#mitsui imagine

[slamdunk-headcanons]

Fights, haircut and basketball - Imagine Mitsui Hisashi

Hello guys! So I decided to bring my SD imagines to this blog. They were originally written in Portuguese, and I used AI to do the most part of translation and revised it after to do some corrections and adaptations. So this is the very first one I wrote for SD, in 2016, for my favorite character, Mitsui Hisashi. My writing style is in third person, not second person. I hope you all like it!

Posted on Spirit Fanfictions, Wattpad and Nyah!Fanfiction (all Portuguese version) Word count: 3.6k Warnings: fem!reader, mention of gang fights, a bit of cursing, angst Cover by @ezrealsicons

Synopsis: Mitsui and [Name] were unseparable friends. But when their feelings became something more than just friendship, everthing caved in. With the Mitsui's injurey and his subsequent withdrawal from basketball, his personality began to be dominated by resentment and anger. The boy started to despise everything related to the sport, including [Name]. However, two years later, a fight and and old dream would finally make him remember how important she was for him.

“You did what!?"

[Name] looked at Mitsui with wide, horrified eyes. The boy had shown up at her mother's beauty salon that late afternoon without warning, his face covered in bruises and dried blood. The girl had quickly pulled him to the back of the establishment so he wouldn't draw attention in case a client arrive. The last thing she wanted was for Mitsui's problems to spill over into her mother's business. Now they were talking in the break room, which was fortunately empty.

The boy still had the same intimidating appearance that [Name] had seen the last time they met. The face that had once been marked by the features of adolescence was now almost entirely covered by his blackish-blue hair that cascaded down to his shoulders. His navy-blue eyes, once so bright and full of energy, were now dark and heavy. And to top it off, [Name] couldn’t even remember the last time she had seen Mitsui smile.

Faced with his friend's accusatory question, the senior kept his head down and his hands buried in his pockets. The shame he had felt earlier, in front of the man who had given him the determination to win the regional championship, now seemed to weigh ten tons on his broad shoulders. He could endure the accusing looks from everyone, even from Kogure and Akagi, but from [Name]...

"Hey! Answer me, Hisashi!"

He hunched his shoulders even more. It was hard enough to confess what he had done, let alone repeat it. Besides, didn’t [Name] already have enough reasons to despise him?

"I decided to get revenge on Miyagi... I wanted to do it by disqualifying Shohoku from the Nationals through a fight. If the rumor that the players were involved in a gang fight at their own school spread, they would surely be banned from the championship. So I gathered the judo team members and asked for help from a friend of mine, Tetsu-"

Mitsui didn’t get a chance to finish. A sharp, resounding slap stung his already bruised face, causing him to stagger back two steps. His hands instinctively covered the spot where he had been hit, and his navy-blue eyes rose in shock to meet the girl in front of him.

"Are you serious!?" she shouted angrily. "Didn’t I tell you to never speak to me again? And you, not only you disrespect that, but you also come and tell me something like this!?"

The high schooler lowered his gaze again and returned to his previous dejected posture.

[Name] had been his friend for years, and they had met because of basketball. She always played on the neighborhood’s public court, and it was there that he saw her for the first time. He clearly remembered being captivated by how she smiled while playing, and that made him interested in the game. He really wanted to experience the joy that made that girl seem so happy.

Mitsui then asked [Name] to introduce him to basketball. Reluctantly at first, the girl agreed to be his tutor. She taught him everything she could, from basic movements to the tricks of faking and three-point shots, which were her pride and joy. It was on that quaint basketball court that their friendship flourished.

Over the years, Mitsui and [Name] became inseparable, and their friendship began to take on new dimensions. However, neither of them had the courage to make a move, as neither was sure of their own feelings.

And that’s when everything caved in.

After Mitsui’s accident and his subsequent withdrawal from basketball, his personality started to be consumed by resentment and anger. The boy began to despise everything related to the sport, including [Name].

One day, the girl invited him to watch a street basketball game that was going to take place on the same court where they had first met. With disdain, he laughed in [Name]’s face and said he had better things to do.

"I'm not going to waste any more time with stupid things like basketball," he said with a mocking smile.

The girl looked at him in horror, unable to believe that those words had come out of Mitsui's mouth.

“What!?” she shouted, shocked.

“That’s exactly what you heard,” he spat. “I’m not wasting another second on basketball.”

And without giving [Name] a chance to ask any more questions, he spun on his heels and walked away.

After this episode, the high schooler began getting more involved with gangs and street fights, and the chasm that had formed between him and [Name] grew ever wider. Finally, one incident in particular completely ruined their friendship.

Angry after the beating they took from Mitsui’s gang, some troublemakers from Kainan High investigated Mitsui’s connections and discovered [Name]. After obtaining her address, they observed her routine for a few days. After a week, they ambushed her as she was heading home in the late afternoon. Meanwhile, one of them was tasked with delivering the message to Mitsui.

As soon as he found out, the boy was overcomed with an intense feeling of guilt and rage. He never imagined he would end up involving his friend in his fights, let alone as a hostage. Blinded by anger, he ran without hesitation to the agreed location, making a decision along the way: he would distance himself from gangs once and for all so that she would never be at risk because of him again.

When he finally reached them, he realized the true extent of the trap he had fallen into. [Name] was at the back of the alley, held by two burly high schoolers with contemptuous expressions. As soon as they spotted Mitsui, the other gang members blocked both exits of the alley, giving the boy no chance to escape.

“I knew he would come,” their leader sneered. “Let the girl go. We’ve got what we wanted.”

A momentary sense of relief washed over the student, and he searched for [Name] with his eyes. The girl was rubbing her forearms, marked by the strong grip of the thugs, and as soon as she processed that she was free, she looked for Mitsui among the figures present. When her eyes locked on his face, distorted by a mask of conflicting emotions, she marched toward him with determined steps, tears welling up in the corners of her eyes.

How? How had it come to this? How had he let something like this happen? And to her, of all people!?

Everyone turned to look at the slender back of the girl, who was walking forward with clenched fists. As soon as her childhood friend's face was within reach, she raised her right fist and delivered a solid punch to his left cheek.

"Bastard!" she shouted, tears streaming down her cheeks. "How did you get to this point? When did you stoop so low as to drag me into these stupid fights!?"

Mitsui kept his face turned away, his dark blue eyes vacant and empty from the shock.

"Never again..." she said through gritted teeth. "Never speak to me again."

Those words from [Name] hurt more than any punch or kick he'd ever taken in a fight. They hurt more than his knee injury. They hurt more than giving up basketball.

Even when he had given up on everything, she hadn’t. She believed that one day, the bitterness from what had happened in his first year would fade, and Mitsui's passion for basketball would resurface. And even as he sank deeper and deeper, she tried to support him, tending to his wounds so that he wouldn’t have to hear so much from his parents.

And he had simply dismissed all of it.

That day, the beating he took after being insulted and humiliated by the Kainan thugs didn’t compare to the pain of losing [Name] completely. He had deluded himself into thinking she would stand by him despite the stupid mistakes he’d been making. What else would he lose?

Since then, [Name] had never spoken to him again, and Mitsui had no choice but to respect her decision. In her absence, he continued to get involved in more and more trouble and fights, and the little hope hidden in his heart of returning to basketball disappeared completely.

However, the incident in Shohoku’s gym that day awakened old memories of basketball for Mitsui. The feeling of sinking the ball with a simple flick of the wrist, the euphoria filling his chest as he drove past opponents toward the basket... Remembering all of this, Hisashi Mitsui finally realized just how much he missed basketball and, most of all, how much he missed the person who had brought that wonderful sport into his life.

God! How he wanted to play basketball again! How he wanted to play with [Name] and see her smile in that unique and captivating way...

It was because of all this that he swallowed his pride and ran to see the girl he had dismissed out of pure arrogance and selfishness. He had to make things right. He would never forgive himself if he didn’t try.

Mitsui lifted his melancholic dark eyes to [Name] and took a deep breath.

"I know what I did was unforgivable. I really was a selfish idiot, only thinking about my whim of becoming Shohoku’s ace... and it ruined everything." He squeezed his eyes shut tightly and then reopened them, this time with a determined look. "But I need to tell you something."

