The Legend Coach: Slam Dunk

Aiming, jumping, extending his arm, and pressing his wrist—a series of movements flowed as smoothly as water. "Whew! This body's shooting touch is awesome!" Watching the basketball in his hand draw a beautiful arc and swish through the rim, Kudo couldn't help but exclaim in admiration. Not only was his shooting great, but as Fukasawa's captain and a player groomed by the white-haired devil, Anzai Mitsuyoshi, Kudo Shinichi had grown into one of the country's best players. Though not the university's top guard, his breakthroughs and organizational skills were first-class.

"However, I've retired and am preparing to become a coach. If I didn't have a mission to pursue, I wouldn't be practicing," Kudo thought to himself. "The most important thing now is to read those books on basketball tactics and coaching at Kanagawa High School." Despite this, Kudo still dedicated six hours a day to basketball practice for a week. The rest of his time was spent studying specialized books and reviewing his team's previous game tapes to learn how he used to play.

With winter break approaching, Kudo was ready to return to Kanagawa with Kawasaki. (At this point, the university was preparing for vacation, but the high school and kokusaijutsu were not yet.)

Kanagawa, Kudo Residence

"I'm back!" As soon as the words left his mouth, Kudo stepped through the door of his long-lost home.

"It's Shinichi, isn't it?" Nobuko Kudo recognized her son's voice immediately. She smiled warmly and said, "Put your bags away. I've cleaned your room, and your clean clothes are ready. Go take a bath now, and we'll have dinner when your father comes home from work. I've prepared your favorite dishes this time."

Nobuko Kudo, a traditional Japanese housewife and mother of Shinichi Kudo, was the epitome of a devoted homemaker. After marrying, she had taken her husband's last name, as was customary.

Hearing his mother's familiar nagging, Kudo felt no annoyance. Instead, his heart swelled with warmth and gratitude. This was the home life he had longed for in his previous life but never experienced. (In his past life, Chen Xin's parents had divorced when he was young, leaving him without the warmth of a family.)

"I know, thanks, Mom. I'll go take a shower now," Kudo said, heading to his room as he remembered.

"What's gotten into him today? He's so polite," Nobuko wondered, though a smile tugged at the corners of her mouth. "Maybe the boy has finally grown up!"

Soaking in the bathtub filled with moderately warm water, Kudo Shinichi wore a satisfied smile. "This is the feeling of home! I'm going to cherish this feeling. It's truly wonderful!" He silently vowed to protect this sense of comfort, as it was the most precious thing in the world to him.

After his shower, Kudo walked into the dining room and couldn't resist grabbing a bite of the delicious food on the table with his hands. Nobuko, carrying a plate of dishes, saw her son's actions and laughed. "You're such a child! Even at your age, you're still not being hygienic. If you want to eat, go get the cutlery."

"Uh, right away," Kudo said, stopping himself and heading to the kitchen.

Noticing her son's unusual behavior, Nobuko sensed something had changed in him. She didn't press the matter, though, as she could see he was changing for the better.

"It smells amazing! Nobuko, you've outdone yourself today. Shinichi must be back," a middle-aged man's voice called from the foyer.

"Yes, Akitake, Shinichi is back from vacation, so I prepared his favorite dishes to welcome him," Nobuko replied with a smile.

Kudo Akitake, Shinichi's father and Nobuko's husband, was the president of a medium-sized Japanese company and held significant shares in Kanagawa Enterprises. A capable and family-oriented man, he adored his wife and son.

"Nobuko, you're so biased! I work hard every day, and you never treat me like this. As soon as Shinichi comes home, you prepare a feast for him. It's not fair!" Akitake teased his wife with a mock grimace.

"Oh, stop it. You're a grown man, yet you're jealous of a kid. I don't know what to do with you," Nobuko replied, shaking her head with a smile. "Go take a bath. Dinner's almost ready, and we'll eat when you're done. Since Shinichi is back, we'll celebrate tonight. I'll allow you to drink as much as you want."

"Really?!" Akitake exclaimed, his face lighting up. "That's fantastic! I'll take a shower right now. I'm going to enjoy myself tonight!"

"Honestly, a man in his forties still acting like a child," Nobuko muttered with a smile as she watched her husband hurry off.

"Let's eat!" Shinichi and Akitake exclaimed in unison, diving into the feast before them.

Watching her husband and son enjoy the meal she had prepared, Nobuko smiled warmly. "Slow down, both of you. There's plenty of food, so no need to rush."

"Nobuko, your cooking is exceptional," Akitake said, raising a glass of sake. "Shinichi, you're an adult now. It's time you learned to drink like a man. Come, join me tonight!"

"Dad, I'm not sure that's a good idea," Shinichi replied hesitantly. Neither the previous Shinichi nor the current one was fond of alcohol. Still, faced with his father's enthusiasm, he felt torn.

"Shinichi, your father means well. Just have a little with him," Nobuko advised. Then, turning to Akitake, she added, "But don't you dare get him drunk. He's not used to drinking, so go easy on him. Do you hear me, Akitake?"

"Yes, yes, Shin-chan is right," Akitake said, grinning. "Come on, Shinichi, I'll pour you a glass. It's just sake—it's not that strong. And like your mom said, I won't let you drink too much."

Seeing both parents insist, Shinichi reluctantly agreed. "Alright, I'll have a little with you, Dad."

"That's the spirit! A man should know how to drink," Akitake said, filling a glass and placing it in front of Shinichi. "Cheers!"

"Cheers," Shinichi replied, raising his glass.

"Here, another one! Shinichi, pour me another. I could drink a thousand glasses and still not be drunk!" Akitake slurred, clearly intoxicated.

"Really, Shinichi is already drunk. And you, Akitake, you always go overboard when you drink. You should slow down," Nobuko said, shaking her head helplessly. Her son was slumped on the table, while her husband was still urging him to drink. Every time Akitake got like this, it left her exasperated.

"I haven't had too much! This is just a little to satisfy my craving. Today's a special occasion—I can't let it go to waste!" Akitake protested.

Nobuko regretted agreeing to let him drink freely. But since she had already promised, she could only urge him to slow down.

"Come on, Nobuko, fill my glass again! I want to drink my fill," Akitake insisted. "Shinichi, get up! A man shouldn't stop after just a few glasses."

"Akitake, I won't tell you how much to drink tonight," Nobuko said sternly, taking on the role of the family's authority. "But Shinichi's had enough. If you force him to drink more, I'll cut you off right now!"

Hearing his wife's threat, Akitake muttered, "Fine, fine. Shinichi's such a lightweight. If he won't drink, then all this sake is mine!"

Nobuko couldn't help but chuckle at her husband's childish behavior. "Take your time, then. I'll help Shinichi to his room. And remember, you have work tomorrow, so don't overdo it." With that, she helped Shinichi to his feet and guided him out of the dining room.

"Alright, alright, I know. I won't be late for work," Akitake grumbled.

Shaking her head, Nobuko led Shinichi to his room. Once there, she said, "You can stop pretending now, Shinichi. We're in your room. How long are you going to keep this up?"

"Uh… you caught me, Mom," Shinichi admitted sheepishly. He had pretended to be drunk to avoid drinking more, as he wasn't good with alcohol.

"You and your father are impossible," Nobuko said with a sigh. "Well, you've had a long day, so get some rest. I'll go prepare some sobering soup for your father." With that, she left the room.

After washing up, Shinichi lay down on his bed, reflecting on the day's events. A smile spread across his face. This was the life he had always dreamed of. "I'll make sure to protect this," he vowed silently.

Gradually, Kudo drifted off to sleep, bringing an end to a perfect day.