The Omnipotent Super Chuunibyou - Chapter 36
“First, the team in black, Shuchiin High School’s basketball club. Number 1, Club President Hinata Koji; number 4, Vice Club President Hiiragi Gomatsu; number 3, Kato Eiji; number 7, Akamichi Ronin; and number 9, Kurosaki Kawasaki.”
Asahi Shizuku skipped the coaches and teachers to announce the starting lineups.
“Next, the team in…uh, the team in gym uniforms, the Far Eastern Magic Society. Number 1, Captain Hasegawa Izumi; number 2, Takanashi Rikka; number 3, Fujiwara Chika; number 4, Dekomori Sanae; and number 5, Nibutani Shinka.”
Of course, they hadn’t had time to create special uniforms for this game, so they’d just gone with the school’s gym uniforms and added numbers.
Good enough, Asahi thought.
As the teams assembled in the middle of the court, a sharp contrast became immediately apparent.
On the left were tall, muscular men. On the other side, the only one who seemed remotely presentable was Hasegawa, a boy, but even he was a head shorter than the others. The girls on the team were completely outclassed.
Physically, the two teams were mismatched, to say the least.
In a sport like basketball, where physical confrontation was a major part of the game, starting off at such a disadvantage would be a huge problem.
Even so…
“Look, Hasegawa and the others aren’t fazed at all. In fact, they seem pretty fired up!”
“Hmm, ignoring that madman, Fujiwara-san and the girls don’t seem scared at all.”
“They probably though that since they’re girls, the basketball team members won’t be able to get too aggressive, or else they’d drown under a sea of spittle.”
The spectators judged the teams from every angle.
Under everyone’s gazes, the Far Eastern Magic Society’s members might have been small, but their spirit and bearing showed no sign of fear or concern.
“How interesting… Fujiwara’s been properly whipped into shape in such a short time?” Shinomiya Kaguya studied her best friend with interest.
“It’s good that you find Chuunibyou friends, but Chika!. Why are you involved in everything?!”
Meanwhile, Eriri complaining in her mind.
On the court, ten players faced off. Hasegawa Izumi and Hinata Koji looked at each other, both exuding an intense self-confidence.
Both sides had reason to be confident.
“Road to victory, third battle: Shuchi’in High School’s basketball team versus the Far Eastern Magic Society! Let the match begin!” Asahi Shizuku’s voice boomed over the loudspeakers.
The referee called out, “Salutations!”
“Yoroshiku Onegaishimasu.” Both teams nodded slightly.
After the ritual greeting, the peak of the battle arrived.
The two teams took their places on the court.
So, you’re the one jumping for them? In the semicircular areas at the center of the court, Hinata Koji eyed Hasegawa Izumi approaching, unsurprised. If it were a girl, there’d be no need to even wonder if she could win; only a boy like Hasegawa had a chance. Now it was just a matter of seeing if this guy with his freakish physical prowess had any weaknesses!
“Whistle!” The whistle blew, and the referee tossed the basketball high into the air before stepping back.
Hinata Koji leaped without hesitation, hoping to give his team the early advantage.
Hasegawa Izumi moved slightly slower than his opponent, but he made up for his height disadvantage with incredible vertical leap and explosive power, reaching the ball first, despite being the one to jump later.
“Slap.”
With a casual flick of the wrist, he passed the ball toward Fujiwara Chika.
“Failure!”
Hinata Koji’s heart lurched, but this was within his expectations.
He didn’t worry, because he still had four teammates he could count on—that was his advantage over the other team.
Indeed, the basketball club members had anticipated this outcome and positioned themselves to intercept the pass Hasegawa might make.
“Watch me steal the ball!”
Akamichi Ronin, closest to the ball, quickly made his way toward Fujiwara Chika, intending to swipe the basketball from her hands.
In his view, the intimidation factor of his size would scare the girl into dropping the ball right into his hands.
————
“Are you going to stop me, Hasegawa-san? If you do, won’t that mean your team is doomed to lose?” Hinata Koji asked, surprised, as he eyed the man in front of him.
He never expected Hasegawa to guard him personally, so he stopped to chat casually. After all, they were playing four-on-four, and there was no way their side could lose!
“Sore Wa Do Kana~,” Hasegawa Izumi said with a mysterious smile, the corners of his lips curling up. Unbeknownst to anyone, the color of his eyes had already begun to glow a brilliant red.
“Against a team that’s entered the Zone, you might not stand a chance!” (TN: Kuroko no Basket Reference)
—————–
“My body feels so light.”
“This is the first time I’ve played with such a easygoing feeling.”
“I feel…like there’s nothing to fear.”
Nibutani Shinka’s expression betrayed a hint of bewilderment at her current peculiar state.
But she had no time to sort it all out.
Her team needed her help.
“Heyah!”
Facing such an aggressive opponent, Fujiwara Chika felt inexplicably fearless. She skillfully used the techniques she’d practiced, tossed the ball lightly, and passed it to Nibutani Shinka, who had suddenly appeared beside her.
“Quick offense!”
Nibutani Shinka caught the ball and immediately ran with it, crossing into the opposing team’s half of the court.
“You shall not pass!”
A towering figure blocked her path: Hiiragi Gomatsu.
But instead of trying to outmaneuver him, she tossed the ball to the side with a graceful flick of her wrist.
She knew someone would be waiting there for her pass, just because they’d exchanged a glance, and she seemed to understand what others was thinking.
Could it be that I’ve awakened some kind of superpower, like telepathy?
Nah, no way!
Am I seriously entertaining Chuunibyou thoughts like that at a time like this? Am I beyond redemption?
Nibutani Shinka hurriedly cleared these inexplicable thoughts from her mind and continued to focus on supporting her teammates.
In the brief few seconds it took…
“Master, please, Death!”
Dekomori Sanae caught the basketball with ease, then turned to Takanashi Rikka, who had already invaded the opposing team’s territory.
With a thud, the ball hit the ground and bounced back up. In an instant, it was in Rikka’s hands.
At this moment, the basketball team’s half of the court was completely defenseless.
This was because the team had predicted they’d be able to easily steal the ball from Fujiwara Chika, then swiftly score points, leaving them no time to strategize.
What they hadn’t anticipated was that their opponents would work together with such flawless precision, as if they were fighting on instinct.
And so, they found themselves in their current spine-chilling predicament.
“Dark Matter Bullet!” Rikka shouted as she leaped into the air and made her shot, wholly unaffected by the defenders around her. All the training she’d put into her technique paid off in this moment.
As she took the shot, every member of the opposing team felt their hearts stop.
The basketball sailed through the air on a graceful arc, and to everyone’s astonishment, fell neatly through the hoop.
Thump!
The crisp, loud sound of the ball hitting the ground echoed throughout the gym.
“Beep!”
The whistle blew.
The Wielder of True Eye of the Evil King had successfully fired her first shot!