Chapter 24 – The Court and the Ice Queen
Ryuo Tenshin knew very well—he was different from them.
That shallow, illusory sense of superiority the popular crowd gained couldn't solve real problems in life.
Still, his relationship with the "real-life group" wasn't stiff.
At least, he got along with Hayama Hayato.
After all, Hayama treated everyone kindly, no matter who they were.
Ryuo was also fine with Ebina Himena.
In fact, Himena, Kawasaki Saki's best friend, often teased him about Saki. Every time they crossed paths at school, she'd laugh and say things like:
> "Saki, Saki, your childhood sweetheart is here!"
Ryuo could only sigh at her endless jokes.
—
On the court.
The game was at its climax. Ryuo and Hayama stood face-to-face in the final attack and defense. The loser had to buy everyone a drink.
Overtime. One basket would decide everything.
A crowd had gathered around, and the pressure was rising. Some players even grew nervous under the watchful eyes of girls cheering from the sidelines.
For Ryuo, it was the perfect chance.
Ball in hand. Step in. Fake jump shot—cut inside.
Now!
He sprang into the air.
> "My three-point sword—the flame of hell!"
The ball arced, the net swished—clean.
"Phew…" Ryuo exhaled deeply. It went in. He wouldn't have to buy drinks after all.
A single can cost 300 yen. That was like six copies of Your Lie in April—too expensive to waste on a silly bet.
—
The girls cheered loudly.
"Wow, the guy opposite Hayama is so handsome!"
"You mean Ryuo? Don't you know? His grades are the best in our school."
"He's amazing—so cool!"
Ryuo ignored them, but Kawasaki Saki and Ebina were watching too.
Ebina smirked. "Saki, your childhood sweetheart seems even more popular than Hayama today."
Saki, fresh from tennis practice, sipped her water and rolled her eyes.
"I don't get it. Why do girls find Ryuo so attractive? Hime, are they blind or what—"
But she stopped mid-sentence.
On the court, Yuigahama Yui stood shyly, clutching a water bottle. She stepped toward Ryuo, smiling nervously.
She's… giving him water?
Saki blinked in surprise, watching as Yuigahama edged closer. Her usual bubbly smile looked smaller, more timid.
Why Yui…? Why give him water?
Her thoughts scattered.
"Pah—!"
A sweaty hand tapped her on the head.
Ryuo had appeared behind her.
"Saki, what are you spacing out for? Class is about to start—Teacher Hiratsuka's next, you'll be late."
He glanced at the bottle in her hand.
"Oh, this is for me? Thanks, I'll go change first."
"Eh—wait, that's not—!"
But Ryuo was already walking off with the bottle.
Saki froze. That bottle wasn't meant for him.
She looked back at the court. Yui still stood there, clutching her own bottle, her expression faintly lost.
Saki's lips curved into a wry smile. She forced her tone light:
"Hime, you go on without me. I'll head back to class first—can't be late for Hiratsuka-sensei."
—
On the court.
Yui stared at Ryuo's retreating back, still holding her unopened water.
"Yui, what are you doing? Let's go."
Miura Yumiko frowned.
Yui blinked, plastered on her usual sweet smile, and nodded quickly.
"O-okay, Yumiko! Coming!"
—
In the locker room corridor, Ryuo was intercepted by a teammate from Class J. Their international classes sometimes shared PE, and the two had become familiar.
"Hey, Ryuo, seriously? You turned down water from such a cute girl just now?"
The boy groaned dramatically. "If a beauty like that offered me a drink, I wouldn't care if it was water or even oil—I'd drink it without hesitation."
Ryuo stared at him flatly. …You'd get arrested and thrown into Gotham to fight Batman.
Before he could retort, the hallway suddenly grew quiet.
A girl approached, holding a paperback in her hands. Her eyes remained fixed on the page, but her steps never faltered.
She walked gracefully, composed, her very presence commanding silence. People instinctively stepped aside.
Yukino Yukinoshita—the Ice Queen of Sobu High, second-year of Class J.
Yukinoshita."
Ryuo remembered something and called out.
Yukino paused, turning her cold gaze toward him.
"…Come to the clubroom at lunch."
She didn't wait for his reply, resuming her steady walk down the hall.
The murmurs of students followed her, awed and intimidated.
Ryuo sighed. One basket on the court, and now this—life at Sobu High never slowed down.