The coordinators drew forth a large duffel bag, unzipping it to reveal basketball bibs. Their colour was in black and white, each emblazoned with "YOSHIMURA" in the front. They were thick polyester.
Ari wanted black. As always. He moved toward the coordinator handling Group J's distribution, ready to claim what he felt was owed to him. Each group from A to O were given ten bibs, five white and five black.
The coordinator looked at Haruto, then back at AriToru. He smiled, a smile that said *I'm about to exercise my power on you.
"Both of you pick the white pinnies"
Ari gave a sagging breath, *As one would expect*.
The goal was to keep the narrative going. To just make sure the hated duo are on the same team and wear the same colours. Make them easy to identify, easy to mock. That's the story Yoshimura wanted to see.
AriToru realised this, and so he accepted it as a challenge. He walked past the coordinator to carry the white bib as he was directed
BEHOLD! Before Ari could take the bib a sudden hand yanked it back.
Both of them held the fabric, neither one of which planned to let go. Ari looked up. He saw a chest. He had to raise his head up higher. At a boy roughly his height. Definitely fit, a carved hard lined musculature to him. It was a Japanese face with buzz cut black hair, a prominent nose and an angry scowl.
Then the angry scowl turned into a ragged sneer. A look of rage and disgust on his face
"Tch_", His gaze went down Haruto then he looked back at Ari, not once did his grip on the stretched pinnie loosen.
"I'm going to expose both of you for the frauds you are."
His voice was roughened. Like he'd lost it. But it was no less personal.
Ari black eyes bored into the buzz cut boy's face. ELECTRIC.
It followed his eyes. Then it looked back at his hands that still refused to release the white bib.
Ari then let go and the bib was violently yanked away from him. He stepped back without comment, and picked a different jersey.
"Hah! Knew you were a weakling." The aggressive boy's voice was filled contempt. "You're nothing but a bitch."
Ari made a sound like a scoff and then like an exhale.
And his shoulders shook with the sound. He was delighted at the hostility.
Haruto felt a coil inside but he just looked at Ari who was the target of the blunt insult.
Yes... he'd enjoy playing the coming 3 matches very much.
The buzz cut boy was about to speak and_
"Shota!" A voice called from across the court—English accent, American. "Leave the bums alone."
The aggressive boy. Watanabe Shota, apparently grunted in frustration before he walked away.
Back to Group K.
His friends seemed to be wearing black. And he himself grabbed a black bib before he left.
Which meant Shota had grabbed that white bib purely to antagonize Ari.
*So petty.* Ari thought distantly.
He surveyed the other boy, the American boy who'd called them bums, He had umber hair. And he was visibly shorter than Shota.
The boy caught Ari staring at him and then very slowly he gave a demeaning wink. Slow and sweet.
Slow and_....Sweet.
It enraged him. AriToru. Congratulations to the American. He was much better at goading Ari than the Shota boy.
AriToru's fist balled the white bib tightly in his hands, It was a bone tight grip. But he finally relaxed and exhaled before turning away.
Haruto fell behind Ari without a second glance at the group K boys. "Those guys are jerks."
Ari pulled the bib over his head and adjusted it over his black t-shirt. "I'd say.." His voice was pondering. Pondering thought, "They're the good guys ."
Haruto was struck dumb."Whah?"
"Their the confident actual basketball players. Rightfully belonging. Calling out the frauds who ruin the game."
"While us", Ari gestured to himself and Haruto. "We're just playing our role."
"And what role is that?"
Ari's smile was a carnal thing. "Villains who will kill the heroes."
Haruto was quiet for a while just staring at Ari. Before he looked back forward and let the words settle in his mind.
"Hmm," he smiled to himself. "I've always wanted to be a villain."
Ari nodded. "We will be."
He walked toward Group J's bench where his bag sat, retrieving the seed nut extra large. Seven hundred calories compressed into a nice large bag.
He sat on the bench leaned forward and continued the cursed daily quest.
[CALORIC INTAKE: 4,900/10,000]
[49% COMPLETE]
But to Ari it was just Yum Yum Yum Yum
Shoving palmfulls into his mouth, chewing without a care in the world. But inside ...inside he was self conscious beyond doubt.
"Is he eating?!"
"Look at Twig Boy stuffing his face!"
