NTR Kousuke

Chapter 25

And finally, the training camp begins!

The girls' basketball club is away on an expedition and not here. The gymnasium can be used with two full courts.

We're doing a joint practice with a nearby high school that's slightly above our level.

Since we're the host side, we'll match our practice schedule and train for the whole day.

Captain "Listen up! We're making practice 1.5 times tougher than usual! But act like this is normal to the other team, got it?"

"""Got it!!"""

Some inexplicable pride kicks in!

Footwork, dash-and-go, jumping to tap high spots—today's menu is centered on tougher physical conditioning than usual!

It's not hostile, but we're intensely aware of each other as we push through the practice.

They must be doing similar drills, but since they're not used to our style, it looks pretty tough for them too!

But ever since the new captain took over, we've increased these kinds of basic physical conditioning drills compared to the previous captain's time, so we're fine—we can still keep going!

The girls' managers seem to be having fun, giggling as they make chicken curry together.

I thought it looked fun, but later I heard from Tomonaga-san that it was a huge amount, and stirring the giant pot to prevent burning was so hot and used muscles they don't normally use, so they felt like they were dying.

Tanaka-kun, who was filming nearby, said,

Tanaka "They say no one who claims they're dying actually dies, right? Wanna do some Billy's Boot Camp?"

Tomonaga "Eek!!"

Tomonaga-san says that Tanaka-kun is so unnoticeable while filming that it's scary...!

Tanaka-kun...

After finishing the physical conditioning, we move to basic passing and shooting practice until noon.

Don't miss more shots than the other team! Blow their minds!

My friend Koji tried to show off, but an amazing guy from the other high school, who's in the same grade, stopped him.

(He's incredible.)

Still a beginner, I kept observing the amazing guy.

The girls' managers come to the gymnasium!

Airi "Lunchtime!"

"""Oooooh?!"""

In terms of beauty, our school's girls' managers win! That's what the captain boasted.

We guide everyone to the training camp lodge for a curry party.

Yeah, it's summer.

Even so, in a shady, well-ventilated spot, it feels nice, and both our team and the other high school devour the chicken curry ravenously.

There's a sense of rivalry, but since we're in the same grade, we quickly become friends.

While eating curry, we talk and laugh about basketball, badmouthing seniors, and high school life.

In the afternoon, we play practical mini-games, dividing the two courts into four half-court sections, mixing offense and defense regardless of which high school we're from, rotating through various situations and combinations.

Then, from 3 PM, we have matches on the two courts—first-years versus first-years, second-years versus second-years,

And finally, we face off with the current best members.

The first-years went at it fiercely! For those of us first-years who rarely get to play in matches, this is a chance to appeal with everything we've got! Of course, I did too!

The other team's first-year ace is an incredible scorer, and even though Koji, who's a balanced player, tried desperately to stop him, he couldn't—a really amazing guy!

By avoiding passing the ball to that side as much as possible, we barely managed to win.

It was a match with lots of issues, and afterward, ideas like "we should've done this" started coming up.

We need to be able to come up with those ideas during the match.

The second-years narrowly lost, it seems.

Then, in the match with the best members, Koji and I got uniforms and started on the bench.

I got to play, but only from the third quarter, and without Sahori-senpai, the team felt lacking in offensive power.

The captain is currently playing as point guard and directing the team, but since he's a player with shooting ability, he might shine more in a more aggressive position.

...If that's the case, my current position as the second or third point guard might open up more opportunities.

I overlap a bit with the captain, but if I can show my shooting ability, it could boost the team's offensive power... I should consult Airi-senpai about this.

The match was another narrow loss.

At 5 PM, we disband, see off the other high school, clean the gymnasium together, and polish the balls. Just lightly.

At 6 PM, we all watch the earlier match and have a reflection session.

Dinner was... ginger pork set meal.

For those who were still hungry, there was leftover curry from lunch.

I ate some curry too. It was delicious.

At night, the club members played cards and card games—it felt just like a school trip.

The girls' managers stayed with us until 8 PM, and Tomonaga-san looked like she was dying lol

Then, someone said, "Let's do something this year too, right?"

We decided to hold a sort of hidden talent show. While everyone did impersonations or impromptu skits...

