kscans

Chapter 263 - The Truth of the Flames (1)

The smartphone's ringtone sounds.

I step out of the room so as not to wake Tasuku and answer the phone.

"Hello, Toya-kun? Good morning~"

"What time is it now?"

"It's six-thirty."

"Airi, you were making a racket until late yesterday, weren't you? Weren't you sleepy?"

"I worked hard because I wanted to give Toya-kun a wake-up call!"

"Thanks."

"Ehehe~"

My mood lifts at Airi's happy voice.

"Well, I'm going to wake Tasuku and go eat."

"Toya-kun, do your best today too."

"Yeah, I'll do everything I can."

"That's not it! You absolutely have to win."

"There's no such thing as 'absolute' in a match."

"But I'm praying for you!"

If that's the case, I feel like I might win.

"I can't afford to lose then."

"But... don't push yourself and get injured, okay?"

"I know."

"Well, I have to get breakfast ready and things."

"Airi, you're doing that even though I'm not there?"

"Because if I didn't, I'd just be a freeloading guest, right?"

"Well, that's true, but..."

What are my parents doing?

"I'm also being allowed to do the laundry and such."

I told Sakura-san yesterday. I'll play along with that too.

"Let's go on a date when I get back."

"Yay... but."

But?

"Toya-kun, you said it before. That's called a death flag."

Ah.

"I can't die before I reach the goal with Airi."

"You also said lines like 'I'm going to marry you when I get back' are NG."

That's right.

"Boo. Come back safely. Ah..."

"You don't have to come back until the tournament is over! I'll go see the finals."

So she's saying I should make it to the finals.

"I get it. I'll be waiting."

"Yeah, I'll go with everyone, okay?"

"Yeah."

"Well, see you tonight."

"Yes."

After finishing the call, I return to the room. Tasuku was getting ready.

Tasuku looks at me and says one thing.

"You get ready quickly too."

"Yeah."

Breakfast is at the hotel restaurant again today.

While eating breakfast, we watch a video on the tablet with Sakura-san's commentary.

"Is there anything you notice?"

"It's mostly 3Ps,"

Tasuku says, and Sakura-san nods.

"Since the opponents are short, they've abandoned the inside and increased their accuracy from the out-range. Please think of it as shooting power on par with Katagiri-senpai. If you let them shoot unmarked, they will definitely score."

"Does that mean we have no choice but to guard man-to-man?"

Shinji says.

"There's the option of widening the zone, but..."

I know what comes next without hearing it. We don't have players who can reliably score on the inside. Besides...

"The opponent is also using an all-court man-to-man press. Toma-senpai will be targeted."

Sakura-san puts pressure on Sota.

"Seriously!? Give me a break,"

Sota screams.

"I've been telling you since before the tournament, right? If Katagiri-senpai can't hold them, we'll cut off the source of the passes. Surely you haven't failed to prepare any countermeasures."

"Of course I have. I've dealt with women's zone presses too."

"Then there should be no problem. It would be pathetic if you were suppressed by the quarterfinals."

Sakura-san adds that they will definitely attempt double-teaming in the finals.

"Well, leave it to me. I'll pass properly!"

"Everyone else, be prepared. The amount of movement will definitely increase from here. You have to create passing lanes for Toma-senpai!"

"I'll show you the results of our practice, so just watch and relax,"

Kyota says.

After finishing breakfast, everyone returns to their rooms to prepare before boarding the bus.

When we arrive at the venue, the players for the first match were practicing.

"Yo!"

Someone calls out.

It's Hoaki-san from the university in Beppu.

"Hi, the Beppu university survived too, I see."

"Yeah, looks like we'll face you guys in the quarterfinals."

"If we both survive, that is."

"It'll be a problem if you don't survive. This time I'll definitely win and make a move on Sakurako-chan."

"I think that's impossible."

"Why?"

"Sakura-san got a boyfriend."

"Hah? Seriously? I haven't heard about this! Is it true, Sakurako-chan!?"

