As the physical tests drew to a close, the afternoon sunlight slanted into the spacious gym, casting mottled shadows across the floor. The lunch bell rang out, signaling that the brief break was nearly over. The new students who had taken part in the tests and the upperclassmen who had recorded the results all left slowly, their hearts filled with a complicated mix of awe and respect. Everyone shared one thought: this year, Teiko Junior High's basketball team had, for the first time ever, produced five dazzling talents all at once—in every sense of the word.
After everyone had left, the vast court quickly fell silent. Only Shuzo Nijimura remained, sitting on a bench at the sidelines. He stared blankly at the hoop, as if still savoring the thrilling scenes from the tests. After a long while, he calmed down, picked up the compiled test report, and marked the stats of the five talented players. Those numbers were undoubtedly the biggest discoveries he'd made during the tests, and the most important points he wanted to report to the coach.
Shuzo Nijimura rose and strode purposefully toward Kōzō Shirogane's office. He reached the door and knocked gently, then said respectfully, "Hello, Coach Platinum. Sorry to bother you. Is this a good time? I have some reports on the physical test results I'd like to share with you."
A kindly voice soon came from inside the office. "Oh, it's you, Shuzo. Come on in. Weren't you in charge of the new students' physical tests? You're finished already? Did you find something special?"
Shuzo Nijimura opened the door and handed Kōzō Shirogane a folder containing the test results with both hands. "Coach, we really did have several incredible new students this time. They performed exceptionally well, and I think they're fully qualified to join the First String straight away."
Kōzō Shirogane took the folder and smiled at Shuzo Nijimura. "Join the First String straight away? That's not like you, Shuzo."
As soon as he finished speaking, Kōzō Shirogane's eyes were drawn to the names circled in red on the report. His fingers glided over them, and a flicker of shock and delight crossed his face. The folder trembled slightly in his hands, as if he were savoring something precious.
The office fell silent for a long while. Shuzo Nijimura stood to one side, quietly watching Kōzō Shirogane. He said nothing more; he trusted that the coach understood better than he did what these results meant. He was also certain that his judgment was right. These five players had talents unlike anything in Teiko Junior High's history—perhaps talents that would never be surpassed.
"Haha, Shuzo." Kōzō Shirogane kept his eyes on the report, gently rubbing one corner of the folder between his fingers. "You're right. They're all remarkable kids. Judging by the numbers, they really do have what it takes to join the First String right away."
"Judging by the numbers? Coach, what do you mean?" Shuzo Nijimura asked thoughtfully.
"It's simple. If they really have what it takes, let them introduce themselves to the upperclassmen they're about to replace. If they don't, there's nothing wrong with letting them spend a year developing." Kōzō Shirogane smiled at Shuzo Nijimura.
"But Coach, isn't that a bad idea?" Shuzo Nijimura said hesitantly. "They're only a bunch of first-years..."
"What? Don't you have faith in the players you picked? When you first joined the club, you crushed the captain at the time and went straight onto the First String."
"No, Coach, you misunderstand. I mean, they're only first-years. If we let them crush the First String members, it might be difficult to manage the team in the future." Shuzo Nijimura's tone remained firm.
"Haha, oh, you." Kōzō Shirogane chuckled and pointed at Shuzo Nijimura. "Have you forgotten Teiko Junior High's motto? We don't have to care about anything but victory!"
Perhaps no one could have guessed that Teiko's three consecutive junior-high championships over the next three years had been set in motion on a bright afternoon, during a casual conversation between a boy and his coach.
Ken Kaneki, of course, knew nothing about that conversation. At that moment, he was walking back to the classroom with Daiki Aomine and Satsuki Momoi.
"Hey, Ken Kaneki, you're amazing!" Satsuki Momoi looked at Ken Kaneki with admiration. "I heard from the upperclassmen that your test results broke the team records!"
"Hey, Satsuki, aren't you being a little biased? I broke a team record too!" Daiki Aomine said indignantly. "Why don't you praise me?"
"But, A-Dai, your record was broken by Ken Kaneki just five minutes later, wasn't it? Someone did say he'd look after Ken Kaneki!" Satsuki Momoi teased him with a mischievous smile.
"Ugh! Damn it!" Daiki Aomine flushed bright red, then pointed at Ken Kaneki. "Who could've known this guy was hiding his true abilities? Who could've known that when he said he wasn't very good at playing, he meant 'I'm not very good, if you don't count that I can play'?"
"Haha, Satsuki, Daiki Aomine is great too. Didn't you see how the upperclassmen looked at him after the skills test?" Ken Kaneki smiled with his eyes narrowed. "I just got lucky. I was feeling pretty good today."
"Humph, who asked you to praise me?" Daiki Aomine turned away and glared stubbornly at the ground. "Don't leave after school. I'll beat you after training tonight."
The three of them chatted and laughed all the way back. After saying goodbye in the school building's hallway, Satsuki Momoi and Daiki Aomine returned to their classroom, while Ken Kaneki went to the teachers' office to wait for a teacher to claim him.
Before long, a kindly old man arrived in front of him with a folder in hand. After looking him over carefully, he asked, "You must be Ken Kaneki, right?"
"Hello, sir. I'm Ken Kaneki. It's nice to meet you." Ken Kaneki stood and bowed politely.
"Hahaha, no need to be so formal, child. I'm your homeroom teacher, Yoshimura Kōzen. I'll take you to your class." The old man in front of him chuckled warmly.
"Of course. Sorry for the trouble, Mr. Yoshimura." Ken Kaneki rose and followed Yoshimura Kōzen to his D-class homeroom.
"Class, this is Ken Kaneki, who's just transferred here. I hope you'll all get along well." Yoshimura Kōzen introduced him from the front of the classroom. "Why don't you introduce yourself, Ken?"
"Hello, everyone! I'm Ken Kaneki, and I've just transferred here. I look forward to getting along with you." Ken Kaneki gave a brief introduction, but his gaze couldn't help drifting toward the enormous figure seated in the corner.
"All right, Ken. You can sit next to Atsushi Murasakibara from now on." Yoshimura Kōzen arranged, looking at Ken Kaneki's tall frame.
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