The girl straightened where she stood and crossed her arms. Her eyes shifted to the floor, filled with pain and anger. She wanted so badly to believe Mitsui’s words. She wanted so badly for him to have truly recognized his mistakes and turned things around... But what he had done wasn't that simple.

With a furrowed brow, she bit her lip and lowered her head.

"I'm going back to playing basketball," Mitsui blurted out, as if the words were forcing their way out of his mouth. "I don’t want to keep pretending that I don’t want to."

[Name]'s eyes widened, and she immediately locked them onto her friend’s face.

"I know it might be a little late since I’m in my third year. But I still want to make the most of the time I have left in high school. I’m going to...

The sentence weighed heavily on his tongue, and he had to press his lips together to prevent the words from spilling out awkwardly. He wanted to show [Name] that this was once again his dream.

Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes, then opened them to look at his friend with a crease of determination on his forehead.

"I'm going to help Shohoku conquer Japan."

[Name]’s lips parted in a small “o,” but not in horror or anger, but rather in surprise. Before her eyes, she finally recognized the determined expression of the Mitsui she had known on the court in their old neighborhood. The boy she had taught to play basketball, who had become much more than just a good friend, was once again standing in front of her.

"Hisashi..." she murmured, her eyes widening further.

Mitsui straightened his shoulders, pulling his hands out of his pockets. He raised a hand to his neck and scratched it, looking down at the floor as shyness took over his gaze.

"So... [Name]-chan... I’m really sorry. I didn’t mean to say or do all those stupid things to you. I know it’s not something that can be fixed with just an apology... But today, I really need you."

As soon as the last sentence left Mitsui’s lips, both felt a rush of heat rising to their faces. [Name] averted her eyes to the floor and began rubbing her fingers together with her thumb. The teenager scratched his neck even more quickly and continued:

"It’s-it’s just..." He blinked and, with great effort, looked back at the girl standing in front of him. "Since you helped me take the first step in basketball, I want you to do it again. I want you to help me take the first step back into basketball."

[Name] shifted her weight to her left leg and looked at her friend with a mix of insecurity and suppressed hope. She wanted so much to say yes. She had dreamed so many times of this moment—the moment when Mitsui would tell her that he was going back to basketball, returning to being the boy who had won her admiration in such a simple, genuine way...

But [Name] was fully aware that Mitsui's mistake was almost unforgivable, and she wasn’t going to let him think it would be easy to make everything right.

"I'm not going to play basketball with you, Hisashi," she said in the sternest voice she could muster.

The high schooler flinched as if he'd been punched in the gut. My God! How those words hurt. [Name]’s disdain was worse than any beating he had ever taken. But he deserved it; after all, he had also treated her with disdain... and in the worst possible way.

"I know," he said sadly. "But I need something only you can do."

[Name] furrowed her brows and waited. Mitsui raised his left hand until his fingers reached a lock of his dark hair.

"Could you... cut my hair?" He paused, trying not to stumble over his words, and laughed nervously. "Don’t worry. I’ll pay."

[Name]’s eyes widened so much that Mitsui thought they might pop out of their sockets.

Since girls tended to do this more often, she knew the significance of a haircut at a moment like this. Mitsui really wanted to change and wanted to leave a physical reminder of his new goal: to conquer Japan wearing Shohoku’s jersey.

After a few seconds, [Name] lowered her head and, turning on her heels, said, "Come here."

Surprised that he hadn’t received a harsh response from the girl, Mitsui promptly followed her with an astonished expression. She led him to the bathroom used by the staff and opened a cabinet containing a stack of white, fluffy towels. Grabbing one, she pushed it against the broad chest of the teenager and said, "Wipe off that blood so you don’t scare the other customers. When you’re done, go to the salon. I’ll be waiting there."

Mitsui nodded promptly and quickly cleaned himself up. When his face finally lost the most alarming signs of the fight, he folded the towel, leaving it in a corner, and headed to where [Name] was waiting. The girl was already dressed in a smock, with a cape draped over the same arm holding a pair of scissors.

"Have a seat," she said, her face wearing an indecipherable neutral expression.

Mitsui obeyed and sat down. [Name] adjusted the chair’s height and looked into the mirror to meet the boy’s blue eyes reflected there.

"So, what will it be?" she asked, running her fingers through the teenager's overgrown hair. Her touch sent involuntary shivers down Mitsui’s spine, and a slight blush spread across his cheeks.

"Ahm..." he muttered, glancing at the countertop cluttered with beauty tools. "You can cut it all off."

"All of it!?" she replied, her expression once again showing shock.

"Yeah. I mean, really short. It’s more comfortable for playing..."

The girl ran her fingers through Mitsui’s hair once more, taking a few measurements, and nodded.

"I’ll cut it little by little, and you can tell me if it’s okay, alright?"

"Uh-huh," he murmured, trying to stay still as he heard the first snips of the scissors cutting through his hair.

[Name] worked in silence, avoiding Mitsui’s deep blue eyes whenever she checked the cut in the mirror. However, it was impossible for her not to notice his features as the long hair stopped covering his face. Now that the black curtain had disappeared, [Name] could finally see the changes puberty had brought to her friend’s face. His jawline had become well-defined, but in a gentle way. Dark circles under his eyes marked the edges of his cheeks, which were covered in bruises and scratches, yet this detail still gave him a certain maturity. His straight nose had the same effect. His thick, black eyebrows perfectly crowned his pair of navy blue eyes, which had always captivated [Name] in a way she would never admit. Now they were much more visible, and this pleased her deeply.

In the end, Mitsui’s new haircut suited him very well, giving his face a more playful and determined look.

Yes... This was the Mitsui she had known.

"So?" she asked after making the final touch on the left side. "What do you think?"

He turned his head from side to side to see the new hairstyle from different angles and then smiled, satisfied. [Name] went to the counter and grabbed a square mirror so Mitsui could check the back of his hair too.

"Oh!" he said, smiling even more. "It really looks good! Thank you so much, [Name]-chan!"

While the teenager admired his friend’s work, [Name] couldn’t help but notice his features again. Mitsui had turned out much more handsome than she had anticipated.

Realizing this, her cheeks involuntarily heated up, and she lowered her face, afraid he would see her embarrassed expression.

"You’re welcome," she murmured, moving to the counter to put away the mirror and the brush she had used to remove the excess hair.

As soon as she removed the cape that had covered him, he stood up and quickly reached into his pocket, pulling out some green bills.

"How much do I owe you?" he asked, checking the amount he had.

[Name] had her back to him, organizing the counter and sweeping some leftover hair onto the floor. She bit her lip at Mitsui’s question, and the phrase he had said earlier echoed in her mind:

"I know. But I need something only you can do."

"Could you... cut my hair?"

Now that she could finally see Mitsui's eyes without his long black hair in the way, she was certain that he wasn’t just talking for the sake of it. She recognized his stubborn determination in the navy blue of his eyes. The haircut was his way of telling himself that he wanted to, and would, become who he once was. If she charged him for it, Mitsui's request would lose all its meaning.

"Nothing," she said, reaching out for the broom that was leaning nearby. "It's on me."

"But...!" he blinked, stunned as he stared at the back of her head. "I said I’d pay!"

"Shut up and accept it, idiot," she replied, too afraid to turn around and meet his eyes.

A whirlwind of emotions tore through her chest. Her head was spinning with confusion. She wanted so badly to celebrate this, to support him at his games, and to train with him... But at the same time, she couldn’t forget what he had done. And that stopped her from showing what she truly felt.

The teenager remained silent for a few moments before saying, "[Name]-chan... Please, let me pay for the haircut. I'll feel really bad i—"

"I already told you it’s on me!" she exclaimed too loudly as she turned her body and began sweeping with her eyes fixed on the floor. She walked past Mitsui and bumped into his shoulder hard. "I’m done here. You can go."

Mitsui didn’t move. His eyes went blank, staring into nothing as he digested [Name]'s harsh words. He had known from the start that he wouldn’t win her trust right away, but that didn’t lessen the weight of being treated like this by her.

However, even though she was clearly resentful, [Name] had granted his request. And if she didn’t charge for the service... it meant that, deep down, she wanted to do it for him and was happy that he had come back.

A slight smile curved Mitsui's lips as he realized this, and he quietly approached [Name] until he stood just behind her.

"[Name]-chan," he called, letting the gratitude he felt fill her name.

