A young man was having a dream, one that was good.
"There you go. I'm so proud of you, my son," said a woman in his dream.
"Thank you, Mom! I'll do my best and continue to be the number one student in my grade," a younger version of himself said with determination.
"I'm sure you will. Oh, and I have something for you." She took out a locket pendant and placed it around his neck. "This is a gift for you. If anything ever happens and I'm not around, this locket will be a symbol of my love for you, my son," she said with a warm smile.
Suddenly, the boy woke up and sat up in his bed. He rubbed his eyes, trying to shake off the remnants of the dream.
"Today makes five years, huh? I haven't had a dream like that in a long time..." He ran a hand through his hair in frustration. "Damn. I guess I'll try to go to school today—for your sake."
He got up, the morning light from outside gleaming off the locket his mother had given him. He moved through his small apartment, retrieving the uniform that had hung untouched in his closet for the past four months. Slipping it on, he walked over to a bin overflowing with empty beer cans and sighed before emptying it. Once finished, he locked up his apartment and hopped onto his bike, ready to go to school.
"Can't believe I'm actually going. Am I stupid or something?" he muttered to himself.
As he rode through the streets, he passed an alleyway and heard voices.
"Hey, you look nice. Are you a freshman?" asked a man in his twenties.
"Y-yes, I am..." the girl responded fearfully, her hands trembling as she clutched her bag.
"Don't worry, we don't bite. There's no reason to be afraid. We just want to talk, that's all," another man said with a smirk.
"I feel really uncomfortable. Can I please go? I'll be late for school," she pleaded, trying to walk past them.
"Wait just a moment," one of the men said, suddenly pinning her against the wall. "I didn't say you could leave yet, did I?"
"Hey, douchebags!" a voice called out. "Why don't you leave her alone? You guys are sickening, ganging up on a high school girl just because you have no game with real women. It's pathetic."
The two men turned to face the newcomer—Tadao.
"And who the hell are you? I dare you to come over here and say that, you son of a—"
Before the man could finish his sentence, Tadao rushed at him, catching him off guard. With a solid punch to the face, he knocked him out cold.
"Shit! You'll pay for that!" the other man shouted, his face twisting in fear as he got a better look at Tadao. "Wait... you're tall and strong, just like that kid who thrashed a biker gang—Tadao Inoue!"
Tadao smirked. "My reputation even reaches lowlifes like you? That's touching. Now, get lost before I kick your ass too."
The man quickly grabbed his unconscious friend and ran off. Tadao turned back to the girl, who was staring at him in terror.
"Are you alright?" he asked, scratching the back of his neck awkwardly.
Without a word, she bolted in the direction of the school.
Tadao sighed. "Well, can't say I blame her for that."
At Toshigawa Academy, class 1-T was lively, with students chatting in their groups.
Makoto yawned loudly, leaning back in his chair with his eyes shut. "Training was really tough this morning..."
"You can say that again. Nanaho really did a number on us. I'm completely worn out," Shino groaned.
Tetsuo, equally exhausted, rested his head on his desk.
"Well, that's a rare sight," Noboru remarked, glancing at Tetsuo. "Looks like training is finally getting to him. Nanaho must've really pushed us if even he's folding."
"Yeah, I can see it in their eyes," Sachiko observed. "They've been working hard lately. Their season is right around the corner."
"I can relate to their pain," Naomi added.
Meanwhile, Rie was updating the class duties board. She glanced at Shino, who looked visibly drained.
"You're working hard, Katsuragi. I can see that. I hope you become great at basketball as fast as possible," she murmured to herself with a gentle smile. "And... I also want to muster up the strength to say thank you."
Across the room, Naomi suddenly gasped dramatically. "Oh no!! I can't believe this! This can't be happening!"
"Naomi, you look kinda stressed. What's up?" Sachiko asked, raising an eyebrow.
"I completely forgot about the literature homework! Track practice ran late yesterday, and by the time I got home, I was too exhausted!" Naomi groaned, running both hands through her hair. "Wait… wasn't that due today?!"
"Yes! And I didn't write a single word!" Naomi cried out in panic. "Do you think I can borrow yours? Just to get an idea?"
Sachiko gasped dramatically. "Naomi, are you asking to copy homework?"
Naomi glared at her. "I said get an idea, not copy."
"Alright, alright, I'm just joking. Here, just be quick about it—"
Before Naomi could start, Noboru, sitting nearby, began tapping his pencil loudly on the desk.
"Noboru, can you not?! I'm trying to focus here!" Naomi snapped.
Noboru ignored her and kept tapping.
"Ugh, Noboru, can you stop tapping your pencil like that? It's so annoying!" she said, crossing her arms.
Noboru smirked. "Oh? Didn't know you were so sensitive, Princess. I'll make sure to tap even louder just for you."
Naomi glared at him. "You are so immature. Maybe if you paid half as much attention to class as you do to being a nuisance, you wouldn't be failing math."
Noboru leaned back in his chair. "Oh please, like I care about math. Unlike you, I don't spend my life buried in textbooks."
"Right, because you're too busy wasting time and acting like a clown," Naomi shot back.
"Hey, at least I know how to have fun, unlike some people and who are you calling a clown."
"You're impossible!" Naomi groaned in frustration.
Hayami sensei then cleared their throat. "Unless you two want to argue your way into detention, I suggest you both focus on the lesson."
Naomi and Noboru grumbled. "Yes, sensei…"
Meanwhile, Tadao rode his bike toward his destination. Finally, he arrived at the school gates. He glanced up at the building before him.
"So, this is Toshigawa Academy... Looks like a nice place to be."
And with that, he stepped forward, ready to face whatever awaited him inside.