You, Radiant That Summer

An SD fanfic imagining the everyday life of the Shohoku basketball team.

That summer was destined to be tied to Shohoku High School in Kanagawa Prefecture.

Morikawa Masako is a frail high school girl living with her uncle in Kanagawa. When her best friend Michiko’s confession letter is callously trampled by third-year delinquent Mitsui Hisashi, Masako decides to ask Mitsui to give Michiko a proper apology. He coldly refuses. She never expects that, starting with the two of them ending up in the hospital, their repeated encounters will reveal the kindness beneath Mitsui’s delinquent exterior. She becomes the first person to tell him, “Mitsui-senpai, stop making things so hard for yourself. Come back and play basketball!”

The two gradually fall for each other. In their everyday lives, they see each other’s flaws and virtues, healing and growing together. Masako once asks Mitsui, “Senpai, if you don’t play basketball in the future, what would you want to do?” Mitsui never gets the chance to answer. With Masako’s departure, summer in Kanagawa comes to an end.

But will the two, whose love lasted only a brief summer and who were separated by circumstances beyond their control, meet again years later as more mature people?

Everyone who loves Mitsui Hisashi has their own version of him in their heart. I’ve written the Mitsui I see. If you happen to like him too, I’ll be deeply honored.