Even Satsuki Momoi at the sidelines could tell something was different about Ken Kaneki. To everyone on the court, it was even more obvious.
"Ken-chan, you're acting a little different tonight."
During the break, Atsushi Murasakibara gulped down water and looked at Ken Kaneki with a slightly helpless expression.
"Yeah, Kaneki, what's gotten into you today? Why are you so excited?" Daiki Aomine asked curiously, wiping the sweat from his body with a towel.
"Haha, am I?" Ken Kaneki laughed cheerfully and slung an arm around Daiki Aomine's shoulder. "I just feel like it's great playing ball with everyone. I want to get stronger, even stronger, and become everyone's most dependable support!"
"Ugh, you're so gross." Daiki Aomine slapped the hand off his shoulder and grumbled, "Besides, who needs you as backup? I'll beat you one day."
"If it's Ken-chan, I don't think there's anything wrong with saying that," Atsushi Murasakibara said, eating seaweed as he flipped through his manga.
"I'm the one who bought you all that seaweed, and you're still taking Kaneki's side?" Daiki Aomine felt betrayed.
"I'm just telling the truth," Atsushi Murasakibara said seriously. "But, Ken-chan, you promised to buy me potato chips for a whole month. You haven't bought me any in seven days."
"You've got a pretty good memory, Murasakibara..." Ken Kaneki said, not sure whether to laugh or cry.
"Why don't you go talk to them?" Seijuro Akashi asked, watching Shintaro Midorima continue practicing his shots.
"Why haven't you gone over?" Shintaro Midorima countered.
"I just can't find a way into their conversation, but I'm not deliberately avoiding them," Seijuro Akashi said with a smile.
"I just don't really get along with them." Shintaro Midorima sank the last ball in the rack, then wiped away his sweat. "I have no problem with Kaneki or Aomine, but I feel like that big guy is wasting his talent. He isn't giving it his all. If I join them, the conversation will die."
"I didn't expect you to be so considerate of others, Midorima," Seijuro Akashi teased. "Are you sure you're not still upset because Kaneki blocked two of your seven shots tonight?"
"Idiot, I'm not that childish," Shintaro Midorima said, looking a little uneasy.
"Haha, then I guess I was mistaken." Seijuro Akashi patted Shintaro Midorima on the arm and said no more.
"All right, everyone, come over here." Kōzō Shirogane pulled the whiteboard over from the corner and gathered everyone in the gym.
"We played very well in our first game. We need to keep up the good work. The results of the first round are in, and our next opponent is Shibuya First Junior High." Kōzō Shirogane crossed the eliminated schools off the schedule on the whiteboard. "Shibuya First Junior High used to be a weak team until last year, when the additions of Keisuke Kobayashi and Kotaro Hayama propelled them to the prefectural tournament semifinals."
"Not only that, they brought in a new center this year, Daisuke Narumi. In their first-round game, they defeated Hakusui Hall Junior High by a large margin. The newcomer scored 27 points, grabbed 14 rebounds, and had 2 blocks. Together with Keisuke Kobayashi and Kotaro Hayama, he forms a formidable Big Three," Shuzo Nijimura added.
"Shuzo's right," Kōzō Shirogane continued. "Especially Kotaro Hayama. He's an excellent slasher, quick and agile, and he's their team's ace."
"Oh, he sounds a lot like Ao-chan. I wonder how he compares to him," Atsushi Murasakibara said, a little surprised.
"Hmph. When it comes to speed, I won't lose to anyone," Daiki Aomine said smugly, spinning a basketball on his fingertip. "You'd better watch out for their center, though. Don't let him crush you."
"Tch, I won't lose to anyone when it comes to strength, either," Atsushi Murasakibara said defiantly.
"All right, all right. Listen to Coach," Ken Kaneki said, exasperated by their childish antics.
Kōzō Shirogane ignored the interruption and continued with his instructions. "There's nothing special we need to watch out for in their game. Just focus on defense. Their play style is simple: they rely entirely on individual ability to force their way through. I believe you can do even better than they can in that regard. Right?"
"Yes, Coach!" the First String members answered confidently.
"Good. I like the energy." Kōzō Shirogane nodded with satisfaction. "Tomorrow's the weekend, so get some good rest. Starting next week, we'll step up our one-on-one defense training. Meeting adjourned!"
"Yes, Coach!"
"Ah, tomorrow's the weekend again!" Daiki Aomine stretched and said happily. "I can finally get a good night's sleep."
"But Ao-chan, you don't usually sleep badly, do you? It's been over a month since school started, and you've been made to stand in the hall for sleeping in class at least a dozen times," Atsushi Murasakibara teased. "Seems like going to class doesn't affect your sleep at all."
"I have to get up early for class! I'm still growing!" Daiki Aomine protested indignantly. "Besides, you've been made to stand in the hall for sleeping in class plenty of times, too, haven't you?"
"Whenever I go out to stand in the hall, I see Ao-chan. But when Ao-chan gets sent out, I don't always see him," Atsushi Murasakibara said, mercilessly driving the point home.
"Hey, Ken-kun." Satsuki Momoi gently tugged on Ken Kaneki's clothes from behind and spoke softly. "Tomorrow's the weekend. What do you usually do on weekends?"
"Huh? Me?" Ken Kaneki looked at Satsuki Momoi in surprise. After thinking it over, he answered honestly, "Before, I'd usually just relax at home on weekends, play video games, or go out and shoot some hoops. Since joining the Basketball Club, I usually do some basic training."
"You really are a boy who's content with a quiet life, Ken-kun," Satsuki Momoi said with a sweet laugh.
"Quiet life? I don't mind. Playing basketball lets me meet lots of friends, and gaming is a way to socialize these days, too." Ken Kaneki slowed down to walk shoulder to shoulder with Satsuki Momoi as they chatted.
"But you have to go out and look around sometimes, don't you?" Satsuki Momoi turned toward him and looked at his profile, asking tentatively, full of hope.
"Of course. Sometimes I go out for a walk, but most of the time I stay home." Ken Kaneki turned to her and smiled warmly.
"Hey, Ken-kun, I heard there's a Summer Festival in Akihabara tomorrow. I've been wanting to go. How about you?" Satsuki Momoi's clear voice held the faintest tremor.
"A Summer Festival?" Ken Kaneki thought for a moment. "I could go take a look, but I don't have a yukata. Wouldn't it feel less festive if I went dressed like this?"
"Then how about I go with you tomorrow to pick out a couple of yukata, and we go to the Summer Festival together?" Satsuki Momoi asked sweetly, a little excited.
"Buying clothes? Won't it be a hassle?" Ken Kaneki said, embarrassed, averting his gaze and nervously touching his cheek with his right hand.
"It won't be a hassle at all! Then it's a date!" Satsuki Momoi said happily.
"Sure," Ken Kaneki said with a nod.
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