Hearing his voice so close, [Name] tensed up, feeling her cheeks flush once more. Trying to sound as harsh as possible, she turned sharply and growled, "Hisashi, I already told you to—"

But she couldn’t finish the sentence. As soon as she turned around, a soft, warm touch on her left cheek silenced her instantly. Mitsui was leaning in, his hand gently resting on her left shoulder as his lips placed a very sweet kiss on her blushing face.

The touch lasted only a few seconds, but it was enough to make all the hairs on [Name]'s body stand on end. Internally, she wished Mitsui’s touch had lasted a little longer. Pulling back slightly, he whispered, "Thank you."

He then straightened up, running his hand through his hair in a slightly awkward manner.

"Well, I’ll be going. See you later, [Name]-chan."

He turned on his heels and headed toward the exit of the salon. The girl remained frozen, staring at the back of her childhood friend. She hated herself for being so affected by his gesture, and even more for knowing that deep down, she really wanted Mitsui back... for herself.

Maybe it wasn’t the right time for them to reconnect, but they could start, right?

She went back to sweeping, and just as he stopped to open the door, she raised her voice: “Hey, idiot.”

Startled, the teenager turned his torso enough to look at [Name] with a questioning expression. “If you don’t make Shohoku rise to the top of Japan, I swear I’ll beat you to death".

Mitsui's eyes widened, and gradually, a smile replaced his shocked expression. He chuckled quietly as he remembered the countless times he had said he would conquer the nation. There was no turning back. This time, he had to succeed.

Widening his smile even further, he looked at [Name] defiantly and said, “I’m on it.”

[kyra-house]

What do I imagine when Mitsui remembers the fight in the gym

[ritzy-reminiscence]

─🏀─ Slam Dunk : Pillow Wars

⸝⸝ tl;dr : how the shohoku starting five + kogure would act in a pillow fight ! features sakuragi, miyagi, rukawa, mitsui, kogure, and akagi !

⸝⸝ note : idea taken from this tumblr post by silentshayshores-2 ; it's prompt #9, "how would they hold up in a pillow war?" (also, a big thank you to thesaurus.com for showing me many ways to say "whack" :pray:)

Hanamichi Sakuragi 🌸

He'd be the most likely to start one, but is the least likely to actually win one. That's all you need to know.

I can imagine the Shohoku basketball team sitting down to watch a movie at someone's house and Sakuragi just .. throwing a pillow at someone out of nowhere.

(Someone being a certain ace player named Kaede Rukawa-)

He'd start the messiest and most chaotic pillow fight of the century and yet he's the one who gets whacked the most. (╥﹏╥)

He'd also get sick of getting whacked after awhile and will absolutely headbutt anyone who tries to do so again -

^^ It failed and he still gets walloped over the head anyways -

If Haruko were to be present, Sakuragi would fight tooth and nail to ensure that she doesn't get hit by anyone ... not that anyone would want to hit Haruko anyways .. (insert Akagi side-eyeing anyone who even dares to do so)

Ryota Miyagi ⚡

He'd side first with Sakuragi and would join in just for shits and giggles, but after a while he'd turn on Sakuragi and just go crazy with it.

Eventually he'd start to go after everyone and anyone. Except maybe Haruko because y'know. Akagi's scary when he's pissed.

Same as with Sakuragi, if Ayako were to be there he'd try to protect her from getting clobbered, but if anything Ayako would be the one clobbering him --

Somehow it's pretty hard to get a hit on him because he's running and jumping from place to place like lightning (winkwink)

And honestly, Ryota wouldn't let anyone hit him except for Ayako LMAO

Kaede Rukawa 💤

He'd be sleeping when the Great Pillow War commenced, but after being waken up with a couple of whacks by a certain hot-tempered redhead delinquent .. oh boy.

Rukawa is sitting straight up, glaring daggers at Sakuragi and clenching the pillow as hard as he can.

Tunnel vision on Sakuragi. Rukawa's seeing red and he's making a beeline for the so-called genius and no one is stopping him .

I imagine that someone else would be smacking him with a pillow and he just waves them away like a fly and just keeps on attacking Sakuragi (╥﹏╥)

Hisashi Mitsui 🦷

He'd get really pissy at first but when he decides to retaliate, he does it hard .

Like, I'm talking "cackling as he repeatedly smashes his pillow onto Kogure's head" type of hard. Either that or he turns on all the other members and just starts attacking everyone within a ten-mile radius.

Did he win ?? He did B)) (he didn't win ; he's only telling that to himself to make him feel better)

Kiminobu Kogure 👓

Being the mediator of the team, he'd step in and try to break everyone apart before injuries start happening ,,

,, but that doesn't mean he wouldn't join in the fun just to get back at Mitsui >:))

Eventually he's just lost in the chaos and he's laughing and smiling and having fun and he loves it .

Takenori Akagi 🦍

The one who actually stops the fight . Well, for like a split-second, anyways.

Then Sakuragi's stray pillow hits him full in the face and the next thing everyone knows the Great Pillow War has recommenced with the ferocity and the chaos magnified tenfold !!

Also the one that won the War. Bow before the great Gorilla King.

[taiyami]

I shall come here with a random question!

If you had to pick activities to go out and do with the Shohoku main five, what would you do with each one of them? 🖤

Hohohooo now this is a question ..

Me and Ryota:

No questions asked I know he knows where the good food is.

Me and Rukawa: .... hmm I fear he wouldn't like me much but I think if I was forced to spend an afternoon with him I'd take him to the park. I'm imagining a nice sunny day to take a nap on a little hill overlooking the water. I don't think he'd object too much to that.

Me and Akagi: ugh I wanna go to a library with this guy .. I feel like since he's so academic I'd love to hear what he likes to read. ^_^ Maybe he's really into some niche genre and he can recommend some books to me. KINDA DREAMY NO?

Me and Mitsui: MIT-CHAAAN I'll be so honest I don't even know!! I think it would be kind of fun to bike around a city with him and stop at some of the cooler spots to get lunch and desserts. I think that would be so fun 😩

Me and Hanamichi: MICHII AAAAGH i want to take his ass to the arcade. I WOULD HUMBLE HIM SO HARD. But I would also try to win him a claw machine stuffed toy so he wouldn't feel so bad. I also want to see how he'd do in a street market with his .... "unique" bartering skills. I think trying to keep track of him in a crowd would be pretty easy.

You didn't ask but I would take Akira on a swan boat ride at sunset with the flower petals floating in the air-

[randomlygreat1337]

I Know I Haven't Posted On Tumblr For A Year Now So, Here's A New One From My Community Posts Back In YT!!!

Picture's Event Date: May 17, 2024

I Got Hired By The Mitsui Cafe For A Part Time Job, Which Is Apparently Fumiko And Fumiki's Family Business That I Went To The Other Day. One Day At Work I Met An Interesting Person Who Decided To Show His Pencil Case To Me. He Claimed It's A Henshin Item Called The "Hope Case". Although I Thought He Was Just A Chuunibyou That Day (Which Ended Up Being True), I Admired The Energy In His Imagination!!!

Picture's Event Date: May 18, 2024

The Very Next Day, I Was Taking A Walk In Akamatsuya Town (A Town From Another Universe) With Fumiko When I Saw Someone Familiar. He Was The Chuunibyou I Met Yesterday!!! It Seems That He Recognized Us First Since He Complimented The Dango He Ordered From Us And Explained That He Couldn't Tip Me So He Showed Me His "Hope Case" To Entertain Me Instead. He Then Said His Name Is Yuwa, And He Presented Himself As A Big Fan Of Magical Heroes Like Sailor Moon And Madoka. Fumiko Instantly Knew That He Was A Chuunibyou After Being Curious, But She Was Cut Off After Yuwa Asked Why We Were In His Town. We Said We Were Sightseeing And Yuwa Replied By Explaining He's Also Going To Wander Around Because His Favorite Merch In The Stores Are All Sold Out. We Decided To Invite Him With Us And Go To The Town Beach To Feel The Breeze, Although He Acted Like He Was In An Anime Eyecatch In Between

[rose-colored-sd]

Mitsui, Rukawa, Ryota and Hanamichi all seem like they would dress up as ghostface.. it doesn’t take a lot of effort and it’s an edgy enough character. Imagining the basketball club having a halloween costume party and all four of them showing up as ghostface lmao

[skania]

I watched the Slam Dunk movie for the second time today and though the Shohoku/Sannoh match doesn't quite reach the greatness of the manga, I think I'd still have rated it 10/10 if it weren't for the very lousy timing of the flashbacks during the last 10 min of the game.