"Nuts don't build muscle asshole!"
"Nuh nah. It's_ hey, let me talk. It's nervous eating! He knows he's about to get destroyed!"
"Maybe he needs it for his pale skin. Give his life some colour!"
But he ignored it all.
Ari ignored them all, just eat. Just eat.
[CALORIC INTAKE: 5,200/10,000]
[52% COMPLETE]
[HALFWAY THERE]
Coach Hosei was standing. Suit wearing and patiently he waited for the heavy sounds to settle. When it finally did—mostly—he spoke.
"Alright, Now the main part. This is how we're going to do this." He paused when the sound went up the roof again. Like they didn't even want him to speak. It was just CRAZY. "Teams of_" The sound hadn't stopped yet.
"Teams of three. Three-on-three, you're playing half court. First team to twenty points will wi_."
YAAAAAA!!!
LOUD.... BOOMING... SCREAMS AND JEERS
SHRILL.... VIOLENT... ROARS AND TAUNTS
FINALLY WHAT THE YOSHIMURA WANTED. The boots. The boots, soles of these raging students hit and hit and hit the ground. This was what Yoshimura knew. Competition and this was what the students came for, to watch and to see dreams die in real time, and to witness legends born.
He had to wait 3 full minutes for the NOISE-TO-QUIET-DOWN, "Each team plays three matches total."
But for the players, they murmured. For three matches meant multiple opportunities to prove themselves. But even now consistency over all three would be ideal.
"Now," Coach Hosei continued, taking a sip from a water bottle. No pepsi this time. "Your groups don't matter for these team matches. We already decided on your matchups yesterday.....course that was based on your Day one performance "
One of those coordinators came forward. Groups I, J, and K students were mixed together, forming teams of three. By calling names.
Ari tensed, listening for his name.
"Team 7," the coordinator announced. "Aihara Haruto."
"That's me." Haruto answered. The crowd BOOED immediately they realised that was him. But Haruto turned his head down to Ari who was still sat on the bench. He said quickly, "You're probably going to be called next."
"Wouldn't surprise me", Ari said after swallowing more of his nuts.
"Team 7".... "Toru Ari."
Ari smirked before repeating. "Wouldn't surprise me."
Of course. The hated duo kept together.
"And..." The coordinator paused, he himself was surprised by the match up. "Santiago Cruz."
A figure stepped forward, and several people in the crowd gasped.
ENORMOUS.
He___was truly ENORMOUS. By far over 7 feet. A silhouette cut wide and wide at the top.
Pillar-shouldered. No he was not proportioned, because his long limbs reached past his thigh. Not slender but not_
He was not bulky or muscular. It was the type of size that made two metres look small
His skin was medium brown, his dark brown hair was pulled back in a rough ponytail that let all sorts of strands and bangs run wild, barely held together by this pink/white rubber band.
His face was a wide jaw, strong brow ridge and a protruding chin, the gentle brown eyes of a giant.
Yes even with this terror oozing frame, his face was that of a boy. Eyes still large, Cartilage still soft. He was still 16 like the rest of them.
*What type of 16 year old looks like that*
When AriToru could see fully, the person who was Santiago Cruz, those void eyes bulged open. His pupil became wild and apertured and his black eyes turned to a sort of bright gray colour. Those full lips of his couldn't help but open, he was trying to process the size of Cruz.
Santiago stepped towards his new teammates. He had a wariness to him. He made out his new teammates, It seemed to be a blonde boy and another pale one eating .... nuts?
Santiago was a person who always moved carefully and tried his best not to intimidate or scare others.
Now he was standing in front of Haruto and AriToru, then he bowed. A full respectful Keirei..
"Hello," Santiago said in heavily grammatically uncertain Japanese. "I am... Santiago Cruz. Please... treat me... kindly."
His mannerisms were polite, so respectful, completely at odds with the intimidating frame.
His voice was not even deep like most giants. It sounded like any other 16 year old.
Haruto couldn't help but take a step back, O
He was overwhelmed by the size difference.
AriToru who still sat slowly put another nut in his mouth. He realised he was staring. Which was rude... so he coughed into his fist. And he composed himself. He extended his hand. "I'm Toru Ari. Pleased to meet you."
For the first time when his hand shook another AriTorus mauls were the ones ENGULFED.