Tomonaga-san smiled.

Tomonaga "I got this from Captain Tanaka♪"

Kousuke "..."

"""Oooooh?!"""

Tomonaga "So cute!"

Airi "Adorable!"

Where's the demand for me in drag...?

I was made to wear Hokusho's girls' uniform, put on a wig, and had makeup applied by Tomonaga-san.

Unexpectedly, it was well-received, and the girls said, "It's frustrating, but he's cute." Why?

Stop it, don't look at me with those eyes!

I had nightmares that day. What do I do? If I develop a fear of men on top of my fear of women, I won't be able to survive in human society.

On the second day, we headed to a nearby university to join their practice.

The university students' physical conditioning was insane—I was shocked.

They're already adults! Some even look like total old men!

Us, three years from now? Will we be like this?

For lunch, the managers brought us a mountain of rice balls, fried chicken, croquettes, and minced cutlets. The fried food and rice balls were delicious!

But for balance, I guess... I wish they wouldn't pair rice balls with vegetable juice.

The university students' practice and matches were brutally intense in terms of strength and speed—it was really tough.

Well, of course, even their bench players have been training longer than our third-year seniors.

Yesterday's match against fellow high schoolers was way easier!

Well, since it's the second day, I guess fatigue is starting to show a bit too.

On the second night, the training camp ends tomorrow.

After playing a lot at night, we all slept together on futons in the large hall of the training camp lodge.

When it was time to turn off the lights, in the pitch-dark room,

Captain "Actually, Tendou, I heard that Manager Airi broke up with Sahori-senpai."

Murmur... murmur...!

It was due to Sahori-senpai's cheating and bad habits with women. I'm surprised no one saw an issue with Sahori-senpai's terrible behavior, and I can hear sighs around me.

"I'm a bad guy too!"

"If Manager Airi pays attention to me, I'll work hard!"

"Babu! I'm a baby!"

What a hellish scene...

Captain "But she wants us to leave her alone about it. So even though she's single now, don't go hitting on her or anything, okay?"

But the murmuring doesn't stop.

Even after forgiving Sahori-senpai's cheating so many times, Airi-senpai finally gave up on him.

The boys in the basketball club respect Airi's patience and are angry at Sahori's reckless actions.

The basketball club members,

Muttered, "Airi is a bodhisattva! Sahori deserves a beating!"

(Quoted from @dragoonwalker-san's comment on episode 22!)

Will Sahori-senpai show up tomorrow?

Tomorrow, the alumni are coming.

Apparently, they've invited seniors from the past three years or so who are still playing basketball.

Of course, the third-years too. Since they're also preparing for exams, whether they come or not varies.

Normally, if your ex-girlfriend who dumped you is there, you wouldn't come, but...

If it's Sahori-senpai, he'll probably show up.

On the third day, usually, the OB visit involves adding their training or intensity to our regular practice to increase the workload.

In the afternoon, after practicing offense and defense in a game-like format, we play matches, and the seniors give us juniors feedback and points for improvement in a summary.

If the team changes, the tactics change too.

It's only natural since the players are different.

The team's concept should change each time.

However, recently, Sahori-senpai, who's been showing up a lot, insists on sticking to the same old concept!

The current Captain firmly stated, "The players are different, so we're going to change things."

Sahori shouted, "You guys! You don't get it!"

Upset that the juniors didn't follow his instructions, Sahori-senpai stopped coming.

Well, getting dumped by Airi-senpai later might also be part of why he stopped showing up.

But while Sahori-senpai and the other third-years were tall and suited for offense, the current regulars are mostly tough, defense-oriented players, so using the same tactics would put us at a disadvantage. Even if we say that, he wouldn't listen.

We don't need that senior anymore.

In contrast, the beauty of Airi-senpai's demeanor as she handles her manager duties...

The basketball club members said,

Airi is like a hibiscus. Sahori is unnecessary!!

※Hibiscus... a large pink flower.

Since ancient times, it's been used as a metaphor for a beautiful person, and a refined, lovely face is apparently called a "hibiscus face."

Finally, the last day of the training camp!

First thing in the morning, Sahori-senpai walked into the gymnasium with a smirk.

Leading the other seniors behind him.