One more free throw…elbows bent and set…a fifteen foot drop into heaven…and...follow-through.
CLANG! A bullet ricochets right off the front of the dull gray rim. A shot like that barely scratched the paint. Damn! Was it the 8:00 street lights turning on? Was it the jumping distance? Was it the spin of the ball? No…it must have been the arms. It's always the arms. Coach Anzai always said less arms in the shooting motion. Again and again the same phrase appears in his head. You know how to fix it. So do it.
The distinctively bright red-hair bounces around as he slowly retrieves the ball in the street lit park. The four corner lights flicker slightly as he walks back to the charity stripe. His shadow dances on the cool blacktop. Rehabilitation has kept him from the game for 4 months. You can place a basketball player on the bench, but you can't diminish his passion for the game. It's been tough getting back into shape and getting the stamina back. Certainly the news about Rukawa making the All-Japan team didn't help with the recovery. It'll take a sure while before he can rejoin the team. But that's why he's the Tensai.
His breath synchronizes with his step as he gazes into the blackened brown leather ball. His muscles ache. His movement is sluggish. His vision is dulled. But he isn't bothered in the slightest. An inhale followed by an even deeper exhale. His eyes light up as he gazes back at the rim. The eyes are full of energy, vigor, and love for basketball. With his off hand, he wipes the sweat from his brow and sets his feet.
One thousand more free throws…elbows bent and set… left arm shifted 3 centimeters to the left…a fifteen foot drop into heaven has never been easier…and…follow-through.
Welcome back to the game Sakuragi.