Gymnasium – Recruitment Day
The basketball court buzzed with energy as the team's new recruits lined up—each handpicked by a different member for the upcoming preliminary match against Ryusei High.
- Daichi proudly presented a lankytrackrunner ("We need speed against Ryusei's fast breaks!")
- Rin leaned on his crutch, nodding at a broad-shoulderedjudoathlete ("He'll body-up on their star player")
- Jiro smirked beside a cockystreetballerwithsleevetattoos ("This punk's handles might actually impress Ryusei's scouts")
Haru adjusted his glasses, gesturing to a paletechotaku furiously typing on a tablet. "Himura will hack Ryusei's game footage and—"
"No cheating!" Akira barked—then reconsidered. "...Just tell me their weak spots."
All eyes turned to Kenji.
"What? I don't know anyone," he muttered, avoiding their stares.
Akira's eye twitched. "You're facing Ryusei in three days. Figure it out."
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The "Presence" – Newbie's Sixth Sense
During defensive drills, the judo recruit—Kaito—suddenly stiffened, scanning the empty bleachers.
"...We're being watched."
Jiro kept dribbling. "Yeah, by Coach. Obviously."
"No." Kaito's voice dropped. "From above. Left corner."
Kenji's stomach dropped. Thecameraman.
Akira laughed loudly, slapping Kaito's back. "Relax. When you're famous like us, you get stalkers."
The team chuckled—except Haru, whose tablet camera zoomed toward the rafters. "Fascinating! My motion sensors detect—"
"Shut up, Haru," everyone chorused.
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Training Hell – Three Days to Ryusei
Coach Morita's whistle shrieked. "Ryusei runs a full-court press! Replicate it—NOW!"
For three brutal hours:
- The trackrunner collapsed after suicides ("Ryusei's guards never tire!")
- The streetballer got in Jiro's face ("You call that a crossover? Ryusei will eat you alive!")
- The techotaku projected Ryusei's plays on the wall ("Their point guard favors left-side drives 78% of the time!")
Kenji focused on his footwork, but his eyes kept darting to the exits.
Are they filming this for the Kurogane heir?
Then—aglint. A lens flare from the emergency exit.
His hands clenched around the ball.
They're scouting us for Ryusei.
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