(Mild spoilers for the movie below the cut)

My issue is more than anything with that last flashback focused on Ryota's mom.

It isn't the only moment where the movie stops the match so we can revisit Ryota's past, but at least most of those flashbacks serve to build up Shohoku. We're shown more of Mitsui, more of Akagi and Kogure, and we even get a small scene with Ayako and a tiny one with Rukawa. It's easy to see how they add depth to the match we're watching. I was so happy to see more of Akagi's and Kogure's pasts!

The flashback focused on Ryota's mom doesn't serve that purpose, though. I'd argue it actually hurts the flow of the match. We're all hyped, holding our breath—and then the momentum is completely ruined by this long, dramatic flashback that should've been placed elsewhere. It doesn't help that I feel like it was inserted there, at that particular moment, simply so Sakuragi's plight wouldn't outshine Ryota's.

I imagine that's the same reason why Sakuragi's "I love [basketball] very much!" was cut, too. I can see two other reasons for that a) they may have thought that it wouldn't be as impactful in the manga b) it's also supposed to serve as an (accidental) confession to Haruko. But the thing is, it could've still worked despite that. The Sakuragi montage we got was enough to get the message across and have that moment land. A simple shot of Haruko superposed with Sakuragi's words could've let movie-onlies know there's more than meets the eye, specially because the flashback does open with Haruko asking him if he loves basketball. So I fear that what it comes down to is that Sakuragi isn't supposed to be the main character of the movie, so they couldn't let him have the emotional climax.

To a lesser extent, the same goes for the iconic Sakuragi and Rukawa high-five. It's fantastic but it's less impactful than in the manga, because in the manga it's just about them. The world ceases to exist in those few seconds where they look at each other and then high-five. In here, the scene cuts away just to show Ryota watching them. Even though it contributes absolutely nothing lol The worst part is that Ryota is already very present during that match in the manga! He is amazing during it and has some very memorable moments in the manga that perfectly set up the fact that he is Captain material. But instead of being satisfied with those, the movie goes out of its way to insert Ryota in pretty much every single moment he can possibly be inserted in, and it feels like a bit too much near the end.

In that regard, I felt like Rukawa kind of got the short end of the stick. This match is filled with amazing moments and insight into the kind of player he is, how far he will come and into his dynamic with Sakuragi. His rivalry with Sawakita is also fantastic. But in the movie he's kind of just there until it's time for him to kick ass, which I found a bit disappointing. They could've at least included a flashback to his 1 on 1 against Sendoh or against Sakuragi, since everyone else had the right to some flashbacks. I imagine that the logic was that just like Sakuragi, Rukawa already received enough focus in the manga, but... I still want to see more of him?

While I'm at it, I have to say that another thing that I couldn't help but ??? at was the after-credits scene. Instead of showing the Shohoku team picture, or at least including it, we wait... and for what? To see a table full of pictures of Ryota's brother? And don't get me wrong, I loved Ryota's backstory. But it feels a little of out-of-touch that the movies does spend a lot of time on the Shohoku-Sannoh match, getting us invested in the team, and then they're just never shown nor mentioned again after they win the match. I think that even if this were my first interaction with anything Slam Dunk, I'd have felt just as underwhelmed by the lack of Shohoku in the three closing scenes.

The funniest thing is that despite all this, it's still impossible to outshine Sakuragi (and Rukawa, for that matter). Sakuragi's main character energy is just too strong. I came out of the theater itching to read the manga again because I want more Sakuragi. So if that was Inoue's objective, I have to say he achieved it with flying colors. I haven't read the SD manga in years, and I've already gone through it twice in the last week!

He truly is the Tensai 😭

[kokiafans]

KOKIA in flashback - 2018

Time flies, and in 2018, KOKIA celebrates her 20th anniversary! She counts down to it with many new releases, starting with her 4-disc (!) best of album EVOLVE to LOVE, which gets a special big package release along with the normal version. On the video side, we get the 3-disc DVD release Bird Watching, looking back on her career in clips going as far back as 2002 and commentary throughout. Just ahead of her actual anniversary, she releases her new album Tokyo Mermaid, and finally, she celebrates her anniversary proper with the big venue concert Beyond Imagination.

Rather than ending her 20th anniversary there, she kicks off the celebrations proper, continuing to perform in both Japan and abroad, visiting China again, and even returning to France once more. The Tokyo Mermaid album is the first album in a while to get a French release, too.

KOKIA is also on a roll with the ton ton ton animal project and releases the second album in the series, again released in tin packages, and also releases merchandise as planned, including animalthemed cookies.

A first this year for KOKIA is a Blu-ray release. So far, her concerts have only been published on DVD, but her 20th anniversary concert gets both a DVD and Blu-ray release. Later this year, her 2016 LAYERS concert also gets a Blu-ray upgrade.

And finally, KOKIA starts a collaboration with cocochia, an organic brand, modelling for them together with her son Leo.

◆ Lives and events ◆

February 26 Mini live and autograph session to celebrate the KOKIA release EVOLVE to LOVE -20 years Anniversary BEST- (TOWER RECORDS Shibuya, B1F CUTUP STUDIO) (Promotion: mini live 20th anniversary)

March 3 KOKIA ~ongaku no kudaru basho~('the place where music falls') (Nagano, Yatsugatake Kogen Music Hall) (Promotion: Yatsugatake 2018)

April 29-April 30 KOKIA 2018 20 years Anniversary Concert ~Beyond Imagination~ (Tokyo Opera City Concert Hall) (Promotion: 20th anniversary concert)

May 3 E-ne! ~good for you~ Holiday School Special (ueen’s Square Yokohama 1F, Queen’s Circle) ※ Live performance broadcasted by FM Yokohama

May 12 Mario Tashiro's classical crossover - concert Primo! with the Tokyo Chamber Orchestra (Tokyo, Nihonbashi Mitsui Hall) ※ guest performance (promotion: Primo)

July 29 KOKIA premium symphonic concert ~KOKIA 20th Anniversary Fireworks Festival~ (Kanagawa Kenmin Hall, grand hall) (Promotion: fireworks festival 2018)

August 11 KOKIA 2018 in Nagoya Yume no tsuzuki ('sequel to a dream') (NAGOYA Blue Note) ※ 2 performances in 1 day (Promotion: Nagoya Blue Note 2018)

August 17 KOKIA 2018 20周年纪念中国巡演 ('20th anniversary China tour') (Guangzhou Friendship Theatre) ※ 20th anniversary concert (Promotion: China 2018)

August 18 KOKIA 2018 动物音乐会 (Guangzhou Grand View Theatre) ※ Animal concert (Promotion: animal concert China 2018)

August 19 KOKIA 2018 20周年纪念中国巡演 ('20th anniversary China tour') (Shanghai Bandai Namco) ※20th anniversary concert

September 15 KOKIA Ikimono no ongakukai ('concert of living beings') (Tokyo, Haremame (Haretara sora ni mame maite) ※ 2 performances in 1 day (Promotion: ikimono no ongakkai concert)

October 5 KOKIA Tokyo Mermaid ~yume miru abuku~ ('Dreaming bubbles') (Billboard Live TOKYO) ※ 2 performances in 1 day (Promotion: Billboard 2018)

October 21 KOKIA Salon (Harajuku Quest Hall) ※Event exclusively for members of the KOKIA fanclub, club ancoro, 2 performances total (Promotion: KOKIA Salon 2018)

November 11 KOKIA 20 Years Anniversary Stage (France, La Cigale) ※ First performance in Paris after 8 years (Promotion: Paris 2018)

November 24 KOKIA I remember YOU (Billboard Live OSAKA) ※ 2 performances in 1 day (Promotion: I remember you 2018)

◆ Releases ◆

February 21 Release of best-of album EVOLVE to LOVE -20 years Anniversary BEST- (Victor Entertainment) ※ First all-time best-of album consisting of 62 songs on 4 CDs, collected from over 8 labels, to commemorate 20 years since her debut. The first edition limited version contains a lavish booklet and 4-disc digipack. (EVOLVE to LOVE)

