"Hey! Midorimacchi, how was it? Was that last dunk cool or what?!"
Midorima pointed at Shidou next to Kise. "To be honest, just returning a dunk that even a monkey could do won't get you chosen by fate. However, I didn't expect… that guy would actually join Kaijo."
"Huh? Can't I join Kaijo? Tearing through the opponent's defense and scoring with a dunk is exciting. It's much better than you always shooting threes from outside the line. It's like bowling—boring as hell, no passion at all…"
Shidou Ryusei, hands in his pockets and a lollipop in his mouth, leaned close to Midorima's face, speaking indistinctly. They were only 2 cm apart.
"Ahahaha… We haven't seen each other since middle school. Why don't we grab a meal together?"
Kise quickly stepped between them.
"That's why you're no good. Of course it's easy to score from that close, but shots are worth more the farther away they are! Haven't you heard the phrase 'Man proposes, God disposes'?
First, you must do your absolute best, and only then will you be qualified to be chosen by fate! I'm doing my part by keeping today's lucky item from the morning horoscope in mind. By the way, today's item is a toy frog, so my shots will never miss!"
Shidou complained, "How are you still saying that? Only a stiff person like you would believe it. Your own strength is everything!"
Seeing the tension rise, Kise hurried to change the subject. "By the way, Midorimacchi, aren't you going to talk to Kurokocchi first?"
Midorima adjusted his glasses. "No need. As a Type B, I don't get along with him, a Type A. I respect his style, but I can't accept him going to an unknown school like Seirin. I only came because I thought we might meet in the regional preliminaries.
To be honest, they're not a threat at all."
"Midorima, you bastard! You ran off when there was a traffic jam. That was embarrassing!"
Takao Kazunari, pedaling a bicycle rickshaw angrily, came into view.
Shidou poked his head out. "Eh? What a strange entrance…"
Midorima sat in the cart. "Alright, I've seen the result. Time to go."
"Huh? You're not even staying for a meal?" Kise complained.
"Then… Shidoucchi, let's go—"
"Eh?! Where did he go?!"
Shidou had already left.
"Hey? Is the match over?" Chizuru asked when she saw Shidou at the door.
"Just finished."
As she came closer, she saw blood on his arm. "What happened? Are you hurt?"
Shidou raised an eyebrow proudly. "Ah… I shattered the backboard with a dunk…"
Chizuru smacked him. "What's with that expression? Are you proud of yourself?! Honestly, you're such a handful!"
"You're so naggy!"
"I'm naggy? If you stopped causing trouble, I wouldn't nag!"
Seeing her anger, Shidou changed the subject. "Alright, I'm starving. Let's eat first."
"You're injured and thinking about food? Go home and treat it first!"
"It's just a scratch!"
Chizuru twisted his ear.
Back home, Chizuru—who preferred cooking herself—had dismissed the maids Uncle William hired. Only Shidou Ryusei and Shidou Chizuru lived there.
As dinner finished, the doorbell rang.
"Shidou, get the door!"
"What a pain… Who is it this late?"
He opened it and saw Kise. "Shidoucchi… tonight…"
Shidou slammed the door before Kise finished.
"Who was it?" Chizuru asked.
"A delivery man."
Kise started pounding on the door.
Chizuru frowned. "Wasn't it a delivery? Why does that sound like Kise-kun?"
She opened the door.
"Shidou! You bas— ah… Hello, Sister Chizuru…"
"Oh, Kise-kun. Come in."
After changing shoes, Kise saw Shidou eating calmly and nearly exploded.
"Have you eaten, Kise-kun?"
"Not yet."
"Then eat with us."
Chizuru brought another set of dishes.
Shidou frowned. "What are you here for?"
Chizuru pinched his thigh.
"Ah… The coach said the IH roster is out. He gave you a day off and asked me to tell you."
"What? Just that? Couldn't you tell me tomorrow?"
After dinner, Kise helped wash dishes and left.
Shidou went to his room and saw a message from Nash: Reply ASAP.
He opened Wordtalk and called.
Nash: Hello, my friend!
Shidou: Long time no see. What's up?
Nash: Got time in a few days? There's an exhibition match. The opponent is strong.
Shidou: Oh? You and Cibor aren't confident?
Nash: It's a top-tier club, and the prize money is big.
Shidou: I'll think about it. I'll reply tomorrow.
Nash: Waiting for your news!
Shidou wanted to go, but the IH was coming, so he needed Takeuchi Genta's permission.
The next day, Takeuchi gathered the team.
"The Inter-High is coming soon. With our lineup, qualifying won't be a problem. The real issue is the semifinals.
The Three Kings of Tokyo: Shūtoku, Izumi Shin Kan, and Seibō. Only Shūtoku has a Generation of Miracles member this year.
But Aomine Daiki joined Tōō Academy. We have little data on them, but their strength is rising quickly.
Also, Seirin, whom we just played, shouldn't be underestimated. We don't know who we'll face in the final four—but that's not our concern now.
Kasamatsu, take the team and train."
"Yes!"
Later, during practice, Shidou disappeared. Kise asked Kasamatsu.
"He went to see the coach."
Shidou knocked on the office door.
"Come in."
"Coach, I'd like to ask for a few days off."
"Why?"
"I joined a streetball club in America. They need me for a match."
"How long?"
"About a week."
"…Alright."
"Thank you, Coach!"
Shidou left, relieved. Thanks to Coach Huber, he still got nervous around coaches—otherwise, with his personality, he would have just left for America without asking.