A Practice Game With The Seniors?

Inside the Arisugawa mansion in Nara, sounds of utensils and the plates clattering can be heard as Mia, Rena, and Seiji had their breakfast. Mia likes to have a routine everyday so she always wakes up every morning on the same exact minute. It's almost inhuman, really. Her biological clock is built different.

Since she is the one who makes breakfast everyday, except for when Seiji or Rena wanted to try out a new dish for breakfast, Seiji didn't have to scramble here and there to do everything he needed to do before he goes to school. Seiji is really thankful for that.

"I heard that you'll have a practice match today Seiji-kun?"

Probably bored from just eating, Mia opened up a conversation topic. This question of hers was immediately met by the excited reply of both Seiji and Rena.

"Mgggu? *gulp* Oh, that? Yeah, we have a practice match today. I still don't know who my teammates is or who our enemy will be but I'm still excited! This will be my first basketball match against other people!"

"Seiji-sama will play basketball on public today!? Outside of training with that UncleTora? I want to watch this game Mia!"

Mia was surprised by their excited replies, especially Seiji's. To think that, in the past, this young man rarely spoke.

'He really got infected by Rena and that troublesome vixen Nanako.'

Although Seiji is not easily influence like other kids, all because of his Advanced Growth Rate, Rena and Nanako still managed to rub off some of their traits on Seiji. Why? Well, it's actually quite simple.

You see, young adults like Seiji would go through a phase when they would deeply think about their personal identity. In the case of Seiji, it came early and went away early. However, due to him having the memories of his past life, Seiji started to deeply think about who he really is, what his 'real' identity is.

While he is stuck within his sea of thoughts, then came the ever energetic Arisugawa Rena and the first interaction with Onodera Kosaki's mother Onodera Nanako. Although the interactions were brief during that short timespan, their unique personalities rubbed off on Seiji. Although he is still quite calm on the surface, he became more outgoing and friendly to others.

"It looks like we will have to watch this game later."

"Haha, I was going to say you don't have to but seeing the look on Rena's face, I guess it's already decided?" Seiji said while looking at Rena who's emitting quite the intense aura right at this moment.

After that, they continued to talk about a few more topics before Seiji got ready to go to school. After taking a bath, brushing his teeth, wearing his uniform, and etc, Seiji left through the gates of the mansion and walked his way to the school.

"Ahh ah. It's really nice to enjoy the morning spring breeze like this. After class is the practice game huh… I can't wait!"

※・※・※・※

Time inside the classroom passed by without Seiji ever noticing since he is too engrossed in listening to the teacher's lectures. Although he already knew some of them, as they say, there's still so much you can learn from the people around you.

*clang* *clang*

*ding* *dong*

Seiji only managed to wake up when the bell signaling the end of classes rang. Like there's a spring attached on his seat, Seiji sprang up immediately and waved goodbye to Kosaki who is still readying her belongings.

"See you later Saki-chan! Riko said she'll be the one visiting us here so you just wait for her okay!? I'll be going to the gym first!"

With that, Seiji was gone like the wind.

Seeing him leave in a hurry, the first she'd seen him like that, Kosaki couldn't help but chuckle.

"Fufufu, Seiji-kun really is excited about his first ever basketball match huh. I guess I'll wait for Riko."

Meanwhile, Seiji is passing by his fellow students with ease. He breezed through the crowd of students and passed by a person he didn't expect to see right at the entrance door of the classroom next to his.

"Ah! You are…"

It seems like the person also noticed him since she tried to call out to him but Seiji is already gone from her line of sight in a flash. This surprised her a little as she can see that there's a pretty huge crowd of people in this school corridor.

"He's really fast. So what Riko-senpai was saying about him yesterday were true…"

This is the assistant manager of Seiji's basketball club, Fujinomiya Neko. Yesterday, during a meeting with the head coach and the coach of the second string, Riko rated Seiji highly.

She, as a member of a pretty prestigious clan, knew who Seiji was all along but she never said anything as she thought it wasn't the right timing. In fact, she already met him in the past but he probably don't remember that anymore.

"Ahm, I guess I'll just find a chance to talk to him at a later date. Oh, right! Riko-senpai said something yesterday about picking me up in my classroom's entrance today so I guess I'll wait for her."

※・※・※・※

※Inside the Kyōsen Private Middle School's Gym #1※

Head coach Chu Lin is holding a clip board while announcing the names of the freshmen who will be playing with each other and their opponents. Whether it was a coincidence or not, Seiji's name was called out at the very end.

"…Arisugawa Seiji! You guys are the odd one out since you wouldn't have any opponents from the second string players so I'll match you guys up with the first string players. You guys decide who your captain will be. Before all that though, pick up the yellow colored jerseys over there and do some warm up drills!"

"Yes, coach!" Everybody on Seiji's team including him shouted out in response to Chu Lin's voice.

