Chapter 12: Basketball Match

Aruta continue his school day as usual until three o'clock, when the school bell ring, signaling it was time to go home. Aruta pack his belongings into his bag, put on his jacket, and got ready to leave. When Aruta stand up, someone approach him.

"Hey, Aruta!" that person call out.

Aruta turned his head. "Huh? Oh, Kevin."

"Aruta, can you do me a favor?" Kevin asked.

"What kind of favor?" Aruta inquired.

"Me and the others are about to have a basketball match with the seniors. Can you help out our class for once?" Kevin said, patting Aruta's shoulder.

"Nah, I'm too lazy," Aruta replied, turning his face away.

"Come on, just this once. Why do you always refuse?" Kevin asked.

"Why do you even need me? There are others. Ask someone else. There's Bryan. Ask him," Aruta said, looking back at Kevin.

"Bryan got into a motorcycle accident earlier and is in the hospital now. He can't join," Kevin explained.

"Oh? He had an accident?" Aruta asked.

"Yeah. Luckily, he's still alive. But come on, Aruta. You're good at sports," Kevin pleaded.

"Nah," Aruta replied, brushing Kevin's hand off his shoulder and walking away.

"Hey, I have a rare copy of Ultra X volume zero. You can have it if you-"

Before Kevin could finish his sentence, Aruta immediately grabbed Kevin's hand and dragged him out of the classroom.

"Let's kick their ass," Aruta said.

"Wow, you're suddenly willing when there's a reward," Kevin muttered.

Aruta, Kevin, and their classmates arrive at the school field. On the field, the senior team was already there. Aruta is quite surprise to see that the team they were up against was the class known as the "athletes." Among them was a student named Katsuo, the leader of that class's gang.

"Isn't that Katsuo's class? You're brave to challenge them," Aruta said to Kevin.

"Yeah, we have a bit of a problem," Kevin replied.

"A problem?" Aruta asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Yeah, we clashed with them yesterday. We're fighting over something important, and it's at stake in this match," Kevin said seriously.

"What is it?" Aruta asked.

"We're... fighting over the last discount coupon for the combo meal at the famous Terang Rembulan Restaurant. When else can we get a sixty percent discount on a combo meal?" Kevin explained.

"Huh? Just over a coupon?" Aruta said. "I thought it was something serious," Aruta muttered.

"Hey, you don't know how valuable that coupon is!" Kevin said to Aruta.

"Huff whatever. All I care about is getting the Ultra X comic," Aruta mumbled.

After preparing, Kevin's team entered the court along with the senior team. Kevin stepped forward, facing Katsuo. The two exchanged intense glares. Both teams looked very serious, even though they were just fighting over a coupon.

"You've got some guts challenging me," Katsuo said with an intimidating stare.

"The winner takes it," Kevin said with a serious tone.

"Alright, let's enjoy this match," Katsuo said.

The match was about to begin, and the players took their positions. As Aruta got ready, he see Kevin approaching him.

"What's up?" Aruta asked.

"You take the jump ball," Kevin said.

"Oh? Okay," Aruta replied.

Aruta walked to the center circle and faced Katsuo.

"I've never seen you before. You're pretty bold to challenge me in a jump ball," Katsuo said.

The referee stood between them, ready to throw the ball. The match began, and the referee tossed the ball into the air. Katsuo immediately jumped to grab the ball. But surprisingly, Aruta jumped even higher and managed to snatch the ball first.

Aruta passed the ball to Kevin and sprint past the senior team's players. Kevin make an overhead pass to Aruta. The senior team's players jumped to intercept the ball, but Aruta leaped higher than them and successfully caught it. Aruta dribble the ball and run at incredible speed. He performed a lay-up and scored. Everyone on the field was stunned by Aruta's skills.

"Huh? What was that?" Katsuo muttered in shock.

"Nice, Aruta. You're amazing," Kevin said, patting Aruta's shoulder.

Aruta patt Kevin's shoulder back and said, "Don't forget the comic."

