Kano sat beneath the shade of a parasol, watching someone drag a massive tire back and forth across the scorching sand. Beads of sweat glistened on his skin as he strained with every step.
She sighed inwardly. He's such a blockhead… is he actually a fool?
With school taking up their weekdays and the Prefectural Tournament filling their weekends, the young couple rarely had time to be alone.
Now, at last, nothing stood in the way of a proper date. Nango had even been the one to suggest the beach.
Kano had been thrilled. She'd immediately pulled Eri along to help her shop for a cute swimsuit, her heart fluttering with excitement.
But the moment she arrived, Nango greeted her not with flowers or surprises—but with a massive car tire and two thick ropes.
They picked out a spot on the sand, and almost immediately, Nango stripped down, tossed his shirt aside, and began dragging the tire back and forth without hesitation.
Kano's smile faltered. She had dressed carefully, hoping to enjoy a romantic day together, but now she sat alone under the parasol while everyone else on the beach openly stared at him like he was insane.
Nango, of course, didn't care in the slightest. He pressed on, dragging the tire across the uneven sand again and again.
The bitterness inside him was indescribable.
Who wouldn't want to relax, to enjoy an easy day with their girlfriend? But the system never allowed him that luxury. Daily training tasks left him no choice. If he wanted Shohoku to stand strong against Ryokoku, then even here, on the beach, he had to push his body to its limit.
After what felt like an eternity, Nango finally completed his sets. He hauled the tire back and plopped down next to Kano, grinning through his sweat.
"Done! Now we can finally hit the water!"
Kano gave him a doubtful look. "Really? You're not planning to sneak in another round with the tire?"
Nango burst into laughter. "Of course not! That was just training. Dragging a tire through sand builds resistance. Imagine if someone's hanging on my back during a game—I'll still be able to carry him and score!"
Kano shook her head, half exasperated, half amused. "…Fine. But help me with sunscreen first. I don't want to get a tan."
While Nango focused on his date, the rest of Shohoku was hardly idle.
"Tch! This guy again? Why's he here so early today? Doesn't he usually show up in the afternoon?"
"Yeah! He's hogging the court without even playing. Doesn't give anyone else a chance."
A group of middle schoolers glared resentfully at Rukawa Kaede, who stood silently beneath the hoop, lost in thought.
Ball in hand, Rukawa was haunted. No matter how much he tried to focus, flashes of his one-on-one battles with Nango replayed endlessly in his mind.
Every shot he attempted in his head was blocked by Nango. Every move he made was mirrored.
The pressure was suffocating. He couldn't find a way around him.
"…Damn." Rukawa exhaled softly. He could only hope their upcoming match against Ryokoku would give him the breakthrough he needed.
Elsewhere, Kiyota's jaw dropped. "Rukawa Kaede… was beaten 21–0 by Nango?"
The Sakuragi Gang was gathered at Brother Bai shop, along with Maki and Kiyota. Over lunch, Sakuragi had casually mentioned yesterday's streetball game on the train.
"Why are you making such a fuss?" Sakuragi scoffed between bites of his bento. "Nango is obviously stronger than Rukawa Kaede!"
"Incredible… Rukawa didn't even score a single point. Nango is terrifying." Kiyota muttered, shaking his head. He sneaked a glance at Maki. Even if I played one-on-one against him, Mak wouldn't beat me 21–0… right? I'd at least get a point or two.
"What happened after the game?" Maki asked, his tone serious.
"Nothing. Just regular training, like always."
But Maki frowned. He didn't buy Sakuragi's nonchalance. Something deeper was stirring in Shohoku. He couldn't shake the thought that internal conflict might tear them apart.
By noon, Nango and Kano had played in the water until their stomachs growled. Nango jogged off to a nearby stall and returned with drinks and snacks—only to find a stranger talking animatedly to Kano.
Nango hurried over, frowning. "Kano, what's going on?"
The man turned quickly, startled by Nango's imposing figure. Dressed in casual beach shorts, he stammered, "Ah—h-hello! I'm a talent scout from J Agency. My name is Gaho Rikou. This young lady has a natural star-like presence. I wanted to ask if she'd be interested in auditioning for our company."
Nango narrowed his eyes. "Do you have a business card?"
The man immediately produced a neat stack from his pocket and handed one each to Nango and Kano.
Nango examined it carefully. To his surprise, it was genuine—Rikou was indeed a scout from J Agency. He turned to Kano.
Kano blinked, still confused by the situation. She glanced at Nango for help.
Understanding, Nango smiled politely. "We'll take the card for now. Tonight, we'll talk it over with our parents. If we're interested, we'll call. Sound fair?"
"Yes, yes! Absolutely!" Rikou bowed, backing away quickly. "I look forward to your reply!"
As the scout vanished into the crowd, Nango handed Kano the bag of snacks and laughed at the sky.
"Man, how lucky am I? My girlfriend's about to become a celebrity."
Kano blushed and smacked his arm playfully. She pulled out a drink, handed it to him, and pouted. "Don't tease me!"
Nango popped the can open, passed it back, and leaned down to pinch her cheek affectionately. "Of course not, my little darling. But… what do you think? Want to try becoming a star?"
Kano took a sip, her expression uncertain. "…I don't know. It feels like it would be so much trouble."
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