HPDBC Chapter 291 True Feelings Revealed
Chapter 291 True Feelings Revealed
Chapter 291 True Feelings Revealed
Regarding sports-themed projects, Kitahara Shin did initially consider directly remaking "Slam Dunk" into a live-action version.
After all, this work enjoys unparalleled popularity in Japan and even throughout Asia. However, after learning more about it, Kitahara Shin abandoned the idea. The original author is extremely strict about copyright control, and the casting and action presentation of a live-action basketball movie could easily turn into a pretentious and childish slapstick comedy.
Since it's hard to get other people's IPs, let's create our own!
Kitahara Shin simply copied the setting and story outline from the wildly popular online manga "Haikyuu!!" from his previous life. He didn't need to worry about the script's development or polishing of details. The sports genre already had a well-established formula: a declining powerhouse school, geniuses and mediocre students with contrasting personalities, a team full of unbreakable bonds, and the national tournament where players constantly push their limits through sweat and toil. As long as these core elements were handed over to his experienced scriptwriting team, the resulting script would be guaranteed to be thrilling.
As for Kitahara Shin himself, he certainly wouldn't join in the fun and play a high school student.
Although his current physical abilities, enhanced by equipment such as the "Ring of Life," make his jumping, strength, and reaction speed almost superhuman, it still feels somewhat incongruous to have a multinational conglomerate tycoon trying to project a youthful, naive image.
Therefore, the role he reserved for himself in this script is either a devilish mentor who keeps a low profile but can make the final decision at crucial moments, or the biggest villain BOSS he will face in the national competition.
The key to whether this drama can succeed lies entirely in the young actors who play high school students.
The moment the casting announcement was made, young male actors across Japan went absolutely wild. To land a role in this ensemble drama destined to be a huge hit, these ambitious sixteen- and seventeen-year-olds practically threw themselves into volleyball training. Every day, aside from eating and sleeping, they practiced passing, spiking, and diving saves relentlessly, leaving their knees and elbows covered in bruises.
Soon, the day of the formal audition arrived.
The headquarters of Kitahara's office houses an indoor volleyball court that meets international competition standards.
Dozens of young actors, who had passed the initial physical screening, stood neatly at the edge of the court, dressed in uniform sportswear.
Among them were not only Takeru Satoh, who was being groomed by Kitahara's own agency, but also several promising talents who were at the peak of their looks and exuding invincible youthful energy in 1997: such as Satoshi Tsumabuki, who had a bright and sunny smile like a little sun; Yosuke Kuboe, who had a unique temperament and a natural sense of genius and arrogance; and Junichi Okada, who had exceptional physical abilities.
These young people were all full of vigor and vitality, and their eyes were filled with undisguised competitiveness and hostility when they looked at each other.
In their view, today's audition would definitely involve giving them a few lines and asking them to act out emotions such as sadness, anger, or passion.
However, when Kitahara Shin, dressed in a simple black tracksuit, casually walked onto the court with a volleyball in his hand, everyone fell silent.
"Hello, President!" Everyone bowed and greeted him in unison.
Kitahara Shin walked to the net, his gaze sweeping over the group of energetic faces. Without any preamble, he got straight to the point: "I've seen your profiles. But for me, making a sports drama doesn't require you to have exceptional acting skills. In fact, the more inexperienced and blank you are, the better. Because I need this role to truly resonate with you, even to accompany you for a lifetime."
Hearing this, the boys looked at each other, somewhat bewildered. If acting skills weren't being tested, then what would they be tested on?
Kitahara Shin gripped the volleyball with one hand, a menacing smile playing on his lips: "Today's audition rules are very simple and brutal, and have nothing to do with your acting skills. Now, immediately put aside your hostility and form teams of six. Then, go to the other side of the court and play against me."
"If your team can get even one point from me, even if it's just a lucky one, all six of you will pass the final audition."
These words caused an uproar in the room!
Everyone looked at Kitahara Shin with shock and disbelief. One person, taking on a team of six? And winning just one point? It sounded like a fantasy, almost an arrogant contempt.
But Kitahara Shin didn't give them much time to think or protest. He simply waved his hand, signaling the staff to blow the whistle.
"Start forming teams. You have five minutes!"
Under these extremely oppressive rules, the young people who initially disliked each other were forced to come together. Soon, the first team, composed of several teenagers who considered themselves to be physically excellent, confidently stood on the other side of the net.
"Beep—" The whistle rang out.
The first ball was served by Kitahara Shin.
Kitahara Shin casually tossed the volleyball high into the air, squatted slightly, and then, as if he were springy, he soared into the air to everyone's astonishment! The terrifying height he reached made people wonder if he had defied gravity.
"Bang!"
His arm lashed out like a long whip, and the volleyball made a teeth-grinding bang, turning into a blur as it smashed directly into the corner of the baseline in the opposite half of the court.
Before the six boys on the other side could even react, the volleyball had already bounced into the second-floor stands.
