Ken Kaneki stood at the gates of Teiko Junior High School, captivated by the vibrant, youthful scene before him. Cherry trees lined both sides of the path, their pink-and-white blossoms dancing in the breeze. Petals drifted gently down like pink snow, lending the school a romantic air.
He took a deep breath of air fragrant with blossoms and books, and a sense of anticipation for his new life rose within him.
"Ahh, junior high school life, brimming with youthful energy—it really is wonderful." Kaneki sighed as he strolled leisurely along the campus path. His thoughts gradually drifted away from the events of his previous life, and he began imagining what studying and living here would be like.
"From now on, I'm Ken Kaneki, a junior high school student at Teiko." As time passed, Kaneki, who had crossed over into this world, gradually accepted his new identity.
Just then, a tall, dark-skinned figure came over from the edge of the nearby basketball court. Sunlight streamed through the leaves and fell across his lively face—it was Daiki Aomine.
"Yo, long time no see, Kaneki! You're completely better? Well enough to come to school, huh?" Aomine's voice was bright and warm. He stopped, smiled, and clapped Kaneki on the shoulder in greeting.
Kaneki smiled faintly and replied politely, "Yeah, it's been a while, Aomine. I just transferred here today. You did say you'd look out for me, after all."
Why had Kaneki transferred to Teiko Junior High? Obviously! No matter how strong he was, Teiko over these three years was practically the emperor of the universe. If he didn't join them, then on his own, the best he could hope for was to say, "So-and-so lost, but Kaneki didn't." And what if some mission came along later where he had to defeat the Generation of Miracles? How could one guy with colored hair hold out against a whole gang of punks? Better to snatch the Ace position right out from under them and change the story. It definitely wasn't a case of "if you can't beat them, join them"! He was simply choosing the hardest road!
While the two were chatting, a clear laugh interrupted them. They looked toward the sound and saw a girl with long, straight pink hair walking over, a thick notebook in her hands. "Aomine-kun, what are you two talking about? You seem to be having so much fun." Satsuki Momoi's voice was like a spring breeze, soothing and pleasant.
"Oh, it's you, Satsuki! I just ran into Kaneki. He said he transferred to Teiko, so we'll be classmates from now on," Aomine explained.
"That's great, Kaneki-kun. I'm Satsuki Momoi. Be sure to get along with A-Dai and the others, okay?" Momoi said with a smile, linking her arm with Kaneki's in a playful manner.
Kaneki gently patted Momoi on the head. Feeling her warmth and softness beneath his palm, he couldn't help feeling a rush of affection. "Of course, Satsuki. We're good friends, aren't we?" he replied with a smile.
"All right, let's not waste any time," Aomine said excitedly. "You came at just the right time, Kaneki. Today's the school club recruitment day. Why don't you join the Basketball Club with me?"
"Oh, A-Dai, don't interfere with Kaneki's choice~" Momoi chided him, then turned to Kaneki. "Kaneki, what club would you like to join?"
"Funny enough, I was thinking of checking out the Basketball Club too. I don't know much about other sports," Kaneki said with a smile.
"All right, then, let's not waste any more time," Aomine cut in impatiently. "Let's get to the gym before the Basketball Club fills up."
"Oh, there's no need to rush! Kaneki, since you've just arrived at Teiko, you might not know your way around yet. A-Dai and I can show you to the gym!" Momoi offered.
"Sorry for the trouble," Kaneki said, nodding to them both.
"We're friends. You don't have to be so formal!" Aomine threw an arm around Kaneki's neck and dragged him off toward the gym at a sprint.
"Hey, A-Dai! Wait for me!" Momoi stamped her foot in frustration at the sight of them racing off, then hurried after them.
Before long, they had all arrived at Teiko Junior High School's basketball gym. The Basketball Club recruitment event was in full swing inside. The atmosphere was tense and lively, and the air was thick with the scent of youth and sweat.
At the entrance, several older students sat behind a long table, handling registration. With smiles on their faces, they patiently helped each newcomer fill out forms and handed out numbered tags. Some newcomers came in groups of three or five, while others arrived alone. Their expressions were a mix of excitement and nerves. Some checked their numbers, while others encouraged one another as they prepared for the challenges ahead.
The gym was divided into two sections, each equipped with professional testing equipment and staffed by personnel. The left side was for basic fitness tests, including measurements of height, weight, speed, and jumping ability. The right side was for more intense basketball skill tests. Several basketball hoops had been set up on the court, with balls and timers ready beneath them. The tests included dribbling around obstacles, spot shooting, and layups, each one challenging the newcomers' fundamentals and reaction speed.
As time passed, more unfamiliar faces appeared at the gym entrance. The newcomers murmured to one another nervously, occasionally looking up at the senior students waiting on the court.
Just then, an expressionless senior, about a hundred and eighty centimeters tall, stepped forward and clapped his hands lightly to get everyone's attention. "Hello, everyone! Welcome to the Basketball Club. I'm Shuzo Nijimura, captain of Teiko Junior High School." His booming, forceful voice immediately silenced the newcomers' chatter. Taking in the scene, Nijimura nodded with satisfaction.
"Rookies, first of all, on behalf of the Teiko Junior High School basketball team, I welcome you all—the team's fresh blood."
Nijimura paused, then continued, "But at Teiko Junior High, basketball is far more than just an after-school hobby. You have only two tasks here: get stronger and win games. Training here will be extremely rigorous, so if you're only thinking of treating the basketball club as an after-school activity, you can leave now."
As Nijimura finished speaking, an uproar broke out. After murmuring among themselves for a while, many casual players quietly left the court. In an instant, the crowd of newcomers had shrunk by a third.
Watching the newcomers file out, Nijimura remained expressionless. "Looks like those who stayed are confident in themselves. Let me tell you a little about Teiko. We have the First String, Second String, and Third String. As newcomers, you'll all start in the Third String. Once you're good enough, you can work your way up to the Second String and First String. Of course, if any of you are confident in your ability, you can challenge a First String senior after the fitness tests. The winner gets to stay in the First String, and the loser is sent straight down to the Third String. Teiko Junior High has no weaklings."
Listening to Nijimura's unconventional welcome speech, Kaneki and Aomine exchanged a glance, excitement and pride gradually appearing in their eyes. They didn't notice the few figures in the crowd behind them, whose expressions had also grown increasingly intrigued.
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