Ryonan High School · Classroom Building
The morning sun streamed through the glass windows of the corridor, casting warm light across the desks in Class 1-1.
The classroom gradually filled with life—rustling books, soft laughter, and quiet conversations.
Rukia walked lightly toward Ake's seat, a gentle and bright smile always present on her face.
"Congratulations, Ake-kun, on another victory." Her voice was clear and pleasant, like a morning breeze stirring a wind chime.
Ake looked up, his gaze calm, the corners of his mouth lifting slightly. "Thank you."
This wasn't the first time she'd said that.
After every game or training session, she was always the first to appear, congratulating him in that same sincere, gentle tone.
Although Ake disliked being the center of attention, he couldn't bring himself to reject her kindness.
After all, victory was something to be proud of—why should he pretend otherwise?
"What a pity…" Rukia sighed softly, a trace of regret flickering in her eyes. "I had some family matters yesterday, so I missed your game. I heard you played wonderfully."
Ake smiled faintly, his tone calm. "It was just a practice match. If you want to see a real game, come to the high school league."
"Mm…" Rukia nodded eagerly, her eyes sparkling. "I'll definitely be there."
She paused for a moment, then seemed to remember something. "Oh, right—Ake-kun, I finally decided which club to join."
"Oh?" Ake raised an eyebrow, showing a hint of curiosity. "You've decided?"
Rukia nodded seriously. "Yes. I'm joining the Press Club. I want to become a reporter."
"Press Club?" Ake blinked, slightly surprised. "A reporter?"
It didn't sound like something that suited her usual interests.
As if reading his confusion, Rukia giggled and explained, "At first, I thought about joining the Basketball Club as a manager to cheer you on. But then I realized that even if I did, I'd only be handing out water and towels—not really helping much."
She paused, her expression turning firm. "So I decided to support you in a different way. I'm going to become a sports reporter—one who specializes in basketball."
Ake was momentarily stunned.
"From now on," she said with a bright, playful smile, "every one of Ake-kun's games will be recorded and reported by me. I'll make sure all of Kanagawa knows your name."
Ake was silent for a moment before chuckling softly.
He shook his head, his tone a mix of exasperation and warmth. "Is that so? Then I'll look forward to working with you, Miss Sports Reporter."
They shared a smile.
Both of them knew that, given their family backgrounds, club activities were just part of youth. Their futures weren't destined to end as "reporter" and "player"...
Shohoku High School · Basketball Gym
Beep!
A sharp whistle pierced through the gym.
"Gather up!" Takenori Akagi's voice boomed across the court like thunder.
The players stopped their drills one by one.
Akagi scanned the group, his brow furrowing slightly before he composed himself. "We started with quite a few first-year recruits… and now, only five of you remain."
"Tch." Sakuragi Hanamichi folded his arms behind his head, smirking. "Those guys probably couldn't handle the grind and ran off!"
Akagi glared at him but said nothing more.
"Alright," he continued with a deep breath, his tone softening slightly. "It's like this every year. Honestly, this year's retention isn't bad."
Then his face hardened again, his voice turning serious. "The regional qualifiers are coming up. From now on, it's just us."
At that moment, Ayako stepped forward, holding a notebook. Her expression was composed and focused.
"Let me add a few things," she said, opening her notes. "There are over two hundred high schools in our prefecture. Among them are last year's champions, Kainan they've reached the national stage for ten consecutive years. Then there's Shoyo High, last year's runner-up, nearly as strong as Kainan."
She looked up, her gaze sharp. "And Ryonan High—the team we lost to in our last practice match."
The atmosphere in the gym instantly grew heavy.
Faces tightened, unease flickering in the players' eyes.
The shadow from that match still lingered.
Especially him—the devil-like red figure.
Ryonan's captain, Ake Ryu.
The one who had left them completely powerless.
A Few Days Later
Ryonan High School · Front Gate
The morning sun lit up the school's entrance steps. A gentle breeze stirred the fallen leaves.
A young woman in a yellow-striped professional suit approached slowly, the sharp click of her heels echoing off the pavement.
It was Aida Yayoi.
She looked up at Ryonan's gate, a faint, knowing smile curling her lips.
"Let's see just how much this new captain of Ryonan is worth," she murmured, stepping inside and heading straight for the gym.
Ryonan High School - Basketball Gym
The gym buzzed with energy.
