"Bang--!!!!!"
It wasn't a simple collision.
It was a crushing defeat!
It's a sweeping attack!
All of Natsume's mental preparation was shattered by this collision.
It felt like being hit head-on by a speeding truck, then like being slammed onto a beach by a giant wave in a tsunami...
Before he could even feel the pain, his feet left the ground, and he flew backward like a kite with a broken string!
And Tomokazu Godai was behind him, was not spared either.
Natsume's flying body became a new cannonball, slamming hard into Godai.
The two tangled together like rolling gourds, tumbling and sliding until they finally came to a stop against the wall at the edge of the field.
The perpetrator, Kawamoto Kazuki, staggered several steps after hitting Natsume before kneeling on one knee and barely managing to stay upright by bracing himself against the floor with one hand.
He looked down at the tattered sneaker on his right foot, its mouth agape.
Silence fell.
All the spectators, including Sanae Nakagawa on the sidelines, as well as the players and coaches on both sides' benches, stared wide-eyed at this unexpected scene that was both violently aesthetically pleasing and somewhat comical.
this...
What's going on?
The shoe exploded?
Did you knock someone flying?
On the Shohoku bench, Hanamichi Sakuragi was the first to react.
He pointed at Kawamoto's shoes and burst into laughter. "Hahaha! Brother Kawamoto, your shoes are so flimsy! But the way you knocked those two people away was so cool, no wonder you're the older brother of this genius!"
Meanwhile, on Tsukubu's side, there was only utter despair.
After a brief moment of shock, the group rushed over to check on Natsume and Godai.
It took them a while to finally stand up and show that they were still alive.
Kawamoto Kazuki slowly stood up and tried to move his feet.
My foot is fine; I don't feel anything.
But when he bent down to pick up the completely ruined sneaker, his brow furrowed noticeably.
It wasn't because they couldn't continue the game, nor because they were embarrassed.
It's heartache.
These basic sneakers, which I bought after a discount in the corner of the store, cost 8,000 yen.
It was the hard-earned money he had to work for a full eight hours at the fish market.
He was wearing a blue apron, standing behind the convenience store checkout counter for two full night shifts.
It takes thousands of repetitions of "Welcome" and "Thank you for your patronage" to accumulate savings when facing all kinds of customers.
It was after much calculation and hesitation that he finally managed to squeeze out the largest investment he could make for his extravagant hobby of basketball.
Now, it's completely broken.
The problem arose during his first all-out burst of energy.
8000 yen, that's all.
A subtle, sharp pain spread from my heart.
He is not an emotional person.
But at this moment, the fingers holding the worn-out shoe tightened slightly, and the lips were pursed into a straight line.
A rare and clearly discernible sadness appeared on that usually calm and composed face.
These shoes could have lasted longer and served a greater purpose.
He carried the broken shoe, barefoot, and walked dejectedly toward the Shohoku bench.
The referee on the field blew his whistle hesitantly a few times, seemingly unsure of what to blow.
Offensive foul?
It seems things got out of control because of the shoes.
Defensive foul?
Natsume and Godai seem more like victims...
Ultimately, Tsukubu got possession of the ball.
Kogure continues his previous match.
After sitting down, Kawamoto lost all interest in watching the game.
Anzai's gaze lingered on the shoe size for half a second.
Then he stood up without saying a word and silently walked out of the substitutes' bench area.
After a while, he came back, still without saying a word, and simply sat down again.
A few minutes later, a young shop assistant wearing a uniform with the [ Nagato Sports ] logo hurriedly walked into the stadium.
He went straight to the Shohoku bench and respectfully handed the bag to Anzai.
"Thanks for your hard work."
Anzai nodded slightly, took the bag, and handed it to Kawamoto Kazuki, who had been lost in thought.
Kawamoto was taken aback and looked at the coach.
"Put them on."
Anzai's voice was calm.
Kawamoto opened his handbag.
Inside was a brand new shoebox.
Opening it revealed a brand new pair of basketball shoes.
It wasn't the basic model he was familiar with.
Instead, it features sleek lines and a bold white, red, and black color scheme.
Air Jordan VII Cardinal.
These are the retail versions of the shoes Jordan wore when he won his second NBA championship this year.
In Japan, it is considered an absolute top-tier trendy item and a practical weapon.