"Hehe, okay-okay," Kevin replied with a faint smile.

The match continued, and Aruta mercilessly dominate Katsuo's team. Aruta kept scoring with unusual shots. After the match end, Kevin's team was leading by a landslide. Aruta had scored at least 40 points in every quarter.

"Aruta, you're insane!" Kevin's teammates shouted, swarming and hugging Aruta.

Kevin walked over to Katsuo and demanded, "Where's the coupon?"

"No! This isn't over yet. I wasn't taking you seriously earlier. Let's play one more quarter," Katsuo said.

"Huh? What's this? If you lost, just admit it," Kevin frowned.

"Are you scared?" Katsuo taunted. "The coupon is in my hands. You want it, right?" Katsuo reached into his pocket to pull out the coupon but couldn't find it. "Huh? Where's the coupon?"

Suddenly, someone place a hand on Katsuo's shoulder, and a female voice said, "My my, look who lost here~."

Katsuo break into a cold sweat upon hearing the voice. He turned around and terrify to see the person behind him. "M-M-M-Mona? Why are you here?"

"You such a troublemaker," Mona said.

"Student Council President Mona?" Kevin asked.

Mona walked over to Kevin and handed him the coupon. "Sorry about my friend," Mona said.

"By the way, you over there," Mona called out, pointing at Aruta. "Your performance earlier was amazing. What's your name?"

"Me?" Aruta asked, and Mona nodded. "I'm Aruta."

"Aruta, huh? You're not in any sports club, are you? Why don't you join? I saw your performance earlier, and it was incredible," Mona said.

"Uh... I think I'll pass for now," Aruta replied.

"Is that so? Well, nice to meet you," Mona said with a wide smile. She approached Aruta and extended her hand. Aruta shook her hand.

On the sidelines, Mono is walking past the field. He look over and see his sister talking to Aruta.

"Oh, sis. Why isn't she at the mansion?" Mono muttered. He narrow his eyes and see Mona speaking with Aruta, the person who had run past him earlier. Mono remember feeling the aura of the object he was searching for emanating from Aruta when he ran by. "That guy, I need to meet him!" Mono thought.

A while later, most of the students already leave the field. Mona also leave because of student council duties. Only Aruta and Kevin remained, sitting on the bench by the field. Kevin open his bag and pull out a book.

"Here's the comic," Kevin said, handing it to Aruta. "Thanks for helping out."

"Wait, you already brought the comic? No problem," Aruta said, accepting the comic. "But are you sure about giving this away for a coupon? This is a rare comic," Aruta said.

"It's fine. I don't read it much anymore. You can have it," Kevin said in a low voice. Aruta simply smiled after hearing that.

"Do you want to join us for dinner? You helped us get the coupon," Kevin offered.

"Thanks, but I think I'll pass. This is enough," Aruta replied.

"Alright then. Let's head out. It's getting dark," Kevin said.

"Okay," Aruta replied.

Aruta and Kevin walk out of the school together. However, Aruta felt uneasy because, throughout the walk, he see strange creatures lurking in the dark corners and narrow spaces of the school. Their appearances were abnormal and eerie.

"There are so many of them. They're usually rare. Ugh just pretend I didn't see them," Aruta thought.

When Aruta and Kevin leave the school, they part ways and walk in different directions. Today, Aruta was off from his part-time job. Since Kevin had offered to eat together earlier, Aruta feel hungry. He decided to stop by his favorite restaurant before heading home. When he arrived, the place was more crowded than usual. He waited in line for hours. He ended up having dinner there.

When Aruta left the restaurant, it was already dark, and the sun had been replaced by the moon. Aruta begin walking back to his apartment. However, halfway through his journey, someone suddenly call out to him. "Hey, you!" the person shouted.

Aruta turn around and see a man behind him. "Yes? What do you need?"

"Are you Aruta from Starmind High School?" that man asked.

"Yes," Aruta replied.

"My name is Mono, a student from the same school. There are a few things I'd like to ask you. Can I have a moment of your time?" Mono said with a serious tone.