"Um…"
"Are all of you here trying out for the basketball club?"
Just as Shigure Akihito was watching the skill demo, that gloomy guy, the one with bangs covering his eyes, whom Shigure had been observing earlier, suddenly spoke in a low, shadowy voice.
A few rookies nearby jumped in surprise.
"Whoa!"
"That scared the hell out of me!"
"Uh… yeah," someone responded.
"You didn't know? If you've played basketball before, this should be common knowledge. Teiko's basketball club is one of the most elite programs in the country. It's kind of expected at this point."
"Anyway, I'm Hiroshi Matsukata. And you are?"
"Renji Fukagawa..."
Shigure glanced over his shoulder. It was obvious that after hearing those comments, the already gloomy Renji Fukagawa looked even more withdrawn. Compared to the energetic guys around him, his presence, already faint, seemed to fade further into the background.
Shinji Kurome's sharp gaze, reminiscent of Nijimura's trademark intensity, swept across the group. Then he sneered.
"What's this guy doing at Teiko if he's that lacking in confidence?"
"Don't underestimate him, Shinji," Shigure said, turning to him and pointing at Fukagawa, then at where Nijimura stood. "That guy with the bangs, he's got serious potential."
"But still..."
"If we're talking about the strongest rookie here, it's gotta be that guy."
After all, according to the character setup, that one was personally scouted by Coach Platinum Kanzo. And based on how much attention Kanzo was giving him earlier, it was clear he wasn't just any recruit.
Hearing Shigure's comment, Shinji didn't bother asking how he could tell who was strong or not. Instead, he looked toward Nijimura and said, "Oh, you mean that delinquent?"
Shigure: "?"
"You know him?"
"Eh, ran into him once. I mean... what kind of normal middle schooler rides around recklessly on a motorbike?"
Shigure: "..."
Oh, right, there was something like that in the backstory, wasn't there?
Before Nijimura Shuzo became the reliable and charismatic captain of Teiko, known for his leadership and maturity, the most rebellious thing he'd ever done was joyriding on a stolen bike. Wild.
As the rookies murmured among themselves, Coach Naoto Sanada, one of Teiko's first-string coaches, clapped his hands and stepped forward.
"Alright, everyone, eyes up. Before we begin the entrance evaluation, there's something you all need to understand."
"The guiding principle of Teiko basketball is simple: everything is done in pursuit of victory."
"This goes for our games..."
"And our training."
"Make no mistake, Teiko's training regime far surpasses that of any ordinary school. If you're not ready for that kind of commitment, I suggest you walk away now."
"If you're only here to have fun or treat this like some casual after-school activity, this isn't the place for you."
Sanada's eyes swept across the diverse expressions of the boys lined up in front of him. When he was sure that no one was stepping out, he continued.
"Before we begin introductions, we'll be dividing everyone here into ranks. There will be a physical ability test and a skills test, and your performance in both will determine whether you're placed in the First, Second, or Third Squad."
"Only players who make it into the First Squad will be eligible to wear the Teiko uniform and participate in official matches, but that's a long way off for most of you."
"Based on past years, only a handful of rookies make it directly into the Second Squad. Most of you will be placed in the Third."
"These tests will be held regularly, so even if you start in the lower squads, don't give up. Keep training, and aim higher."
"Basketball strength isn't something gained overnight. For now, aim for the Second or Third Squad."
"That's all."
As soon as Coach Sanada finished, a low buzz of whispers rippled through the rookie lineup.
"I've heard that too. No one's ever made it into the First Squad straight from the entrance test."
"So Second Squad is the real target, huh?"
"I'll be lucky if I even make Third..."
"I wonder what the test will be like? Either way, my goal's Second Squad!"
"Let's do our best, everyone!"
Among the hopeful chatter:
There was Nijimura Shuzo, quietly impatient.
Shinji Kurome, fierce-eyed but visibly tense.
Renji Fukagawa, hunched and unsure of himself.
And Shigure Akihito, eyes scanning the group, face growing more focused, more determined.
Because this moment in time…
Was perfect.
Now that he was in a world where basketball had gone full sci-fi, of course he had to take full advantage of it.
The Generation of Miracles wouldn't join until next year. The Uncrowned Kings were still just first-years. This one year… was his golden opportunity to grind power with the help of the system.
Once those "miracles" joined the team, he'd be ready to show them what it really meant to be welcomed to Teiko.
"This is amazing," Shigure murmured, his smile widening.
"Everyone still has normal-colored hair~"
As he glanced around, amused by the absence of any brightly dyed anime-style heads, Shinji scratched his own light beige buzz cut and muttered, "Shigure, I swear... your attention span today is just weird. And hello? I changed my hair color."
"Nooo," Shigure said with a grin, "not like that~"
"I mean the natural kind..."
Because in this world, being born with colored hair is peak badass.
Of course, he didn't count, he had a cheat system.
And maybe... just maybe, Nijimura Shuzo didn't count either. After all, his name literally had rainbow in it.
Come to think of it...
The whole Generation of Miracles formed a "rainbow squad" with their hair colors. Nijimura? He carried that legacy all on his own.
If it weren't for that plot twist, his father falling ill, giving up the captain's role, and graduating early to go to the U.S., who knew how powerful Nijimura might've become?
Honestly, even the original author might not have had the answer.