Chapter 83: Makoto Hanamiya Is Truly Unusual
Shōei and the others left the court in a daze, their spirits completely crushed.
Afternoon.
Teppei Kiyoshi walked alone down the street, trying to clear his head.
Thump! Thump! Thump!
The rhythmic sound of basketballs echoed through the air.
Teppei Kiyoshi stopped beside a pickup court.
Watching the game being played, he saw that everyone on the court wore bright, carefree smiles. Some were office workers, others students. Here, everyone had momentarily forgotten the troubles of daily life, focusing wholeheartedly on the joy of basketball.
Teppei Kiyoshi observed quietly.
Suddenly, a voice called out.
“Teppei?”
Teppei Kiyoshi turned toward the speaker.
“Reo Mibuchi? What are you doing here?”
Reo Mibuchi smiled lightly.
“I just happened to pass by. How about you—did you win your match?”
Teppei Kiyoshi shook his head, turning his gaze back to the court. His voice carried a hint of dejection.
“We lost.”
Reo Mibuchi fell silent for a moment, then asked in a low voice,
“Still lost to Nijimura?”
Teppei Kiyoshi shook his head again.
“No, not Nijimura.”
Reo Mibuchi was visibly surprised.
“Not Nijimura? Then… is there someone else at Teikō Middle School who can beat you?”
Teppei Kiyoshi didn’t answer. Instead, he asked,
“Reo, did you win your match?”
Reo Mibuchi flicked his hair back, sounding rather pleased.
“Of course I won. Kotarō’s no match for me.”
Teppei Kiyoshi smiled helplessly and sighed before warning him,
“Reo, since you won, you need to be extra careful in your next game. This year’s Teikō is terrifyingly strong—stronger than any generation before.”
Reo Mibuchi’s interest was immediately piqued.
“Oh? Did Teikō produce an exceptionally strong first-year?”
Teppei Kiyoshi shook his head, his tone grave.
“Not one… seven.”
Reo Mibuchi’s pupils shrank in disbelief.
“Seven… seven?!”
Teppei Kiyoshi nodded.
A sense of tension instantly washed over Reo Mibuchi.
“Kiyoshi… can you tell me what exactly happened in that match?”
...
“Miyamoto, come on—let’s go shopping.”
Miyamoto Tokima instantly broke out in a cold sweat, shaking his head repeatedly.
“No. Absolutely not.”
Satsuki Momoi tilted her head in confusion, clearly puzzled by his reaction.
“Why not, Miyamoto?”
Deciding that short pain was better than long suffering, Miyamoto Tokima explained his reason.
After hearing it, Satsuki Momoi let out a soft laugh.
“So that’s what you were worried about. It’s fine—we’re not buying anything this time.”
Miyamoto Tokima looked at her skeptically.
“Really?”
Satsuki Momoi nodded seriously.
“Really.”
Only then did Miyamoto Tokima nod as well.
“Alright. I’ll believe you.”
...
“Like hell I’d believe you!!!”
Miyamoto Tokima looked on the verge of tears as he struggled with two large shopping bags. Seeing Satsuki Momoi’s expression—which clearly suggested she wanted to keep buying—he hurriedly tried to stop her.
“Babe, let’s… let’s stop already…”
Satsuki Momoi shook her head.
“We’ve barely started! I finally dug into my long-saved stash today just to buy things for you, Miyamoto. How could we end it so easily?”
Miyamoto Tokima raised the bags helplessly.
“Babe… this is way too much already…”
Satsuki Momoi smiled sweetly.
“Hehe, I actually think I bought you too little.”
‘That’s not what I meant at all!!!’
Miyamoto Tokima slumped, his entire body radiating despair.
Satsuki Momoi quietly covered her mouth and laughed.
‘Miyamoto is way too cute.’
She reached out to help him.
“Give them to me, Miyamoto.”
But Miyamoto Tokima dodged her hand.
Satsuki Momoi looked at him in confusion, not understanding his sudden reaction.
His gloomy expression vanished, replaced by a bright grin.
“Hehe, how could I let a girl carry things while shopping? I’ll do it myself.”
Seeing his sudden change in mood, Satsuki Momoi couldn’t quite figure out what had just happened.
The two continued walking through the streets when they suddenly ran into two familiar faces.
“Makoto Hanamiya?”
It turned out that Miyamoto Tokima and Satsuki Momoi had run into Makoto Hanamiya and Kentaro Seto.
When the two saw Miyamoto Tokima, they visibly stiffened. Exchanging a glance, they seemed to reach some kind of unspoken agreement.
Makoto Hanamiya and Kentaro Seto began walking toward him step by step.
Miyamoto Tokima immediately stepped forward, shielding Satsuki Momoi behind him, his eyes fixed on the two as he stayed on guard.
“What do you want?”
Makoto Hanamiya walked up and suddenly raised his hand.
Just as Miyamoto Tokima prepared to react, Makoto Hanamiya’s hand stopped beside his.
Makoto Hanamiya spoke calmly.
“Give me the bags.”
Miyamoto Tokima let out a cold, mocking laugh.
“What? Planning to rob me?”
Makoto Hanamiya shook his head.
“You’re carrying too much. I’m just helping you out. Besides… do you really think I could outrun you?”
Miyamoto Tokima watched him warily, not handing anything over.
Suddenly, a familiar voice called out.
“Tokima?”
Miyamoto Tokima glanced over.
“Haizaki?”
Shōgo Haizaki was briefly startled when he saw Makoto Hanamiya and Kentaro Seto, but he reacted immediately.
He strode over and asked bluntly,
“Hanamiya, Seto—what are you trying to do?”
Makoto Hanamiya clicked his tongue.
“He’s carrying too much. I was just offering to help. Nothing else.”
Only then did Shōgo Haizaki notice the bags in Miyamoto Tokima’s hands.
“Tokima, give them to me.”
Without waiting, Shōgo Haizaki took the bags and turned to Makoto Hanamiya.
“You can get lost now. We don’t need you.”
Makoto Hanamiya clenched his teeth and left with Kentaro Seto.
Miyamoto Tokima stared at their retreating figures, utterly confused.
He couldn’t understand why Makoto Hanamiya would suddenly offer to help carry his things—and if it were robbery, why do it so openly?
Noticing his confusion, Shōgo Haizaki quickly changed the subject.
“Tokima, where are you going? I’ll take these back for you.”
Pulled out of his thoughts, Miyamoto Tokima waved his hand, gave Shōgo Haizaki his home address, and then continued his date with Satsuki Momoi.
Only after Miyamoto Tokima left did Shōgo Haizaki turn around and head off to deliver the bags.
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