Ari shoved the key in and twisted, finally getting that stubborn satisfying click. Room 347 was officially locked..
*I really need to go get that Student ID*
Most of the other rooms near him were using electronic access. Cause they'd been good students and went to the administrative office to get their ID.
But now Ari has to make due with the manual key, at least till he finds enough time to go.
Ari headed downstairs. He was walking through the Large Hall where tall gray walls stretched far. Broken off by the large windows. Windows which gave a clear view to the outside grass plain where other monolithic structures stood.
His footsteps stomped against the concrete stone floor as AriToru approached a spiral staircase. One of many in this gigantic 3 floored building.
Massive old gray pillars fell around it, like they were following Ari in his downwards descent. The surfaces of the pillars seemed to be mottled with moss. Cracks within them that ivy had burrowed in.
The further he went down the spiral to the second floor the worse...or better it got. The tiny tufts of grass were growing in places where stone had loosened over years. His hand would slide along the smooth stone railing, wet under his fingers. Walking down. Step by step.
By the time he got to the second floor he was in an OPEN SPACE. So Vast hat every movement caused a loud echo. You could listen to each footsteps each person took.
*The Atrium*
So much space got him feeling small so Ari hastily went through a mirage of halls
He knew where he was going. ..... partially.
He stopped in his steps when he saw an opening in the wall. It was a recessed balcony. He peaked through the left side.
From here, he could see the first-years gathering outside, waiting for the buses. He soon left and kept back on his path.
The further down he walked the more and more mullioned windows he saw. They all showed him the wet grass from last night's beautiful rain. He inhaled the open breeze now, he always loved the smell of petrichor and the moisture that came with it.
*The smell after rain*
[MIXES WITH THR SMELL OF THE EARTH]
He went toward the cafeteria...the closest cafeteria. There were many here. This was among the smaller ones. It was modest compared to the grandeur he had just walked past to get here. AriToru saw counters of dark oak. There was the faint smell of brewing coffee and toasted bread..warm. Only a knot of students moved through this space. They were boys still in casual wear. Those who didn't have classes until much later and also weren't interested in watching the draft tryouts. Ari paused noticing snuffed candle lights...
*This place must look very nice by the evenings*
He walked towards the counter. There stood a woman in her mid forties with tired eyes and an apron faintly dusted in flour. She looked up to the boy who approached. He was tall, very tall. And her eyes made sure to wash over him in the most polite way. Though it lingered too long on the pale skin around his dark pure black eyes. The shadowed contours that made him look like a Hollow Ghost. She'd never seen him before so she guessed he was a first-year kid. However the male dorm building was like a small village in itself she always saw new faces.
"Do you have any nut mix?"
His voice was a raspy one. Like a girl who'd screamed too much.
"We have three sizes,"
Ari tilted his head. He moved to look behind her. Going from the three sizes he could make out "The biggest one."
She grabbed the sack labeled "Extra Large."
Ari was wowed. The sack wasn't just large it was full also. No expenses were spared
[NUT MIX]
[GOOD CHOICE FOR THE CALORIES YOU SO SO DESPERATELY NEED]
[SO YOU CAN MAKE CHOICES WITHOUT ME CAN YOU TORU ARI]
Ari had to fight the urge not to retort back verbally out loud. So instead he used his thoughts.
*Of course I can. I know what's good for me*
The lunch lady gave Ari the nut mix. She gasped in shock when she saw his hands up close. Massive and pale. With the skin under the fingers being a pink colour.
Ari said "Thank you" and left.
It would be technically more beneficial to just buy even healthier protein from the systems store. But those were expensive. And he didn't have skill points to spare. The goal was to get good in the best way possible AS FAST as possible.
He left the Cafeteria. Some boys had to move out of the way in shock at his height. Ari paid them no mind as he was already eager to open the almond nut mix and EAT.
He went down a 180 degree winder stairs. This was an old spot. It even had vines at the top. He had to duck so the vines growing underneath the above stare case would not touch his hair. But the wetness still made water drops fall on to his black shirt regardless.
Few people took this spot. That meant now it would be a go to entrance and exit place for AriToru.
When he was finally outside he had to walk around and circle back to where most of the first year basketballers waited. The air was so fresh.
Haruto saw Ari first. He jogged over and they casually shook hands. Ari let him have a piece of his nut mix.