And Ari HAD large hands, but Santiago's ...were those of the behemoth.
It made the handshake feel like being gripped by a bear paw. A gentle bear paw.
"Aihara Haruto" Haruto recovered his enthusiasm, shaking Santiago's hand with both of his own soft palms...."Woooow...", Harutos eyes went fron Cruz feet to the top black strand of hair on his headl. "H...How tall are you?"
Santiago's smile was a meek one. This was always the first question. "I am... seven feet, two inches."
Ari was tugging a loose shoe lace back inside his jordans, "You're not Japanese."
"No I am from... República Dominicana."
Ari's head raised up at the same time as Haruto.
"Dominican Republic."
"Ohhhh". The two of them reacted in unison.
7 feet and 2 inches barefoot. Haruto's eyes were almost in a spiral while he processed it all. "I've never met anyone so tall! That's incredible! Are you a center?" His look went half lidded as he thought about something, "I mean it'd be a traaavesty if you weren't a centre."
Santiago needed time to blink and take in the personality that was Aihara Haruto.
"Yes, center position." Santiago nodded. "I look forward to... helping us win. Three matches. I will try... my best."
His earnestness was an endearing thing. Careful speech because of an effort to communicate.
And even more shockingly was he had no trace of judgment about being yoked with the two most-hated first-years. No complaints about the matchup. Just this sort of.....
Ari observed Santiago's whole demeanour. This sort of.....polite determination.
Then Ari and Haruto exchanged glances in realisation
This_ WHY this was an unexpected stroke of luck...
A 7'2" centre on their team. That was Huge, in every way.
They just hoped he had more to him than his size.. The three of them were standing on the court now.
Ari returned to eating his nut mix even while standing. His Incisive brain picked up important cues.
The Cue.
Each team had a clear composition: one guard under 6'3", one wing or forward between 6'3" and 6'8", one large one above 6'9".
*Rather balanced*
AriToru felt a tap on his shoulder. He looked down to find a girl coordinator with her hand outstretched anticipatorily toward the nut mix.
*No food on the court I take it*
Ari ignored the gesture and the coordinator completely, then he walked back to Group J's bench and just as he was about to drop his nut mix_
He saw middle fingers fill his vision. Raised to the sky from grinning faces. From the crowd. All flipping him off to show their distaste in his current Ability. They all thought he didn't deserve to be here.
*Hah, imagine that*, Ari thought to himself while he dropped the nut mix. Who knew he'd ever in his life receive so many middle fingers from so many people. He found their childish actions amusing. And fun. He would not lie, Ari enjoyed the attention he was getting. For whatever reason he was getting it, this was far better than being a ghost on the court. A person who wasn't even competent.
So AriToru knew if he failed to win this, He'd be chewed and spat out if he failed to get on the team. Marginalized and ostracised. *I have to win this*
[THIS IS TRUE. YOU HAVE ALREADY GOTTEN IN TERRIBLE FAVOUR WITH THE SCHOOL]
[IF YOU FAIL TO GET ON THE YOSHIMURA BASKETBALL TEAM. YOU WILL BE ISOLATED]
[YOU WOULD BE WORTH LESS THAN A BOTTOM FEEDER TORU ARI]
AriToru smiled evily turning his back. He felt like he was standing naked but held himself up while walking back to the court. He returned to where Haruto and Santiago waited. The coordinator's face was red with annoyance at being dismissed, but she didn't push it.
All those guys and girls flashing up middle fingers were only that brave cause they never stood up close to .....whatever this pale boys name was.
He was rather intimidating. Creepy. Ugh, even she hoped he lost.
Team 7 heard the chatter of footsteps heading towards them. The first to turn was Haruto. Then Ari and Santiago met the confrontation.
Three boys. Three black bibs. Three adversaries.
Team 8.
Ethan Carter.
Height:- 6'3".
Position:- Point guard.
The American who'd told Shota to leave them alone, the one who called them Bums. He stood with an activated posture with crossed arms. A fixed smile like he'd already won.
Watanabe Shota.
Height:-6'6".
Position:- Small forward.
The aggressive one with the prominent nose and buzz cut hair that gave him a perpetually angry appearance. He made a motion of cracking his knuckles. It made no sound but he's sure team 7 got the message.
