The recruitment day ended on a high note. Besides Taiga, three more students handed in their applications.
"So, what do we do now, Senpai?" Dirga asked while helping Kaito dismantle the booth.
"I told everyone to meet us in the gym tomorrow after school," Kaito replied. "I'll get our team officially registered and contact the coach too. That's when things will really start."
Dirga nodded. He already had a read on Taiga thanks to Echo's Inspect skill, but the other three recruits were still a mystery. That would change soon enough.
The next day after school, Dirga jogged to the gym, only to find the new recruits already lined up. Kaito and Rikuya stood like statues in front of them.
"Sorry I'm a little late, Senpai. Had to clean the classroom."
Dirga quickly changed into his workout clothes—still no team uniform yet—and dashed over.
"Nice to meet you all! I'm Dirgantara Renji, first year."
After introductions, Dirga discreetly used Inspect on each of the new recruits:
Rei Hoshino: Overall C
Hiroki Andou: Overall D+
Aizawa Haruto: Overall B+
Aizawa caught Dirga's attention the most. Apparently, he was a second-year and a former star of the baseball team, but quit suddenly and joined basketball "for fun." Kaito gave Dirga a quick side glance—a silent warning: Keep an eye on this one.
"Well then," Kaito said, clapping his hands. "I'll go register our club. You guys get to know each other."
As soon as Kaito left, Taiga broke the silence with a wide grin.
"Dirga, how'd you get in this team so early?"
"Ah... well, I just finished junior high in Indonesia. After my parents died, my uncle—Takeshi-sensei—took me in. He's a teacher here, so he let me train in the gym. That's where I met Kaito-senpai."
"...Sorry to hear that," Taiga muttered awkwardly. The mood in the room dipped to freezing levels. Definitely not an icebreaker.
Then, like a lifeline, Aizawa spoke. "How about a match? There are six of us—perfect for 3-on-3."
"I'm in!" Taiga said enthusiastically.
"A good idea," Rikuya said in his usual Buddha-like calm.
That left Hiroki, who looked nervous but nodded.
Teams were decided: Dirga, Rikuya, and Rei vs. Taiga, Aizawa, and Hiroki. They'd play half-court, 3-on-3, for ten minutes. The team with the most points would win.
Taiga's team won the coin toss.
First possession: Aizawa passed the ball to Taiga. He tried to bulldoze his way past Rei—bad idea. Rikuya was waiting. The "Titan of Japan" swatted the ball away like it was nothing. Dirga, already anticipating the block, grabbed the rebound and took it outside the arc, Aizawa shadowing him.
"Damn..." Dirga muttered. "His stats are stacked. Except Playmaking, I can't beat him in anything."
Still, there was something off. Aizawa's movements were awkward—too much wasted motion. He had the physique of an athlete, sure, but the instincts of a rookie.
Just then, Taiga rushed to help Aizawa double-team Dirga, leaving Rei wide open on the wing.
"A sniper," Dirga realized.
He whipped the ball to Rei. Catch. Shoot. Swish.
The game picked up. Rikuya was a wall in the paint, Rei rained threes, and Dirga orchestrated the flow. It was a beatdown. Dirga also made mental notes: Rei couldn't dribble to save his life. He needed open looks. Aizawa and Taiga were both raw talents—explosive, but directionless. Hiroki... was a mystery.
"Another playmaker?" Dirga frowned. "But zero confidence."
Hiroki would show flashes of potential—a smart pass here, a nice stepback there—but it all collapsed under pressure.
With five minutes left, the score was 19–7. Dirga's team had full control. The opposing side looked winded, frustrated, and unsure what to do.
That's when a voice echoed from the gym's entrance.
Everyone turned toward the door.
There she was—the strict-looking girl with glasses from recruitment day. Ayaka Minazuki. The student council member. The one Dirga had fumbled an awkward conversation with. The one who made his heart feel like it was about to leap out of his chest and die all over again.
"Oh no..." Dirga whispered. His soul briefly left his body. Please don't remember me. Please don't remember I was the idiot who screamed in public and handed you a club form like I was confessing my undying love.
Ayaka looked around calmly. "I heard the team officially registered today, so I came to check on things. And maybe..." she paused, scanning the gym, "...volunteer."
Dirga's brain crashed. Volunteer?! Did she mean as the manager? The legendary female manager that sports anime always promised but real life never delivered?!
"I'll come back once practice is done," she said. "Good luck, everyone."
As she left, Dirga stood frozen, face red, stomach in knots.
In my past life, I died a virgin. Is this... divine compensation? Or puberty screwing with my head?
Rikuya patted his shoulder like a monk delivering a silent prayer.
"Stay strong," he said.
Dirga could only nod.