When Hoaki-san asks Sakura-san, Sakura-san grabs Tasuku's arm.

"This person is my boyfriend."

"You're that blockhead from before!"

"You remembered me?"

Tasuku has a composed expression.

"Then let's settle this in the quarterfinals! With Sakurako-chan as the stake."

"There's no way I'm using my precious girlfriend as a stake."

Tasuku shows no sign of taking Hoaki-san's proposal. However.

"If you think you can beat our team, go ahead. Though whether he'll date you is a separate matter."

"So I can still make a move, right?"

"If you think you can win."

"Alright, I'm fired up! Watch me, Sakurako-chan, we haven't just been playing around either."

"We're saying the same thing here."

"Well then, see you on the court tomorrow."

With that, the Beppu university team departed.

"Is it okay, Sakurako?"

Tasuku asks.

Sakura-san smiled and said.

"Our goal is the championship. We can't afford to stumble in a place like this, right? Besides, everyone has definitely leveled up. I guarantee it as the manager. Have confidence."

But in the first match, an upset occurred.

In the first match, Kumamoto Technical University defeated Beppu University.

And by a large margin.

The inside was completely dominated, passes were constantly cut off, and if they dribbled carelessly, they were called for charging; the defense was toyed with by the opponent's pump fakes, and they were disqualified with 5 fouls in no time.

It seems Sakura-san was also completely unmarked.

That makes sense, since she hadn't been playing until halfway through.

Apparently, she's a rookie this year.

The members of Beppu University returned with their heads hanging.

It was hard to call out to them.

"First of all everyone, look at this one match!"

"That's right! First, we win! We'll talk after that!"

When Sakura-san and Shinji say this, everyone gets fired up.

As we sit on the bench, the coach says.

"You saw in the previous match that complacency is forbidden. And this match is a good opportunity to test the results of your daily practice. We will win."

He adds that the women's basketball team has already decided the best 4.

"Well then, shall we go for the win? Get fired up!"

"Oh!"

When Shinji says this, everyone lets out a roar.

We line up with the opposing players.

The opponents are far shorter.

Still, they are opponents who have survived. Is it a battle of footwork?

The jump ball has just been tossed.

(2)

I was surprised by yesterday's television report.

To think they would issue a declaration of war themselves.

They seem not to know the scale of this side.

I smirk. However, while they didn't mention the name of the Egoists, they clearly made our image worse.

I must take some countermeasures.

I've already taken measures regarding the internet posts.

But it's strange.

After provoking that much, they aren't launching any attacks.

If that report was an attack, then it was, but.

When they are that brazen, there's nothing to be done.

After that, there was a call from God.

A warning.

I panicked.

But God says.

"I evaluate you highly; you shouldn't be someone who stumbles in a place like this."

Pressure is applied.

If I fail, purging...

If God personally takes charge of the purging, I will be socially erased.

Leaking scandals like before won't work.

What should I do?

If the opponent launched an attack, I could just respond to it, but they aren't launching anything.

Just a continuing standoff.

Or is something moving behind the scenes?

I've moved the Wizard's address.

And the day after tomorrow, there will be the first Egoist meeting.

I can't let my objective be crushed in a place like this.

But what should I do?

I'm anxious.

If I panic, I lose.

Is making me panic their method?

If I strike first, I lose.

This is the first time I've had a match like this since the inception of the Egoists.

I've crushed any opponent.

But with Unity, far from crushing them, I've ended up being provoked.

A blunder.

I must redeem my dishonor.

What should I do?

Takemoto and Nishimatsu, who were their vital points, are no longer vital points.

I must search for other weaknesses.

For now, I contact the Wizard.

"How is the progress?"

There is no answer.

"What's wrong, Wizard?"

"Sorry, please wait until the meeting the day after tomorrow, I will definitely go."

"What happened?"

"It's dangerous to communicate now."

"What do you mean?"

