#29 The Match 1/4

"Close the door behind you" Chabashira said when they changed rooms while Ichinose and Hoshinomiya remained in the Staffroom, debating about something.

*thud* "Are you planning to murder me here or something, sensei?" Yuichi closed the door and asked with a smile.

"If you think so, why did you close the door first before asking?" Chabashira asked while taking the seat, crossing her legs.

"I don't know, maybe I trust that Chabashira-sensei would never try to do anything bad to her students" Yuichi said politely with a bright smile.

"Take a seat, compliments won't get you out of here sooner than necessary." She replied with closed eyes and a completely calm tone.

"Aww, this atmosphere makes me feel like I have done something bad...Can't Chabashira-sensei smile a bit more?" Yuichi said while taking the seat opposite to Chabashira before asking while showing her a wide smile as if to say "that's how you do it"

"If you answer all of my questions, I might smile a bit more for you" Chabashira said with her serious expression and crossed arms.

"Then please ask right away!" Yuichi replied in an enthusiastic way.

"The change in everyone's behavior...is that your work?" She asked with narrowed eyes, watching Yuichi's smiling face with closed eyes very closely.

"Hm? I am only doing it because Hirata is doing it." Yuichi replied with a smile.

"So it is your work..."

"Not exactly but you could say that I am helping."

"And whose plan was it?" She asked with a furrowed brow, she knew that something was off about Yuichi's answers.

"Um...Sensei, I promised that person not to tell a single soul, therefore, unfortunately, I can't answer this question however I can tell you that the student who came up with this plan has only everyone's well-being in mind." Yuichi said with a bright smile and closed eyes.

Chabashira's eyes widened when she heard his answer, recalling their conversation after their first homeroom class.

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"Good questions, unfortunately, I can't answer most of them yet however I can tell you that this school values its students and rewards them according to their performance." Chabashira said to Yuichi who came looking for answers to his questions the 1st day at this school

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'Heh, this student..."If you aren't being honest, why should I?" huh?' Chabashira thought having an urge to even laugh a bit from Yuichi's boldness.

"From your surprised expression upon seeing the changes, were we perhaps supposed to not do that? If that is so, I am really sorry to sensei for creating unnecessary trouble" Yuichi said with a confused expression before bowing down, sounding all sincere.

"...Forget it, I have already gotten my answers. How is your practice with the basketball club going?" She said with a faint smile before asking with a curious look.

"It's alright, I think there is some chance for me to win. Will sensei come to cheer on us?" Yuichi asked innocently with an expectant look in his eyes.

"I see...I will be watching from afar" She frowned down and replied.

"Thank you, sensei! Anyway, what's the problem with my last test from history class?" Yuichi asked with a worried look.

"...You can leave" Chabashira-sensei said with closed eyes and slightly tired expression.

"But what about-" Yuichi wanted to continue to play ignorant just to make her more uncomfortable but before he could finish, she opened her narrowed eyes and looked at him sternly.

"You can leave, student Iwamura." She said and Yuichi decided to leave it for now. He got up, bowed down, and left the room.

He politely nodded towards Ichinose and Hoshinomiya however before he left, he heard their voices.

"Farewell, Iwamura-kun!"

"I will attend the basketball match held in a few days and cheer on you~!" Hoshinomiya said playfully.

"Thank you, I appreciate it. Have a nice day, Ichinose-san, Hoshinomiya-sensei." Yuichi said with a helpless smile before leaving the Staffroom.

---2 days later---

It was already after today's classes yet Gymnasium was filled with quite a lot of people, mostly the students who have heard rumors of one freshman's bet. Most of them came here just to have a look at how someone loses all of their points, such is human nature. Most of the students would rather see Yuichi lose all his points instead of winning. Even a few teachers attended and naturally even student council president was present, sitting on the side, observing the court from a high position.

'I have never imagined that even my brother would have attended this small event...Well, he was the one arranging it so I guess it makes sense for him to be here-' Horikita thought while looking at her brother with a weak expression. She was planning to actually just go home or to the library but when she remembered that today was Yuichi's match, she decided to have at least a quick look at it despite Yuichi having no risk of losing anything.

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"Iwamura-kun, how big is our chance to win in your opinion?" Sudo asked with a curious expression while stretching. Even the other members looked towards Yuichi once they heard Sudo's question. In those 3 weeks of practice, they have gotten to know what kind of player Yuichi was and they were literally scared. It wasn't as if he was extremely amazing and skillful that he would stand a chance in 1 on 1 against a professional player. The aspect that scared them was in a completely different direction.

"Hm? Well, I have seen them play a few times. And judging by how we play, we have a good chance for a win but no pressure everyone, just play like you always do, if you mess something up, don't think about it for too long. As long as you will be focused we can win." Yuichi said with a smile. He didn't say that they have guaranteed victory so they won't slack off however he also didn't say that there is a small chance to not discourage them.

All of them were wearing white jerseys with their own numbers in black color together with white shorts. Yuichi was currently putting on two black wrist sweatbands.

"I am kinda nervous to be completely honest with you...I am not sure if I will be able to throw any threes despite attending this club the whole year..." Their Shooting Guard (SG) said with an embarrassed expression. He was the second year of class D like Yuichi and many others.

However, they also had 1st year from Class B who played Small Forward (SF) and another 2nd year from Class C playing Power Forward (PF).

Sudo himself was playing Center (C) due to him being quite tall and strong.

"I have heard that quite a lot of people came to look at how I will lose my points" Yuichi muttered with a relaxed smile, hearing muffled voices of many people outside of the locker room.

"No need to worry about that, we will win!" Sudo said with an excited smile while clutching his fist.

"Alright, let's go, don't get nervous when you will see too many people." Yuichi said before getting up with a faint smile. He was aware that these people never played in any tournaments, even those 2nd years never played in any tournament, at most they were sitting on the bench however once on the court, the pressure is completely different under the eyes of many people.

"Yeah!" All 4 other members shouted at the same time, following Yuichi out of the locker room.

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"Ugh..." Their SH immediately groaned when he noticed so many students looking at the court.

Yuichi quickly found a few guys from Class D and when he noticed Mei looking at him, he sent her reassuring smile with closed eyes.

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When they greeted the opposing team which was the basketball core team of this school, they quickly got to their positions for the tip-off. Most of the members from the opposing team were either friendly, indifferent, or curious about Yuichi however there was one guy glaring at Yuichi with determination. It was their Point Guard (PG) who took Yuichi's challenge very seriously and maybe a bit personally.

'I guess he will be the one guarding me all the time...I might use this chance to tilt him and make him do basic mistakes.' Yuichi thought with a faint smile while looking straight into the opponent's PG's eyes.