Chapter 43

The game came to a conclusion as Coach Nakatani gathered all the players in the middle of the court. He proceeded to announce the names of the players who made it to the main lineup, and it was no surprise that the three freshmen were among them. While the players who didn't make the cut felt disappointed, Coach Nakatani reassured them that they would still be involved in training sessions with the main team. He even encouraged them to continue practicing and improving, as there might be opportunities for them to join the main team if any of the current players slack off.

While this served as motivation for those who didn't make it, it also served as a warning for the players who thought making it to the main lineup meant they could slack off and enjoy the advantages that came with it.

After the announcement, Coach Nakatani dismissed the players and advised them to get a good night's sleep as they had school the following morning. He also warned them against neglecting their studies just because they were part of the team. He emphasized that if they failed to maintain passing grades, they would be replaced by a player from the second lineup.

Taking Coach's warning to heart, the players went their separate ways to rest their tired bodies, especially the players from Ichigo's team. While playing a full game was nothing new to them, the fatigue from the intense screening process and the grueling match was starting to take its toll. They were on the verge of exhaustion and desperately needed rest.

The only player who seemed unaffected by fatigue was Ichigo himself. Even Takao and Midorima was showing signs of fatigue. Though Midorima might have concealed it well, his posture showed the strain of the game. Takao, on the other hand, walked like a tired zombie, his back arching from exhaustion.

Ichigo, Takao, and Midorima walked together as they prepared to go home. Initially, it was only Ichigo and Takao who were together, but Midorima joined them halfway through. Ichigo playfully teased Midorima, joking that he was finally starting to open up by walking with them. However, Midorima strongly denied it, stating that it was merely a coincidence that they happened to be going in the same direction.

Takao, on the other hand, wanted to refute Midorima's claims, but he was so fatigued that he couldn't even complete a whole sentence. He ended up speaking gibberish, leaving Ichigo and Midorima unable to understand him. However, Midorima understood Takao's intentions and defended himself by reiterating that they were all just coincidentally walking the same way.

As they reached an intersection, Midorima abruptly parted ways without saying goodbye, presumably heading toward his own home. Ichigo simply smiled, bid farewell to Takao, and went on his own separate path.

The next day, Ichigo stepped out of his apartment building and started walking towards the school, which happened to be conveniently located near his place. On the way, he spotted Midorima with a bandage on his left hand and a pair of scissors in his right hand, walking out of the gate. Ichigo assumed it was Midorima's home and stopped in his tracks as they locked eyes, creating an awkward silence between them.

Breaking the silence, Ichigo greeted Midorima, saying "Good Morning, Shintaro!"

Midorima gave no response and continued walking ahead. Undeterred, Ichigo smiled and followed behind him.

Catching up to Midorima, Ichigo tried to start a conversation, asking, "Hey Shintaro, was that your house? It's quite big. I wish I had a house like that after I graduate." Ichigo said, pretending to be excited.

Still without a reply, Midorima kept walking towards the school. However, something interesting happened when they reached the intersection where they had gone their separate ways the previous night. Ichigo spotted Takao, who was yawning and clearly still tired despite having rested the previous night.

As Takao noticed Ichigo and Midorima, his tiredness seemed to disappear instantly, and he waved enthusiastically at them. Ichigo saw Takao's wave and eagerly waited for him, whereas Midorima didn't even acknowledge Takao's greeting and continued on his way.

"Good morning, Ichigo!" Takao greeted enthusiastically. Ichigo replied with a smile, "Good morning, Takao!"

As they walked, Takao also greeted Midorima ahead, but he didn't reply. Takao wasn't really bothered by Midorima's cold shoulder. He and Ichigo continued their conversation on the way to school. Takao couldn't help but wonder why Ichigo and Midorima were walking together, so he asked. Ichigo explained that their apartments were close to each other.

This made Takao curious about something. If Ichigo's apartment and Midorima's house were in the same direction, why did Midorima go the other way last night? With this question in mind, Takao pestered Midorima for answers. Midorima, possibly annoyed by the constant questioning, finally explained that it was their family's old house. Since Shutoku High was close by, his parents decided that he didn't need to rent an apartment and could stay in their old house since no one else was using it.