They all picked up the yellow colored jerseys and wore it on top of their t-shirts. They then had a conversation about who their captain will be after a brief introduction.

"It's Saeki Takeo. As I've said yesterday, I'd like to play as the power forward! Being a captain is troublesome when you're constantly inside the perimeter so I'll give that job to the guards."

"I'm gonna be playing the point guard position, Nagata Izanagi. If there's no one who wants to be captain, do you guys mind if I will be the captain?"

Seiji and the other two, Morita Tomotsu who will be playing center and Yagi Toru who will be playing as the shooting guard just nodded in agreement. Morita didn't have any problems regarding who will be the captain and just focused on his job as the protector of their hoop. Toru, on the other hand, is a quiet individual and he also doesn't mind either way.

[*A/N: From here on, I'll address them by their first names; Takeo(PF), Izanagi(PG), Tomotsu(C) and Toru(SG).]

"Alright, now that we determined who our captain will be, I want to know who will be our scoring options. Any of you who's good at scoring points?"

As the captain of this temporary team, Izanagi asked an important question. He's not a scoring guard so he wanted to know who will he pass the ball to to ensure that they'll get the points.

The first to answer him was Tomotsu.

"I'm a defensive player so I'll mainly focus on rebounds and defense."

"I'm confident in finishing at the rim so pass me the ball when there's a clear path towards the basket for me," Takeo said.

"Shooting percentage… in contested shots are… no good… Pass me the ball when free," Toru said with his slightly inaudible voice.

Finally, it was Seiji's turn to say something and everyone trained their eyes on him. It seems like they're saying with their eyes, "Please be a good offensive player or else we're doomed!". Thankfully, Seiji didn't betray their expectations.

"I'm good any time so pass me the ball if you don't have any scoring options."

"Yosh! That's good. You will be our primary scoring option then! Let's go and do some warm up exercises!"

※・※・※・※

While Seiji's team is doing their meeting/brainstorming, a group of six is having a conversation on the other side of the gym. This group is wearing red training jerseys and is having a conversation about who will be playing in this practice game.

The one who's talking is a slightly muscular young man with a height of around 190 cm. His hairstyle has an undercut and is semi-bald from there, looking rather intimidating.

"Alright team! Coach said that we'll be playing against a team of freshmen but I don't want to see anyone slacking on defense and offense, got it!?"

In response to his intimidating aura, the remaining five players couldn't help but shout in perfect harmony.

"""YES!"""

"Good. Now, as our small forward graduated last year, our small forward position is empty. For this game… Fukuda! You'll be playing small forward! I don't want to see you slacking in defense either!"

This young man who seems to be the team's captain addressed the one on his group with curly hair — its sides being clean shaved.

"Yes yes… Got it captain."

"Next is the shooting guard. Kogure, do you want to play in this game?"

This time, the captain addressed a normal looking young man who's wearing a round pair of glasses.

"Nah, I won't be participating this time Akagi. Let Hyuuga play as the shooting guard this game. He hasn't played that much during the Nationals."

"Hmm. You have a point there. Did you hear that Hyuuga? You'll play this game!"

Hyuuga, the one who Seiji met during their small celebration party, was rather startled when he got called out by his captain but replied nevertheless.

"Y-Yes captain! Of course I heard you."

"Good. Now, we're ready to face our opponents. Let's now go and warm up!"

"""OS-SU!"""

While they are heading for a nearby basketball hoop to perform some practice shots and warm up, Hyuuga was approached by a pretty good looking young man.

"Good for you Hyuuga. It looks like captain Akagi and vice captain Kogure let you play this game on purpose."

"Haha, I noticed that too Izuki. You don't have to mention it. Rather, I'm more worried whether we can handle our opponent later."

Hearing the grave tone on Hyuuga's voice, Izuki couldn't help but be curious.

"Huh? What do you mean Hyuuga? Are they that good?"

"What do you mean 'they'? I'm talking about just one person, ONE! I've played some one on one games against that guy during my time in Tokyo, in the family owned training facility of Riko's dad, and that guy is a monster."

"Seriously? Is he that good to be called a monster?"

Hyuuga's expression couldn't turn any more grave as he said to his friend.

"You'll see in just a minute. Wait til the match starts."

While they were having their conversation, the two didn't notice that they trailed off from their group.

"Oi you two! Are you already beginning to slack off!?"

"N-No captain! We're on our way!"

※・※・※・※

To be continued…

[A/N¹: A brief sneak peek as to who Seiji's future teammates will be. Hope you like the chapter as much as I did. I only write what I would want to read after all.]

[A/N²: It's Fujiwara Neko alright. I thought it would be great to have two managers who differs in terms of personality and etc. Neko is the first one I found who acts lady-like(For the most part. Just ignore her going commando at times) and is good at cooking. Can't really focus on the school life aspect of this fanfic for now but I'm gonna be writing some chapters about this later on.]

[A/N³: Next chapter will be the game.]