August 15.

  With some fatigue, Billy headed to a basketball hall, a small arena in a greehe call was crucial, arriving after 5 PM, when Michael rested with the guys, rec from a day of tinuous py from 9 AM to 5 PM to improve his level after being in baseball. Billy o pce bets; this time, he could be more daring a in multiple os aing houses. He hoped to scrape about five million in sports bets.

  -This way, Mr. Carson- ented a security team member. Upon seeing him, the guard wao ask for an autograph. The basketball team often talked about the great artist of the moment and how he had inspired them with his ic, whiow featured one of the most grandiose final arcs, with thrilling national matches and the eagerly awaited quarterfinals of the petition.

  Billy saw that the author had fihe manga "Sm Dunk" and had spent much time imagining aending how to pose the entire se. He made some quick adjustments to advao the quarterfinals, with Sakuragi/Will on the bench, helplessly watg the boys win a close victory in the quarterfinals but lose in the semifinals against a solid team based on the Spurs, a defeeam with the most promising pyer of the prefecture, standing 2 meters tall.

  Thus, Will/Sacramento High's team loses in the semifinals, being the fourth team in the try.

  Ending the series, he paved the way for a sed season in Sakuragi/Will's life, married to Hanna/Haruko, re-entering the professional world as a rookie, showg what it means to be a rookie in the NBA. He po draw inspiration from some pyers, depig the climb to the top and the struggle to succeed as expected, highlighting the mediocre skills not yet fully polished, as the average NBA level is one of perfe 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 embarrassment. Michael had already signed a paper for all team members.

  Billy observed the man, in his forties, slightly ht, with a reg 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 something so simple.

  -Let me give you a good point; I’ll wait for you. I’ll be out in half an hour; you get some paper. Perhaps, I’ll ask for you. What’s your name? - Billy said.

  -Charlie Hampson, - the guard replied.

  -Well, Charlie, I hope we get that autograph signed for Tim Hampson. If I have any spare merdise, I give you something, but I came for the basketball pyers, so I ’t promise anything, - Billy said, patting the man's shoulder.

  -Y-yes, I’ll try, - the man stammered, opening the gym door as a team of two-meter-tall men, some shorter, ran bad forth in a nearly unbelievable se.

  Billy crossed the gym doors and took a seat as he received an ued call, deg not to a for now. He o remain silent and hold that meeting much ter. Iands, watg the basketball game, there were four teams in the arena, moving intensely bad forth in training. It was 5:10 PM, with no sign of stopping. Billy arrived a bit ter 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 o pay attention to these symptoms. He took a breath and heard two loud whistles. The clock showed 5:25. When the whistle souhere use.

  Iher er, the tallest man, possibly the most popur pyer in Ameriodded, with a rebellious look on his face despite being in his thirties. o him were Scottie Pippen, Charles Barkley, and other Bulls pyers.

  -Didn't expect you to show up,- Michael Jordan joked. -Yent could have mentiohat you’re one of the busiest people in America. A pleasure, you call me Michael.-

  -I have such a tight schedule that time bey most valuable asset, but someoioned you wao see me. It's incredible to meet you... Sometimes we uimate fame,- Billy replied, shaking Michael's hand.

  Looking at the other members.

  -I’m Charles, - said a dark-skinned man with gigantids.

  -Charles Barkley, when I have time, I sometimes watch the sports el to unwind, - Billy ented.

  -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 e empty-hao a meeting. Let's take a seat; my portfolio might just be where you'll see some magic happen,- Billy said, pulling out some "Sm Dunk" mangas. He had around 500 volumes reserved from the first 30 chapters before Nike's sponsorship—a collector's piece with Billy's signature.

  -These are the first volumes I printed before Nike offered to sponsor my ics. There was no sutention when I started, so they are all in bd white and without sponsorship details. They are my most cherished volumes. Do any of the guys like 'Sm Dunk'?- Billy asked, handing over six volumes from the eight he brought, keeping four and one for the security guard.

  -I think I’ll ask around,- eeve Kerr, heading to the locker room. "Sm Dunk" is the best-selling i North America, with a total of 485 million copies sold. Eae sells at least a million copies, with some surpassing two, three, four, five, or even the record eight million copies.

  -So, this is almost unpreted, - ented Michael Jordan.

  -You could say that. It has my signature and is one of the first editions. You have 23/50,000, so sider yourself lucky,- Billy said, uning a ic that came in a bag.

  -This, oher hand, is a color draft, draainted by me. 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 expined, 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 moment.

  -Hey, I know you’re a genius, but why are there so many white guys pying basketball? Don’t get me wrong; those guys ’t py,- Patrick said, earning ughs from his teammates, who awaited the respoh some intrigue.

  -Oh... I was a 9-year-old kid when I created the series, so some things are a bit childish,- Billy began, giving a brief overview. -It’s also a way to distinguish characters. We need distins, and that’s why we use es in ics. But sihis one is based on real life, I had to py with hairstyles, hair color, and skin color... This i particur, has almost 400 characters. It’s a challeo manage so many characters, ae my exceptional talent, I tend to repeat myself. So, I do my best tahe characters. Why do you think a basketball pyer wears gsses?- Billy asked.

  -Makes sense... but damn,- Patrick said.

  -Be careful with those volumes; they are scard valuable,- Billy cautioned.

  -Makes sense,- Jordan added.

  -It’s more than logical. When I started, I didn’t have a team to help me, and everything to me. I colored and made drafts because I o gain perspective. But bd-white prints are painful. So redug and increasing skin types gave me advantages. Now I use it as a way to adapt my ics for the people who buy them,- Billy expined.

  ***

  Later that night.

  -Steve, I didn't expect your call,- Billy said, surprised.

  -her did I, but it seems you’re the majority shareholder of Apple—something I didn’t expect. Have you heard about the merger between Apple a?- said Jobs over the phone.

  -I have some time tomorrow afternoon. I’m in Los Angeles,- Billy replied.

  -Perfect, I won’t take up more of your time. We’ll finalize everything in person,- Jobs said, smiling at how quickly he could arrange meetings with Billy. He liked that kind of efficy. Though he khe young man and his business a, who knew what to expect? He didn’t regret iing i; the kid is said to be the best animator in America. However, there’s a debt to settle, and his domain is Apple.

  ...