What a headache... My God, that game yesterday was so tough to play... I could barely breathe with that gauze on my nose. If we face them in nationals, they'll get an even bigger beating...
"Akira! Your friend's calling you out front!"
Crap! I'm late!
Akira, with a type of band-aid on his nose, rushes down the stairs, skipping breakfast to head to school.
"Sorry, Kazuya! Overslept!"
"It's fine. I just got here."
The two walk toward the school, with Akira yawning every two minutes.
"Hey, what you did yesterday in the game... That was incredible."
"Huh? It was nothing. Those jerks deserved a beating."
"I'm serious. Who would come back to a friendly game with a possibly broken nose and still perform like that?"
"You're making me blush." Akira laughs, scratching his head.
"You know... I want to dedicate myself. I'll help you conquer Japan. We're going to win nationals."
"Of course, no doubt about it."
"But after that, Akira, I'll be your rival."
"Rival? What do you mean?"
"In high school. That's when basketball gets serious, with national attention. And I'm going to beat you in the nationals."
He's already thinking about high school... What an interesting guy.
"Don't think I'll go easy on you. I'll crush you and your team just like I did with those twins."
"If you went easy, I'd do what the twins did to you."
The two laugh together.
Upon arriving at school, Akira is surprised—his locker is full of letters, many with hearts on them.
"What's this? How do so many people know about yesterday's game?" Kazuya wonders aloud.
"Akira!!" Hiroto appears in the hallway with an almost tearful expression.
"Hey... What's up, Hiroto?"
"You're like a Samurai master... It was an honor to watch yesterday's match!"
"Does he have something to do with these letters? Did he write all these heart-filled notes for me?"
"So, you told people, then…"
"No! Of course not. Who would believe me? I recorded it! Edited the whole game and emailed it to everyone at school."
What?! This guy spent all that time doing this?!
"That's crazy, Hiroto, but thanks…"
"Don't thank me. Sekiro High's cheering squad has grown exponentially because of it. Everyone wants to watch you play."
"Got it... Understood."
"No pressure! But the next friendly, here at home, will have a packed crowd! See you later, Akira!"
"Man… That's scary. Aren't you nervous about playing with everyone watching you?"
"Nah, I'm cool with it. I actually play better with people watching."
From down the hall, Daichi comes running, shouting.
"Akiiira! You bastard!"
"What do you want, you idiot?"
"Look at all these pink letters... How can you be so lucky?!"
"Lucky? This is the result of my masterclass yesterday. There's no luck involved!"
"What are you talking about, you blond moron, you—"
As the two were about to fight, two girls walk by, making both lose their composure and shrink back until the girls were gone.
"Whatever... The coach asked me to tell you practice is canceled today."
"Canceled? Why?"
"The last team we were supposed to play chickened out. Looks like they saw Hiroto's video too."
A smug smile spread across Akira's face. He couldn't hide his joy at the news.
"See! They know basketball!" he said, laughing.
"Well, Mr. Michael Jordan of middle school, the next game is already the group stage of nationals. That means six wins to be champions."
The laughter gradually subsides.
"Yeah, I know, and there are only 18 official games left for me to be a three-time national middle school basketball champion in Japan."
Daichi's eyes widened. "I said that to see if you'd feel any pressure, but you're bulletproof. See you at practice tomorrow."
"Six games... Six games…" Kazuya murmured to himself.
"Yeah, we'll lift the trophy soon."
"I want to play in the final."
"You're always subbed in during the last minutes of the first and second halves."
"No, Akira. I want to be a starter. I'll take Hiroshi's spot."
Akira looked at Kazuya, surprised.
I knew he was ambitious, but he's also in a hurry…
"Sure, I think you're more skilled and can make more impressive passes, but that's not all Hiroshi brings to the team... You'll need to make up a lot offensively and not be a liability defensively to pull that off."
"I don't care about double training. I'll play the entire final."
"Sure, that would be impossible... If you didn't have the best basketball coach in the history of the sport! Akira Kingsley!" Akira laughed with a cocky smile. "You'll train until your legs give out from exhaustion!"
"Yes!"
"Can I join?" Kenta arrived, speaking for the first time in a normal volume.
Wait, he can talk without shouting?
"Of course. The more, the merrier."
This whole team, all of them want to be champions and are willing to train for it… If what Kazuya said happens, if they all go their separate ways in high school… It'll be fun.