Under Ake's direction, the players moved through high-intensity drills with machine-like precision.
Sweat soaked their jerseys; the rhythm of dribbling, footsteps, and shouts merged into a steady beat.
Ake stood at the sideline, arms crossed, his sharp eyes observing every player.
He wasn't participating in the drills—he was analyzing.
Every movement, every breath, every muscle twitch and shift of focus—nothing escaped him.
His personal training workload already far exceeded everyone else's.
That alone commanded absolute respect.
Someone more talented and more hardworking—how could anyone question his leadership?
Then Ake spoke.
His voice wasn't loud, but every word carried weight and precision.
"Sendoh, work more on your mid-range pull-up. Smooth out your rhythm. Raise your release point by two centimeters—it'll make your shot harder to block."
"Uozumi-senpai, your shooting form needs improvement. Keep your wrist softer at release."
"Koshino, your defensive positioning's solid, but you're half a second late on help defense. That's all the time an opponent needs."
"Ikegami, your perimeter defense is aggressive, but your stance is too low—you're biting on fakes too easily. Stay flexible."
"Uekusa, your passes need to come earlier. Don't wait until your teammate is wide open—anticipate before the defense reacts."
Each comment was sharp and precise, cutting straight to the problem like a surgeon's scalpel.
And no one argued.
No one slacked off.
They all adjusted immediately, obeying his words without hesitation.
That was the moment Aida Yayoi entered the gym.
She froze mid-step, watching the scene unfold.
She hadn't expected a first-year to command such obedience from his seniors.
Even more surprising—none of them looked resentful.
They were calm. Respectful. Completely convinced.
That could only mean one thing.
This young man wasn't just a "captain" by title.
He had earned that authority.
"Hello, Ake-kun." Aida walked forward, her professional smile returning. "I'm Aida Yayoi, a reporter from Basketball Weekly. May I interview you?"
Ake turned his head.
The moment their eyes met, Aida froze.
It wasn't just because of his striking looks—it was his eyes.
His left eye glowed reddish-gold, his right a deep crimson.
The fusion of molten gold and flame—beautiful, yet sharp enough to pierce through her composure.
His crimson hair shimmered under the gym lights.
Those heterochromatic eyes were unreadable—calm, emotionless, yet inherently commanding.
She had met countless players in her career—but never someone quite like him.
Ake spoke simply. "Yes."
Aida blinked, realizing she'd been staring. She cleared her throat and regained her composure.
"Ake-kun, may I ask your thoughts on becoming captain of the Ryonan Basketball Club as a first-year?"
Ake's expression didn't waver.
"I believe it's because my skills and understanding of the game have earned my teammates' and coach's recognition."
Aida nodded slowly, then asked, "I noticed the players seem completely convinced by you. Why is that?"
Ake's tone remained calm, but his words were cuttingly precise.
"Because everything I say is grounded in certainty. I don't give meaningless instructions. Every decision I make is based on observation and calculation. When my predictions repeatedly come true—when my judgment leads us closer to victory—trust naturally follows."
Aida froze.
That wasn't the kind of answer she'd expected from a high schooler.
It wasn't arrogance—it was conviction.
Cold, analytical conviction.
She composed herself and continued the interview, asking a few more questions.
Ake answered each one smoothly, with a clarity and composure that felt beyond his age.
No hesitation, no exaggeration—only precision.
And the calmer he was, the more shaken Aida became.
He wasn't just composed—he was in complete control.
Not only of himself, but of everything around him.
This Ake Ryu… was no ordinary teenager.
"Miss Reporter," Ake said evenly, "if there's nothing else, I'll return to training."
"Wait," Aida called out instinctively.
He turned, those mismatched eyes meeting hers once more.
Aida took a breath and asked her final question.
"One last thing, Ake-kun—what is Ryonan's goal this year?"
Silence fell over the gym.
Ake looked at her steadily, his voice calm but unyielding.
"Ryonan's goal this year," he said, "is one thing only—the national championship."
He turned and walked away.
His back straight, his steps unwavering—like someone who had already seen the summit waiting ahead.
Aida Yayoi stood there for a long moment, watching him leave, her heart pounding.
If anyone else had said those words, she might have smiled politely or dismissed them as youthful bravado.
But from Ake's mouth, it didn't sound like a dream.
It sounded like destiny.