The afternoon sun cast long shadows across the school grounds as students streamed through the gates, their day finally complete. Among them walked Rando Gensei and Hinata Kurobane, both still riding the emotional high of their basketball tryout. Despite the loss to the seniors, they had earned something valuable—positions on the Second String, a remarkable achievement for first-year students.
"Same direction?" Rando asked, gesturing toward the eastern residential district.
Hinata nodded, his massive frame towering beside Rando as they fell into step together. The coincidence that they lived in the same neighborhood seemed fortuitous—perhaps even fated, given their natural chemistry on the court.
"Your family just moved here, right?" Rando asked, recalling fragments of conversation from earlier in the day.
Another nod from the giant. Hinata wasn't much for words, but his presence spoke volumes. There was something reassuring about walking alongside someone who commanded such physical respect yet carried himself with quiet dignity.
As they navigated the busy streets, Rando couldn't contain his excitement. The day's events kept replaying in his mind—the impossible vertical leap from Hinata, the seniors' perfect teamwork, his own moments of brilliance when he'd tapped into his abilities.
"Today was incredible," he said, a genuine smile spreading across his face. "Playing basketball with everyone... I haven't had that much fun in a long time."
Hinata's expression softened slightly—the closest thing to enthusiasm Rando had seen from him. "Mm," he agreed, the sound rumbling from deep in his chest.
"Second String as freshmen," Rando continued, shaking his head in disbelief. "The others will have to work their way up from Third. Coach must have seen something special in us."
The setting sun painted the sky in brilliant oranges and reds, casting a warm glow over the neighborhood as they walked. Street lamps began flickering to life, and the evening traffic hummed around them. Despite his fatigue from the intense practice, Rando felt energized—alive in a way he hadn't experienced since awakening in this world.
"We should celebrate," he declared suddenly, stopping at an intersection. "Nothing big, just something to mark the occasion."
Hinata raised an eyebrow, waiting for elaboration.
"How about there?" Rando pointed to a small establishment across the street. A warm light spilled from its windows, and a modest sign above the door read "Rise and Shine Café" in elegant script. "My treat."
The giant considered for a moment before nodding his agreement. They crossed at the light and pushed through the café's glass door, a small bell announcing their arrival.
The interior was cozy and inviting—polished wooden tables arranged across a tiled floor, soft lighting from pendant fixtures overhead, and the rich aroma of coffee and freshly baked goods permeating the air. Despite the late hour, the place was bustling with activity. Nine of the ten tables were occupied by a mix of students, office workers unwinding after their shifts, and couples enjoying quiet conversation.
A waitress approached them, her professional smile faltering slightly as she craned her neck to look up at Hinata. Standing at around 170 centimeters herself—tall for a woman—she still appeared diminutive beside the 220-centimeter giant and the 192-centimeter Rando.
"Welcome to Rise and Shine," she greeted them, recovering her composure. "Just the two of you?"
"Yes," Rando confirmed. "Is that table available?" He gestured toward the lone empty spot near the window.
"Of course. Right this way."
They followed her through the maze of tables, acutely aware of the curious glances from other patrons. It wasn't every day that someone of Hinata's stature walked into a neighborhood café. The waitress seated them and handed over laminated menus.
"Can I get you something to drink while you decide?"
"Water for now, thanks," Rando replied. Hinata nodded in agreement.
As the waitress departed, Rando leaned forward. "Order whatever you want—seriously. This is a celebration."
Hinata studied the menu with unexpected intensity, his eyes methodically scanning each item. When the waitress returned with their water, he was ready.
"I'll have the tonkatsu curry, the beef bowl, two orders of gyoza, the spicy ramen, three chicken katsu sandwiches, a large order of fries, and..." he paused, flipping the menu over, "the chocolate parfait for dessert."
The waitress's pen froze mid-stroke, her eyes widening as she processed the massive order. She glanced at Rando, silently asking if this was some kind of joke.
Rando was equally stunned but recovered quickly. "He's serious," he confirmed, trying to keep the surprise from his voice. "And I'll have the teriyaki chicken plate and an iced tea."
After the waitress departed—still looking bewildered—Rando couldn't help but laugh. "That's quite an appetite you've got."
Hinata shrugged, unembarrassed. "Need fuel. Especially after practice."
"I guess with your size, you'd need more calories," Rando acknowledged. "But that's enough for ten people!"
"Will eat it all," Hinata stated simply, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
Their conversation shifted to basketball, with Rando doing most of the talking. He praised Hinata's defensive prowess, his timing on blocks, and his intimidating presence in the paint. The giant accepted the compliments with quiet dignity, occasionally offering brief insights into his own training regimen.
"We could be the best duo in the prefecture," Rando suggested, his enthusiasm building. "Your defense and my offense—we'd be unstoppable with some practice."
"Like brothers," Hinata said unexpectedly, his deep voice carrying a hint of warmth.
The comment caught Rando off guard. It was the most personal thing Hinata had said all day. "Yeah," he agreed, smiling. "Basketball brothers."
"Where did you learn to play like that?" Rando asked, genuinely curious. "Your technique is incredible for someone our age."
Hinata took a sip of water before answering. "Middle school team. Good coaches. Practiced every day." He paused, then added, "Watched a lot of professional games too."
Their food arrived—a procession of dishes that required the waitress to make multiple trips. Other patrons stared openly now, amazed at the mountain of food being delivered to a single table. Hinata remained unfazed by the attention, methodically organizing the plates around him with surprising precision.
"Itadakimasu," they said in unison before digging in.
Rando was halfway through his meal when the café's bell chimed again. He paid it little attention until he heard familiar voices approaching—teenagers laughing and chatting animatedly about their school day. Something about one of the voices triggered a protective instinct deep within him.
