August 15.
With so fatigue, Billy headed to a basketball hall, a small arena in a green area. The call was crucial, arriving after 5 PM, when Michael rested with the guys, recovering from a day of continuous play from 9 AM to 5 PM to improve his level after being in baseball. Billy nodded to place bets; this ti, he could be more daring and bet in multiple casinos and betting houses. He hoped to scrape about five million in sports bets.
-This way, Mr. Carson- comnted a security team mber. Upon seeing him, the guard wanted to ask for an autograph. The basketball team often talked about the great artist of the mont and how he had inspired them with his comic, which now featured one of the most grandiose final arcs, with thrilling national matches and the eagerly awaited quarterfinals of the competition.
Billy saw that the author had finished the manga "Slam Dunk" and had spent much ti imagining and extending how to compose the entire scene. He made so quick adjustnts to advance to the quarterfinals, with Sakuragi/Will on the bench, helplessly watching the boys win a close victory in the quarterfinals but lose in the semifinals against a solid team based on the Spurs, a defensive team with the most promising player of the prefecture, standing 2 ters tall.
Thus, Will/Sacranto High's team loses in the semifinals, becoming the fourth team in the country.
Ending the series, he paved the way for a second season in Sakuragi/Will's life, married to Hanna/Haruko, re-entering the professional world as a rookie, showcasing what it ans to be a rookie in the NBA. He planned to draw inspiration from so players, depicting the climb to the top and the struggle to succeed as expected, highlighting the diocre skills not yet fully polished, as the average NBA level is one of perfection in all aspects. He hoped this would be a spin-off of at least 200 chapters.
-Sir, may I have your autograph? - asked the security guard, with a look of embarrassnt. Michael had already signed a paper for all team mbers.
Billy observed the man, in his forties, slightly overweight, with a receding hairline, looking tired.
-Of course, do you need a dedication? - Billy asked.
-Yes, it’s for my son Tim, - the guard replied.
-Do you have a pen or pencil? - Billy inquired, carrying only a portfolio with pre-signed gifts.
The man’s smile faded, feeling the urge to hit himself over sothing so simple.
-Let give you a good point; I’ll wait for you. I’ll be out in half an hour; you can get so paper. Perhaps, I’ll ask for you. What’s your na? - Billy said.
-Charlie Hampson, - the guard replied.
-Well, Charlie, I hope we can get that autograph signed for Tim Hampson. If I have any spare rchandise, I can give you sothing, but I ca for the basketball players, so I can’t promise anything, - Billy said, patting the man's shoulder.
-Y-yes, I’ll try, - the man stamred, opening the gym door as a team of two-ter-tall n, so shorter, ran back and forth in a nearly unbelievable scene.
Billy crossed the gym doors and took a seat as he received an unexpected call, deciding not to answer it for now. He needed to remain silent and hold that eting much later. In the stands, watching the basketball ga, there were four teams in the arena, moving intensely back and forth in training. It was 5:10 PM, with no sign of stopping. Billy arrived a bit later than expected, adjusted his portfolio on his knees, and decided to close his eyes.
As the sound of balls, shouts, whistles, and shoe soles filled his mind, he felt a certain exhaustion and needed to pay attention to these symptoms. He took a breath and heard two loud whistles. The clock showed 5:25. When the whistle sounded, there was applause.
In the other corner, the tallest man, possibly the most popular player in Arica, nodded, with a rebellious look on his face despite being in his thirties. Next to him were Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, and other Bulls players.
-Didn't expect you to show up,- Michael Jordan joked. -Your agent could have ntioned that you’re one of the busiest people in Arica. A pleasure, you can call Michael.-
-I have such a tight schedule that ti can beco my most valuable asset, but soone ntioned you wanted to see . It's incredible to et you... Sotis we underestimate fa,- Billy replied, shaking Michael's hand.
Looking at the other mbers.
-I’m Charles, - said a dark-skinned man with gigantic hands.
-Charles Barkley, when I have ti, I sotis watch the sports channel to unwind, - Billy comnted.
-Then you know who I am,- questioned a sweaty Scottie Pippen.
-Of course, you’re Scottie Pippen, Steve Kerr, and Patrick Ewing,- Billy replied, greeting all the basketball stars, who smiled back at him.
-As you know, a guest shouldn’t co empty-handed to a eting. Let's take a seat; my portfolio might just be where you'll see so magic happen,- Billy said, pulling out so "Slam Dunk" mangas. He had around 500 volus reserved from the first 30 chapters before Nike's sponsorship—a collector's piece with Billy's signature.
-These are the first volus I printed before Nike offered to sponsor my comics. There was no such intention when I started, so they are all in black and white and without sponsorship details. They are my most cherished volus. Do any of the guys like 'Slam Dunk'?- Billy asked, handing over six volus from the eight he brought, keeping four and one for the security guard.
-I think I’ll ask around,- comnted Steve Kerr, heading to the locker room. "Slam Dunk" is the best-selling comic in North Arica, with a total of 485 million copies sold. Each volu sells at least a million copies, with so surpassing two, three, four, five, or even the record eight million copies.
-So, this is almost unprecedented, - comnted Michael Jordan.
-You could say that. It has my signature and is one of the first editions. You have 23/50,000, so consider yourself lucky,- Billy said, unwrapping a comic that ca in a bag.
-This, on the other hand, is a color draft, drawn and painted by . So far, I've only given away three drafts. I used to make two or three books by hand. This is one I've kept,- Billy explained, handing over the bag, which looked glorious to Michael's eyes—the number 4, in color, with incredible details.
Then, Patrick Ewing asked a question that caught Billy off guard for a mont.
-Hey, I know you’re a genius, but why are there so many white guys playing basketball? Don’t get wrong; those guys can’t play,- Patrick said, earning laughs from his teammates, who awaited the response with so intrigue.
-Oh... I was a 9-year-old kid when I created the series, so so things are a bit childish,- Billy began, giving a brief overview. -It’s also a way to distinguish characters. We need distinctions, and that’s why we use costus in comics. But since this one is based on real life, I had to play with hairstyles, hair color, and skin color... This comic, in particular, has almost 400 characters. It’s a challenge to manage so many characters, and despite my exceptional talent, I tend to repeat myself. So, I do my best to organize the characters. Why do you think a basketball player wears glasses?- Billy asked.
-Makes sense... but damn,- Patrick said.
-Be careful with those volus; they are scarce and valuable,- Billy cautioned.
-Makes sense,- Jordan added.
-It’s more than logical. When I started, I didn’t have a team to help , and everything was up to . I colored and made drafts because I needed to gain perspective. But black-and-white prints are painful. So reducing and increasing skin types gave advantages. Now I use it as a way to adapt my comics for the people who buy them,- Billy explained.
***
Later that night.
-Steve, I didn't expect your call,- Billy said, surprised.
-Neither did I, but it seems you’re the majority shareholder of Apple—sothing I didn’t expect. Have you heard about the rger between Apple and NeXT?- said Jobs over the phone.
-I have so ti tomorrow afternoon. I’m in Los Angeles,- Billy replied.
-Perfect, I won’t take up more of your ti. We’ll finalize everything in person,- Jobs said, smiling at how quickly he could arrange etings with Billy. He liked that kind of efficiency. Though he knew the young man and his business acun, who knew what to expect? He didn’t regret investing in NeXT; the kid is said to be the best animator in Arica. However, there’s a debt to settle, and his domain is Apple.
...
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