Everyone's Take

He returned to the bench, sat down, and closed his eyes to rest.

He hadn't even broken a sweat. That hadn't even counted as a warm-up.

By now, everyone else understood that the outcome of this game probably wouldn't change.

The third-years had given it everything they had and still couldn't make Gojo Satoru feel tired. His stamina was beyond human.

He really could do exactly what he'd said and beat all the third-years by himself!

Meanwhile, everyone else was sharing their thoughts.

"Ahhh! Yume-chan, did you see that?

Satoru-kun is so cool! He completely crushed the third-years all by himself!"

Amikura Mako shook Kobashi Yume beside her over and over, unable to contain her excitement.

But Kobashi Yume looked close to tears, heartbroken over her poor judgment.

"Wahhh! Mako, what should I do? I only bet 5,000 Private Points! If I'd known, I would've bet everything!"

There went a perfectly good chance to earn points!

Seeing this, Amikura Mako hugged her and stroked her hair, comforting her.

"It's okay, Yume-chan. I bet 40,000. I'll support you from now on!

Besides, you were there for me when I was upset. I won't forget that!"

"Ah, I didn't bet anything!"

Beside them, Shiranami Chihiro regretted her decision and hugged Ichinose, but she didn't notice that Ichinose's eyes seemed a little strange.

That's pretty outrageous. Those skills and that stamina...

Behind them, Kanzaki Ryuji stared at the score and Gojo Satoru on the bench, unable to believe what he was seeing.

"I miscalculated a little, but it's not a big deal. Good thing Ibuki warned me."

Ryuen looked at the score, relieved. Ibuki had told him earlier that Gojo Satoru was no ordinary person. Otherwise, the points he'd collected from the class would've gone to waste.

"I told you he wasn't normal! How could those guys from the Basketball Club compare to that kind of physique? If you know even a little about basketball, you can just run wild out there."

Ibuki Mio looked at Gojo Satoru resting on the bench, wanting to devour him whole. That bastard had actually tricked her and made her go embarrass herself in Class A!

And that flirt had even teased her a few times. If she hadn't been afraid of the security cameras, Hashimoto wouldn't have gotten off so easily.

Mr. X really isn't just a math genius!

Shiina Hiyori held a mystery novel and gazed silently at Gojo Satoru with a smile, saying nothing.

Father was right. Judging by his physical ability alone, he's already beyond the bounds of a normal human. If he excels in other areas as well, "genius" would hardly begin to describe him.

"Your friend is quite impressive, Kamuro-san."

Sakayanagi Arisu teased her with a smile.

"Of course! Satoru is the strongest!"

This time, Shinsuke didn't avoid the compliment. She accepted it openly.

The strongest, huh?

"But I heard someone saw him hugging that girl over there this morning."

As Sakayanagi Arisu spoke, she pointed toward Amikura Mako in the distance.

That can't be true, can it? But Sakayanagi doesn't seem to have any reason to lie to me.

"I don't believe you! I'll ask him myself when this is over."

Kamuro Masumi had her doubts, but she wasn't going to believe Sakayanagi completely.

Sakayanagi's information network might be impressive, but unless she heard it from Satoru himself or saw it with her own eyes, it was false!

"I see. It's sad not to be trusted."

Though the words sounded hurt, she said them in a teasing tone that made them seem utterly insincere.

Kamuro Masumi simply ignored her and turned her attention back to Gojo Satoru.

"Gojo-san is incredible! He's got all five third-year senpai on the ropes by himself. Good thing I secretly bet 5,000 points!"

Karuizawa Kei proudly lifted her head, pleased with her own cleverness.

"I bet 7,000..."

"I bet 10,000..."

So she'd bet the least?!

Hearing what her friends had said, Karuizawa Kei couldn't sit still. She asked in surprise,

"Didn't you say you thought he'd lose?!"

"He's someone we like, so it's only natural to support him, right?"

Even if she got the wrong idea, it gives me a good excuse now.

Matsushita Chiaki looked over with a resolute expression.

"What about Maya, then?!"

Chiaki was one thing, but why had Maya bet even more than she had?

"Um, well... I did have a lot of faith in Gojo-san. I trust Chiaki's judgment!"

She didn't know how to explain it. She couldn't exactly say she thought she might have a crush on him, could she?

He was her best friend's crush. Wouldn't it be weird to say that out loud?

So she was the only one who'd made a fool of herself?

Karuizawa stared at her two best friends in disbelief. They'd both said he had no chance when they were discussing it, yet they'd bet more than she had!

"President! Did you know from the start that Gojo-san was good at basketball?"

Tachibana Akane asked Horikita Manabu, puzzled.

But Horikita Manabu's answer was more astonishing than she'd expected.

"It's not just basketball. He's far above ordinary people in every popular sport at the moment.

"And he hasn't even started taking this seriously. In sports, there's a state called the zone that only a few people can enter. I'm certain Gojo Satoru can reach it!

"He simply hasn't faced an opponent worth taking seriously yet."

"That's... quite the talent."

Tachibana Akane's voice grew quieter and quieter. She couldn't believe she'd ever questioned the president's decision. If someone who excelled in every sport beyond the usual limits was invited to join the student council, that would make sense.

But there was more to it than that.

He opened his eyes and looked at the scoreboard across from him.

48:43

He'd had a fun idea. He wasn't exactly a good person anyway, so it was perfectly normal to rattle his opponents a little, right?

Thud!

He caught the bottle of mineral water that came flying from behind him and looked back in confusion.

Ibuki Mio was glaring at him.

"You bastard! Don't leave after the game. Fight me one-on-one!

"And I'm settling the score for the way you tricked me, too!"

"Huh? Did little Ibuki miss me? That's kind of embarrassing!"

"You bastard!"

Seeing him grin and tease her like that, Ibuki couldn't take it anymore.

She started to walk over, but an upperclassman stopped her.

"Maybe wait until the game is over, okay? Gojo-san is still resting."

"Hmph! Just you wait!"

When they wouldn't let her go over, Ibuki Mio didn't want to stay any longer. She pointed at Gojo Satoru, threw out a threat, and headed back to where she'd been sitting.

Watching Ibuki turn and leave, Gojo Satoru couldn't be bothered to pay her any more attention.

He set the water bottle he'd caught aside.

In any case, he wasn't going to get tired or sweat now.

There was no need to drink water handed to him by another girl in front of his girlfriend.

"What are you doing over here? Come to laugh at us?"

Kawashima looked at Gojo Satoru as he approached the third-years' resting area, puzzled.

The game wasn't over yet. Was he here to talk trash?

"Huh?! Is that really what you think of me, senpai?

"Waaah... I'm hurt!"

"Stop putting on an act! Just say what you came to say!"

Yamagami Sawano, who was already seething, couldn't stand it. They'd just been crushed, and now Gojo had come over to rub it in.

The other players all shot him angry looks, too.

"You're scary.

"Anyway, I just wanted to come over and say something.

"Why don't you give up now?

"I'm getting a little bored, and my girlfriend's waiting for me."

Ignoring the murderous looks, Gojo Satoru spoke arrogantly.