"I don't usually miss class," Haruto admitted in a somber recall. His chubby cheeks were moving up down, chewing then speaking.
"Feels wrong."
A small pang of guilt went through Ari. Though he did not show it. "We'll make it up."
Just then four buses pulled and parked in sequence, their doors opened up simultaneously with a hydraulic HISSS!
The first-years began boarding, and among them, Ari spotted a light brown-haired figure surrounded by friends Isami Nagi, who was flanked by two taller boys.
But that's not what Ari was looking at.
He was just staring into space. Because he was thinking whether eating the nut mix on the way would slow him down. Probably not....maybe...
But it was a thousand yard stare.
Ari was thinking about the implications of eating the nutmix now to make it easier to complete his 10,000 calories Quest Vs not eating so he wouldn't be full and perform better in the today's tryouts.
But in this deep thoughts he face went blank. Like someone had unplugged his connection to the physical world. The system interface wasn't even showing, he was just lost.
And then His face was blank.
"Ari?" Haruto reached up and hand in front of his face, nervous about seeing that expression again, the one that made Ari look less like a person and more like something wearing human skin. "What are you looking at?"
Ari snapped back to awareness and blinked up rapidly. His expression smoothed over and became conscious again.
"Nothing," He answered Haruto a wide smile."Let's get on the bus."
*Yeah, I'll just eat the nut mix and get my 10 skill points from Quest one. I don't feel like it would slow me down anyway*
They boarded along with other first-years. The students who'd survived Day One looked more serious now, more prepared. The Determination of survivors.
150 remained. 50 being cut from Day one. Some students sat completely static. Others stared forward with focus, visualizing and preparing mentally. A few whispered to friends, but the conversations were generally subdued.
No one was all friendly. The feeling of "me against you" just skyrocketed because of yesterday.
Ari and Haruto found seats together near the middle. Neither spoke. The Pavilion. Again. The fucking Pavilion. The Hell Statement of athletic excellence, and Ari felt his heart rate increase despite his best efforts to stay calm
They disembarked quickly, not wanting to linger.
Where as very few students were eager to enter just yet_
Ari had no idea where he was going and there wasn't any crowd to just fall in line with, so he just followed Haruto, who seemed to have memorized the route.
As they passed through one hallway, Ari noticed a cluster of third-years entering just ahead of them. Among them: Elaine de Vries, he could tell from her long blonde hair which she let fall on her shoulders this time. Picture Perfect Posture, her expression was focused on whatever conversation she was having with another third year.
She didn't notice Ari. Anyways.... That meant she'd be watching. He'd show her who doesn't stand a chance.
They reached the main basketball area or....more like the arena. The reluctant crowd of first years basketballers had finally also entered.
NOISE
SO MUCH NOISE
That's what hit Ari first.
The spectators were larger than yesterday. Much larger. The seats were jam-packed with students, teachers, even some people who looked like they might be parents or scouts. The energy was just...
"This is insane!", Ari had to shout for Haruto to hear him.
The hair at the back of their necks was up.
"Yeah...I Can't even hear my voice!" Haruto shouted back nudging Ari's chest.
"But you feel that! The Rumbling!!"
Something crazy was bound to happen here...
But then.....
The jeers and boos erupted from the section behind Group J's court.
"There they are!"
"The frauds!"
"How the hell did they survive Day One?!"
"Cheaters!"
"Go home, Twig Boy!
Targeted targeted. Someone had clearly spent time crafting the perfect verbal jabs.
Haruto's face remained neutral, but Ari could read the tension in his shoulders, the slight tightness around his eyes. Haruto was annoyed and just trying not to show it.
Ari, on the other hand, felt nothing. Not quite true, he felt awareness of the hate, but it didn't touch him. Couldn't touch him. He'd already accepted his role as a villain. He had embraced it. *Hate is fuel. Hate is fuel. Their insults are power ups*, those were Toru Ari's thoughts
*I'm going to make them hate me even more*
The first year basketballers were being moved. Moved into new Groups or just rearranged. Some like Haruto still stayed in the same Group J. With only 150 students remaining, the 20 groups of 10 had been consolidated to 15 groups of 10. Groups A through O.
Groups A, B, C, and D were directed to a different section of the Pavilion or another building just like yesterday.
The whole cluster of buildings was still called *The Pavilion*.