He turned his head toward the entrance, where five teenagers—three boys and two girls—were being seated at the recently vacated table next to theirs. They appeared to be middle school students, probably around fourteen years old.
The boys were complaining about a strict teacher, while one joked that they should only have female teachers so classes would be more enjoyable. The girls giggled at this, playfully scolding their companions for being so shallow.
As they settled into their seats, one of the girls—tall for her age at about 172 centimeters, with stylish clothes and an undeniable family resemblance to Rando—froze mid-step. Her eyes widened in recognition, then narrowed in what appeared to be preemptive embarrassment.
"Aniki?" she exclaimed, her voice a mixture of surprise and dread. "What are you doing here?"
The other teenagers turned to look at her, then followed her gaze to Rando. "What's wrong, Hiyori?" one of the girls asked.
But Rando was already transforming. His relaxed posture stiffened, his casual expression hardening into something severe and intimidating. Even his voice changed, dropping an octave as he addressed his sister.
"Hiyori," he said, his tone razor-sharp. "What are you doing here with these... boys?"
The temperature in the café seemed to drop several degrees. Hinata paused mid-bite, observing the situation with quiet interest.
Rando Hiyori—fourteen years old and in her third year at Sakuramine Junior High—crossed her arms defensively. "They're my friends, Aniki. We're just getting something to eat after study group."
Rando's eyes narrowed as he scrutinized the two boys closest to his sister. They were slightly taller than Hiyori, with the awkward lankiness of teenagers in the midst of growth spurts. One had dyed brown hair, while the other wore fashionable glasses that Rando immediately decided were purely for show.
"Friends," he repeated, the word dripping with skepticism. "Right."
The boys—Kaito Shimizu and Souta Hoshino, though Rando neither knew nor cared about their names—shifted uncomfortably under his gaze. They could feel the intensity radiating from him, an almost palpable pressure that made their palms sweat and their throats dry.
"It's none of your business who I hang out with," Hiyori insisted, her cheeks puffing out in frustration—a childhood habit she'd never outgrown. "We're all classmates."
"All boys are the same at that age," Rando declared, his voice carrying through the now-quiet café. "Just a bunch of hormonal ruffians with one thing on their minds."
The accusation hung in the air, causing several nearby patrons to cough awkwardly into their napkins. Kaito and Souta exchanged panicked glances, their faces reddening with a mixture of embarrassment and indignation.
"That's not—" Kaito began, finding his voice.
"We're just—" Souta attempted simultaneously.
Rando slammed his palm against the table with such force that dishes rattled and his water glass tipped over, spilling across the surface. The sound echoed through the café like a gunshot.
"Don't. You. Dare. Disturb. Us," he enunciated each word with deadly precision, his eyes boring into the boys with an intensity that froze them in place.
The display of raw power was shocking. In this world, where basketball prowess was revered above all else, physical strength was categorized and recognized. Even Aomine Daiki, considered superhuman in the source material, only possessed B-Rank strength. What Rando had just demonstrated—combined with his S-Rank presence—was enough to completely dominate the teenagers before him.
The two girls who had accompanied Hiyori shrank back, their eyes wide with fear. Kaito and Souta looked as though they might pass out, their faces drained of color.
"Aniki!" Hiyori shouted, her embarrassment reaching critical levels. "Stop it! You're making a scene!"
But Rando was in full protective-brother mode, a state he'd perfected since childhood. While he could be cold and calculating with others—even occasionally with his parents—when it came to Hiyori, his doting nature knew no bounds. In his eyes, she was still the little girl who had followed him everywhere, looking up to him with adoration.
"These boys are not appropriate company for you," he insisted, his voice slightly lower but no less intense. "You should focus on your studies, not waste time with ruffians."
Hiyori's face flushed crimson. "You're impossible!" she declared, turning on her heel. "Come on, guys. Let's go somewhere else."
Her friends needed no further encouragement, practically tripping over themselves in their haste to follow her toward the exit. As they retreated, Rando called after them.
"Stop hanging around with these ruffians, Hiyori!"
The café had fallen completely silent, every patron staring at their table. The waitress hovered nearby, unsure whether to approach or keep her distance. Even Hinata had stopped eating, his chopsticks suspended halfway to his mouth as he observed the family drama with quiet fascination.
Realizing he'd created a spectacle, Rando stood and bowed deeply to the room at large. "I sincerely apologize for the disturbance," he said formally, his voice returning to its normal register. "Please continue enjoying your meals."
Slowly, conversation resumed around them, though many patrons continued to steal glances at their table. Rando sat back down, sighing heavily as he mopped up the spilled water with his napkin.
"Sister?" Hinata asked, breaking his long silence.
"Yeah," Rando confirmed, running a hand through his hair. "My little sister, Hiyori."
"You're protective," Hinata observed, the understatement of the century.
Rando's expression softened slightly. "She's all I've got," he said quietly, before catching himself. That wasn't quite right in this world, where he had parents who were very much alive and present. "I mean, she's my only sibling. It's my job to look out for her."
Hinata nodded, accepting this explanation without question, and returned to his feast. The giant methodically worked his way through plate after plate, his appetite apparently unaffected by the dramatic interlude.
As Rando picked at what remained of his own meal, he couldn't help but wonder if he'd overreacted. Hiyori was growing up, after all. But the thought of those boys—with their obvious interest in his sister—made his protective instincts flare all over again.
He'd have to make it up to her somehow. Maybe buy her that new phone case she'd been hinting about. But he wouldn't apologize for looking out for her. Never that.
Some things transcended worlds and reincarnations. The bond between siblings—and a brother's duty to protect his sister—was apparently one of them.