Arakawa Shingo.
Height:-6'10".
Position:- Power forward. A darker-skinned Japanese. Muscular boy he was. But more striking was his energy: Like barely-contained violence wrapped in human form.
The three Heroes radiated Threats. Coordinated Threats.
*They look like they've played before*
[MAYBE THEY HAVE. BUT MORE LIKELY THEY SHARE THE SAME COMPETITIVE MINDSETS]
Ari smiles to himself. *Is the competitive mindset being assholes*.
[DO NOT JEST SKINNY BOY. YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING THIS ARE LOW]
[PROBABILITY OF TEAM 7 VICTORY = IRRELEVANT]
[BUT STILL]
[YOU CANNOT JEST ANYMORE]
[IT IS SINK OR SWIM TIME]
Other matches were beginning around them. Team 5 which was the team the prince Cobra played in along with two of his lackeys against Group 6 who were probably already fucked.
[1ST COMPETITIVE ALTERATION]
[MANDATORY QUEST ACTIVATED]
[OBJECTIVE: WIN ALL 3 MATCHES]
[REWARD: 45 SKILL POINTS]
Ari's jaw clenched. 4.....45?!
Massive. Enough to ....to... to improve his abilities greatly. Gosh, that combined with daily stats and....
*Oh I Really Really need to win*
"THE WHITE TEAM'S GONNA GET DESTROYED!"
"YESS! EXPOSE THE STUPID FRAUDS!"
"EVEN THE GIANT CAN'T SAVE THEM!"
"BET THEY DON'T SCORE TEN POINTS!"
"TWENTY TO FUCKING ZEROOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!", and with that the whole crowd in the pavilion had an UPROAR.
Yori leaned forward with a focused expression on his handsome visage. Goro sat beside him, he was as it was, actually awake for once. But he wasn't showing particular interest in the crazy things happening below like his vice captain.
No, Goro just had a thoughtful expression on his face.
"The tall one with black hair," Yori said quietly. "Toru Ari. You saw his CSRP performance yesterday?"
"Thirty-six points with the chubby blondie" Goro nodded while scratching his ear.
Yori's face flashed dramatic irritation. "Already given them nicknames huh?"
Goro paused his scratching then he smiled softly. "Slender man and chubby blondie." His golden brown eyes faced forward, "What about them?
"You think it was legitimate? Or practiced?"
"What was?"
"Their CSRP performance". Yori replied eager for his Captain's take.
"Wasn't practiced." He didn't hesitate to answer.
///"I SAW it"
For sure, No one could tell what was on the spot and what was secretly practice any more than the Captain of Yoshimura High. The man with the ability, **I SEE**
"And now they have a giant with them." Yori smiled without taking his eyes off of Team 7. He was most eager for them to get started.. "Could be interesting."
He raised a finger to the air, "Or...it could be a massacre. Runa isn't here for me to ask about the giant foreign boy."
"Yeah", Goro rested his head on the railing. It made his cheek press against his face. "What happened to her?"
"Mrs Camille gave the second years a biology test." Yori looked up. "It will be the first oof....", His lips made a continuous F sound till he finally remembered, "first of 8 for them this semester."
"I'm sure they'll pass", Goro raised head back and heaved his body up. Now he just using his hands to rest on the rails. "Too bad. She would have given us the profiles on these players." For now both the Captain and Vice captain were focused on watching the match.
Back on the Court.
Ari turned to their giant teammate. He planned to ask what Santiago's strengths were. "Santiago-san."
Santiago's hand immediately covered his mouth. His big shoulders shook
Ari blinked.. "What? What's wrong?"
"Your pronunciation..." Santiago smiled. He was trying to be polite. "It's... not quite right. Santiago-san sounds strange."
Haruto jumped in immediately: "I know how to say it properly. San-tee-AH-go. Emphasis on the middle syllable no?"
Santiago's face lit up and his brown eyes beamed with light.. "Yes! Exactly! Very good!"
"See, Ari?" Haruto's expression was pompously smug. "Some of us have culture and linguistic awareness."
Ari rolled his eyes, "Culture Shmulture."
"But really. How do you pronounce it?" He asked Santiago
Santiago demonstrated the proper pronunciation. He made it sound so easy. "San-tee-AH-go. Or just Santiago is fine. Or Cruz-san, if you prefer formal."
