Monday. Another school day. Haizaki Shogo yawned as he walked into the classroom.
Waiting for him was Shimizu Rena, her eyes unusually bright, and Shogo felt a shiver run down his spine. Was this just his imagination?
Usually, Rena's gaze was that of a normal girl—happy, a little shy—whenever she looked at him. But this morning… the intensity of her stare made Shogo's back tingle, unsure of what might happen next.
During the lunch break, Shogo savored the sushi bento Rena had brought herself. The subtle aroma of seaweed mixed with a hint of spicy wasabi made his taste buds dance in ways he couldn't describe.
Closing his eyes, he felt as if he were floating, as if the food itself might be one of those legendary glowing dishes.
Of course, half of that sensation came from the sushi being delicious, and the other half… from Shimizu Rena staring at him so intently.
Shogo had no choice but to wear a face of "Wow, this is the greatest delicacy in the world!" to please the pure-hearted girl in front of him.
Seeing Shogo's expression of enjoyment, Rena took the opportunity to say something that nearly made him choke on his sushi.
"Shogo-kun, I've joined the basketball club! I'm now an assistant in the club."
Shogo gulped down some water to clear his throat, swallowing the last bite of sushi, and asked in surprise, "Wait, Rena-chan, how did you… join the basketball club?"
"This morning during break, I signed up!"
"No interview? No trial? No assessment? You just… joined?"
"Nope! Coach Kudo immediately agreed and told me to report today. I even started working in the recruitment activities today."
Swallowing the last piece of sushi with a gulp, Shogo gave a look of understanding.
"Shogo-kun… are you not happy that I joined the basketball club?"
"Happy, very happy. I look forward to working with you, Assistant Rena."
Rena gave him a playful, enchanting glance, then returned to quietly nibbling her sushi.
Watching the cute little girl before him, Shogo fell into thought.
Did she join on a whim, or was she purely following his lead?
Shogo didn't feel narcissistic for thinking this. He was analyzing what Rena's membership could bring to her growth—and what she could contribute to the basketball club.
First, her beauty alone could attract a flood of new recruits. Even if some came just for looks, a larger group would inject fresh energy and passion into the club.
Second, Shogo needed to identify her strengths and develop them, so she could become a valuable player, like Satsuki Momoi or Aida Riko, rather than just a decoration.
If Rena realized she was only a pretty face after spending time in the club, that would hurt her deeply. Shogo definitely didn't want that outcome.
Glancing at her delicate features, rose-red hair, and vivid eyes, he admitted to himself: yes, there's a spark of attraction here.
"Rena-chan, what do you think of basketball? What's your first impression?"
"Basketball? It's great! Shogo-kun, you're so cool when you dunk!!"
"Was that not a good answer?"
"Good, very good! But what's your first impression of basketball itself?"
"First impression… hmm… it's like a little pet. Especially when you play Shogo-kun, basketball feels like a little obedient pet. So cute!"
Well, Shogo had to admit that his first attempt at observing and analyzing Rena had failed.
He didn't possess Akashi Seijuro's almost supernatural ability to instantly recognize another's strengths.
That ability—truly incredible. Akashi had trained Satsuki Momoi into a master analyst, and later Chihiro Mibuchi into the second-generation phantom sixth man. Such skill required a genius mind.
Shogo could only admire it—and ruefully admit he was nowhere near that level.
He shook off these thoughts. "Rena-chan, are you free this Saturday?"
"Yes! Why, Shogo-kun?"
"There's a university basketball game I want to invite you to watch. Will you come?"
"I'll go!"
Her cheeks flushed slightly, and she agreed happily.
Shogo's intention was clear: he wanted to take Rena to see a full-court, professional-style basketball game.
To see if she had any keen insights, any natural sensitivity to basketball…
Then he could help her design a development plan, a roadmap to grow her skills.
Just thinking about this gave Shogo a headache. Clearly, only a genius like Akashi could handle this kind of analysis easily.
Once that was settled in his mind, his time with Rena returned to normal—playful, teasing, everyday companionship.
By 4 PM, school was out.
Shogo and Rena entered the indoor basketball training court side by side. Shogo headed straight to the locker room, while Rena went with another female assistant to handle recruitment.
Wearing his red jersey, Shogo joined his teammates on the court, awaiting Coach Kudo's instructions.
The coach's eyes were sharp, his expression severe, his voice hoarse yet commanding.
"I'll say this one last time: our team wins through absolute discipline and obedience. If you can't follow instructions, leave now. No one will stop you."
"Most of you lack sufficient skill or awareness. To win, we must discard any unnecessary movements or actions that might lead to mistakes."
"You should understand this. You played in the last match. You experienced our tactical principle firsthand."
"We are all supporters. We are all defenders. Defend your assigned player well, and that is the greatest victory."
"As for offense, Shogo-kun demonstrated everything through his ability and actions last game. He deserves our trust."
Every player listened intently, stealing glances at Shogo, standing at the far left of the front row.
At that moment, he felt their trust… their reliance. The entire team placed their hopes for offense, scoring, and victory on him.
That feeling… it's so intense it could burn my heart.
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