Rebirth In Kurokonobasket - Chapter 150

Today was the day Shun was boarding a flight home. Yesterday Division-One played the final-day game, after the game, the coaches and the players of Division-One went to stuff their faces to a good restaurant.

FIBA paid for everything, so everybody had a great time.

Shun packed his bags and looked at Ming, who had already packed his bags.

Shun: “So, who are we going to the airport with?”

Division-One players had different flight timings, but some of them were close to each other, so some of them decided to go together.

Ming answered while cleaning up his bed.

Ming: “You, me, Leonal, Antony, and Roger.”

Shun finished packing his stuff, sat on his bed, and while looking up at the ceiling, he said.

Shun: “So, it is over, huh. Twenty days passed so quickly.”

These twenty days, Shun had been so busy watching and analyzing other plays that he didn’t notice that he had spent twenty days doing the same thing.

Ming: “Yeah, these were some good twenty days.”

Shun glanced at Ming and said.

Shun: “It will be a long time before I meet you guys again.”

Ming nodded and spoke.

Ming: “By the time you enter the international stage through the U19 championship, we would already be playing professionally.

You would only be able to play with us if you play in the same league.”

Shun softly smiled and replied.

Shun: “I will be looking forward to the day I play with or against you.”

Ming chuckled and spoke.

Ming: “You would’ve to be a forward then because I won’t relinquish the point guard position.”

Shun turned his head to face Ming and said.

Shun: “Don’t be so sure. If we had some time to practice together, I would’ve made us practice something I call the Chaos Strategy.”

Shun laughed and added.

Shun: “That would’ve been so fun.”

Ming was about to ask about the Chaos Strategy, but he was interrupted by Shun’s phone ringing.

Shun picked up his phone and saw that it was Hattori Akira, his chaperone calling. He answered the call, and Ming only heard Shun saying a few words.

Shun: “Yeah, we will be out soon.”

Shun ended the call and stood up, he turned to Ming and said.

Shun: “It was my chaperone’s call, he said it is time to leave. Let’s pick up Roger and go.

Antony and Leonal are already with him.”

Ming nodded, and both of them double-checked to see if they had left something behind.

As they left the room and waited for Roger to come out, Ming asked.

Ming: “So what is this Chaos Strategy?”

Shun smiled as he excitedly shared his own brain baby.

Shun: “It is when two players with Hawk-Eye level vision…”

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

At the airport, Shun’s flight was the first to leave, so he said his goodbyes to others.

He turned to Antony and said.

Shun: “Thank you for teaching me the importance of speed. You’re explanation really helped me.”

Antony gave his classic million-watt smile and patted Shun’s shoulder.

Antony: “Young Shun, you don’t have to thank me for anything. It was fun to meet new people. We all love basketball, so sharing some pointers with others was like spreading joy.”

Both of them shook hands, and Shun moved to Roger.

Shun: “Seeing you play was like watching a magician doing magic. I was mesmerized by your skill-set, it was so fun to watch.

It made me truly appreciate the importance of skill.”

Roger smiled as he replied.

Roger: “When I saw you play, I thought that your playstyle was truly versatile, it gave me the same feel as Ivan’s playstyle, but then you went ahead and started to copy us.

At that moment, I understood where your style of play was heading.

I, with all my heart, look forward to seeing you play at an international stage. I want to see what form would you take in a few years.”

Shun smiled, and as they shook hands, he said.

Shun: “I would love to play along with you.”

Next was Leonal, Shun and Leonal hadn’t spoken to each other that much, but Shun was thankful towards the redhead for introducing him with a different usage for his ability.

Shun: “I am really grateful to you for guiding me with my ability. The day you demonstrated to me the usage, I thought about how long it would’ve taken me to come up with the usage on my own, the answer that I arrived was maybe somewhere at the end of my high school career.”

Shun gave a short bow to Leonal, showing his gratitude.

Leonal extended his hand for a handshake, Shun held the hand and shook it.

Leonal: “Learn and grow, that is all I can say to you. You have immense talents, use them efficiently.

My last advice to you would be never to be satisfied. Always strive to get better. The day you became content with yourself, you would cease improving.”

Shun nodded and moved to Ming.

Shun had spent most of his free time hanging out with Ming, so Ming was the person who Shun was closest to in the camp.

Shun: “It was fun, wasn’t it?”

Ming: “It was.”

Neither Shun nor Ming felt the need to say anything more.

Shun extended his hand to shake Ming’s hand. Ming, on the other hand, moved in for a hug.

Shun & Ming: “Ah.”

Shun switched to a hug, and Ming tried to shake Shun’s hand. And, again.

Shun & Ming: “Oh.”

Finally, Ming grabbed Shun’s hand in a hand-wrestling way and then pulled him close for a one-hand hug.

Both of them patted each other on the back and then separated.

They cleared their throats to clear the awkwardness.

Shun: “See you later.”

Ming: “Yeah, same.”

Shun said one last goodbye to everyone and then went to the boarding area with Hattori.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

After a long flight from Los Angles to Tokyo, Shun stretched his arms and legs after he got off from the plane.

Shun: “That was a long flight.”

Hattori smiled and replied.

Hattori: “It sure was. Now that you’re back in Japan, what will you be doing?”

Shun smiled and answered.

Shun: “By the time I get home, it will be time to sleep. I will hit a pillow top, and when I wake up in the morning, I will eat my mom’s cooking.

That is my first objective. After that, I will see how things go.”

Hattori chuckled and nodded.

Hattori: “That is true. I also miss Japanese cuisine.

Now, come on. Let’s get our luggage.”

Hattori and Shun picked up their bags and headed to the visiting gallery to meet Shun’s parents, who were there to pick Shun up.

Shun was excited as he walked a little faster than usual, he had missed his parents and wanted to see them, even a second earlier.

Shun saw the gates that separated the passengers and the visitors.

Shun: ‘They will be on the other side.’

A wide smiled appeared on Shun’s face as he hurried and crossed the gates and looked around to find his parents.

As he looked around, he heard his mom’s voice.

Mom: “Shun!”

He snapped his face towards the direction of the sound and saw his mom. A happy smiled surfaced on Shun’s face as he ran towards his mother.

Shun: “Mom!”

Shun’s mom had tears in her eyes as he hugged her son, who she hadn’t seen for such a long time. She felt relief when she saw him and heard his voice that didn’t come from the other side of a phone.

Mom: “Oh, Shun. I missed you so much.”

Shun smiled as he replied in kind.

Shun: “Me too, mom.”

Mother and son separated after a long hug. Shun looked behind his mom to see his dad standing with a smile on his face.

Shun walked to his father and wrapped him a bear hug.

Shun: “I missed you, dad.”

Shun’s dad returned the hug by hugging Shun tightly and replied.

Dad: “Me too, son. Me too.”

After the family of three had their airport reunion, Shun’s parents thanked Hattori for taking care of Shun, and both partied went their separate ways.

In the car, Shun told his parents about the camp and Los Angeles, and when they reached home, Shun took a shower and dropped to his bed right after.

-*-*-*-

Just before sleeping, Shun thought about seeing his friends and teammates again.

And, just before sleep overtook him, he thought of a certain pink-haired girl.

Shun smiled as he thought.

Shun: ‘I wonder how has she been?’

He finally slept in the comfort of his home on his own bed.

Kageyama Shun was back home.