Tradition

"Ah~ Ugh... So sleepy, Ken-chan." Even though class had just started in the morning, Atsushi Murasakibara was already yawning nonstop.

"Murasaki, did you stay up late reading manga again last night?" Ken Kaneki looked at Atsushi Murasakibara with a hint of helplessness. "You always ask me to keep an eye on the teacher for you... I want to sleep too."

"Ah, ah, got it, got it..." Atsushi Murasakibara waved his hand, his voice gradually fading.

"Seriously..." Ken Kaneki chuckled and shook his head, stretching. He looked towards the System in his mind.

"Long-Term Main Quest: Training Check-in; Current Check-in Days: 1; Quest Keyword: Self-Discipline; Quest Reward: 0.1 stat points/day; Quest Penalty: Without injury, failing to check in for more than three consecutive non-game days will result in the random removal of one Skill."

"Sigh~ I thought I could get stronger without any pain, but it turns out it was just beginner's protection." Ken Kaneki, feeling a bit troubled, forced himself to concentrate on the lesson on the blackboard.

Just last night, the System had notified him that his one-week beginner's protection period had expired and then issued him a long-term training check-in quest. This forced him to wake up at 4 AM to train in the basement. He still had to complete his shooting and squats, but thankfully, he could make them up during basketball club practice that evening.

The more Ken Kaneki thought about it, the sleepier he got. Before he knew it, his heavy eyelids slowly closed.

"You two are completely out of line!" The teacher's furious roar woke Ken Kaneki and Atsushi Murasakibara. "It's only the first class of the morning, and you dare to sleep! Get out and stand outside, both of you!"

"...Yes, Teacher." Ken Kaneki and Atsushi Murasakibara, two big guys, were scolded like little kids and obediently went outside to stand.

"Yo, you guys are here?" As soon as they stepped out of the classroom, a familiar voice reached their ears. They turned their heads and saw it was none other than that unlucky guy, Daiki Aomine.

"What did you two do?" Daiki Aomine asked curiously.

"Slept in class. What about you?" Ken Kaneki retorted.

"Coincidentally, me too. I played streetball too late after training yesterday, so the teacher punished me by sending me out." Daiki Aomine looked rather smug and animated.

"That's not something to be happy about, is it?" Ken Kaneki grumbled. "Getting kicked out is embarrassing."

"Ah~ So sleepy." Atsushi Murasakibara yawned listlessly. After a short while, he leaned against the wall and fell asleep again.

"?.?" Ken Kaneki was stunned. "What a talent! He can fall asleep even in this situation..."

"Don't mind him. Ken Kaneki, have you heard about the Teiko Junior High School Basketball Club's tradition?" Daiki Aomine said excitedly.

"Tradition? I haven't heard of it. What, do you have inside information?" Ken Kaneki asked curiously.

"Heh heh." Daiki Aomine grinned slyly. "Beg me, and I'll tell you."

"Fine if you won't tell me. I'll ask the captain tonight." Ken Kaneki rolled his eyes and prepared to take a nap too.

"Hey, hey, hey, I'll tell you, I'll tell you. You're no fun." Daiki Aomine said speechlessly. "I heard that when a new First String member joins the Teiko Junior High School Basketball Club, the coach arranges a few practice matches where the new player leads the Second String. I wonder who the coach will pair up with whom. I'm so excited~"

"Ah~" Ken Kaneki stretched, saying indifferently, "Whatever arrangement they make, as long as we win, it's fine."

"Haha, you're right!" Daiki Aomine exclaimed, patting Ken Kaneki's shoulder.

"Hey, you guys! I didn't tell you to come out here for a tea party! Come to my office after class!"

By the time they left the teacher's office, it was already lunchtime. Daiki Aomine and Atsushi Murasakibara returned to their classrooms to catch up on sleep. Ken Kaneki, however, went to the basketball gym alone to start his shooting practice for the day.

"Hmm? Someone's practicing at noon too?" Naoto Sanada, who had just come out of Kōzō Shirogane's office, heard the bouncing sounds from the court and curiously looked inside. He saw Ken Kaneki, wearing a T-shirt, his clothes already soaked with sweat.

"Hello, Coach Sanada." Seeing Naoto Sanada, Ken Kaneki greeted him politely before picking up the basketball and continuing his shooting practice.

"Does student Ken Kaneki add extra practice every day?" Naoto Sanada watched Ken Kaneki, who was making every three-point shot, with admiration.

"Ah, yes. If you don't train basketball, you'll become rusty. Rustiness means defeat." Ken Kaneki grandly established his persona. I, Ken Kaneki, have achieved what I have today entirely through my own efforts!

"Haha, effort is a good thing, but you're still growing. Don't overtrain." Naoto Sanada rolled up his sleeves and walked to the sidelines. "Here, I'll pick up the balls for you."

"Thank you, Coach Sanada!" Ken Kaneki thanked him with feigned shyness.

By the time Ken Kaneki finished his shooting practice, the bell signaling the end of lunch break rang. Naoto Sanada felt as if he had been liberated. It was simply too tiring to run back and forth picking up balls.

"Um... Coach Sanada," Ken Kaneki scratched his head, putting on a cheerful and open-minded big boy expression. "Can you accompany me to practice every day from now on?"

"No! Absolutely not!" Naoto Sanada felt his hair stand on end. A few hundred yen a month, what kind of life-or-death situation is this? But on his face, he maintained a kind teacher's expression and said, "Of course! Student Ken Kaneki is so hardworking. Although I'm just an assistant coach, I'm willing to lend a hand."

"Thank you, Coach Sanada! Goodbye, Coach Sanada!" Ken Kaneki quickly sealed the deal and busied himself tidying up the basketball gym before darting off to his classroom.

"I feel like... I've been tricked." Coach Sanada looked at Ken Kaneki's retreating back with some regret. "Damn it, I miscalculated."

In the following days, Coach Naoto Sanada was tormented by Ken Kaneki, feeling like he was dying. He had to run back and forth picking up balls every day, feeling even more tired than Ken Kaneki shooting. He decided to suggest to Kōzō Shirogane that the basketball gym be closed during lunch breaks to prevent anyone from practicing in secret.

"Thank you, Coach! I've been feeling great lately." Ken Kaneki said gratefully.

"I'm not feeling great." Naoto Sanada grumbled inwardly, his scalp tingling, but outwardly he continued to praise, "Student Ken Kaneki's fundamentals are solid, his shooting is stable, and he trains very hard. This is excellent. However, don't overtrain recently. Coach Kōzō Shirogane probably has some arrangements planned... but it's also an old tradition of Teiko."

"Okay, thank you for the reminder, Coach Sanada." Ken Kaneki knew exactly what was going on, but he didn't want to say much.

"Don't you want to know what arrangements Coach Kōzō Shirogane has planned?" Seeing Ken Kaneki's lack of curiosity, Naoto Sanada became somewhat curious himself.

"No matter what arrangements the coaches have, I will absolutely obey their instructions." Ken Kaneki continued to play dumb.

"Hahaha, well said, student Ken Kaneki. Go back to class." Naoto Sanada waved his hand, signaling Ken Kaneki to return to class.

Ken Kaneki didn't linger. He said goodbye and turned to leave. Watching Ken Kaneki's retreating figure, Naoto Sanada sighed, "What a good kid! It would be even better if he didn't drag me into suffering." Naoto Sanada stretched his shoulders, still feeling quite unwell.