The Captain and the Vice Captain were still up there sitting in the same side they did yesterday. Elevated.
Then Ari saw Coach Hosei standing at the center of Group F court with a microphone. And for once he wasn't holding a Pepsi. He wore a black designer suit, expensive stuff.. but completely at odds with his round, fat body.
And he even looked more interested today.
"Okay, boys!" His voice boomed through the speakers. "Hope you finished stretching. Drill: Offensive movement. Chop chop!"
Coordinators were two per group, same as yesterday.
One to analyze and record, one to manage and instruct.
Cones got brought out, being arranged in patterns Ari recognized from training videos: zigzag formations designed to test agility, hand eye coordination and lateral strength.....*Eek*
Those were things Ari was terrible at.
While all that was being set up, the Spectators behind Group J saw to pass their time by doing what they did best. Hostility only escalated. They weren't even trying to be subtle anymore: openly booing, laughing, shouting insults.
She was sat in the lower stand again, closest to the court, her position was secured by her clout and the sheer force of personality. Kaneko imai.
Back pigtails tied with red ribbons. It matched her faint lipstick.
Today she wore a Yoshimura uniform....of course, like everyone else.
But she didn't have the jacket so just the blazer. The skirt was noticeably shorter, the blazers top buttons were undone.
Wonder why? Maybe she forgot. Or it just couldn't hold without undoing.
She was on her phone, not even watching Group J.... But showing something to her friends that made them laugh. Occasionally she'd glance up, see Ari or Haruto, smirk, and return to her phone.
*She was ... she's so pretty now* Ari thought as his heart skipped a beat when she smirked.....*Why does she have to be a jerk*
Ari wondered if she even cared about basketball or just came for the spectacle. Though he had to admit that she'd been a legitimate fan back in middle school. She probably still was. That was her only appreciating quality, Ari thought. *Well that and her looks.*
"Jeez",Haruto muttered while he was scratching his temple. Pondering. "Everyone hates us"
Ari smiled...not a friendly smile at all. It looked like a horrific deranged glee. "It won't hurt to be the villain. Trust me," He looked forward and just then his eyes met Imai again. Yet this time they held each other's gaze. "You'll enjoy crushing their expectations."
A raspy menacing deceleration.
Haruto could feel a sharp electric flow inside his finger tips.
*Toru Ari was.....special*
And he walked to join the other players.
The coordinator approached with a clipboard. Even HE didn't seem to like them.
All the better. Enemies everywhere. It won't be forever.
The drill was simple in concept but brutal in execution: cone weave with that orange round thingy.
Ten cones arranged in zigzag formation, five yards apart. Start at the mark with a basketball. Dribble through the cones using crossovers and between the legs, maintain control while changing direction sharply at each cone.
Then some more bla bla bla before you finish with a shot.
Timed. Evaluated on speed, control, shooting accuracy.
Ari watched other players go first. He was analyzing their technique.
The fastest kid in their Group from yesterday blazed through in 32 seconds per rep.
What were his legs made off.....*My ankles could never*
Some other forward completed his reps in a 42 seconds who made got 3 out of 5 shots.
Then the coordinator called: "Next. Toru Ari."
*Tch. Rich up tight Coordinator. Who does he think he is to say my name without.... respect*, Ari thought. A sarcastic thought that made him laugh.
He made himself laugh with his own inner joke.....
[YOU ARE A HOPELESS HUMAN BEING MY HOST]
The energy of the sea of people watching
...it shifted in a heart beat.
ANTICIPATION. EAGERNESS AND HUNGER FOR FAILURE.
Ari would stand at the front of the 4th court, the basketball was in his hands. His breathing was steady. This wasn't about being fast. He couldn't be fast. This was about at least finishing this without any hiccups.
[SURVIVE]
WHISTLE
_Ari moved as fast as he could. His first step was terrible. Too much thought, not enough instinct. The ball bounced off his hand strangely, forcing him to adjust stride.
*Ugh just do what I tell you*
A basketball is a very stubborn object.
He reached the first cone and went between the legs.. it was so slow and aesthetically painful to watch.
People were laughing....
The Second cone. He slowed down to keep control of the ball. Other players had flowed between cones; Ari lurched between them, his long legs were working overtime to compensate for poor balance.
Third cone. His ball handling went to shit and the ball bounced diagonally to the side.
