Spring term had just begun. According to Japan's academic calendar, this was exactly the time when new first-years entered school.
Kaijō High School
As one of Tokyo's top basketball powerhouses, Kaijō High also welcomed a large wave of newcomers this year.
Near the school gates, almost every club had set up a small booth. Upperclassmen sat inside clutching club application forms, staring eagerly at the new students walking past.
It wasn't that they weren't trying their best for their own clubs—rather, it was because…
At that moment, a boy easily around 185 cm tall walked toward the volleyball club's booth.
"Um, senpai, I'd like to ask—"
He hadn't even finished speaking before several volleyball club upperclassmen lit up like lightbulbs and practically floated over, surrounding him as if caught in a gust of wind.
"You're a new first-year, right? What class?"
"Where do you live? Is it close? Easy commute?"
"Come check out our volleyball club, junior! With that height, you were literally born for volleyball! It would be a shame if you didn't join!"
The most enthusiastic senior shoved a club application form into his hands and tried to drag him into a seat to fill it out.
The stunned freshman didn't react until he found a pen suddenly placed in his grip. He waved his hands frantically.
"No, no—senpai, I just wanted to ask where the basketball club is. Sorry, I wasn't planning to join volleyball."
The once fiery seniors instantly deflated like punctured balloons. One pointed weakly down the path.
"Over there. Straight ahead."
The freshman thanked them, opened his mouth to ask another question—only to notice the volleyball senpai already showing signs of impatience. He closed his mouth and hurried off in the direction they'd pointed.
"Weird… This is supposed to be a top basketball school. Why isn't the basketball club recruiting at the gate?"
Puzzled, he followed the path toward Kaijō High's basketball gym.
Behind him, one volleyball senior clicked his tongue while staring at the boy's back.
"How many does that make today? Seventh? Eighth?"
Another leaned over and replied:
"Who knows? They probably wanted to ask why the basketball club isn't at the gate again. Seriously, do they not think? Every year the number of new students wanting to join basketball is insane. Why would the basketball club come out here and fight us for members…?"
"Hey, you heard? The basketball club already started interview tryouts! Ugh, I'm so jealous. When will our volleyball team ever have that kind of presence?!"
He slapped the table in frustration, face full of envy.
A third-year volleyball senior patted his shoulder.
"If we ever win championships in a row like they did, we'll have that kind of presence too. So let's work hard this year!"
"Volleyball Club! Fighting!!"
…
…
Kaijō High School Basketball Gym
Following the volleyball club's directions, the freshman finally reached the basketball gym's entrance.
Hearing basketballs pounding the floor inside, he inhaled deeply to steady himself. After imagining every possible situation he might walk into, he extended his right hand and slowly pushed open the gym doors.
"Excuse me… I'm a first-year and I want to join the bas—"
He froze mid-sentence.
In one corner of the gym, a massive line of students whispered among themselves. On the court nearby, two players were locked in an intense one-on-one match—the sound he'd heard outside.
The freshman stared blankly, not yet processing the scene, when someone tapped him on the shoulder.
He turned—and saw a wrinkled club application form held out toward him. Looking up, he saw a tall guy with a square jaw pointing at the long line.
"Fill it out. Get in line."
Takumi spoke in his usual blunt, concise style. After handing the form over, he walked outside the gym, destination unknown.
The freshman stood frozen for several seconds. Only when Takumi's tall figure disappeared did he snap back to reality.
"That was Kaijō's champion power forward from last year — Takumi-senpai!"
"Ahhh! Damn it, I forgot to ask for an autograph! No—calm down. If I join the basketball club… I'll have plenty of chances!"
Pressing his philtrum a few times to calm down, he looked at the enormous line. Remembering Takumi's words, he headed for the back of the line.
"Um… excuse me, what exactly is going on here?"
He tapped the shoulder of the student in front of him.
Because the line was so long, even Kaijō's large gym felt cramped. From the very back, he couldn't see anything happening at the front.
The student glanced back. Seeing the application form, he explained:
"It's the interview. I'm also a new first-year. See?"
He lifted his own application form.
The freshman nodded politely.
"Nice to meet you, I'm Shimamura Toshiaki. Could you explain how this interview works?"
Shimamura glanced toward the court. Even from a distance, he could faintly recognize one of the players in the one-on-one match:
Kaijō's starting shooting guard — Yuki.
The other player was unfamiliar—likely a new first-year.
"I'm Fukuhara Toshihide. Just call me Fukuhara."
Fukuhara jerked his chin toward the one-on-one.
"You see Yuki-senpai over there? According to the people who already went through the interview, if you beat Yuki-senpai in a one-on-one, you're immediately accepted into the official team."
"If you don't want to play one-on-one, that's fine too. You can join normally and get evaluated over time."
Fukuhara paused, then added:
"Oh—by the way, the guy conducting the interviews right now is Kota-senpai."
…
…
At the very front of the line, Kota, wearing sunglasses and crossing his legs like a casting director, called out:
"Next."
The first student in line rushed forward and respectfully handed over his application form.
Kota skimmed it, then looked up at the nervous freshman and chuckled.
"Why so serious? Relax a little. How about a smile?"
The freshman obediently tried to smile… but his stiff, nervous face only made things worse.
Kota: "…"
"…Yeah, never mind. Don't smile."
He snapped his fingers.
"So, what's your position? Any specialties?—Oh, sorry, I should ask your name first. What's your name?"
"Ikegami Masahiro, sir! I play small forward!"
Kota nodded.
"Good, Ikegami. Any strengths?"
"I… I guess my shooting is okay…"
Kota looked him up and down, confirming he was an outside-type player. He took the form and pointed toward the court.
"Go challenge Yuki over there. Beat him and a starting spot is yours. If you lose — or don't want to challenge him — it's fine. Just report normally when school starts."
Ikegami bowed repeatedly.
"Yes, thank you, Kota-senpai!"
Then he left the gym without even glancing at Yuki—clearly not planning on challenging him.
Kota watched him leave and shook his head helplessly.
If he didn't even dare challenge Yuki, he clearly wasn't going to become a pillar of Kaijō's future lineup.
Then again… that might be because Yuki had already shut out more than twenty first-years in a row today.
A loud slam echoed through the gym— BAM!
Yuki finished another two-handed dunk, sending the newest challenger off the court in defeat.
The crowd murmured in awe.
"So this is a Kaijō starter's level… Terrifying…"
"That makes what—over thirty already?! And Yuki-senpai still looks barely tired!"
Even so, after nearly thirty straight one-on-ones, Yuki was clearly feeling it. Thankfully, fewer and fewer dared to challenge him now.
Right then, Takumi returned carrying an entire box of water bottles.
"Yuki! Water?"
Yuki accepted gratefully.
"Thanks, Takumi."
Takumi placed a bottle by Yuki's feet, then carried the box to Kota.
"Kota-senpai, here's your water."
He set it beside him and then stood directly behind Kota, as if joining him in interviewing recruits.
Kota rubbed his temples — sitting for this long was exhausting.
"Seriously, Takumi, take a break. Next time just tell someone else to carry water. Look around—so many new students here waiting to be bossed around. Don't waste the opportunity."
Takumi said nothing and simply stood there, quiet as ever.
Kota, used to his personality, didn't mind. He stretched his neck and called out:
"Next."
"Nice to meet you, Kota-senpai! I'm Fukuhara Toshihide — I play both small forward and power forward!"
Kota accepted his form and asked casually:
"Any special skills?"
Fukuhara:
"My shooting's not great, but I can run a lot—and I've got decent hops!"