March 14 Release of the 20th anniversary complete video collection Bird Watching (anco&co.) ※ 3-disc DVD looking back on the 20 years since her debut via video and images (Bird watching)

April 25 Release of original album Tokyo Mermaid (Victor Entertainment) ※ First original album in 3 years released for her 20th anniversary year (Tokyo Mermaid)

July 27 Release of the DVD and Blu-ray of KOKIA 20th Anniversary concert Beyond Imagination (anco&co.) ※ First Blu-ray release (Promotion: 20th anniversary concert)

September 15 Release of the album Ikimono no ongakukai ('concert of living beings') (anco&co.) ※ second album in the ton ton ton project (tontonton, ikimono no ongakkai)

November Release of the Blu-ray KOKIA 2016 Concert LAYERS ~lights and shadows~ (anco&co.) ※Blu-ray version of the previously released DVD (Promotion: Layers concert)

◆ Other releases ◆

January 25 Release of the smartphone app game LibraryCross∞ ('Library Cross Infinite') ※ Wrote, composed and performed the theme song, Tomatta toki ~Library Cross~ (’Halted time’) (library cross) September 6 Release of the Monet single Egao no kisetsu ('Season of smiles') ※ Offered the end theme Egao no kisetsu ('Season of smiles') for Sun TV's Wagging Tail

◆ Other ◆

February 20-February 26 KOKIA EVOLVE to LOVE -20 years Anniversary BEST- Special Panel exhibition ※ On display at Tower Records Shinjuku and Tower Records Umeda Osaka Maru building (Translated blog entry)

April 9-April 15 Special broadcast on the Yunika Vision screen in front of Seibu Shinjuku station ※ Footage of performances from the 20th anniversary KOKIA complete video collection 3-disc DVD Bird Watching (yunika vision)

October Designs the brand logo for Dr. Recella's organic brand cocochia. Also models with her son for promotional images. (Promotion: cocochia)

[janith-mga2022mi6014]

I found out about a kimono merchant named Takatoshi Mitsui who lived in the Edo period and to this day his the business continues and I found it interesting. I thought maybe even a character like "Ishi" can be a customer who bought clothing from his shop and even after she comes to the present day she can buy clothes from the same shop.

The history of Mitsukoshi began in 1673, when Takatoshi Mitsui, a kimono fabric merchant, founded Echigoya, in Edo Honcho (present day Tokyo). This innovative business man introduced the sales at labeled prices concept to merchandising and sold fabric at whatever lengths his buyers desired. This made Echigoya very popular among its customers and the envy of its competition. From this humble beginning, Mitsukoshi has used this innovative approach to giving its customers the very best, and today, the history of the Company represents the accumulation of its efforts over more than three centuries to nurture a ‘customer first’ corporate philosophy, always searching for new and imaginative ways to meet the evolving needs of consumers over time.

[demon-fist-sixth-gen]

4:58

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4:59

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5:00

BEEP

BEEP

BEEP

ESTÁS ESCUCHANDO… … …

Ruido de coches derrapando y volcando

...TRIGAL EFE EME (eme… eme… eme…) ...

Publico aplaudiendo

¡DONDE TE TRAEMOS LOS CLÁSICOS DE AYER…

Fuegos artificiales varios

...Y DEL MAÑANA!

Sonidos de un OVNI abduciendo a una vaca. Mugido incluido

NO SOMOS LA RADIO DE TU ABUELITA

Misawa corretea por el pecho de Kaede, escala su manga y apaga la radio-despertador de su padre. La rubia la secuestró para sus nefastos propósitos, y la verdad que quitando que necesitó un par de pilas nuevas, ha funcionado perfectamente.

Kaede se incorpora lentamente en la cama, realmente no está acostumbrada a levantarse tan pronto. Camina hacia la ventana de su cuarto y levanta la persiana.

Wow… Murmura para sí. El cielo sigue negro, como si fuera de noche. Al lo lejos puede ver un convoy de motos bajando de lo alto del monte. Bosozokus, supone que han vuelto a montar ahora que Trigal es algo más seguro para ellos. Kaede abre la ventana y respira el frío aire de la manaña, ligeramente satisfecha.

Pone comida y agua a los Pilares, y les abre las puertas de la jaula, para que puedan ir y venir sin problema. Luego, se pone el chándal, un pequeño lujo que se dió tras idear el plan de entrenamiento; un pantalón y una chaqueta de Adidas, en color verde, con las tres rayas en las mangas y las perneras. Es de un tejido experimental, parece de lana artificial por fuera, pero es mucho más transpirable, se siente como si no llevara nada con ello.

Con cuidado de no despertar a su madre, baja a la cocina y abre una larga caja de cartón que descansa sobre el frigorífico. Coloca un vaso en la encimera y…

Uno… dos… tres… y cuatro.

...Rompe los huevos, vertiendo su contenido dentro del vaso. Se lo acerca a los labios, lo huele y le da una pequeña arcada. Eugh… Es capaz de hacer de tripas corazón, sin embargo, y llevárselo a la boca. La clara se desliza primero, humedeciendo sus labios. Es viscosa y está a una temperatura bastante desagradable. Cierra los ojos y deja que pase dentro de su boca, intentando no saborear mucho.

Una de las yemas baja por el vaso, como una babosa naranja, obligandole a abrir aún más la boca. Puede saborear el huevo en toda su cruda viscosidad con el cristalino conocimiento de que va a repetir esa sensación tres veces más. Levanta aún más el vaso, forzandose a beber más rapido, quiere hacerlo de un trago porque teme no ser capaz de dar otro si para. Una vez el vaso está vacío, lo separa de su boca y se limpia los labios con el dorso de mano.

Burp…Se le ha escapado, pero no hace que le dé menos vergüenza.

Deja el vaso en el fregadero y va a la puerta de la casa, donde tiene sus zapatillas de correr, bastante baratas, de ninguna marca que reconozca, pero que tendrán que servir. Mientras hace calentamientos repasa mentalmente el mapa de Trigal. Takako y ella diseñaron una ruta escénica de aproximadamente veinte kilómetros, comenzando en el hotel Mitsui Garden, cruzando toda la orilla hasta el puente Higobashi, donde girtaría al Norte, cruzaría el Watanabebashi y seguiría en esa dirección hasta Umeda, donde ha marcado el Hotel Hilton como referencia particular, porque siempre ve a muchas extranjeras muy monas saliendo de ahí, girar en el Porter hasta el río Yodo, cruzar el puente Jusanko y seguir la orilla hasta el siguiente puente, pasarlo y cruzar la otra orilla hasta el punto en el que ha entrado, y vuelta hasta el hotel.

Tiene más o menos claras las direcciones, pero duda bastante de sus capacidades. Se da un par de palmadas en la cara, para evacuar esos pensamientos de su cabeza, pega dos saltitos y sale de casa.

Beep

Con un botón, su reloj Casio comienza a cronometrar la carrera. Al principio Kaede se ve bastante ligera. No se ha dado cuenta, pero lo cierto es que sus entrenamientos con Satomura le han hecho mucho bien. No tener a una mujer de temperamento irritable dandole varazos en los gemelos ayuda bastante a su concentración.

Comienza a tener dificultades cuando cruza el primer puente. Frena un poco el ritmo y disfruta del paisaje. Nunca había visto el río, o al menos nunca se había fijado en él con esta luz, usualmente demasiado centrada en conducir con su motocicleta, demasiado veloz como para apreciar los detalles y las luces de la ciudad reflejadas en el agua. Coge una enorme bocanada de aire y sigue con su ruta.

Esquiva un par de borrachos que bajan por la calle, saludando a uno con la mano a modo de disculpa, porque casi le atropella. Nota como le empiezan a quemar los pulmones a mitad de trayecto, y mira su reloj. Apenas lleva diez minutos corriendo, no puede permitirse competir con esa capacidad cardiopulmonar.

Sigue corriendo, sin embargo, sin bajar el ritmo, respirando pesadamente, con sabor a hierro en la boca y la cara completamente roja. Cada paso es un pequeño infierno, una guerra interna entre su sentido de supervivencia, que le pide a gritos que pare, que deje a su cuerpo descansar, que coja aire, y sus ganas de continuar, de mejorar, de hacerse más fuerte, más rápida. Cruza el Yodo, parando un momento para contener lo poco que tiene en su estómago de salir por la boca. No descansa, sin embargo, se queda en el sitio, tirando series de puñetazos antes de arrancar de nuevo, y gira en la orilla.

