Chapter 50: The Outcast Just Wants to Be Told he is “Normally Good”

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Translator: Xre

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Teikai Academy had transformed into a festival battleground.

“Get it! Get it! Tei—kaaaai!!” “Don't lose, don't give in! Kooo—jin!!”

The baseball match that kicked off on the First Field drew cheer squads from both schools.

There was brass band music, cheerleading dances—an atmosphere that rivaled the Koshien stadium in fervor.

And it wasn't just baseball.

On the Second Field, the soccer match had started, and in the main gymnasium, the drama club's performance was underway.

Be it athletics or culture, the enthusiasm from both schools was verwhelming. You could even say the pride of two economic titans—Teikai Group and Kojin Group, who essentially divide Japan's corporate world—was riding on this event.

Teikai students called it the “Teikou-sen”. Kojin students called it the “Kojin-sen.”

Even in such a trivial difference in naming, you could see the stubborn pride of both schools at play. Whether it was endearing or childish… well, that was up to interpretation.

The members of the (provisional) Helping Club were busy too.

President Suzuka Kochou, as student council president, was stationed at the event operations tent, giving out instructions.

With the Genius Council no longer functional, a great deal of responsibility fell on her shoulders—but with President Kochou, there were no worries. She would manage the event flawlessly.

Il-chan, aka Isami Shirasagi, was the star of the drama club's performance. While Teikai's drama club had no notable achievements before, ever since Il-chan joined, the audience turnout had increased significantly.

She even had a female fan club now, cheering passionately during performances, and her dressing room overflowed with gifts. It's kind of scary to imagine what might happen if they ever found out she's actually a girl.

By the way, Amane Minase would also make a guest appearance in the play. The drama club requested her as a “special performer.” She seemed to have grown into quite a capable actress herself, and I was honestly proud of her. I even saw online posts saying people were coming specifically to see Amane.

Ayaka Ayukawa was performing solo in the auditorium as the ace of the dance club. Apparently, she's something of a celebrity in dance circles—some fans were even coming from outside the prefecture. When we talk, she seems like a typical gal, but yeah, she's a “genius” too.

Speaking of geniuses, there's also Mashiro Watagi-senpai. The watercolor painting she recently released under her own name won an award in a competition and earned her sudden fame. The school, caught off guard, apparently tried to offer her a scholarship afterward—but she declined.

“I want to paint freely!”

How cool is that? She’s soft and cute like a marshmallow, but inside, she’s bold as hell. I imagine many people would visit just to see her artwork.

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Now then――

My battlefield is the First Gymnasium.

A basketball match is being held here. Both schools involved are top-tier, having placed in the best four in the prefectural tournament. With expectations running high for an intense showdown, the gym is packed with spectators.

Before the main event—a clash between the two elite teams—a preliminary match is scheduled.

Teikai Academy Basketball Club Auxiliary Team vs. Kojin Academy Basketball Club Second Team.

Apparently, Kojin requested that their second-string players be given a match, and Teikai agreed—not by sending out their own second team, but instead their club-level basketball group.

“Probably figured their benchwarmers would lose to Kojin's second team, so they threw in the club instead,” said Tall-Senpai. Sounds exactly like something that stubborn old director of ours would do. If the club loses, it's expected—no shame involved.

Naturally, the regular Teikai basketball players weren't pleased. Why don't you let the second teams play each other? That frustration wasn't directed at the director, but at us—the powerless club. We became the target of their resentment.

And as for the Kojin team? They weren't thrilled either.

Even their second team is made up of players who'd be aces at a typical school. Seeing us—a casual club—as opponents probably felt like a slap in the face.

And so――

When I stepped onto the court in uniform, a storm of booing erupted.

“Go home, club team!” “Get lost, you scrub!”

Total isolation. Kojin's cheering section was packed, while Teikai's side was sparse—people scrolling on their phones, not even watching. We were nothing more than filler before the main match.

Surrounded by enemies on all sides, the only one who spoke to me wasn't even from Teikai—but Kojin.

A black-haired girl in a pure white sailor uniform.

Her sharp, narrow eyes had a beautiful but fierce glint to them.

With an aloof air, she brushed back her long, glossy hair.

“It's been a while, ‘Lone Wolf.’”

“Don't call me that. Makes me sound like a cringy teen.”

Tsukino Kojin. During the summer, when Kojin Academy came looking for a fight, she was one of their top talents. Judging from her surname, she's probably connected to the Kojin conglomerate, but her true background remains a mystery.

Tsukino gave me a curious look in my basketball uniform.

“You're on the team? Doesn't really suit you.”