"Emperor, please turn off your PC power too."

Then I won't be able to contact everyone.

"Tell me the reason."

"I can't speak here."

"I understand. But I cannot shut down the server."

"Is it absolutely impossible?"

"It's impossible until I hear the reason."

"They were one step ahead. Does that give you a hint?"

No way...

"Another address change?"

"I'd like to ask if possible."

This useless piece of trash!

"Is there proof that they won't find out about us after contacting you?"

"That's fine. I managed to hide my identity. But my address has been identified."

"Fine. I'll arrange it immediately."

"That helps."

Won't it be conspicuous to keep moving? I have no choice but to ask God for a judgment.

"You've failed twice. Consider that there won't be a next time."

"I know... I plan to change the method next time."

"Oh?"

"I'll report the details later. This place is dangerous."

"Understood."

"Well, it's dangerous to communicate for too long, so I'm logging off."

"Don't disappoint me."

"Leave it to me."

"I'm expecting it."

Though I'm no longer counting on him.

I call God.

"Please arrange the next Wizard."

"Did you fail again?"

"It seems so."

"What about the punishment?"

"I've threatened him that the next failure will be purging."

"Will it go well next time?"

"He says he's thought of a good way."

"...There won't be a next time, right?"

"I've told him so."

"Understood."

The call ended.

I also have to devise some plan.

Who will be the next target?

I need to send some hot topics...

But first, that starts with the restoration of the site.

I think it's possible to leak to the mass media if I use God's power, but that's a last resort.

Does it depend on the Wizard?

However, I've started to feel that leaving everything to one Wizard is dangerous.

Isn't it necessary to prepare more capable personnel?

I had such a premonition.

(3)

"I've been framed!"

I was shouting.

"What's wrong, Makoto?"

Kanna asks curiously.

"They were one step ahead of us."

"What do you mean?"

Those guys created a virtual space in the server, and I was lured right into it.

I managed to escape before being captured, but I have to erase my footprints quickly.

I hurriedly operate the PC.

"Makoto...?"

"Be quiet!"

Perhaps sensing my unusual state, Kanna says nothing.

I continue working for a while.

And then it was finished.

"Phew, that was close."

"What happened, Makoto?"

Kanna looks at me anxiously.

"Sorry, I made a bit of a blunder."

"A blunder?"

"There was too little security, no traces of anyone accessing it. By the time I felt something was off, it was too late. They had constructed a virtual server inside the server. I was framed right there."

"And then?"

"I escaped by a hair. Since I used the university server as a stepping stone, my IP wasn't leaked. It's fine."

"Isn't it a problem if the university finds out? Won't it be revealed that you were accessing illegally?"

"I'm not that stupid. I erased the footprints properly."

"Are we okay?"

"Yeah, we can live just as we have been."

"Don't push yourself. You already know the opponent's face, right? Just leave the rest to Emi."

"It's fine, I played a little prank back."

"A prank? What did you do?"

Kanna's expression becomes stern.

"The PC and smartphone accounts. A lot of people synchronize them, right?"

"Yeah, like SNS sites. It's certainly a pain to change them one by one."

When Kanna says that, I smirk.

"I pulled out those SNS site accounts. Now I can intercept smartphones too."

"Does that mean...?"

"Lately, many people use Wi-Fi to make SNS calls instead of regular phone calls, right? Like multi-person simultaneous calls."

"After hacking, now it's wiretapping!?"

"Not just that, I can extract the smartphone numbers of everyone infected with the virus. If I give them to Emi-san, the investigation will be easier, right?"

"You've really become a dangerous person."

Kanna was appalled.

The preparations for the counterattack are complete. I can go anytime! Watanabe-kun!

(4)

"Kukuku, you fell right into the trap."

I was smirking.

In the room, countless PCs, monitors, and keyboards are lined up.

While manipulating them simultaneously, I identify the person who intruded into the server.

However, they escaped before I could identify them.

It seems they intruded using a Private University server as a stepping stone.

