Chapter 43 - Unexpected Encounter (1/2)
Shun took out his back sling-bag and put his basketball in the bag. He made his way to the study in the house. It was a Sunday, and he wanted to play basketball, so he decided to go outside.
Shun's parents shared the study room in the house.
Shun knocked on the open door of the study, and Shun's mother, who was in the study, looked up.
Shun's father visited his gym and swimming pool every Sunday morning to handle affairs that he couldn't handle on the weekdays, so he out for the moment.
Shun: ”Mom, I am going out to the basketball court near the shopping district.”
Shun's mother nodded and said to Shun.
Mom: ”Ok, take care, and return before lunchtime.”
Shun nodded back at her and said.
Shun: ”Ok~. Bye, I am going.”
Shun made his way to the door of the house, removed his home slippers, and replaced them with sneakers.
Shun had not properly played basketball for a whole week. The most he had done was play with the ball in his room. He had been busy having fun with his friends and catching up with his studies.
He didn't stop his physical routine, he still did yoga, with his mother in the morning, and as he was not allowed in the school gymnasium for a whole week, he went to his father's gym so he could have all the space he needed for his regular physical workout.
On his way to the court, he took out his basketball from his bag and started to play with it.
The feel of the leather against his fingers and palm felt right and almost addictive to Shun. The slight bumps on the surface and the ridged seams fitted provided the perfect grip in his hands.
Shun entered the shopping district and was met by the hustle and bustle that suited a shopping district.
Shun passed through the busy street, weaving his way through the people who were visiting the shops that lined both sides of the street.
Shun called out to the figure.
Shun: ”Yo! Yukihira, how are you doing today?”
The figure was of a boy the same age as that of Shun, and just as Shun addressed him, his name was Yukihira Soma. He was the son of the owner and chef of the Yukihira Diner and was aspiring to be a chef himself.
[A/N - 1, Refer at the end of the chapter.]
Yukihira looked up from the ground and saw Shun; they knew each other from the times', Shun crossed the shopping district to go to the basketball court near the shopping district.
Yukihira: ”Oh, Kageyama. Going to the basketball court again today.”
Yukihira said, looking at the basketball in Shun's hands.
Shun nodded and said.
Shun: ”Yeah, I was bored at home and thought to pass some time.”
Yukihira was startled and had to drop his broom to catch the ball.
Yukihira: ”Woah! Man, you do this every time, and I get startled every time.”
Yukihira threw the ball back to Shun. Shun laughed as he caught the ball.
Shun: ”Well, you better be ready for it the next time.”
Suddenly a voice came from inside the diner. It was Yukihira's father calling for him.
Yukihira's father (Yukihira/Saiba Joichiro): ”Soma don't waste time outside and slack off. Come inside and do some work.”
[A/N - 2]
Yukihira picked up the broom, turned to Shun, and waved him goodbye.
Yukihira: ”See you later, Kageyama. Come and eat sometime at our diner we will talk then.”
Shun: ”Sure, I will come to eat someday. Bye~.”
Yukihira walked inside the diner, and Shun heard him shout.
Yukihira: ”I was not slacking off, old man. You must be getting old to ask for my help. Let's have a match today. I am sure I will beat you today.”
-*-*-*-
Shun reached the basketball court and found that it was empty.
Shun: ”Lucky.”
Shun removed his bag and set it aside.
Shun started by playing H-O-R-S-E by himself. He would make a shot and then retrieve the ball and make the shot again from the same position.
[A/N - 3. Refer at the end for the description of the game.]
Shun would always try to keep the rally going on as long as possible.
He would try to put the ball in the basket while standing still, moving towards the basket with high speed, he changed the combinations, switched hands, and tried to make it as hard it was possible for him.
Shun was going in for another try when Aomine's formless shooting entered his thoughts.
Shun: 'Formless shooting is the product of ball-handling reaching a high level, by getting rid of the orthodox form the player can put the ball in the basket from any angle. The reason the skill is so hard to develop is that there is no guide to learning formless shooting.
The player needs to correctly judge the distance between himself and the basket, aim properly from a random spot, and just throw in the ball from whatever position the player was in.'
The formless shooting was extremely hard to learn, but when mastered with high accuracy, the possibilities became limitless.
Aomine Daiki was a prime example of what this skill could do on the court.
Just as Shun reached the end of his line of thought, he heard a voice call out to him from behind.
???: ”Hey, can I play with you?”
Shun turned to find a boy with a shaved head and thick eyebrows. Shun was alone, so he didn't mind a playmate.
Shun: ”Sure, I don't mind. My name is Kageyama Shun.”
Shun extended his hand towards the boy. The boy grabbed his hand and shook it.
Tsugawa: ”Thanks~. My name is Tsugawa Tomiki.”
Shun immediately connected the name and appearance to his memory.
Shun: 'Woah, I didn't think I would get to meet a canon character today.'
[A/N -4]
In the canon, Tsugawa Tomiki for Seihō High, one of the Three Kings of Tokyo, and the school were known for having the strongest defense in Tokyo.
Tsugawa was able to keep Kagami from scoring and tire him out in their match in the inter-high preliminaries.
Shun: 'He must be good at defense. Next year, he will be able to guard Kise and that Kise was unable to move freely against, even forcing him to cross the 24 second-clock.'
Shun asked what Tsugawa wanted to play.
Shun: ”So, what do you want to play.”
Tsugawa immediately replied with an answer.
Tsugawa: ”Let's play one-on-one.”
Shun smiled and agreed immediately. He wanted to see how good Tsugawa's defense was.
Shun: ”Awesome, do you want to attack first.”