Night had swallowed the mountains of Shizuoka.
The stone lanterns in the courtyard cast warm golden halos, tinting the drifting mist with an almost dreamlike glow.
But that tranquility existed only outside.
Inside...
A brutal battle known as "dinner" had just come to an end.
Empty plates were stacked into towering mountains.
The dining room looked like the aftermath of a locust swarm.
Sakuragi Hanamichi lay sprawled across the tatami without a shred of dignity.
His stomach was so bloated that it resembled an overinflated balloon, making him look like he was three months pregnant.
"I've... been reborn..."
He let out an earth-shaking burp before peacefully folding his hands over his chest, wearing the blissful expression of someone ascending to heaven.
Beside him, the four members of the Sakuragi Army were sprawled across the floor in every direction, looking like human speed bumps.
Takamiya had even loosened his belt.
A stubborn half-eaten tempura shrimp tail still hung from the corner of his mouth.
"So..."
"This is heaven..."
"Don't save me."
"Just let me die in this paradise."
Makino Juro sat along the veranda with a cup of barley tea, sipping leisurely to help digestion.
Outside, crimson maple leaves rustled gently in the night breeze.
This...
This was what life was supposed to be.
Why work yourself to the bone on the basketball court?
Wasn't it all for moments like this...
That peaceful sense of satisfaction after giving everything?
"Haruko, let's go soak in the hot springs."
Ayako stood up, carrying an elegant little bamboo basket.
She casually tied up her long hair, revealing her graceful, fair neck.
Under the warm lights, her mature charm radiated effortlessly.
"Eh?"
"O-Okay!"
Haruko hurried to her feet, her cheeks glowing bright red.
Whether it was from the heat...
Or from becoming embarrassed after imagining the words 'mixed bathing'...
Even she couldn't tell.
The two girls linked arms and walked toward the entrance marked with the Women's Bath curtain, accompanied by the chorus of evening cicadas.
The faint fragrance of soap lingered in the air behind them.
Inside the banquet hall...
The male creatures who had practically melted into puddles suddenly perked up.
Especially two pairs of eyes.
They lit up simultaneously in the dim room...
Glowing with the green light of hungry wolves.
Sakuragi Hanamichi.
Ryota Miyagi.
The two shot upright at exactly the same moment, as though electricity had surged through their bodies.
Synchronization rate...
One hundred percent.
"Ryota..."
Sakuragi spoke in a deep whisper, his voice trembling with guilty excitement.
"Hanamichi..."
Miyagi adjusted an imaginary pair of reflective glasses, looking as profound as a philosopher.
The two exchanged a glance.
Crackle...
Invisible sparks exploded between them.
A secret wavelength known only to teenage boys had connected.
It was the silent understanding of two...
"Gentlemen."
(Or, depending on your perspective...
Perverts.)
It was the ultimate yearning for the forbidden territory.
"The women's bath..."
"It's right next door."
"This is an old-fashioned wooden inn."
Miyagi lowered his voice while enthusiastically drawing diagrams on the tatami with his finger, looking more serious than if he were designing basketball plays.
"Which means..."
"The soundproofing..."
"...is basically nonexistent."
Sakuragi swallowed hard.
"And that wall..."
"It looks..."
"About two meters high."
Miyagi gestured the height with his hand, the grin on his face growing wider and wider.
Two meters.
For basketball players averaging nearly 190 centimeters tall.
With monstrous vertical leaps...
Could that even be called a wall?
That was practically a welcome mat.
The two men's breathing grew noticeably heavier.
Inside their heads...
Their mental GPUs had already begun rendering high-definition fantasy scenes.
Steam drifting through the air.
Splashing water.
Snow-white skin.
Graceful silhouettes...
"Hehehe..."
The two let out identical creepy chuckles that would have made any woman immediately call the police.
However...
Just as they were about to swear brotherhood and embark on their glorious "mission"...
Sakuragi's smile suddenly froze.
Wait.
Who had just gone in?
Haruko-san!
My goddess!
My angel!
My pure, flawless, untouchable Haruko-san!
If I peep...
Wouldn't that mean...