Santiago thought deep and strained to say, "San-ti-a-go it is," Not knowing even that wasn't the right pronunciation.
Santiago laughed internally, *Well.... he'll get better*
That's when a voice spoke. The sound came from Group 8.
"You know", it cut past their senses. Sardonic and derisive, "You can forfeit."
All three of them turned at the same time.
Ethan Carter stepped forth with a friendly smile. The English accent was clear, his Japanese however was good enough to be wilfully disdainful.
"Seriously. Just forfeit. Save everyone taaiime. Don't embarrass yourselves in front of the whole school." He spoke warmheartedly because he was offering true wise words. "No one will judge you. Actually, it's commendable... That you've finally realised you're out of your depth."
Watanabe Shota spoke bad less patience. "YES. Quit while you still have some dignity left."
Arakawa Shingo just grinned, showing teeth, his entire body language was a gorilla if gorillas were carnivorous.
*Can that one even talk*, Ari wondered to himself as he stared Shingo down
The energy concentrated, tension thickening the air The spectators had gone quieter. They sensed drama like blood hounds, they were leaning forward to catch every word.
Among these spectators was Tomomi Sachiko who was holding the edge of her seat like it was her salvation. Her brown eyes were fixed on the moment that was surging below. She wanted to look away...confrontation indeed made her uncomfortable, always had. But now at this surging moment she couldn't. Something about Ari's expression held her attention.
Something about the 3 v 3 made her want to take her glasses off.
Nearby just under Tomomi, Kaneko Imai groaned dramatically to her friends. "Why are we even watching this? Like, literally why am I sitting here near Group J again?"
"Because you want to see them fail?" one friend suggested.
"Obviously. But it's not even entertaining failure. It's just... sad." Imai examined her nails, affecting boredom. "He's just gonna embarrass himself again. Everyone's gonna laugh." Her hands dropped down in a dejected manner, "I almost feel bad for him."
But she didn't want to feel bad for Toru Ari. Didn't want to remember him from middle school, or acknowledge that underneath all the mockery, part of her hoped he'd somehow pull off something unexpected.
She pushed the thought away aggressively.
On the court.
The giant was affected.
Muscles contracted all around his body beneath the skin. Even with the language barrier between the Dominican and the Americans speech, condescension seemed to be a universal language all humans understood..
But then
Ari emerged true to the heroes. The Pale One stepped past The Caribbean Titan and The Golden BullEye.
And The Pale One stood directly in front of Ethan Carter. Looking down at him from a hundred and ninety eight centimetres. And it was with darkness he stared down at him. With the Onyx Eyes.
"No one's forfeiting."
Ethan's smile faltered. Didn't last a second longer, Something about Ari's stare rattled....
The Complete Absence Of Fear.
The black orb eyes consumed him. Seeing all, sparing none. As the eye of the land below hell might judge a man.
.....
And Ethan could look no longer.
"Your funeral."
The American stepped back.
The coordinator now had space to step between Team 8 and Team 7. He could not hide his shaky legs.....why was this so intense.... So much bloodlust. Did they plan to kill eachother or play basketball.
He was holding a styled coin that had one side white and the other a dark silver.
"W....white or black?"
"Red!", Shota answered in anger.
That's when the coordinator realised his stupid question. And in shaky hands flipped the coin upwards.
It Spun up in the air.
Caught the Light.
Then it landed back down on the sweaty palm of the coordinator. The white side facing up.
"White. White team has possession."
Lo, The ball was on the maul of the Pale One. In AriTorus palms.
[1ST COMPETITIVE ALTERATION]
[TORU ARI - CURRENT STAT PROFILE]
[PHYSICAL:]
[POWER: 25/100]
[STAMINA: 40/100]
[VERTICAL: 26/100]
[SPEED: 38/100]
[BASKETBALL:]
[SHOOTING: 33/100]
[DEFENSE: 18/100]
[ATHLETICISM: 28/100]
I[Q: 72/100]
[PASSING: 31/100]
[SKILL: 28/100]
[ABILITIES: HEAVENLY SHOT{LEVEL 1}]
[SKILL POINTS AVAILABLE: 5.3]
[IT HAS BEGUN]