"That old man Matsusaka has a very good impression of you, and he'd be happy to have you on a sea voyage."
"Salaries are calculated based on the daily wage of a full-time crew member, including a sea allowance and additional bonuses if the catch is plentiful."
"This trip is expected to take two days. If all goes well, we should be back in Hong Kong by Sunday night, which definitely won't interfere with your classes."
He held up his right index finger and waved it in front of Kawamoto: "Fishing at sea is hard work, but at the end of the day, you can steadily earn this much."
"So, interested in coming together?"
Kawamoto Kazuki stopped everything he was doing.
His gaze fell on Boss Kobayashi's dangling finger.
100,000 yen...
Without the slightest hesitation, he bowed to Old Man Kobayashi.
"Thank you so much, Mr. Matsusaka, for giving me this opportunity. Please be sure to take me with you on your sea voyage."
Boss Kobayashi smiled and retracted his fingers, "Alright! It's settled then! I'll tell you the specific details and what to prepare after work tomorrow."
Yes. Thank you very much.
"Oh, and I have some other good news for you, but don't get too excited. This time, an United States will be on the ship sailing with us."
"He seems to be a very famous NBA coach, his name is something like Jacques. He said he's taking advantage of the holidays to come to Japan for vacation. Ugh, United States names are so long, they're really hard to remember."
NBA coach!
Even for someone as composed as Kawamoto, these words still stirred up a storm within him.
The NBA is the ultimate stage for everyone who dreams of playing basketball.
But he also knew that even if he were to run into this coach, he would have no chance of getting a chance to play in the NBA.
It's unlikely, at least for the time being.
However, having the opportunity to meet such an important person even once is already a tremendous blessing.
Kawamoto threw himself back into his work, his movements seemingly even more forceful than before.
Under the dim yellow light, an old man and a young man were busy in the slightly messy fish shop.
At 9 p. m., the last box of chilled tuna was carried into Kobayashi Seafood's cold storage.
Kawamoto Kazuki removed his rubber apron, which was covered in fish scales and ice crystals, and vigorously washed his hands by the sink.
After saying goodbye to Boss Kobayashi, he could only head towards that remote convenience store.
There was so much work at the seafood shop today that I missed my chance to work at the small restaurant.
As soon as he turned out of the alley on the side of the market, he saw a figure leaning against a rusty railing by the roadside.
The man's hair was disheveled by the wind, and he was unconsciously rubbing the ground with the toes of his shoes.
It was none other than the long-haired guy who had led a group to ambush him that afternoon.
Kawamoto Kazuki withdrew his gaze from the long-haired man's face without pausing in his steps.
Just as the two were about to pass each other, the long-haired man took a step and blocked Kawamoto's path.
Kawamoto Kazuki stopped in his tracks, his gaze returning to the man's face. "Still planning to cause me trouble?"
The long-haired man's Adam's apple bobbed several times.
"Actually... actually..."
The sound was dry, almost drowned out by the wind.
He took a deep breath, as if using all his strength, to squeeze those words out of his throat. "I want to play basketball..."
Kawamoto Kazuki stared at the long-haired man for a few seconds before slowly speaking.
"If you want to fight, then go ahead and fight. Why are you telling me?"
He tilted his head to the side, gesturing towards the direction of the lights that were lit up not far away.
"There are so many basketball courts in Hiratsuka City, no one will care if you bring a ball to play."
He paused, his voice still calm. "If you don't have money to buy a ball, you can borrow someone else's."