The entire room fell silent.
The next half hour was a brutal, one-sided massacre. Whether it was serving, spiking, or blocking, Kitahara Shin, with the terrifying physical abilities granted by his "Ring of Life," single-handedly shut down the entire court. Several teams went up against him, but let alone scoring a single point, very few could even safely return the ball to Kitahara Shin's half of the court.
Seeing the previous groups of people lose in defeat, dejected and covered in sweat, the faces of Satoshi Tsumabuki, Yosuke Kuboya, Takeru Satoh, and others standing on the sidelines all became extremely solemn.
"We can't fight him head-on; his strength and speed are simply superhuman." Yosuke Kubo's eyes gleamed with a strange light as he turned to look at the group of peers around him. "The only way to score points is to outmaneuver him with superior tactics."
"That's right," Takeru Satoh wiped the sweat from his forehead, his gaze resolute, "Someone has to act as bait to distract him from blocking."
"Leave the bait to me!" Satoshi Tsumabuki patted his chest, his eyes blazing with unwavering determination. "I'll jump with all my might, just to create even the slightest opening for you!"
Several teenagers who had previously had no connection quickly united as one for a common goal. They began to whisper among themselves, assigning positions and devising extremely risky tactics.
Finally, it was their team's turn to take the field.
The game started with Kitahara Shin's terrifying jump serve.
"Bang!"
The volleyball came hurtling in like a cannonball. This time, Junichi Okada didn't dodge. Instead, he gritted his teeth and, with a perfectly executed diving save, braced himself against the powerful blow with his arms! Although the volleyball was launched high into the air, Okada's arms instantly turned bright red.
"Well done!"
Yosuke Kuboe appeared like a ghost beneath the volleyball's landing point, his hands firmly catching it. At the same time, at the net, Satoshi Tsumabuki, like a nimble bird, leaped high with all his might, executing a fluid and powerful spike, shouting, "Give me the ball!"
Kitahara Shin's eyes flashed, and his body appeared in front of the net as if by teleportation. He raised his arms high, turning into an insurmountable wall that blocked all of Tsumabuki Satoshi's spike routes.
However, just when everyone thought the ball was going to be blocked.
Yosuke Kubozuka's lips curled into a sly smile. The instant his hands touched the ball, he didn't pass it to Satoshi Tsumabuki in mid-air. Instead, he subtly flicked his wrists, gently pushing the ball backward!
That was a perfect back-row cover! Satoshi Tsumabuki's all-out jump was merely the ultimate decoy to draw Shin Kitahara's attention!
Below and slightly behind Satoshi Tsumabuki, Takeru Satoh, poised to pounce, leaped high into the air with perfect strides, like a cheetah that had been holding back for a long time. At that moment, because Shin Kitahara had been lured away, a perfect half-second opening appeared in front of him!
"Drink!"
Takeru Satoh swung his right arm, putting all his strength into his palm, and smashed the volleyball down hard in mid-air!
The volleyball grazed Kitahara Shin's fingertips as he rushed back to defend, and with a "bang," it slammed heavily into Kitahara Shin's side of the court.
Score!
"Beep—" The referee's whistle blew at just the right moment.
The court was silent for a second, then the boys, who had just completed a perfect play, erupted in a roar that seemed to lift the roof off. Satoshi Tsumabuki was so excited that he threw himself on Takeru Satoh and Yosuke Kuboya, and the group hugged tightly, panting heavily, their bodies soaked in sweat.
This point was hard-won, but also incredibly exciting!
Watching the young people hugging and cheering, Kitahara Shin landed from mid-air, glanced at his slightly reddened fingertips, and slowly curled a very satisfied smile onto his lips.
This indomitable spirit in the face of adversity, the tacit tactical cooperation, and the pure, unadulterated joy after scoring are precisely the soul that this sports ensemble drama needs most.
When the teenagers calmed down and went to the sidelines to rest and drink water,
The casting director and staff from Kitahara Agency walked over and handed them several thick contracts that had been prepared in advance.
"Congratulations!" the staff member said with a smile. "From now on, you are the main characters of 'Haikyuu!!'"
This sudden surprise completely stunned the young men who had been working tirelessly just a moment ago. Satoshi Tsumabuki, holding a water bottle, stared incredulously at the contract, then at Shin Kitahara standing not far away. He swallowed hard and asked, "This—this is settled already? So hastily? We haven't even memorized a single line. Aren't we supposed to be tested on acting skills and crying scenes?"
Kitahara Shin grabbed a towel and wiped the sweat from his neck. He stepped forward, looking at the group of young people who were radiating youthful passion with a gentle yet powerful gaze.
"I don't need that kind of fake stuff." Kitahara Shin smiled and shook his head. "Just now on the court, the trust and hard work between you, and the ecstasy when you scored that point, were the most perfect performance. What I need is not memorizing lines step by step, but just this kind of pure and genuine expression of your emotions."