Mira de nuevo su reloj, va a buen ritmo pero se siente que va a morir. Nunca había oído su corazón ir tan rápido, pelear tanto por dar otro latido, pasa la orilla a lo largo, da otro paso, coge aire por la boca, cierra los ojos, intenta recordar cual era la ruta. Acelera. Acelera. Acelera.

De una parte de su cerebro que ni sabía que tenía, se envía la orden directa a su corazón de que siga moviendo sangre, de que sus pulmones cojan tanto oxigeno como sea posible, de que sus músculos no cedan al ácido láctico que intenta bloquear sus extremidades. Pasa de nuevo delante del Hilton, un par de chicas rubias salen hablando entre ellas. No puede ni pensar en un piropo para decirlas, y aunque lo intentara solamente saldría un jadeo. No puede fallarle la concentración, ese sería su final.

Baja por la calle hasta Umeda, y sigue hacia el Sur. Pasa el Watanabebashi, coge aire por la boca, con un sabor húmedo y salado que le viene del puerto. Para un momento, serie de puñetazos. Se abre la chaqueta para soltar algo de calor y sigue corriendo. Baja la cabeza y sigue corriendo. Mira sus zapatillas y sigue corriendo. Paso tras paso tras paso, tras zancada tras zancada, sigue corriendo… hasta que alguien le para.

Takako sospechaba que esto podía pasar, así que ha ido a desayunar en la cara cafetería del Mitsui Garden, y cuando ha visto que Kaede pasaba, más muerta que viva, delante de la cristalera con la cabeza gacha y sin saber donde iba ha sentido la necesidad de actuar. Ha salido, dejando su té enfriandose en la mesa y le ha cogido por la cintura.

¡Para, loca, para! Takako mira a Kaede entre sus brazos y la suelta, no es bueno que pare tan de golpe. Camina un poco, respira. Te voy a ser sincera, no esperaba que hoy fueras a terminar la ruta.

Kaede no puede decir nada, da un par de pasos, pone los brazos en jarra y hace una sentadilla. Luego se incorpora y se gira a Takako. … Sigue sin salirle nada. Coge aire por la boca y por la nariz, apenas tiene tiempo ni fuerza para echarlo.

Finalmente, Takako le da dos palmadas en la espalda. Buen primer día, descansa quince minutos y vamos al gimnasio, quiero enseñarte a levantar pesas.. Le coge la muñeca y le mira en el reloj. Mañana quiero que lo hagas quince segundos más rápido, pero mejor de lo que esperaba.

Kaede ni siquiera había pensado en que mañana le toca hacer lo mismo... pero no tiene aliento para quejarse.

[savefilescomng12]

The end of the world is trending. Why are we so obsessed with the apocalypse?

It's the end of the world as we know it, and Jay Baruchel feels fine.On the second season of his Crave series We're All Gonna Die (Even Jay Baruchel), which launched last week, the host and namesake explores several possible apocalyptic scenarios, from insect extinction to a world ruled by artificial intelligence."I think we are all understandably anxious and constantly at odds with the world and civilization," Baruchel told CBC News recently. "And so when we get to, like, have a moment where we can go, 'Yeah, it's a garbage fire,' I think there is like a strange relief."The Ottawa actor is not alone in his fascination with the end times, if streaming services and the box office are any indication. Canadian director Caitlin Cronenberg released her debut feature film Humane on Friday, a dark comedy featuring Baruchel that imagines a not-so-distant future where overpopulation is addressed with human culls.Alex Garland's dystopian Civil War has topped the box office two weekends in a row, while post-apocalyptic TV series Fallout, based on a popular video game, is No. 1 on Amazon Prime.This comes on the heels of other massively successful apocalyptic shows like HBO's The Last of Us and Netflix movie Leave the World Behind, which featured stars Julia Roberts and Mahershala Ali.

Caitlin Cronenberg walks the red carpet for the premier of her debut feature film, Humane, in Toronto, on April 17. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)

'More popular than ever'

Chris Begley, an archaeologist and author of The Next Apocalypse: The Art and Science of Survival, says apocalyptic narratives in the media have always been a reflection of the times, going all the way back to ancient religious texts.He suspects the current wave is driven by the anxiety people feel about issues such as climate change and political uncertainty. "One thing is clear: apocalyptic narratives are more popular than ever," Begley said. He says the first few months of the COVID-19 pandemic were the closest thing many audiences have experienced to a potential apocalyptic scenario. Real-life events such as the pandemic, worsening wildfires and rising sea levels encourage us to imagine those futures.And even if the overall messaging feels dark, the narratives contain aspects of life many people want."If you think about some of these apocalyptic narratives, it really is like resetting everything. You're getting rid of the baggage. You're able to start anew, or perhaps you're able to have this ideal future that mirrors in some ways the things you wish would happen," Begley said.

'New technology' tapping into 'a very old desire'

Coltan Scrivner, a behavioural scientist who studies horror, true crime and morbid curiosity, says while humans have always been drawn to apocalyptic tales, we now have more ways using modern special effects of telling those tales in compelling ways."That's part of it, just using new technology to tap into a very old desire," he said.Coincidentally, new technology is also feeding our fears."I think also the world is changing pretty quickly, especially with AI, and there's questions about, is AI going to destroy the world or change the world into a sort of world that we don't recognize anymore."Scrivner, who is currently co-managing a travelling variety show called The Apocalypse Road Show in the U.S., says he personally finds it interesting to explore possible dangerous futures and see how people handle them."You get the suspense and the thrills, but you also get what feels like insight into situations that might happen that haven't happened yet," he said.Scrivner's research suggests consuming such seemingly bleak material could actually be helping people.In a 2021 study, he found people who had watched more apocalyptic and pandemic-themed movies felt more prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic and were more psychologically resilient during pandemic-related shutdowns."I think it can help people kind of feel like they're prepared or at least feel like they can handle the uncertainty a bit better," he said.

A scene of a post-apocalyptic version of downtown Calgary as production of HBO's The Last of Us descended on the province in 2021-22. (Tom Ross/CBC)

Apocalyptic narratives can shape our future

But our apocalypse obsession may not always be healthy. Studies show millennials and gen-Zers see a bleak future in many respects at a time when the climate is warming, life expectancy is down, costs of food and other essentials are rising, and home ownership is out of reach for many.Technology and culture writer Zara Stone has suggested apocalyptic programming caters to a hopeless feeling among young viewers by telling them that this is the norm, and "allowing them to think the lack of a future is acceptable." WATCH | Why some millennials feel like it's getting harder to get ahead:

Why some millennials feel like it’s getting harder to get aheadIn Canada, there’s an idea that if you work hard, you'll get ahead. But at least one group is starting to feel like hard work might not be enough to move up the social status ladder. CBC News’ Stephen Cook explores whether millennials have less opportunity than their parents to get ahead.Begley similarly cautions that these dystopian visions of the future can affect us after our screen time. The way our future is portrayed in the media we consume influences the way we all think about our own future, he says, and to some degree, that sets the parameters for what is possible in the real world."I think it's important for us to consciously think about the world we envision. For instance, is it one where your relationship with other people is one of caution and violence, or is it one where it's community and support?" he said.

'There are still things that we can all do'

Baruchel says his interviews with scientists and other experts for We're All Gonna Die — which takes an educational approach fusing science, psychology, pop culture and philosophy — have actually made him a more optimistic person. From his perspective, naming and understanding potential threats can give us a place to understand, process and plan from, in case we ever do encounter these scenarios in real life. "The through line to every person that I interviewed on that show was that, as insurmountable as any of this feels, there is a piece for each of us to carry," Baruchel said. "And that you don't have to throw your hands up and resign yourself there. There is a fight that we're all participating in, still. There are still things that we can all do. And it's nice to be reminded." Source link Read the full article

[slamdunk-headcanons]

37ºC, 2 p.m. (Imagine Mitsui Hisashi)

Hello people! How are you?

