After leaving the gazebo, Hikigaya wasn't sure if Horikita would take his words seriously. But knowing her, that cold and stubborn girl was like a mule—she wouldn't stop until she hit a dead end!
Hopefully, her head was tough enough to handle it.
During the lunch break, Hikigaya followed a lead from a certain little angel who wanted to be friends with everyone. He arrived near an outdoor basketball court, and sure enough, under a large banyan tree in the distance, he spotted two boys eating bread.
"Hey! What are you doing here?"
The two boys imdiately looked wary when they saw Hikigaya.
"Komiya and Kondo from Class C, right?"
Ignoring their hostility, Hikigaya sat down beside them and took out the yakisoba bread he had managed to grab from the convenience store.
Komiya and Kondo exchanged glances. They could both see the wariness—and a hint of fear—in each other's eyes.
— ¶ —————————————————————
"Tch, what bad luck!"
Komiya couldn't help but mutter under his breath. Even though he was annoyed, there wasn't much he could do besides vent. The best option was to find another place to eat with Kondo.
If they couldn't afford to pick a fight, they could at least avoid one.
"You two are mbers of the basketball club, right?"
Suddenly, Hikigaya's words made both of them freeze. They stopped in their tracks and turned around, staring at him without saying a word.
Other students who weren't in any clubs might not understand, but for those in sports clubs—especially basketball—Hikigaya wasn't just so random student. Not only did they know him, but they were also well aware of his close ties with their coach because of the student council.
Ever since sumr started and the IH tournant approached, Komiya and Kondo had seen Hikigaya in the gym quite often during training. He was always there with another senior, talking with their coach, as well as other club coaches and team leaders.
So when Hikigaya suddenly brought up the basketball club, a chill ran down their spines.
"Wh-what do you want?"
Their voices were stiff, and they didn't even notice the slight tremble in their tone.
"Isn't the IH tournant coming up soon? As a student council mber, I just wanted to hear what club mbers think and see if there's anything that needs improvent."
Hikigaya spoke calmly.
"Really?"
Komiya and Kondo clearly didn't believe him.
"I know what you two are worried about. Word is, you guys got into that fight because you were jealous that Sudou made it onto the main roster."
"Jealous? Us? As if we'd be jealous of that gorilla!"
Komiya and Kondo imdiately snapped back, looking agitated.
"That guy doesn't know how to work with a team at all! He plays so selfishly in practice gas! Why does soone like that get to be on the official roster?"
"But since the coach picked him, doesn't that an Sudou's basketball skills are at least better than yours?"
Hikigaya's words hit like a bomb. Komiya and Kondo instantly exploded, both talking over each other to argue back. Their main point was that they were just as skilled as Sudou.
Unlike Sudou, who played a flashy offensive role, their positions were more supportive, focused on assisting teammates. Of course, offensive players naturally stood out more. The only thing they lacked was a chance to prove themselves.
"Forget it, there's no point arguing with this guy. No matter what we say, he's just an outsider. He doesn't get it!"
Komiya was fuming, but more than that, he was frustrated.
Just as they were about to leave, Hikigaya's voice rang out from behind them.
"But what if that opportunity was right in front of you?"
Komiya and Kondo froze. They had been eager to get away from Hikigaya, but his words made them stop. Despite themselves, they turned back, their voices tinged with doubt—and anticipation.
"Wh-what do you an by that?"
Hikigaya acted like he didn't notice their reaction and continued speaking.
"You both know how limited the spots are for away gas. The school is very strict with its selection, so clubs have to be careful when choosing their official roster. You understand that, right?"
Komiya and Kondo nodded. They knew that all too well. The selection process for the basketball team was extrely tough.
"With your current skills, you might not make the main roster. But the school also values potential athletes and wants to support their growth. That's why they usually allow three or four extra spots for players who aren't quite there yet, so they can travel with the team, watch the gas, and learn. It's ant to broaden their experience and motivate them to improve."
Since Hikigaya had been handling club-related affairs lately, he was well aware of these details.
The school strictly controlled who could travel for competitions. As a result, only students on the official roster had a real shot at playing. Take the basketball club, for example—there were only seven players on the main list: five starters and two substitutes. That ant less than a third of the club mbers could actually go to gas.
To address this, the club had been negotiating with the school to secure extra slots, specifically for players with potential who weren't quite ready to compete yet. The goal was to give them firsthand experience and help them develop faster.
For younger players like Komiya and Kondo, these extra spots were even more valuable than making the main roster. Compared to upperclassn, they still lacked skills, physical strength, and training experience.
The problem was that these spots were always highly contested. First-years had to compete not only with each other but also with second-years, who had a clear advantage. From what Komiya and Kondo knew, these spots had always gone to second-years in past years. First-years barely stood a chance.
"Wh-what exactly are you trying to say?"
Their voices trembled slightly. Deep down, they already had a guess—but they didn't dare to say it out loud.
Hikigaya smiled.
"Nothing much. It's just that, every year, those spots always go to the upperclassn. But I think it's ti for a change. Shouldn't the newcors get more opportunities to grow?"
Komiya and Kondo exchanged glances, as if they could read each other's thoughts. At the sa ti, they both understood what Hikigaya ant. It was obvious—they were tempted!
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