First Game (1)

"What? The venue is that far away?" Atsushi Murasakibara yawned sleepily on Teiko Junior High School's team bus. "We had to meet at six in the morning. I'm exhausted."

"Come on, Murasakibara, stop complaining. I heard the school gives out prize money if we win the Prefectural Tournament~ You could buy tons and tons of bran rolls and potato chips~" Ken Kaneki teased, trying to tempt him.

"I don't want to eat that stuff." Atsushi Murasakibara refused with an unconcerned look. "It's just been a long time since I played an official game, and I want to see how much I've improved."

"Great! You've got plenty of spirit!" Ken Kaneki handed him a wet wipe. "But wipe your mouth first. You're about to drool all over your clothes."

"Oh, thanks..." Atsushi Murasakibara took the wipe, looking slightly dazed. Only then did he realize he'd been tricked. "You lied, Ken-chan! I wasn't drooling at all!"

Everyone on the bus burst out laughing, except for the perpetually sour-faced Shogo Haizaki.

"Oh, Ken, you really are something." Satsuki Momoi playfully tapped Ken Kaneki on the arm. "Murasakibara's already so silly... I mean, honest and simple. You're always teasing him like this."

"But Murasakibara's cute this way, isn't he?" Ken Kaneki asked with a smile.

Looking at Ken Kaneki's bright, cheerful smile, Satsuki Momoi froze for a moment. A blush soon crept across her cheeks.

"You're right no matter what you say. How could I ever win an argument with you?" Satsuki Momoi muttered. She rummaged through the little bag beside her, took out a bracelet, and handed it to Ken Kaneki. "Here. It's your birthday today, and it's also the first day of the tournament. I wasn't sure what to get you, but I hope you like it."

Ken Kaneki stared at the bracelet in front of him. Ever since his parents had died, hardly anyone had remembered his birthday. Looking at the smiling girl before him, he felt something deep inside him stir.

"Ken? Ken?" Satsuki Momoi stared at Ken Kaneki, who was gazing blankly at her. Her face turned so red it looked ready to boil.

"Ah, sorry. That was rude of me." Ken Kaneki apologized, feeling a little embarrassed. He took the bracelet from Satsuki Momoi and gently put it on.

"How is it? Do you like it?" Satsuki Momoi asked, watching Ken Kaneki with a nervous, bashful look.

"I like it a lot. Thank you, Momoi. That was thoughtful of you." Ken Kaneki smiled and patted Satsuki Momoi on the head.

"I-it's nothing..." Ken Kaneki's sudden gesture made Satsuki Momoi even more embarrassed. It looked as though steam might start rising from her head.

"Hm? Momoi, where's mine?" Daiki Aomine joined in. "My birthday's just a few days away, too. You should get me something!"

"A-Dai, you're so annoying! Fine, fine. How about a bottle of soy sauce for that dark skin of yours?" Satsuki Momoi glared at Daiki Aomine, who had ruined the moment, then turned to look out the window and fell silent.

"That old hag—why's she getting mad at me for no reason?" Daiki Aomine was dumbfounded by her outburst.

"Enough. Everyone, quiet down." Kōzō Shirogane, who was leading the team from the front, stood up. "The game is about to start. I want you all to take this seriously. Anyone who screws up today will have to practice twice as much. If we lose, it'll be five times as much!"

"What? Seriously, Coach?" The team let out wails that sounded half playful, half terrified.

Amid their wailing, the team bus arrived outside the venue.

"Ah, there are so many people!" Daiki Aomine was the first off the bus. He looked around curiously. "Look over there. Someone's taking pictures, too."

"They're reporters, Aomine," Seijuro Akashi explained with a smile. He'd been used to big events since childhood. "There are two games today. Our game against Seihō Junior High School comes first, followed by Hakusui Hall against Fukuda Comprehensive. It's a decent-sized sporting event, so it's only natural that reporters are here."

"All right! That means we absolutely can't lose today." Shuzo Nijimura got off last with the coach, carrying his bag. "Let's get inside and start warming up."

"Yes!" everyone answered in unison.

After changing into their gear, the team filed out of the locker room, and the stands gradually began to fill.

"Wow, this is impressive." Atsushi Murasakibara glanced at the stands while warming up. "There are way more people here than at mini-basketball games."

"So are you scared, Murasakibara?" Ken Kaneki teased from beside him.

"Huh? Scared? What are you talking about?" Atsushi Murasakibara glanced disdainfully at the Seihō Junior High School players across from them. "Those mediocre players couldn't handle you, Ken-chan. They'd have a hard time dealing with me, too."

While people on the sidelines were still whispering among themselves, the loudspeaker above the court crackled to life.

"The first round of the Tokyo Prefectural Tournament qualifiers is about to begin. The teams taking the court are Teiko Junior High School and Seihō Junior High School."

"We will now introduce Seihō Junior High School's starting lineup."

"Center, number 4, Tsutomu Iwamura."

"Power forward, number 6, Kazuma Tagawa."

"Small forward, number 8, Takakatsu Kasuga."

"Shooting guard, number 12, Tomoki Tsugawa."

"Point guard, number 5, Koichi Sakamoto."

As the announcements rang out, Seihō Junior High School's starting lineup made its entrance.

"They look just like Coach said. Nothing special," Shintaro Midorima muttered quietly.

"Don't let your guard down, Midorima." Ken Kaneki hooked an arm around Shintaro Midorima's shoulders and warned him. "That number 12 you're matched up against looks bald, and from what I know, he's only a first-year. But he's a very good defender. Still, I'm sure you won't miss a shot today, right?"

"Hmph. Cancer's lucky item today is a fan. A Cancer who brings a fan will have the best fortune of all!" Shintaro Midorima said with an arrogant snort.

"Now, we will introduce Teiko Junior High School's starting lineup."

"Point guard, number 4, Shuzo Nijimura."

"Shooting guard, number 8, Shintaro Midorima."

"Small forward, number 6, Daiki Aomine."

"Power forward, number 5, Ken Kaneki."

"Center, number 7, Atsushi Murasakibara."

"Captain, they're so tall!" Tomoki Tsugawa was still a boy, after all. He pointed at Teiko Junior High School's players as he stared at them.

"Quiet, Tomoki. We're the affiliated junior high school of the Northern King of Tokyo. Don't make us look bad." Tsutomu Iwamura slapped Tomoki Tsugawa on his smooth, bald head. He had to admit, it felt pretty good.

With all the players from both teams on the court, the referee carried the ball to center court and called out, "Line up! Bow to each other!"

"Please take care of us!"

After the teams finished bowing, Atsushi Murasakibara and Tsutomu Iwamura stepped up to center court, ready for the jump ball. The Generation of Miracles' reign in junior high basketball began here.