Don't Do Anything Unnecessary

"Haizaki, listen up. Teiko Junior High is an invincible lion that wins a hundred battles out of a hundred, not a despicable hyena that kicks people when they're down!" Ken Kaneki stared into Shogo Haizaki's eyes and said coldly.

"But..." Shogo Haizaki tried to argue, but Ken Kaneki cut him off without mercy.

"No buts," Ken Kaneki said coldly. "Go sit down and think about it."

"...Yes." Shogo Haizaki answered reluctantly.

"Beep-beep! Substitution for Teiko Junior High!" At the referee's whistle, Seijuro Akashi was sent onto the court, and the game continued.

Seihō Junior High had never been known for its offense. On top of that, Shogo Haizaki had disrupted the foundation of their defense, and as the game went on, the gap between the two teams grew wider and wider. With ten minutes left, both sides substituted their starters, and the game officially entered garbage time. In the end, Teiko Junior High opened the Prefectural Tournament with a resounding 128–53 victory.

"Teiko Junior High versus Seihō Junior High, 128–53. Teiko Junior High wins!"

"Thank you for the game!"

As the game ended, Shuzo Nijimura stepped forward and shook Tsutomu Iwamura's hand firmly.

"Shuzo, you've got a whole team of incredible talents at Teiko. Congratulations," Tsutomu Iwamura said, trying to sound casual.

"Your rookies are impressive, too. They just need more experience," Shuzo Nijimura said impassively, feeling the tremor in Tsutomu Iwamura's arm.

"Captain, we're leaving!" The Teiko players called from behind him, all packed up and ready to go.

"Okay, I'm coming." Shuzo Nijimura replied, patting Tsutomu Iwamura on the arm before turning to leave without saying anything more.

Tsutomu Iwamura watched the Teiko players walk away, then turned back to see Tomoki Tsugawa sobbing. He walked over and patted Tomoki Tsugawa's head reassuringly. "Come on, don't cry. We need to go. We'll try again next year."

"Yes... Captain..." Tomoki Tsugawa sniffled, gathered his backpack, and followed the team back to the locker room.

"I'm planning to quit the team," Tsutomu Iwamura said, as if it were just a passing thought, while walking down the players' tunnel.

"What? Captain, you..." Takakatsu Kasuga seemed unable to accept the shocking news. He stared intently at Tsutomu Iwamura, as if he could find a flower growing on his face.

"Don't make a fuss. I'll explain when we get back to the locker room," Tsutomu Iwamura said, taking a deep breath and quickening his pace.

Before long, everyone from Seihō Junior High had returned to the locker room.

"Um, there's something I'd like to announce." Tsutomu Iwamura clapped his hands, struggling to keep his voice from trembling. "I'm planning to quit the team."

"What?"

"How can this be?"

"Captain?"

His simple announcement sent shock waves through the room, leaving everyone stunned.

"I... I'm in my third year of junior high now, and this is my last year in the Basketball Club." Tsutomu Iwamura spoke calmly, though his eyes grew redder by the moment. "For the past two years, I haven't been able to lead you all past the Prefectural Tournament. That's a failure on my part as captain. I'm truly sorry."

"Captain, it's our fault..."

"It's not your responsibility. You've done more than enough, Captain."

The eyes of everyone at Seihō Junior High grew red, too. Some of the more sensitive players were already quietly sobbing.

While Tsutomu Iwamura was announcing his departure from the team and handing over his duties as captain, everyone from Teiko Junior High had already showered, changed, and gotten ready to leave the gym.

"Kaneki, look over there." Daiki Aomine gently patted Ken Kaneki on the shoulder and pointed toward the Seihō Junior High locker room, where several people stood at the entrance, crying their eyes out.

"I see them, Aomine." Ken Kaneki asked, his expression unchanged. "What are you planning to do?"

"Tell Captain Nijimura I'll be right back. I've got something to do." Daiki Aomine pointed toward Shuzo Nijimura's back, then turned and started toward the Seihō Junior High locker room.

"Don't do anything unnecessary, Aomine." Ken Kaneki, usually easygoing, grabbed Daiki Aomine's arm, a rare change in his demeanor. His gaze toward the Seihō Junior High locker room was tinged with pity. "The pain of defeat is something they have to work through on their own. To the defeated, consolation from the victor is the greatest humiliation. The only thing we can do is keep winning on their behalf, so they lose to the national champions, not to some nobodies."

"Kaneki's right, Aomine." Kōzō Shirogane suddenly spoke up in agreement from the back of the group. No one knew when he had joined them. "Win the national championship. That's the best consolation you can offer a defeated opponent."

"Yes, Coach." Though Daiki Aomine felt terrible, his respect for the coach ultimately made him abandon the idea. He hurried after Ken Kaneki, and they left the gym together.

On the bus ride back, everyone who had won was excited, except Daiki Aomine and Ken Kaneki.

"Ken-chan, Ken-chan?" Satsuki Momoi patted Ken Kaneki on the shoulder as he stared out the window, lost in thought. She quietly sat down beside him and asked gently, "What's wro— What happened between you and A-Dai? You both looked so troubled when you came out of the gym. Can you tell me about it?"

"Hey, Satsuki..." Daiki Aomine started to speak, but Satsuki Momoi cut him off. "Wait a moment, A-Dai. Ken-chan doesn't seem very happy."

"So I look happy to you?" Daiki Aomine was almost laughing with frustration.

"It's nothing, Satsuki. I'm just a little surprised we were able to beat Seihō Junior High so easily." Ken Kaneki smiled and patted Satsuki Momoi on the head.

"Really?" Seeing that Ken Kaneki's answer was vague, Satsuki Momoi didn't press him. She simply looked at him with concern.

"Really, I'm fine." Ken Kaneki smiled at Satsuki Momoi. "Thanks for caring, Satsuki."

Seeing the gentle smile on Ken Kaneki's face, Satsuki Momoi's ears grew a little warm. "Haha, it's nothing! We're all good friends, after all. It's only natural to care about each other!"

"Peach, I felt so bad for Seihō after they lost. They were all crying, and it really got to me," Daiki Aomine said, butting in again.

"Is that so? That's too bad. Drink plenty of hot water. That'll make you feel better." At this point, Satsuki Momoi practically had the word "dismissive" written all over her face.

"Ken-chan must be the same way. After all, Ken-chan's actually a really kind person!" Atsushi Murasakibara had noticed that Ken Kaneki was acting differently. For once, after finishing a Bran roll, he didn't immediately open another one. He spoke clearly.

"Mm-hmm! Ken-chan really is a kind person!" Satsuki Momoi nodded repeatedly at Atsushi Murasakibara's words. After thinking for a moment, she added, "How about we go eat ramen tonight, Ken-chan? That Red Cat Ramen Shop we went to last time was delicious, and the cat was adorable, too. Petting cats is good for your physical and mental health!"

"Oh, I want to go too!" Daiki Aomine suddenly sprang up, though he had been lying there pretending to be dead.

"Oh? The Red Cat Ramen Shop?" Kōzō Shirogane chimed in with interest. "Then let's all go together tonight. It'll be my treat. We'll make it a victory party!"

"Yeah! Long live Coach!" The boys on the bus cheered in unison. Sunlight slanted into the bus, filling it with the scent of youth.