1 Pure Determination

[Takayuki that was our last hope.. the Mavs didn't even want to meet us.]

An african man with a skinhead wearing a business suit gave me a couple of pats on my shoulders. With his head held down, seemingly more disappointed than me, he turned around and started to walk away.

[Bohnson thank you for everything.]

I clenched my fists in frustration and gathered all my will to mutter out my thanks. My vision was getting blurry as tears were threatening to flow and I felt this incredibly sour feeling in my chest.

[I am too short afterall...]

I know with my height of 160cm it was long shot to get into the NBA but it still hurts so much when reality hits. I had given it my all to prove I can play. I had won multiple MVP awards back in junior high and high school. There was even a time when I was ranked the top prospect in Japan. But all of that didnt matter because I didn't grow even one cm after I turned 16.

Bohnson advised me not to join the draft for the NBA after my first college year depite me averaging 12 points and 15 assists. He already had news through his connections that no team would draft me even if I did. I stayed in college year after year and its obvious that my role in the team was getting smaller. It was an experiment at first so I got some minutes but Coach never liked seeing my small frame running up and down in games. I was benched in favour of bigger guys with less skills. My minutes was reduced greatly by the time I reached my fourth year. And now the rejection Bohnson informed me about was made by the Mavs G League. I couldn't even get into the developmental league. My NBA dream is over.

I stopped thinking about anything, I felt numb. I am tired of these heartbreaking emotions from the many rejections. I need to be anywhere but here now. The ball in my hands dropped to the ground. I was practicing my shooting like always when Bohnson broke the news to me. Dragging my feet along, I started to walk.

As I left the indoor basketball court, I felt the warmt of the sun rays on my skin. Is this a form of consolation from the heavens? I questioned indignantly.

I kept walking and walking. Every stranger I passed was at least one head taller than me. It didnt felt like this back in Japan. Its no wonder I couldnt make it in the game where height was a big factor. Guess I will have to go give it a try back in Japan or go to the CBA.

Muggsy Bogues, how the hell did you do it? This guy had the same height as me but he made it to the nba. I thought if he could make it, theres no way I cant too. Thats what Bohnson felt too. But basketball is not only a game of height, age matters too. Being 24 this year, if I cant get into a team, that would be it for me. I don't blame Bohnson for walking away, we all knew that was my final shot.

I looked down and continued walking. And then it happened.

[HONKKKK HONKKKK]

The loud honks from a vehicle nearby woke me up from my thoughts. As I was staring down on the floor while walking, the first thing that I saw was the sidewalk.

[I am on the sidewalk! So I should be safe. Phew.]

Immediately afterwards I looked up and my eyes widened.

[HOLY SHIETTT!]

A truck was turning at the junction right in front of me. Does the driver think he's playing Initial D! You shouldn't turn at such high speeds! Its a freaking truck for god's sake! A loud crash could be heard followed a sharp screech of metal scraping the floor. The head of the truck was moving directly in my direction.

[DAMNIT! @#$#@$&#@]

I was screaming swear words at the top of my lungs. But just then, as a through and through japanese kid, I had an epiphany.

[TRUCK-KUN! IT'S YOU RIGHT!?]

If anyone saw Takayuki's face right now, they literally would see the word crazy written on his forehead. On the second story of the building right in front of Takayuki, a young man was sipping bubble tea next to his girlfriend when he heard that shout.

The young man began choking on the bubble tea pearls due to him laughing. Sounds of choking could be heard at first, followed by a stifled laugh and then a spitting sound.

[GArghH! Pfffft! Pui!]

A certain black object flew in a parabola towards a certain someone. Takayuki felt something slimey and squishy hit the side of his face. He ignored it and focused on on the incoming truck.

This is it! With the help of Truck-kun, I will relive another life. This is common knowledge in Japan. Hell with it! Probably half the world knows about Truck-kun. This time I swear I will BECOME A BASKETBALL GOD!

The truck slid towards me but right as it was about to hit me, it came to a screeching halt. What a tragedy, I was not hit by the truck at all despite my strong desire. Possibly due to the excitement, I felt my blood rush to my heart and my heart began to thump irregularly.

[BaDup- Dup- BaDup- Ba...]

And it stopped! Wait is this an heart attack? No this cant be! I need to be killed by Truck-kun to fulfill the condition! My heart clearly stopped but I cannot die like this. A sharp pain spread across my chest and it felt as if my heart was being ripped out. As my vision started to darken, I moved my body with pure determination and slammed my head as hard as I could on the the truck.

[BAM!]

My vision went fully dark.