I'm so happy to bring this brand new Slam Dunk fanfiction for you guys after 8 years without writing anything besides headcanons for this fandom! And to restart, it's obvious I would choose my ultimate Slam Dunk husband, Mitsui Hisashi! I really hope you guys like it! But hold on, because there's more coming!

Posted on Spirit Fanfictions, Wattpad (all Portuguese version. Translated using AI with some personal adaptations) Word count: 1.9k Oneshot| College scenario Warnings: fem!reader, couple argue, anxiety mentioned Cover by rakolniskov

Synopsis: Mitsui catches his girlfriend attempting to do insane tasks in extreme conditions once again. While he tries to make her aware of the risks she’s taking, a message from a freshman turns everything upside down.

“Are you mad!?”

Even with headphones on, [Name] heard it, which made her throw the plastic Becker she had in her hand up in the air. She looked startled towards the entrance of the greenhouse, finding a breathless version of her boyfriend, Mitsui Hisashi. The hair falling over his forehead and the Tokyo University jersey accused that he had just come from practice.

“Do you know how hot it is in here!?”, he continued, striding determinedly towards his girlfriend.

[Name] frowned at Mitsui and, picking up the plastic Becker she had thrown, hit him on the shoulder three times.

“You are mad! You almost gave me a heart attack!”

“Me, mad?”, exclaimed Mitsui, holding her by the shoulders.”It’s 37 degrees in here!”

[Name] blinked, processing her boyfriend's words. Then she looked around and then up. The exhaust fan was running at full power, as was the humidification pad.

“But I turned on the cooling system”, she countered, thoughtfully.

Her attention seemed to finally detach from the task she was performing before Mitsui's interruption and returned to herself. Her clothes were drenched in sweat. Drops were pouring from her hairline and must have ruined the foundation she had put on that morning. The latex gloves she was wearing were covered in soil and stuck uncomfortably to her hands.

“Oh”, she unconsciously let slip.

The anger and indignation on Mitsui's face clouded over. With a long sigh, he said:

“One day, your hyperfocus is going to be the death of you. Look at you. How did you not realize it's boiling in here? Come on”. He opened one of the plastic bags hanging from his arm and took out a tangerine Gatorade, [Name]'s favorite flavor. “Drink.”

Mitsui unscrewed the cap and handed the bottle to his girlfriend, who drank it in one gulp. When the cold liquid started to flow down her throat, [Name] felt a wave of relief and freshness, making her realize how hot and thirsty she actually was.

“Ah, that’s delicious!” she said, lowering the empty bottle. “I was really thirsty.”

Mitsui stared at her, serious.

“No wonder.” His gaze wandered around the greenhouse and stopped at the huge bags full of soil that [Name] had apparently been handling. “Are you dealing with all that soil by yourself”.

“I need to fill the pots to set up the experiment for Friday”, replied [Name], already jumping to the justification.

Mitsui widened his eyes at her, indignant.

“What did I tell you the last time I caught you autoclaving those 110 pounds of soil by yourself?”

[Name] whimpered, stomping her field boots on the cracked concrete.

“Hisashi, I can't keep depending on you to do the heavy lifting for the experiments. It's a lot of work! Besides studying and attending classes, you also have to practice for the games.”

“And don't you have to do the same!?”, he exclaimed, throwing his arms out and slapping his thighs impatiently. “That's why you've been so exhausted! Look at the crazy things you've been doing, [Name]. You spent two weeks lifting those heavy soil cans by yourself until I found out! And that was right before the summer nationals qualifiers.”

“But-”

“And you don't tell me anything! You didn't mention the technicians' strike, you didn't say you were doing everything alone! I can help you, you know that!”

“Hisashi, I-”

At that moment, they heard three knocks against the wall of the greenhouse, sounding close to the door. They turned and saw a figure crouched behind the worn translucent plastic sheeting.

“Come in”, said [Name].

She immediately recognized the newcomer as soon as she tilted her head to make her face visible in the doorway.

“Ah, Etsuko-chan!”She was one of [Name]'s freshmen. “What is it?”

“Masako-sensei said tomorrow's game has had a time change. It'll be at 2 o’clock. Since you said you weren't going to practice today, she asked me to come and tell you.”

[Name] felt her boyfriend's silhouette stiffen beside her, and she was sure she was definitely in trouble.

“A-ah! Thank you, Etsuko-chan! See you tomorrow!”

She waved nervously at the freshman, who sensed the growing tension between the two and left as quickly as she could without appearing to flee.

There was a moment of dense silence in the greenhouse before Mitsui's voice thundered against the sheeting:

“You have a game tomorrow!?”

“I, look Hisashi, I can…”

All attempts to explain herself vanished from [Name]'s mind the moment her eyes met Mitsui's.

For there was a pain there that she did not expect to find.

[Name] fell silent, waiting expectantly for the next reaction. However, Mitsui's stormy stance dissolved like a cloud suddenly blown away by a strong gust of wind. His broad shoulders fell, and deep sadness creased his face.

“You…”, he started again in a sullen tone. “You don't ask for help when you need to do something here in the greenhouses. And now you don't even tell me the dates of your games... [Name], is something going on between…”

She understood what he meant before the sentence was finished. Instinctively, she moved towards her boyfriend in one swift motion and held his face with both hands. Her eyes were brimming with tears, and her heart was pounding.

“No! It's not what you're thinking, Hisashi!”, she exclaimed, clearly shaken. Just the mere idea made her heart race with nervousness. “There's nothing wrong between us, I... it's just…”

Finally, the tears came.

Tears of exhaustion.

[Name] covered her face with her hands, crouched down, and broke into sobs.

“I swear I'm trying!”, she cried between sobs. “But it's so much... So much... But I can't…”

Alarmed, Mitsui knelt beside her and wrapped her in an awkward hug. Seconds later, he gave up on the position, sat on the ground, and pulled her onto his lap. [Name] cried for nearly ten uninterrupted minutes, clinging to Mitsui's jersey. Finally, the sobs grew less frequent until they ceased.

“You've always been like this since junior high. Too quiet. Too stubborn. Why do you still insist on doing things alone?”

[Name] sniffled and, after a few moments of silence, responded:

“I don't like bothering others with my problems.”

“Oh, so I'm ‘others’?”

“It's not that!”, protested [Name], giving Mitsui a light punch in the abdomen, which made him stifle a groan. “Sorry. It's just that I don't... want to be a burden.”

“Hey!”,  Mitsui held [Name]'s chin with his index finger and thumb, lifting it so he could look her deeply in the eyes. “Your problems, my problems. Isn't it you who keeps quoting that verse up and down every time I refuse your help to study, "and they shall become one flesh"?

[Name] felt her face flush at the quote, and her heart seemed to skip a beat. Why did he always remember every detail of what she said?

In her embarrassed silence, Mitsui reinforced:

“You will never, ever be a burden to me. So please, let me help you. That way, you won't be so tired.”

He hugged her tightly against his chest, and she nestled against his jersey. After almost a minute of silence, [Name] said:

“I feel like my brain is unlearning how to think. There's so much information to manage, so many important decisions to make... Alone. My advisor is very busy. My co-advisor helps a lot, but he has his own students to supervise. I've never put together an entire research project by myself, let alone execute one. It's difficult... I'm afraid I won't be able to finish on time. And then there's the team... Even though I'm not in the sports-related courses, Masako-sensei counts on me a lot as a player. And I feel the pressure, you know? I wonder if the other players are jealous... There are girls in physical education who sit on the bench! And then there's the worries at home...

She let out a long sigh and buried her face in Mitsui's jersey.

“I'm sorry for forgetting to tell you about the game. I can't take so many memory lapses anymore... I'm so tired…”

Mitsui kissed the top of [Name]'s head and adjusted her on his lap so he could lift her in his arms as he stood up.

“So, today, you're going to rest. No more messing up with this soil. After the game, you can finish this. I'll come to help you.”

[Name] let out a long sigh, resigned.

“Okay. Let me just get the tools to return them to the mechanization area.”

She swung her legs, signaling she wanted to get down. Mitsui set her on her feet with another kiss, this time on the side of her head.

“Get everything and give it to me. I'll-”

Mitsui couldn't finish his sentence because, at that moment, all the roof sprinklers turned on simultaneously. Within seconds, a thick cloud of water droplets filled every inch of the stuffy greenhouse air. [Name] had stopped mid-stride and turned. Now, she was staring at Mitsui with wide eyes. Slowly, her hands rose to cover a smile that insisted on curving her lips.

