Hisashi Mitsui initially left the Shohoku High School basketball team due to a compounding series of events stemming from a severe knee injury, which led to deep resentment and a decision to abandon basketball.
The Trajectory of Mitsui's Departure
Mitsui, a talented basketball player and former MVP, joined Shohoku with high hopes, envisioning a bright future for the team and himself. However, his promising career at Shohoku was derailed by an unfortunate injury and its subsequent mismanagement.
The Injury and Its Aftermath
- Initial Injury: During a practice session, Mitsui suffered a left knee injury.
- Premature Return: Driven by his passion and desire to return to the court, he chose to return to practice prematurely, without allowing his knee to fully recover.
- Aggravation: This early return unfortunately aggravated his injury, causing further physical setback and prolonging his recovery.
Emotional Impact and Withdrawal
Despite his eventual physical recovery from the injury, the experience left Mitsui deeply embittered. He felt excluded and sidelined from the team he had once envisioned leading. This resentment grew into a profound disillusionment with basketball itself.
- Bitterness: The feeling of being left out, combined with the frustration of his injury and its impact on his dreams, led to intense bitterness.
- Quitting Basketball: Overwhelmed by these emotions, Mitsui made the drastic decision to quit basketball altogether, abandoning the sport he loved.
Life After Basketball
Following his departure from the Shohoku team and basketball, Mitsui's life took a darker turn. He became involved with a gang and assumed a leadership role among them. This period was marked by delinquency and a significant deviation from his athletic path. While not explicitly detailed as part of his reason for leaving, it was a direct consequence of his decision to quit basketball and a testament to his emotional state at the time. Eventually, he would come to regret this period and yearn for his return to the court.