They are expensive, released in limited quantities, and extremely difficult to obtain.
Kawamoto, of course, didn't recognize this as the seventh generation of the Jordan brand, nor did he understand anything about the Cardinal colorway.
But he could tell that the texture, craftsmanship, and design of these shoes were completely different from the pair he had just scrapped.
The shoebox even contained a beautifully crafted warranty card and proof of authenticity.
These are definitely an extremely expensive pair of basketball shoes.
He looked up at Anzai, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, followed by deep emotion.
He opened his mouth, as if to say something like, "It's too valuable," or "I can't accept it."
But seeing the coach's caring eyes and his urgent need, all his words of refusal stuck in his throat.
He knew this wasn't charity; it was the coach's recognition and expectations.
He stood up and bowed deeply to Anzai.
"Thank you very much, Coach."
His voice was somewhat low, but incredibly sincere.
Then he sat back down, carefully took off the old shoe that wasn't broken on his other foot, and put on the brand-new, high-end basketball shoes.
The size fits perfectly.
The feedback from the soles was completely different from the shoes he had worn before.
He tied his shoelaces, stood up, and gently stepped on the ground, feeling its solidity and comfort.
This scene was witnessed by Shinichi Maki in the stands.
He didn't see Anzai go out to make a phone call; he only saw the staff member from [ Nagato Sports ] specially bring over the shoes.
Moreover, it was handed directly to Anzai, who then passed it on to Kawamoto.
Mu raised an eyebrow slightly, instantly completing a logically consistent deduction in his mind.
" Kawamoto Kazuki possesses a cool and composed demeanor, speaks little, but is impeccably polite. This is clearly a sign of a good upbringing, not the kind of reserved nature that can be cultivated in an ordinary family."
"His tanned, slightly darker complexion, like mine, isn't natural; it's from long-term outdoor activities. It seems he also enjoys beach sports, like surfing and beach volleyball... Good taste."
"His expression when he left the court wasn't one of anger, but rather frustration and sadness, because the attack just failed unexpectedly. This shows that he has extremely high standards for himself; the fact that he cares so much about a single unsuccessful attack demonstrates his exceptional self-discipline and competitive spirit."
"Most importantly, as soon as the shoes broke, someone immediately delivered a top-tier, limited-edition new model."
Mu recognized the shoes and was interested in them, but their price and rarity made him hesitate.
"This is definitely not something you can buy on short notice. It can only mean that his family is extremely wealthy, and they might even be a major client or shareholder of Nagato Sports, able to get the latest model of shoes in the right size with just a phone call."
"The son of an ultra-rich family!"
Mu had almost made up his mind.
No wonder he has a unique temperament and terrifying strength. This perfectly matches the setting of coming from an elite family, having top-notch resources and self-discipline, and seeing basketball as a challenge rather than a way out.
With a family background like that, developing a career in the United States would be a breeze!
Shinichi Maki's eyes lit up.
He comes from a privileged background, has extensive knowledge, and understands the importance of circles and resonance.
If Kawamoto is indeed from that social class, then as a star player from Kainan, with a similar background and clear goals, my chances of successfully contacting and persuading him might be higher than I imagine!
"Wealthy and powerful families value platforms, resources, and future development. Kainan, as a national powerhouse, boasts consistent achievements, top-notch training environments, and the advantage of serving as a springboard to university and professional basketball... These factors are incredibly attractive to wealthy children seeking to experience high school basketball!"
"But why would someone with so much money go to Shohoku? Is it because he's attracted to some girl from Shohoku?"
"Very likely, but what Kainan has in abundance is beautiful women—young female students, gorgeous classmates, and caring female seniors..."
A perfect recruitment plan quickly took shape in Shinichi Maki's mind.
Compared to Nango, who has great talent but still needs polishing, Kawamoto Kazuki is Kainan's biggest prey this year!
With this player, Kainan's lineup will have no weaknesses.
Dominating the entire nation is just around the corner!
Seeing that Kawamoto had changed his shoes and was heading towards the players' tunnel, probably to go to the restroom, Shinichi Maki no longer hesitated.
He immediately stood up and quickly left the stands to follow.
Opportunities are fleeting.
He must seize this opportunity, leveraging the rapport among the wealthy to engage in a deep conversation with this mysterious, newly minted billionaire son.