"Shit", he had to stretch out and keep it in control. Almost going out the path entirely.
Fourth cone. He nearly lost the ball entirely. A between the leg attempt that hit his calf, the ball skittered toward the sideline before he recovered it. Barely. It was at those moments he appreciated having big hands.
"LOOK AT HIM!"
"HE CAN'T EVEN DRIBBLE!"
"GET THAT CORPSE OFF THE COURT!"
Fifth cone. The movements were so weird and awkward. The drill was asking him to change direction entirely while keeping the ball in the desired path. His body wasn't used to this kind of lateral agility.
Final cone. Execute the pull-up jumper.
Ari planted his feet, and he leaped up with those dangling pale butter twigs he called legs ///HEAVENLY SHOT. The ball was released high and sent in its arc.
SWISH
BASKET.
it went in.
He landed back on the ground and Sprinted back. The fans were quiet when he shot. It's that same ugly ultra high jump shot and it still went in. But_
His speed was atrocious. The forty-yard dash from yesterday proved he was among the slowest here. But he made it back.....
Half of the crowd thought he'd trip in his own shoes.
Four more repetitions. It got worse with each one.
His time per rep: 53 seconds average. Shooting: 3 out of 5 made.
While his shooting wasn't anything special like Harutos. And was just a measly [33], his Heavenly Shot Ability improved his accuracy greatly. Especially at mid range.
Ari finished with laboured breathing. He felt an eye on him. The coordinator. He had a scowl. A scorn.
"What are you looking at?", Ari asked while walking past the third year and back to the Group J bench.
The coordinator felt a quick hot pang in his belly before cursing under his breath and looking away.
[QUEST COMPLETE: OFFENSIVE DRILL]
[PERFORMANCE: POOR]
[+5 SKILL POINTS]
The crowd was merciless. Laughter, jeers, someone literally threw a crumpled paper cup toward the court (But his throw was bad so it didn't reach)
Haruto went next. His performance was worse as expected. He had better ball handling than Ari. It's just....he was so slow. So so slow. Haruto scored all 5. Five out of five shots made.
The tall Group J player couldn't help but whistle in acknowledgement. 5 out of 5 was amazing.
Average time: 62 seconds per rep.
The insults got worse..
"HOW DID THESE TWO MAKE IT?!"
"THEY'RE DRAGGING THE WHOLE GROUP DOWN!"
"SEND THEM HOME!"
Something else had crossed Kaneko Imai's face. A waver in her conceited demeanor. She remembered what he was like from Seiko school. She recalled him as arrogant and self-dependent, the kid who'd rather fail alone than accept help. He wouldn't cheat. Couldn't cheat. His absurd pride wouldn't allow it.
*Which meant their CSRP performance had been r..real?* *Which meant.... maybe he wasn't as hopeless at basketball?*
But she sighed the thoughts away and returned back to the safety and comfort of Mockery.
Tomomi Sachiko watched through her oversized glasses. She sat hunched in her sit with terrible posture.... She'd have to fix that if she doesn't want to have kyphosis.
Tomomi Sachiko was tracking Ari and Haruto. She couldn't help but wonder why everyone was mean to Ari and Haruto-kun.
Why is everyone so mean to them?
They'd just performed a difficult drill. Not...too well, but they had done it. Completed every repetition despite their obvious struggle. All anyone would do was laugh, insult and dismiss.
And neither He(Ari) nor Haruto-kun seemed to care. That was what disturbed her most. Ari's face showed nothing—no hurt, no anger, no shame. Just the Dreadful Hollowness.
While Haruto maintained his serenity, unbothered by mockery that would devastate most people.
Meanwhile she could barely function for the rest of the day when the girls called her names....
So how were they so strong?
Is this all for basketball? Tomomi wondered. Are they willing to endure this much hate just to play a game?
She didn't understand why. She couldn't understand how. But she felt something stirring in her chest.... And she was only more interested.
Coach Hosei returned to his microphone, he had a big smile on his face.
"Alright, boys." He had a mischievous look on his face, "That was the warm-up."
A shaky laugh rocked over the determined first-years.
The Coordinators started to distribute numbered bibs—black and white, emblazoned with "YOSHIMURA" across the chest.
"No way," Haruto whisper_
"Now Boys!", The sneer on Coach Hosei's face only grew more wide pushing out his cheeks.
"We play basketball!"