After saying that, Juro casually patted Sakuragi on the back and spoke in a lazy tone.
"Let's go."
"Arguing with someone like him only lowers our standards."
Mikoshiba stood frozen.
Being completely ignored...
Being dismissed so effortlessly...
It hurt far more than being insulted to his face.
He stared at Makino Juro's departing figure, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles cracked.
Grinding his teeth, he growled,
"Who... is that arrogant bastard?"
The short point guard beside him swallowed nervously.
"I think that's the rumored... Makino Juro."
"Hmph."
Mikoshiba snorted coldly, rage burning in his eyes.
"I don't care who he is."
"I'll show them what true national-level despair looks like."
...
After their brief "greetings"—which consisted mostly of trading insults...
they finalized the practice match for the day after tomorrow.
Coach Suzuki had originally arranged for Shohoku to stay in the school dormitories.
However, Juro politely but firmly declined.
"There's no need to trouble yourselves."
"We're picky about where we sleep."
The group boarded the luxury coach once more, leaving Josei High behind with nothing but a trail of cool indifference—and exhaust fumes.
As the elevation increased, the bus wound its way into the mountains of northern Shizuoka.
Half an hour later...
Hidden within a dense forest of crimson maple leaves stood an elegant traditional Japanese inn.
A massive wooden sign hung at the entrance.
[Kumogakure Hot Spring Ryokan]
"We're here."
Makino Juro snapped his fingers.
Everyone stepped off the bus...
And immediately fell silent.
The inn was the epitome of traditional Japanese architecture.
Covered walkways.
Gracefully curved roofs.
Elegant wooden pavilions.
The air was filled with the refined scent of sulfur from the hot springs mixed with fresh pinewood.
Best of all...
Standing at the entrance offered an unobstructed panoramic view of majestic Mount Fuji.
The setting sun bathed its snow-covered peak in golden light.
It looked so perfect that it resembled a professionally edited wallpaper.
"T-This..."
"This is where we're staying?"
Kogure adjusted his glasses, feeling as though he were dreaming.
A hot spring inn of this caliber...
One night's stay probably cost someone a kidney.
"Master rented out the entire place."
Sakuragi said with a grin as he hoisted his luggage.
Clearly...
He had already developed immunity to Makino Juro's overwhelming financial power.
"R-Rented out..."
"The entire place?!"
Mitsui gasped.
His own family wasn't exactly poor...
But even he had never seen money burned like this.
"Don't just stand there."
"The real surprise is behind the inn."
Juro pointed toward the mountain behind the ryokan.
The group crossed the courtyard.
The next second...
Every pair of pupils trembled in disbelief.
Nestled between blooming cherry blossoms and blazing maple trees...
Was a brand-new modern outdoor basketball court.
The flooring was professional NBA-grade maple hardwood, specially treated against moisture.
The hoops were equipped with state-of-the-art hydraulic rims.
Professional floodlights surrounded the court, making nighttime games possible.
Traditional architecture.
Modern sports facilities.
Nature and basketball.
The contrast should have felt strange...
Yet somehow, it blended together into a breathtaking masterpiece.
"T-This..."
Akagi gently ran a trembling hand across the smooth basketball hoop.
For a basketball fanatic like him...
This was heaven itself.
"I had it built in advance."
Standing courtside, Makino Juro spoke as casually as if he were mentioning he'd bought vegetables yesterday.
"There used to be a tennis court here."
"It was an eyesore."
"So I had it demolished and rebuilt."
"Not bad, right?"
Not bad?
This is what you call 'not bad'?!
Miyagi nearly dropped to his knees to kiss the hardwood floor.
Sakuragi was even more outrageous.
He rushed onto the court and rolled around while hugging a basketball.
"Master!"
"You're my real father!"
"This place is amazing!"
"I'm living here forever!"
"No one's kicking me out!"
Coach Anzai's glasses gleamed.
A meaningful smile spread across his face.
"Since we've been blessed with such wonderful facilities..."
"We mustn't waste Makino Juro's generosity."
His voice wasn't loud.
Yet the words instantly froze Sakuragi in place.
He stopped rolling as if someone had pressed the pause button.
"Everyone should rest well today."
"Enjoy the hot springs."
