“Jin, are you alright?” Shimamura Yoko’s face was filled with panic.
Gu Jin shook his head, “I’m fine. By the way, Yoko, let’s go check on Sakuragi’s family.”
“Okay!”
Gu Jin rode Yoko’s bicycle, carrying her as they rushed towards the old apartment. As they rounded the street corner, they saw an ambulance, siren wailing, driving out of the apartment. In the back seat, Sakuragi Hanamichi’s figure flashed by.
Gu Jin’s hands tightened on the handlebars, and he silently prayed in his heart—Sakuragi Zhe Xiong must not be in trouble.
“Yoko, I’m going to the hospital to check. You go home first.”
“I’m coming with you.” Yoko’s tone was firm; she refused to be left behind.
Outside the emergency room, Sakuragi Hanamichi sat dejectedly on a bench, his eyes red-rimmed, as if all strength had been drained from his body.
“Sakuragi!” Gu Jin quickly walked over.
“Gu Jin? Are you alright?” Sakuragi suddenly looked up, his voice hoarse. “I just called Yohei and the others and told them to find you. You weren’t hurt, were you?”
“I’m fine.” Gu Jin pressed on his shoulder. “How is Sakuragi-san?”
“I don’t know yet… The doctor didn’t say anything.” Sakuragi lowered his head, his fingertips digging deep into his palms.
“Don’t worry, Uncle will definitely be fine.” Gu Jin’s voice was deep and steady.
“Gu Jin, I’m sorry.” Sakuragi suddenly spoke, his voice choked with emotion.
Gu Jin was stunned, “Why are you suddenly saying this?”
“What happened with Fukasawa made me think a lot…” Sakuragi’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “I was even worse to you than I was to him back then. But you helped me again and again… Really, I’m sorry.”
“Now is not the time to talk about this.” Gu Jin was about to say more comforting words when a nurse rushed out.
“Who is Sakuragi Zhe Xiong’s family?”
“I am!” Sakuragi stood up abruptly.
“The patient has a myocardial infarction and needs immediate surgery. You need to pay the fee quickly; the surgery will cost about five hundred thousand Japanese Yen.” The nurse spoke rapidly, handing over the payment slip.
“Five hundred thousand?” Sakuragi’s face instantly turned pale. He fumbled in his pockets, only pulling out a few crumpled banknotes after a long search. “I… I don’t have that much money…” His voice grew softer and softer, finally becoming almost a whisper, “I only have this much…”
Shimamura Yoko watched, then quietly walked to the nurses’ station and dialed a number, “Mom, it’s me… I’m at Tamada Hospital. My classmate’s father is sick and needs surgery. He urgently needs five hundred thousand for the operation. Can you gather some money on your end first?”
There was a moment of silence on the other end, then Shimamura Konan’s voice came through, “We still have two hundred thousand at home. I’ll send it over first. Don’t worry, I’ll try to think of another way!”
After hanging up, Yoko explained the situation to Sakuragi.
But two hundred thousand was still far from five hundred thousand.
Sakuragi looked at the number on the payment slip, his body swayed, almost collapsing to the ground, “It’s all my fault… If only I had saved more money normally…”
Gu Jin’s heart sank as he watched his despair.
He gritted his teeth, pulled out his phone book, and found a number—it was Taoka Moichi’s private number.
The call connected, and Gu Jin took a deep breath, “Coach Taoka, this is Gu Jin… I apologize for disturbing you. My classmate’s father urgently needs surgery, and they are short three hundred thousand for the fee. Could you lend it to me first? I will definitely pay it back…”
“Send me the hospital address.” Taoka’s voice was decisive; he didn’t ask another question.
Less than half an hour later, hurried footsteps echoed outside the emergency room.
Taoka Moichi, wearing a tracksuit, with a thin layer of sweat on his forehead, had clearly rushed there. He clutched an envelope in his hand and walked directly to Gu Jin.
“Here’s three hundred thousand. Get the surgery done first.”
Taoka shoved the envelope into Gu Jin’s hand, his tone firm and unquestioning, “We’ll talk about the money later. The most important thing now is to save a life.”
Sakuragi was stunned. He looked at the heavy envelope in Gu Jin’s hand, feeling as if it weighed a thousand pounds.
“Coach… Coach Taoka… I will definitely repay you,” Sakuragi’s voice choked, and tears suddenly welled up, “Tha… Thank you…”
“Save him first.” Taoka glared at him, but then raised his hand and patted him on the back, the force not light, but carrying a strange warmth.
“Now is not the time to talk about repayment,” Taoka Moichi said again.
He paused, his tone softening slightly, “Don’t just stand there, go pay the fee quickly. Your dad is still waiting inside.”
Sakuragi clutched the envelope, his knuckles white, tears falling like broken strings of pearls.
He opened his mouth, but couldn’t utter a single word, only nodding heavily before turning and running towards the payment counter.
“Gu Jin, is this classmate of yours also from Ryonan High School?” Taoka Moichi’s gaze fell on Sakuragi Hanamichi as he asked with a hint of scrutiny.
“No, he is currently attending Shohoku High School,” Gu Jin replied calmly.
For some reason, when Taoka Moichi heard the words “Shohoku,” his eye twitched almost imperceptibly, and his expression showed a subtle ripple of emotion.
“Looking at his physique, it’s quite good. Does he play basketball normally?” he pressed, his tone now a bit more serious.
“He hasn’t gotten into it yet,” Gu Jin’s tone shifted, imbued with undeniable certainty, “but I dare say, if he plays basketball, he will definitely be a genius. Sakuragi’s athletic talent is truly astonishing, even much stronger than mine.”
“Stronger than your athletic talent?” Taoka Moichi suddenly raised an eyebrow, clearly not expecting this answer, his voice filled with disbelief.
After a moment of contemplation, Taoka Moichi slowly said, “If he can be properly molded, starting now wouldn’t necessarily be too late.”
Taoka Moichi’s judgment had always been sharp.
In the original story, he didn’t have a good impression of Sakuragi Hanamichi, but that was only because Sakuragi’s behavior during their first practice match was far from polite.
And Gu Jin knew him too well—these details were precisely what Taoka Moichi cared about most.
He was a traditional man who valued authority, and he placed the highest importance on the humility and manners of younger generations.
But the Sakuragi Hanamichi of this moment was completely different.
He was filled with gratitude towards Taoka Moichi, who had just offered a helping hand, and his words conveyed utmost respect, especially the phrase “I will definitely repay you later,” which made Taoka Moichi secretly think: this loyal and righteous young man has his merits.
Without preconceived notions, with his extensive experience in judging people, he naturally saw at a glance that Sakuragi Hanamichi was an unpolished gem—one that, with a little shaping, could certainly shine.