Teiko Junior High's Basketball Club Recruitment

Ken Kaneki stood at the entrance of Teiko Junior High, his gaze deeply drawn to the vibrant, youthful campus scene before him. Cherry blossom trees lined both sides of the path, their pink-and-white petals dancing lightly in the wind, drifting down like pink snowflakes, draping the school in a romantic hue.

He took a deep breath of air mingled with the scent of flowers and books, and an involuntary surge of anticipation for his new life welled up in his heart.

"Ah~ This junior high life, brimming with youthful spirit, really is wonderful," Kaneki mused, strolling leisurely along the campus path. His thoughts gradually pulled away from the experiences of his past life, and he began to imagine his studies and daily life here.

"From now on, I'm Ken Kaneki, a junior high student at Teiko." As time passed, the reincarnated Kaneki had slowly come to accept his current identity.

Just then, a tall, dark-skinned figure walked over from the edge of the nearby basketball court. Sunlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting light on his energetic face—it was unmistakably Daiki Aomine.

"Yo, long time no see, isn't that Ken Kaneki? All healed up? You're actually coming to school now," Aomine said in a cheerful, hearty voice. He stopped, smiled, and patted Kaneki on the shoulder in greeting.

Kaneki smiled faintly and replied politely, "Yeah, long time no see, Aomine. I just transferred here today. After all, you said you'd look out for me."

Why did Kaneki transfer to Teiko? No question about it! No matter how strong Kaneki was, these three years at Teiko could be called "Cosmic Teiko." If he didn't join them, relying on himself alone, at best he could only say, "So-and-so lost, but Kaneki didn't." If some mission came up later to defeat the Generation of Miracles or something, how could one guy with dyed hair hold out against a gang of punks? Instead of that, it was better to snatch the Ace position from their hands and break the plot that way. It definitely wasn't a case of "if you can't beat 'em, join 'em!" He was just choosing the toughest path!

As the two chatted, a crisp laugh broke their conversation. Following the sound, they saw a girl with long pink hair walking toward them, a thick notebook in her hand. "Aomine-kun, what are you two talking about? You seem so happy," Satsuki Momoi said, her voice as refreshing as a spring breeze, making everyone feel at ease.

"Oh, it's Momoi! I happened to run into Kaneki here. He says he's transferring to Teiko, so he'll be our classmate from now on," Aomine introduced.

"That's great, Kaneki-kun. I'm Satsuki Momoi. Make sure you get along well with A-Dai and the others," Momoi said with a smile, linking her arm through Kaneki's playfully.

Kaneki gently patted Momoi on the head, feeling the warmth and softness under his palm, and a wave of warmth surged in his heart. "Of course, Momoi. We're friends, aren't we?" he replied with a smile.

"Alright, enough wasting time," Aomine said excitedly. "You came at the perfect time, Kaneki. Today's the school club recruitment day. Come join the Basketball Club with me!"

"Oh, A-Dai, don't interfere with Kaneki's choice~" Momoi scolded playfully, then turned to Kaneki and asked, "Kaneki-kun, what club do you want to join?"

"As it happens, I'd like to check out the Basketball Club too. I don't really know much about other sports," Kaneki said with a smile.

"Alright, alright. Since that's settled, let's not waste any more time," Aomine interrupted impatiently. "Let's hurry to the gym before the Basketball Club fills up."

"Oh, no need to rush! Kaneki-kun, you just got to Teiko, so you might not know your way around yet. A-Dai and I will take you to the gym!" Momoi invited.

"Then I'll trouble you both," Kaneki said, nodding in thanks.

"Come on, we're friends! No need to be so formal!" Aomine hooked an arm around Kaneki's neck and dragged him off toward the gym in a flash.

"Hey, A-Dai! Wait for me!" Watching their retreating figures, Momoi stomped her foot in annoyance, then chased after them.

Before long, the group arrived at Teiko's basketball gym. The Basketball Club's recruitment event was in full swing inside the school's indoor court. The atmosphere was tense and lively, the air thick with the scent of youth and sweat.

At the entrance, a long table sat with a few upperclassmen in charge of registration. They smiled patiently as they filled out forms and handed out number tags to each new recruit. The newcomers, either in small groups or alone, wore expressions of excitement and nervousness. Some looked down at their numbers, others cheered each other on, ready to face the upcoming challenges.

The entire gym was divided into two sections, each equipped with professional testing gear and staff. On the left, basic physical fitness tests were conducted, measuring height, weight, speed, and jumping ability. On the right, more intense basketball skill tests took place. On the court, staff had prepared basketballs and timers under several hoops. The tests included dribbling around poles, spot shooting, and layups—each one assessing the newcomers' fundamental basketball skills and reaction speed.

As time passed, more new faces appeared at the gym entrance. The newcomers exchanged nervous whispers, occasionally looking up at the seniors already waiting on the court.

Just then, a stoic-looking senior about 180 cm tall stepped forward. He clapped his hands lightly, drawing everyone's attention. "Hello, everyone! Welcome to the Basketball Club. I'm Shuzo Nijimura, the captain of Teiko Junior High," he said in a loud, commanding voice, instantly silencing the newcomers' chatter. Satisfied with the scene, Nijimura nodded.

"Listen up, rookies. First, on behalf of the Teiko Junior High Basketball Team, I welcome you all as fresh blood."

Nijimura paused, then continued, "But at Teiko, basketball is not just an after-school hobby. Here, you have only two tasks: get stronger, and win games. So the training you'll receive here will be extremely harsh. Those who see the Basketball Club as just a casual activity can leave now."

As Nijimura finished speaking, a wave of murmurs spread through the crowd. After some whispered discussion, quite a few casual enthusiasts silently left the court. In an instant, the group of newcomers shrank by about a third.

Watching the departing recruits, Nijimura's expression didn't change. "Looks like the ones left are confident in themselves. Let me introduce Teiko. Teiko is divided into the First String, Second String, and Third String. You newcomers all start in the Third String. When you're strong enough, you can move up to the Second or First String. Of course, if any of you are confident in your skills, after the physical tests, you can challenge a senior from the First String. Those who win stay in the First String; those who lose get sent straight to the Third String. Teiko has no weaklings."

Hearing Nijimura's unconventional welcome speech, Kaneki and Aomine exchanged glances, a glint of excitement and pride appearing in their eyes. What they didn't notice was that among the crowd behind them, a few figures with similar expressions were gradually turning amused.