“It's…”, she ducked quickly, as if dodging a ball that had just passed close to her head. “It's 2 o’clock.”

“What?”, Mitsui replied, confused. “2 o’clock... But isn’t the game tomorrow?”

[Name] stifled a giggle.

“No! It's just that I had done a programming test earlier with the micro-sprinklers for 2 p.m.... And I forgot to turn off the automatic setting!”

The two exchanged astonished looks and suddenly burst into laughter. [Name] hugged her belly, doubling over with laughter. The water ran cold over her body, bringing a strange sense of relief. The temperature inside the greenhouse dropped generously, making the air feel lighter.

Feeling a pleasant warmth in his chest, Mitsui watched [Name] laugh for a few moments, then finally walked over to her. Water dripped from her hair and ran down her makeup-smeared face to the curve of her smile, which redirected the droplets.

It was the most beautiful smile he had ever seen, and he would do anything to protect it.

Gently, Mitsui held [Name]'s face with both hands and gazed deeply into her eyes.

“I know I may not be as smart as you, but I want to help you in any way I can.”

[Name] gave a small laugh and a light slap on Mitsui's chest.

“Don't say that. You are smart. And you've always helped me, much more than you ever thought you could.”

Mitsui smiled and, without another word, touched [Name]'s smiling lips with his own.

She stifled a smile as she thought about how her boyfriend had an incredible ability to say so much even when he said little. Mitsui tended to be direct when he spoke, but he left many subtleties unsaid in each touch. And [Name] felt and understood each one of them, hidden in that kiss.

The four fingers gently encircling the side of her neck said, "I know you're feeling weak. I'll support you." The thumbs on her cheeks that made light caresses on her skin said, "I'll take care of you." The distance he kept between his chest and hers said, "You don't fully belong to me yet, and I recognize and respect that." The slight tremor in his lips said, "I'm afraid I won't be able to help you," but the continuous, gentle, and affectionate touch said, "I love you."

A few tears welled up in [Name]'s eyes, camouflaged by the droplets from the micro-sprinklers. Gently, she raised her hands and placed them tenderly on Mitsui's jaw. She made a slight movement with her lips, intensifying the touch for a moment, then pressing them against his.

Looking deeply into his eyes, she said with a smile:

“I love you, Hisashi. Thank you…”

[jcmarchi]

Noubar Afeyan PhD ’87 to deliver MIT’s 2024 Commencement address

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/noubar-afeyan-phd-87-to-deliver-mits-2024-commencement-address/

Noubar Afeyan PhD ’87 to deliver MIT’s 2024 Commencement address

Noubar Afeyan PhD ’87, an inventor and parallel entrepreneur with a penchant for bold ideas, will deliver the address at the OneMIT Commencement Ceremony on Thursday, May 30.

Afeyan is the founder and CEO of the venture creation company Flagship Pioneering, which founds companies that build biotechnology platforms to transform human health and sustainability. Since its founding in 2000, the company has built more than 100 science-based companies; Flagship-founded companies currently have more than 60 drugs in clinical development.

One of Afeyan’s most well-known successes is Moderna, which invented and produced an effective Covid-19 vaccine approved and deployed to billions of people in more than 70 countries. Currently the company’s chairman, he co-founded Moderna working with his team at Flagship and three academic co-founders in 2010, when the idea of using messenger RNA in therapies was virtually unheard of. But Afeyan has long been known for asking unconventional “What if?” questions and building companies with visionary goals. “Why wouldn’t you think you can actually change the world?” he said in a 2021 interview with Forbes.

“You might expect that after Moderna’s success in bringing lifesaving Covid-19 vaccines to the world, Noubar would rest on his laurels. But he isn’t that kind of entrepreneur,” says MIT President Sally Kornbluth. “In fact, he cautions that anyone seeking to benefit humanity on a large scale should avoid getting comfortable. He’s not afraid to make long-shot, long-term bets, investing in the most innovative science for the biggest impact. We are delighted to welcome Noubar to share his bold, dynamic outlook with the Class of 2024.”

“MIT is a place where audacious ideas abound, thanks in large part to its remarkable students. I’m thrilled to address the Class of 2024 as they prepare to make an impact in the world. We need their curiosity, imagination, inventiveness, courage, and determination — now more than ever,” Afeyan says.

A member of the MIT Corporation, Afeyan has a long relationship with the Institute. He earned his PhD in biochemical engineering at MIT in 1987 and was a senior lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management for 16 years, starting in 2000. Among other activities, he serves on the advisory board of the MIT Abdul Latif Jameel Clinic for Machine Learning, and has spoken at numerous Institute events, including MIT Solve.

“Afeyan has shown repeatedly that outstanding scientific talent, when relentlessly focused on audacious goals, can yield breakthroughs that many thought were impossible. His prolific record of invention, along with his coaching, funding, and mentoring of scores of science-driven startup businesses, provides a user’s guide on how to channel advances in science and technology to promote the public good,” says James Poterba, the Mitsui Professor of Economics and the chair of the Commencement Committee.

Born in Beirut to Armenian parents, Afeyan is a staunch advocate for the contributions of immigrants to economic and scientific progress. He is the co-founder of the Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity and a number of other philanthropic projects.

“I’m excited to learn from Dr. Afeyan as our commencement speaker. His work in biotechnology and entrepreneurship is truly inspiring, and I can’t wait to hear the insights and experiences that he will share with us,” senior class president Penny Brant says.

“I hold great admiration for the groundbreaking work of Moderna and its revolutionary vaccine development. Dr. Afeyan’s contributions to the field of biotechnology are truly commendable. As the UA president and a representative of my constituents, I am interested to hear what insights he will share with our graduating class,” Andre Hamelberg, president of the Undergraduate Association, says.

“I think it’s great that our speaker will have shared so many of our experiences. I’m excited for what advice he will offer us all,” Mikala Molina, president of the Graduate Student Council, says.

Afeyan joins notable recent MIT Commencement speakers including YouTuber and inventor Mark Rober (2023); Director-General of the World Trade Organization Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala (2022); lawyer and social justice activist Bryan Stevenson (2021); retired U.S. Navy four-star admiral William McRaven (2020); three-term New York City mayor and philanthropist Michael Bloomberg (2019); and Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg (2018).            

[shohokubasket]

SLAM DUNK AU-High School Martial Arts Club

This was quite a different when I started lol but I've made significant changes that I'm pretty happy with (mostly I figured out where to place Rukawa lol)! Anyway, this AU imagines Shohoku as a high school with lots of martial arts clubs :D

Judo Club

Akagi (Team captain)

Haruko

Sakuragi (Newbie with natural talent, joined because Haruko asked if he did judo)

Kakuta

Karate Club

Miyagi (Ace on the boys team)

Ayako (Ace on the girls team)

Yasuda

Kendo Club

Mitsui (Team captain)

Iishi

Shiozaki

Kyudo (Archery) Club

Kogure (Team captain)

Kuwata

Rukawa (Ace)

Aikido Club

Sasaoka

Tidbits

Shohoku has historically had strong Aikido and Kyudo teams.

Akagi, Kogure, and Mitsui all got to know each other from being part of the same class their first year of high school and became close friends.

Kuwata and Iishi are good friends from junior high. The Kuwata became friends with Rukawa through the Kyudo club, are Iishi and Rukawa are in the same class so they became friends. Sasaoka also becomes friends with them since he and Kuwata are in the same class. Anyway this friend group talks about their school clubs to each other lol.

Miyagi and Mitsui at first get off on the wrong foot because of them fighting for dojo space but then they quickly become friends.

[sarndonic]

Imagine being Mitsui's classmate, finding yourself developing a deep crush on him after he cut his hair (and became an athlete again). You thought you were succeeding in hiding it (considering that you saw him everyday in class), but then you went and witnessed the Shoyo game and... I'll just leave it there.

<더 퍼스트 슬램덩크> 中 정대만 (三井 寿) 🚫 Pls Gif don't crop/Don't edit the logo

[inkofyoonkoo]

Anyway I just realized that Yoongi has become the human rapresentation of Hanamichi Sakuragi (before he shaved his hair) and now he has my deepest, unconditional love ❤️