Chapter 7: Basketball Is Life

Alex walked into his first class of the day, a mix of excitement and nerves coursing through his veins.

He had been looking forward to this moment for days, and he was eager to dive into his studies.

As he scanned the room for an empty seat, his eyes landed on a familiar face - Akane.

She was sitting in the front row, her hair tied back in a sleek ponytail, and her eyes fixed intently on the professor.

Alex felt a surge of surprise and delight. He hadn't expected to see Akane in his class, and he couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement at the prospect of spending more time with her.

He made his way over to her, trying to play it cool. "Hey, Akane. Fancy seeing you here," he said, trying to sound nonchalant.

Akane turned to him, a smile spreading across her face. "Hey, Alex. I could say the same for you," she replied, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Alex grinned, feeling a sense of relief wash over him.

He had been worried that Akane might not remember him, but it seemed that their chance encounter had made a lasting impression on her as well.

As they chatted, Alex learned that Akane was a psychology major, and they quickly discovered that they had a lot in common. They both loved music, hiking, and trying out new foods.

The professor began to speak, and Alex and Akane took their seats, eager to learn.

As they listened to the lecture, Alex couldn't help but steal glances at Akane, feeling grateful for this unexpected surprise.

He knew that this was just the beginning of his journey in conquering the heroines of this manga.

Alex continued to listen intently to the professor's lecture, taking notes and asking questions.

He was determined to make a good impression and learn as much as he could.

Akane was also fully engaged, and they occasionally exchanged whispers and nods.

As the class came to a close, Alex felt a sense of accomplishment and relief.

He had survived his first university lecture! He gathered his belongings and turned to Akane. "Hey, want to grab lunch together?" he asked, hoping she would say yes.

Akane smiled. "Sure thing! I'm starving."

They walked out of the classroom together, chatting about their thoughts on the lecture. As they approached the cafeteria,

Alex's stomach growled in anticipation. He had heard great things about the university's food, and he was eager to try it out.

As they entered the bustling cafeteria, Alex scanned the room for a familiar face.

That's when he spotted Dave and his friends, lounging at a table in the corner. Dave caught his eye and waved him over.

"Hey, Alex! Come join us!" he called out.

Alex hesitated for a moment, unsure if he should join Dave's group or stick with Akane.

But Akane nudged him forward. "Go ahead, I'll grab us some food and meet you over there," she said with a smile.

Alex made his way over to Dave's table, feeling a sense of excitement and belonging.

Dave introduced him to his friends, a diverse group of students from different backgrounds and majors.

They welcomed Alex with open arms, and soon he was laughing and joking with them like they were old friends.

As they waited in line for food, Dave filled Alex in on the latest campus gossip and news. Alex listened intently, grateful for the insider scoop.

When they finally sat down to eat, Alex felt like he was part of the gang. Akane joined them a few minutes later, and she fit right in with the group's dynamic.

As they ate and chatted, Alex realized that he had found his tribe. These people were his kind of crazy, and he was thrilled to be a part of it.

As they continued to eat their food, Dave turned to Alex and said, "So, Alex, I've been meaning to ask you - what's your favorite hobby? You seem like a guy who's into some cool stuff."

Alex smiled, taking a bite of his sandwich. "Yeah, I'm pretty passionate about music. I play the guitar and love writing songs."

Dave's eyes lit up. "No way! I'm a huge music fan too. I play the drums and have been in a few bands over the years."

Akane chimed in, "That's so cool! I've always wanted to learn how to play an instrument. Maybe you can teach me sometime, Alex."

Alex laughed. "Definitely! I'd love to teach you some chords."

As they continued to chat about music, Dave suddenly shifted gears. "Hey, speaking of competition - have you seen any good basketball games lately?"

Alex's eyes widened. "Actually, I'm a huge basketball fan! I've been following the NBA since I was a kid."

Dave grinned. "Me too! I love the fast breaks and three-pointers. And that buzzer-beater in the championships last year? Unreal!"

The conversation flowed easily from there, with Alex and Dave geeking out over basketball stats and strategies.

Akane and the others listened in amusement, happy to see the two of them bonding over their shared interests.

As they finished their lunch, Dave turned to Alex with a serious look. "You know, we could use someone with your passion and skills on our school team. Would you be interested in joining us?"

Alex's heart skipped a beat. "Are you serious?! That would be amazing!"

And with that, the conversation shifted from music to basketball, and Alex's fate was sealed.