I'd be spying on Haruko-san too?
Sakuragi slowly turned toward Miyagi.
The warmth in his eyes instantly disappeared.
In less than a second...
His expression transformed from best buddy...
Into sworn mortal enemy.
At exactly the same time...
Miyagi's brain finally caught up.
Ayako!
That's my Ayako!
If this red-haired monkey peeks inside...
Wouldn't he see Ayako too?!
No way!
Absolutely not!
Only I can...
No...
Even I shouldn't...
Wait...
Forget it!
That monkey has to die!
"You bastard!"
The two exploded simultaneously, grabbing each other by the collars.
Their fragile brotherhood shattered on the spot.
"Miyagi!"
"You shameless pervert!"
"You actually want to peek at Haruko-san!"
"I'll punish you in the name of the moon!"
Sakuragi roared, spraying spit everywhere.
"Hah?!"
Miyagi refused to back down, pressing his forehead against Sakuragi's.
"You're the one trying to peek at Ayako!"
"Keep your filthy eyes shut!"
"I'll never let you get away with it!"
"I'll gouge your eyes out!"
"What did you say, shrimp?!"
"You wanna fight, you red-haired monkey?!"
Just moments ago, they had been brothers ready to conquer the world together.
Now...
They were rolling across the tatami like two enraged alley cats.
Everyone else watched them with the same expression one reserved for complete idiots.
Makino Juro helplessly shook his head.
This was a perfect example of:
"As long as I have no moral standards, you can't morally blackmail me."
Unfortunately...
These two idiots actually had plenty of morals.
Youth.
This was youth.
A glorious period fueled by far too many hormones.
Bang!
Bang!
Two dull thuds echoed through the room.
Peace had been restored to the world.
Akagi slowly withdrew his smoking iron fists.
His face was darker than the bottom of a burnt cooking pot.
"You two idiots."
"Now get your asses to the men's bath!"
"If anyone dares peek into the women's side..."
"I'll break his third leg."
Sakuragi and Miyagi clutched the fresh lumps swelling on their heads, tears welling in their eyes.
"Y-Yes..."
"G-Gorilla Captain..."
...
The men's hot spring.
A massive open-air stone bath.
Milky-white spring water steamed endlessly.
The smell of sulfur blended naturally with the fragrance of the surrounding forest.
It was remarkably relaxing.
Splash!
The Shohoku players jumped into the bath completely naked, sending water flying everywhere.
"OOOOHHHHHH!"
"This feels incredible!"
Several wolf-like howls echoed through the mountain valley.
Wrapped in the scorching water...
Every pore in their bodies seemed to sing with joy.
Even their souls felt as though they were floating free.
Coach Anzai had already claimed the best spot in the entire bath.
A white towel rested on top of his head.
Eyes closed.
A peaceful smile on his face.
He even floated a small wooden tray carrying a cup of sake beside him.
He looked less like Shohoku's coach...
And more like the guardian deity of the hot spring itself.
"This really is relaxing."
Mitsui leaned against the rocks at the edge of the pool, splashing warm water onto his face.
"A luxurious experience like this..."
"It truly suits a genius like me."
"Oh, give me a break."
Miyagi swam over with a mischievous grin.
"Who was it that said he had to maintain his abs during dinner..."
"...then proceeded to inhale five bowls of rice?"
"I was replenishing my energy!"
Mitsui's face instantly turned red as he desperately tried to save face.
"Tomorrow's training is obviously going to be hell."
"If I don't eat enough now, how am I supposed to survive?"
At that moment...
The surface of the water rippled violently.
Sakuragi burst out from beneath the water, wiping his face.
His eyes swept across the bath like radar before finally locking onto Akagi.
"Gorilla."
"You wanna compete?"
Akagi slowly opened his eyes.
"What kind of competition?"
"Let's see who can stay in the hot spring the longest!"
Sakuragi pointed dramatically at the steaming water.
"Whoever gets out first is a weakling!"
"And the loser..."
"Does everyone's laundry tomorrow!"
END OF CHAPTER
The King Of Slacking Off - MrBehringer's Secret
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