"Eat a proper meal."
"But tomorrow..."
"We begin at five in the morning."
"Hell Training officially begins."
The words 'Hell Training' seemed to materialize in the air.
The team's cheers stopped instantly.
A chill shot from the soles of their feet straight to the tops of their heads.
...
That evening...
After soaking in the outdoor hot springs, everyone felt completely relaxed.
Inside the banquet hall...
An extravagant kaiseki feast covered the table.
Fresh sashimi.
Tempura.
A5 Wagyu sukiyaki.
And countless other delicacies.
Sakuragi devoured everything in sight.
A lobster in one hand.
Wagyu beef in the other.
His mouth glistened with grease as he ate without the slightest concern for manners.
"Mmm! This is incredible!"
"Master!"
"From now on, you're my real big brother!"
"Way better than that Gorilla Akagi!"
Just as everyone was enjoying the feast...
The roar of engines suddenly echoed from outside the inn.
"Hm?"
"More guests?"
Akagi asked in confusion.
Makino Juro calmly placed his teacup on the table.
A mysterious smile appeared on his lips.
"Ah."
"My reinforcements have arrived."
"Reinforcements?"
Everyone exchanged puzzled looks.
The entrance doors slid open.
Three youthful figures stepped inside.
The girl in the center wore a pale pink dress.
Her long hair draped gracefully over her shoulders.
Her smile was as warm and refreshing as spring itself.
"Onii-chan! Everyone!"
Akagi Haruko waved enthusiastically as she stood at the entrance.
"H-Haruko-san?!"
The lobster in Sakuragi's mouth dropped onto the floor with a plop.
In an instant...
He transformed into a steam locomotive.
Clouds of white steam erupted from his head.
"I-Is this a dream?"
"Haruko-san..."
"You came to see me?"
"Is this... a visit fueled by love?!"
Miyagi was equally delighted.
Although...
The person he was staring at wasn't Haruko.
It was Ayako.
The moment Ayako saw her friends, she happily rushed over to greet them.
"Juro arranged a car to pick us up."
Haruko said shyly, stealing a glance toward Makino Juro, who was calmly sipping tea in the corner.
"He said Ayako-senpai had too much work handling everything alone..."
"So he asked us to come help as assistant managers."
Ayako looked toward Makino Juro with genuine gratitude.
That guy...
He usually acted lazy...
But when it really mattered, he was incredibly thoughtful.
However...
The surprises weren't over yet.
Behind Haruko...
Four more figures entered.
Hawaiian shirts.
Sunglasses.
Ridiculously smug grins.
Mito Yohei.
Takamiya Nozomi.
Ohkusu Yuji.
Noma Chuichirou.
The Sakuragi Army had assembled in full force.
"Yo, Hanamichi!"
Takamiya patted his round belly while staring at the feast with sparkling eyes.
He was practically drooling.
"We heard there was a free gourmet dinner!"
"So of course we came!"
"Young Master Juro is seriously the GOAT!"
Sakuragi was dumbfounded.
"Y-You guys..."
"What are you idiots doing here?!"
Something felt terribly wrong.
This was supposed to be a romantic hot spring trip with Haruko-san.
So why had these four weirdos shown up?
Everyone's eyes once again turned toward Makino Juro.
Inviting Haruko made sense.
She was here to help Ayako.
But why bring these four troublemakers?
To bankrupt him through sheer appetite?
Makino Juro calmly placed his teacup back onto the table.
He looked at the drooling members of the Sakuragi Army.
A ruthless gleam flashed through his eyes...
The cold gaze of a capitalist evaluating cheap labor.
"Oh, them?"
Makino Juro smiled.
His white teeth gleamed brilliantly.
He looked completely harmless.
"Since we're doing Hell Training..."
"We naturally need some..."
"...practice partners."
Takamiya, who was busy stuffing food into his mouth, suddenly felt a chill run down his spine.
It was as though some prehistoric beast had locked onto him.
"Come on."
"Don't be shy."
"Eat as much as you want."
Juro raised his teacup.
His gentle smile made him look more like a devil than a saint.
"After all..."
"Starting tomorrow..."
"You won't even have the strength left to cry."
END OF CHAPTER
The King Of Slacking Off - MrBehringer's Secret
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