He was about to become a part of something bigger than himself, something that would challenge him and push him to new heights.

As the lunch break came to a close, Alex gathered his belongings and said his goodbyes to Dave and the others.

He felt energized and motivated, still buzzing from their conversation about basketball and music.

He headed to his next class, a psychology lecture on cognitive development.

As he walked into the auditorium, he spotted Akane sitting in the front row and made his way over to her.

"Hey, mind if I join you?" he asked, nodding towards the empty seat beside her.

Akane smiled and scooted over. "Not at all! I saved you a seat."

Alex sat down and pulled out his notebook and pen, ready to dive into the lecture.

As the professor began to speak, Alex found himself fully engaged, taking notes and asking questions.

Akane was equally absorbed, and they occasionally exchanged whispers and nods.

Alex felt grateful for her presence, enjoying the sense of camaraderie and shared learning.

As the class drew to a close, Alex realized he had learned a lot more than he expected.

He felt inspired to explore the topic further, and he knew he could count on Akane to be a great study partner.

"Thanks for sitting with me, Akane," Alex said as they packed up their things. "I really enjoyed the lecture."

Akane smiled. "No problem, Alex! I'm glad we could learn together. Let's do it again soon!"

Alex grinned, feeling a sense of connection and belonging. He knew that this was just the start of conquering a great beauty, and he looked forward to many more classes and opportunities to be with Akane.

[Akane is impressed with your will for learning.]

[+15 affection points from Akane.]

[Akane's affection: 25/100]

**********

After his last class of the day, Alex headed to the university's athletic center, his basketball gear in hand.

He was excited to meet his new teammates and get started with practice.

As he entered the gym, he spotted Dave warming up on the court.

Dave waved him over, and Alex joined him, stretching his legs and getting ready to play.

"Hey, man! Glad you made it," Dave said, grinning. "Let me introduce you to the team."

Dave led Alex over to a group of players shooting hoops at the other end of the court. "Guys, this is Alex, our new point guard. Alex, this is Jake, our center, Mike, our power forward, and Chris, our shooting guard."

The team welcomed Alex with nods and high-fives. Alex felt a sense of belonging, knowing he was part of a tight-knit group.

As practice began, Coach Thompson put them through a series of drills, focusing on passing, defense, and teamwork.

Alex quickly realized that this team was serious about winning, and he was determined to contribute to their success.

During a water break, Dave turned to him and said, "You're doing great, Alex. You've got some sweet moves on the court."

Alex smiled, feeling proud to be part of the team. "Thanks, Dave. I'm loving every minute of it."

As practice came to a close, Coach Thompson gathered them around. "Good work, team. Let's keep up the intensity and focus. We've got a big game coming up next week, and I know we can win it."

The team cheered, and Alex felt a surge of excitement. He knew he had found his place at university, and he was ready to give it his all on and off the court.

As practice came to a close, Alex gathered his gear and headed out of the gym with his new teammates.

They walked together, chatting and laughing, enjoying the cool evening air.

"Hey, Alex, you want to grab some dinner with us?" Dave asked, nodding towards a nearby food truck. "They've got some awesome burgers and fries."

Alex's stomach growled at the mention of food. "Sounds great, I'm starving!"

They walked over to the food truck, ordering their meals and sitting down at a nearby table. Alex took a bite of his burger, savoring the flavors and textures.

"This is amazing!" he exclaimed, earning nods of agreement from the others.

As they ate, they talked about everything from basketball to music to their favorite TV shows. Alex felt like he'd known these guys for years, not just a few hours.

After dinner, they walked together towards the campus exit, enjoying the evening stroll.

As they approached the corner of the street, Alex's teammates called out their goodbyes and headed off in different directions.

"See you tomorrow, Alex!" Dave shouted, waving goodbye.

Alex smiled, feeling grateful for his new teammates and the sense of belonging he'd found.

He continued walking, enjoying the quiet evening streets and the feeling of accomplishment after a great practice.

As he turned onto his street, he saw the familiar lights of his home in the distance.

He quickened his pace, looking forward to sharing stories of his day with his family.

Finally, he opened the door and stepped inside, greeted by the warm smiles of his mom, dad, and sister. "Hey, guys! How was your day?" he asked, dropping his bag on the floor.

They gathered around him, eager to hear about his first day of classes at the university. Alex settled in, ready to regale them with tales of his adventures at university.