"So, you're the only one in that big house?" Ichigo asked Midorima, surprised.

Midorima simply nodded in confirmation. Ichigo was taken aback by the wealth of Midorima's family, as the size of the house indicated they were quite affluent. On the other hand, Takao wasn't as surprised, as he hadn't seen how big the house was. He just assumed Midorima's parents were well-off to have another house.

But for Ichigo, who had seen the house, it was a shock. While it may not be considered a mansion, it was still large enough to accommodate several people. What surprised him even more was the fact that Midorima referred to it as their "old" house, implying that their current residence was even bigger and more luxurious.

"Hey Midorima, could your family possibly adopt me?" Ichigo asked, his voice filled with desperation. Midorima was taken aback by the request, but he didn't respond, instead continuing to walk ahead.

Sighing, Ichigo imagined how wonderful it would be to be part of a wealthy family. In this life, Ichigo was poor and had grown up as an orphan. Although his previous family from his past life wasn't destitute, he never had the opportunity to live a life of luxury. While Ichigo was grateful for his parents and their hard work to provide him with a comfortable life, he longed to live without any financial worries.

Just thinking about it made Ichigo depressed as he walked towards the school. Being poor had taken a toll on his mental state, to the extent that he couldn't even pay attention in class, which only deepened his sorrow.

And so, Ichigo's school day came to a melancholic end as he made his way to the basketball club, with Takao and Midorima by his side.

As they were walking, Ichigo almost collided with a trash can. Thankfully, Takao swiftly pulled him away, averting a disaster.

Recognizing Ichigo's distraction, Takao reminded him, "Ichigo, pay attention to where you're going. You almost knocked that trash can over."

Upon hearing Takao's words, Ichigo responded with comical tears, saying, "Pay attention? But I'm so poor. How can I even afford to focus? I can't even pay for my own apartment."

Takao turned to Midorima for help after hearing what Ichigo said. However, Midorima didn't show any interest and continued making his way to the basketball club.

Takao could only watch as Midorima walked ahead, feeling resigned. He then went to Ichigo and offered consolation, leading him towards the basketball gym.

While they walked to the basketball club, Takao tried to cheer up Ichigo by talking enthusiastically and providing support.

But despite his efforts, Ichigo remained downcast even after reaching the gym. It wasn't until he realized that he was already in the gym that his mood slightly improved. He headed to the locker rooms to change into his training gear.

As they began their warm-up exercises, Ichigo gradually started returning to his usual self. After their coach trained them in basic basketball plays and drills, Ichigo completely regained his usual spirit.

Following the drills, the coach prepared them for a scrimmage. Excited about the opportunity to play, Ichigo's demeanor completely shifted, as if he hadn't been feeling depressed just moments ago.

This time, the coach rearranged the players for the scrimmage. Ichigo was teamed up with Otsubo and Miyaji Yuya, and they were pitted against Kimura, Midorima, Takao, and Miyaji Kiyoshi.

Although the game was short, Ichigo immediately gave his all on both offense and defense. He scored shots from all angles and made layups and dunks with ease.

On defense, Ichigo prevented Midorima from scoring, completely shutting him down. What stood out the most was Ichigo's rebounding ability. He went after rebounds with unmatched determination. Even on his own team, he snatched rebounds away from his teammates, displaying a relentless energy reminiscent of Dennis Rodman. The only player who could somewhat match Ichigo's rebounding prowess on the opposing team was Kimura, but he wasn't enough to stop Ichigo.

His teammates could only watch as he fervently pursued the ball, seemingly possessed by a relentless drive. The 10-minute scrimmage ended with Ichigo's team winning by a large margin.

Their scrimmages continued until it was time to go home. Coach Nakatani shuffled his players to assess the team and decide on a starting lineup. Even though Ichigo, Midorima, and Takao were new to the team, they easily integrated themselves and worked well with whoever they teamed up with. Coach Nakatani genuinely appreciated their adaptability and teamwork.