ALL NOVEL Chapter 55: Coach! I Want to Play Basketball!
Mitsui's challenging gaze locked onto Ryu's face as he sneered.
"So, you're the famous 'Super Rookie' everyone's been talking about lately, huh?"
He then turned and delivered another vicious kick to Miyagi's stomach.
"If you don't want the team disbanded, stay out of this. It's got nothing to do with you," Mitsui spat.
Ryu frowned, gripping Mitsui's hand tightly as he held the mop. A cold smile appeared on his face.
"I think you should turn around and take a look," Ryu said.
Mitsui hesitated, glancing behind him.
Sakuragi and Rukawa had already taken down De Man and Ryo, leaving them sprawled on the ground. Even Iron Man, who had earlier struck Sakuragi on the head, was now curled up in pain.
Mitsui's pupils narrowed in disbelief. "This can't be real…" he muttered before gritting his teeth in frustration.
"Useless idiots!" he growled, and then, in a fit of rage, punched Ryu hard in the chest.
Ryu winced but managed to shove Mitsui to the ground. Without hesitation, Ryu pinned him down and began raining punches on his face.
Mitsui raised his arms defensively, trying to shield himself from the blows.
Despite his smaller build, Ryu's physical condition far outmatched Mitsui's, whose body had been weakened by smoking and drinking. Taking down Mitsui was no challenge for him.
Kogure, usually calm and composed, was momentarily stunned to see Ryu losing his temper. He quickly stepped forward, shouting, "Stop it! Don't fight!"
"These jerks deserve it!" Ryu shot back, not even turning around, and continued pummeling Mitsui.
"You dare mess with our basketball team?!" Ryu roared.
Miyagi, clutching his stomach, struggled to his feet and grabbed Ryu's hands.
"Ryu, stop! If this keeps up, the basketball team will be disbanded!"
Ryu shook Miyagi off. "Forget that, Miyagi! Your endless tolerance won't solve anything. Scumbags like these only get bolder!"
Ryu raised his fist to land another punch on Mitsui's face.
"If you hit him again, it'll still count as fighting," Miyagi warned, his voice desperate. "And since it's happening in the gym, it'll definitely be reported!"
Ryu hesitated for a moment, just as Mitsui seized the opportunity to counterattack. Mitsui's fist connected hard with Ryu's nose, sending him reeling backward.
"You bastard!" Ryu shouted, momentarily disoriented from the blow.
Mitsui, his bruised and swollen face twisting with rage, grabbed the mop again and approached Ryu, who was still on the ground.
Just as Mitsui closed in, Ayako stepped in front of him, spreading her arms wide to block his path.
"Mitsui-senpai, you've gone too far!" she yelled.
Mitsui didn't even hesitate. He slapped Ayako hard across the face.
The force of the slap caused her to stumble and fall to the floor. Haruko gasped, rushing over to help Ayako up.
Seeing Ayako hit the ground, Miyagi snapped. The fire in his eyes burned with an intensity that could melt steel.
Ryu, now on his feet, wiped the blood from his nose and glared at Mitsui. His rage boiled over as he looked at Ayako holding her cheek, tears streaming down her face.
"You… hit her?!" Ryu shouted.
At the same time, Miyagi and Ryu charged at Mitsui together.
"Yo, Sakuragi! We're here!"
Suddenly, Sakuragi's four loyal friends from the "Sakuragi Gang" climbed in through the gym's windows, striking exaggerated poses from the spectator stands.
They had heard rumors about a fight breaking out in the gym and rushed over, knowing full well that Sakuragi's fiery temper would get him involved.
Seeing the chaos inside the gym, they sprang into action. Led by Yohei, they launched themselves at De Man and his gang without hesitation.
The gym's doors were tightly shut, hiding the escalating brawl from anyone outside.
Time passed, and the dust finally settled.
Mitsui lay on the floor, his face bloodied and swollen, unable to move.
Ryu wiped the blood from his own nose and stared down at Mitsui.
"Mitsui-senpai, what's the point of all this self-destruction? Deep down, don't you know what you're doing to yourself?"
Mitsui remained silent, his face twisting into a bitter smile before erupting into laughter. His laughter echoed through the gym, filled with both mockery and despair.
He struggled to his feet, glaring fiercely at Ryu.
"What's the point? It's my life, and I'll do whatever the hell I want! I came here today to make sure your basketball team is disbanded!"
Suddenly, loud knocking came from the gym doors.
"Hey! What's going on in there?!" the PE teacher shouted from outside.
Everyone froze, panic spreading across their faces.
"If they find out about the fight, we're finished," Kogure muttered.
Kogure then turned to Mitsui, his eyes filled with anger, disappointment, and sadness. Grabbing Mitsui by the collar, he shouted, "Weren't you one of us? Weren't you the one who said we'd conquer the nation together?!"
"That has nothing to do with me anymore!" Mitsui snapped.
"Nothing to do with you?! How can you say that?!" Kogure yelled, his voice trembling.
He tightened his grip on Mitsui's shirt, tears welling up in his eyes. "What happened to the junior high MVP we all admired? What happened to the Mitsui who inspired us with his relentless drive? Why did you change?!"
Before Mitsui could respond, the gym doors burst open.
Akagi stepped inside, his towering presence immediately silencing the room. Ignoring the PE teacher's shouts from outside, he calmly shut the doors behind him.
"What the hell is going on here?" Akagi growled.
Even Mitsui's gang cowered under Akagi's fierce gaze. One by one, they took off their shoes and stood awkwardly, clutching them in their hands.
Akagi walked straight up to Mitsui.
Smack!
Akagi's slap sent Mitsui sprawling to the floor.
"Mitsui, what are you trying to do? Haven't you caused enough trouble?!" Akagi roared, his voice filled with anger and disappointment.
Mitsui clenched his fists but avoided Akagi's eyes.
"Open up! It's me, Anzai-sensei!"
Coach Anzai's calm voice came from outside the door.
Hearing this, Ryu exhaled deeply. "Looks like this mess is finally over," he muttered.
Mitsui's expression changed at the sound of Anzai's voice. His heart pounded as memories of the coach's guidance and encouragement flooded his mind.
When the doors opened, Coach Anzai stepped in. He scanned the room, taking in the disarray and Mitsui's bloodied face.
"Mitsui," Anzai said in a firm, disappointed tone, "you've gone too far."
Mitsui froze, tears welling up in his eyes.
Dropping to his knees before Anzai, he sobbed.
"Coach… I… I want to play basketball!"