With new students enrolling and new players joining clubs, it wasn't only Fukuda Sogo, Seirin High, and Tōō Academy holding entrance rituals—Rakuzan, Kaijo, Shutoku, Yosen, and many others were doing the same.
Across the nation, high schools entered a tense phase of rookie integration, tactical planning, and team chemistry training. Every school and every squad worked to reach peak condition, because the National Tournament was about to begin.
At Fukuda Sogo, the three-day scrimmage for selection had ended yesterday, and today the official starters would finally be announced.
When the dismissal bell rang and the teacher left the classroom, the youthful and energetic girl Shimizu Rena immediately turned around and excitedly spoke to Haizaki Shogo behind her.
"Shogo-kun, the starting lineup comes out today! Aren't you happy?"
"Happy? Why would I be?"
"It's a new team with strong players. Isn't that worth being happy about?"
"The ones who should be happy are them, not us. Why should we be happy for them, Shimizu-chan?"
Haizaki's soul-crushing question instantly left Shimizu Rena speechless.
Yeah… other people becoming starters really had nothing to do with her or Haizaki.
No matter what, the two of them were bound to be important figures on the team—that was the inevitable result of strength.
Seeing Shimizu suddenly wilt, Haizaki patted her head and said arrogantly,
"Come on. It's time to let them see what the team's ace player and ace manager really look like."
The moment she heard ace player and ace manager, Shimizu lit up again, slinging her small bag over her shoulder and chasing after Haizaki's back.
On the way, wearing her white sailor uniform and black pleated skirt, Shimizu tilted her head as she walked beside him.
"Shogo-kun… do I really count as an ace manager?"
"Of course. Precise data records, detailed player profiles, sharp perception, and finally your [Weakness Exploitation]—if that's not ace-level, then what is?"
"Hehe!!"
Seeing her proud little smile, Haizaki felt genuine admiration and mild shock.
After more than a month apart over summer, Haizaki had grown—but the girl in front of him had grown even more.
To complete the special skill Haizaki designed for her—Weakness Exploitation—Shimizu hadn't rested at all during vacation.
She gathered detailed data on high school players, refined her database, and even hired people to build an intelligent data system for her.
Even more terrifying, she'd hired a private basketball coach so she could understand the sport from its roots, history, and fundamentals.
Looking at this girl—beautiful, talented, hardworking, and intelligent—Haizaki felt slightly unreal.
If someone like her isn't an ace, then I must be blind.
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Fukuda Sogo Academy Basketball Club — Indoor Gymnasium.
All players stood in neat rows. Haizaki was no exception, waiting before the stern-faced coach.
Coach Ichiro Kudo picked up a sheet and spoke seriously,
"You've all gone through three straight days of scrimmages. During that time, your teammates changed many times, and everyone played plenty of minutes. Each of you had enough opportunity to show yourselves."
"Now, based on your performances, I'll announce Fukuda Sogo's starting lineup and tentative positions."
After he finished, a low buzz spread through the team. Many faces were filled with anticipation.
The strong were confident.
Those of average skill were hopeful too. Maybe the coach saw my potential?
"Suzuran Karasu, No.7, tentative Center."
"Okawa Sawano, No.5, tentative Center."
"Kimura Tosho, No.12, tentative Power Forward."
"Harano Shinichi, No.11, tentative Point Guard."
"Ishida Hideki, No.10, tentative Shooting Guard."
"Mochizuki Kazuhiro, No.4, tentative Shooting Guard."
"Haizaki Shogo, No.6, tentative Small Forward."
"Fukuda Sasaki, No.9, flexible position, reserve starter."
"Shimizu Rena — Team Ace Manager."
"All remaining players are substitutes. If anyone here underperforms or drops in condition, I will adjust the lineup."
"Any questions?"
Coach Kudo stared seriously at his players. He believed his handling was fair, open, and efficient.
At that moment, a second-year veteran spoke up—a bald-headed man named Mochizuki Kazuhiro.
"Coach, who is Haizaki Shogo? Did he even play in the scrimmages? Why is he a starter—and at small forward?"
Because Haizaki was tall, he had stood near the back with other big guys, so few people noticed him.
And for the past three days, he hadn't worn a jersey, only assisting outside the court with data recording, so most didn't recognize him.
Some did know him—but had nothing to say.
"I'm Haizaki Shogo," he spoke calmly. "The team's ace."
Hearing someone question his strength, Haizaki didn't wait for Coach Kudo to defend him. He stepped forward confidently.
"Ace!"
"Ace?"
"Ace…?"
Some voices were shocked, some surprised, some doubtful, and some openly disdainful.
With the noise growing, Haizaki picked up a basketball and walked onto the court by himself.
"Anyone who thinks I don't deserve it—anyone who isn't convinced—come up here. I'll crush all of you by myself."
The team stayed rational. Not one person stepped forward. Everyone secretly glanced at Coach Kudo.
Coach Kudo sighed. He understood—this was the moment Haizaki established authority. It couldn't be avoided, and the sooner the better.
He only hoped these kids wouldn't be traumatized by Shogo's overwhelming pressure, helplessness, fear, and humiliation.
"Shogo-kun truly is the team's ace. You're free to challenge him—and there's no limit on numbers."
"What?"
"How is that possible?"
"Coach—"
"This…"
"Hiss…"
Several players cried out in shock. Only Fukuda Sasaki, who had been quiet the whole time, showed no reaction, merely watching in silence.
This scene felt just like the first time Shogo entered his middle school club.
Soon, these teammates would understand—Fukuda Sogo had someone terrifying.
His name was Haizaki the Great Demon King.
In some people's eyes, everyone else was nothing but vegetables, nothing but weeds—meant only to be harvested.
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