Morning sunlight spilled over the courtyard of Seiryō High, glinting off the bikes, backpacks, and chatter of students filing through the gates. Usually, the basketball team could blend into the morning rush unnoticed, but today the atmosphere shifted the moment Marcus, Yuuto, Shunjin, and the others stepped inside.
Heads turned.
Whispers rippled across the hallways.
"Yo, that's the basketball team!"
"They beat Easton by one point, right?"
"Shunjin hit the shot! The fadeaway!"
"I saw Marcus' assist on TikTok, that pass was CRAZY!"
Phones discreetly rose at angles. Students nudged each other. Girls whispered, covering their mouths. Some boys offered nods of respect as the team passed by.
For most of them, the attention felt good.
For Yuuto?
It felt… hollow.
Hallway, Before Class
Kana and Ayaka stood waiting near the shoe lockers, bright-eyed as always. Kana waved wildly.
"Marcus!! Yuuto!! Over here!"