“Not the team. Just the club. And I'm only here as a one-time backup.”

“Huh. Are you any good?”

“My teammates say I'm, like, ‘normally good.' So… yeah.”

Then she frowned.

“Where are those teammates? You're the only one here.”

“…Now that you mention it, they're late.”

No sign of Tall-Senpai or the rest of the club. They weren't in the locker room either. Meanwhile, Kojin's team was already warming up.

That's when I heard a nasty laugh behind me.

I turned—and saw the same Teikai basketball punks who had given me trouble before, smirking at me.

“Yo, first-year. Where's your crew?”

“You gonna play solo? Figures. You club types don't take this seriously.”

Something about their tone and expressions set off alarm bells.

These guys…

“What did you do to Tall-Senpai and the others? Where are they?”

“No idea. Maybe they chickened out?”

Their obnoxious laughter echoed.

Then, my sports bag buzzed with a call.

It was from Tall-Senpai.

“S-sorry, Suzuki-kun…”

She sounded like she was in pain. I could hear what sounded like other teammates groaning faintly in the background.

“The basketball team jumped us… Said we were stealing their spotlight since we wouldn't forfeit. Crazy, right?”

“Don't talk. Are you injured?”

“It's not too bad… We called an ambulance. But I'm sorry. After I asked you to help, this is how it turned out…”

“Please don't talk right now!”

I heard her sniffle on the other end.

“Such a shame. We practiced so hard for this…”

“Senpai…”

“I really… wanted to play basketball with you, Suzuki-kun…”

Then the line went silent.

When I lowered the phone, the basketball punks laughed again.

“Aww, what's wrong? Gonna cry?”

“Just go home and read Skuu-Dan or White-Ball or whatever you nerds do, yeah?”

I ignored them.

“Tsukino. I need a favor.”

She blinked.

“First time you called me by name. What is it?”

“Give me three seconds—no, just two. A distraction.”

She gave her hair a gentle flick and nodded.

“Okay.”

Then she got to work immediately.

Squatting low, she reached under her skirt—revealing a blinding flash of thigh—and pulled a small revolver from the garter holster strapped to her leg.

BANG.

The gunshot rang out across the gym.

Spectators, players, and referees alike turned toward Tsukino, stunned by the image of the raven-haired beauty firing a gun at the ceiling.

In that moment, I moved.

I dashed toward the five basketball punks leaning against the wall. Before their eyes could leave Tsukino and shift to me—

High kick. Smashed the first guy in the temple with my sneaker. Out cold.

Straight punch to the second guy's gut, twisting in for maximum impact. He puked up his sports drink on the spot.

“You b*****d—”

The third guy tried to talk. Bad idea. Uppercut to the jaw. That shut him up.

Fourth guy tried to run—grabbed his jersey, shoulder throw, then knee-drop. Definitely a red card, but hey, they started it.

The last one—the biggest, tallest guy—

Slam dunk.

But my fist was the ball.

I landed a haymaker right on the top of his head. Teikai's 190cm star center crumpled like a rag doll.

――All that in about two seconds.

By the time the shock of the gunshot wore off and the crowd returned to their senses, it was all over.

“Impressive.”

Tsukino praised me matter-of-factly. I gave her shoulder a pat in thanks—then stepped onto the court.

The match was already overdue.

The second-string Kojin players, lined up near the ref, looked impatient.

“What the hell? You’re the only one from the club?”

“Where's the rest of your team?”

“Wait—isn't that the Teikai basketball team lying over there?!”

I nodded.

“Yeah. Looks like I'm flying solo today.”

They gave me a collective “Huh?” face.

“So… should we count this as a forfeit?”

“Nope. I'm playing. Alone.”

“Don't be stupid! How do you expect to take on five people by yourself?”

“No worries. I fought five guys with guns the other day.”

“Are you insane?!”

“No, I'm perfectly sane. That's why――”

I snatched the basketball from the ref's hands.

Got into shooting stance.

Three-point shot.

From way behind the center line. Hecklers from the sidelines jeered, “That's never going in.” “What is this, a manga?”

The crowd snickered.

But――

Tough luck for them.

It went in.

No, it swished in.

Clean and precise, not even touching the rim or net.

A move I picked up from reading Shirako's Basketball nonstop. First time trying it live, but it worked.

Tsukino stood there, wide-eyed. I turned to her.

“How was that? I told you—I'm normally good.”

But the one who reacted wasn't Tsukino.

It was the entire gym.

Everyone's voices overlapped—

“““““““THAT'S NOT NORMAL AT ALLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!”””””””

…Wait, seriously?