It seems they had prepared several other stepping-stone PCs beyond the Private University server.

I didn't reach the point of identifying the individual.

But the Unity members who can intrude into the Private University server are limited.

Tada Makoto, Kiritani Eita, or Kanzaki Sakura.

The addresses and such for these three have already been identified.

I investigate the three of them thoroughly.

There was one interesting piece of information.

Tada Kanna. Tada Makoto's spouse.

Her mother is apparently a divorcee.

And that former husband was...

"Hahaha."

I let out a laugh.

I leak that information to an anonymous bulletin board.

I've even grasped her personality.

And to think she held such a trauma.

I convey this to Emperor.

Emperor told me "Well done."

At this rate, the other fellows probably still have flaws.

I decided to investigate them slowly.

I'm not the type to just let myself be beaten, so don't feel bad, okay?

You're the ones who struck first. You're prepared, right?

The next one I became interested in was Kanzaki Sakura.

There's no problem with Kanzaki herself, but there's a problem with her boyfriend, Hiyama Haruki.

Apparently, there's some problem with his father's bank and the company of Unity member Shiratori Haruna's father.

In fact, Shiratori Company, the company of Shiratori Haruna's father, has sold all shares of the local bank to Sakai Company, the company of Sakai Yoshiyuki.

Something must have happened.

I've grasped the clue for the attack.

With this, I'll avoid purging.

I'll torture them slowly and steadily.

(5)

On this day, we won the match too.

If we win two more, it's the championship.

That day, a meeting was held in the hotel conference room.

Do not be deceived by the opponent's pump fakes. Perform dribbling cautiously, especially me and Yuki.

The opponents are tall. It was pointed out that it's dangerous to rush into the inside recklessly.

Then I just have to attack from long range.

The usual attack is fine.

Instead, be careful not to commit careless fouls on defense.

If we get a count-one-throw, there's no point in taking 3Ps.

Pressure is put on Kyota.

But Sakura-san says.

"This is a prelude to the finals. They are inferior compared to the center of Fukuoka University, who will likely advance to the finals. It would be pathetic if we lost here."

Sakura-san puts pressure on Kyota.

With that, the meeting ended.

When I return to the room, Sakura-san's massage begins.

"Ah, paradise, paradise~"

"Instead of saying such carefree things, why don't you think a little about tomorrow's match? They'll definitely try to crush your 3Ps, senpai."

"It's fine, I just have to draw the defense a bit, right?"

"What you're saying is correct, but I wish you had a bit more tension..."

"Toya, isn't this about Kanna-san!?"

Tasuku shows me his smartphone.

I was appalled when I saw the content.

Tada Kanna was violated by her father.

"What is this... horrible."

Sakura-san reveals her anger.

But that wasn't all.

When there was a second contact from that father, she escaped using Katagiri Toya as a shield. Katagiri Toya was stabbed by the father and hospitalized.

An enormous number of responses were attached to such a post.

I open the Watanabe group chat.

Everyone is talking about that topic.

Facts known only to the Watanabe group.

How did it leak?

Everyone says they didn't leak it.

Then did they search on the internet?

A photo of Kanna from that time was also posted.

Seeing my grim expression, Tasuku says.

"No way, is it a fact?"

"...It's a fact that I was stabbed."

"Man, tomorrow's going to be tough in a different sense."

Tasuku holds his head.

"To do something this despicable, is it the Egoists again?"

"Probably,"

I answer Sakura-san's question.

Having finished the massage, Sakura-san leaves the room.

Until then, it was normal.

"Wait, what are you doing!"

I am the first to react to that voice.

When I leave the room, a man with a camera was attempting to flee.

Let him get away!?

I instinctively chase and pin the man down.

Other guests come outside, wondering what's happening.

"Are you an Egoist too!?"

When I shout, the man shakes his head.

Tasuku arrives later, seizes the camera, and checks the contents.

It's the moment Sakura-san came out of our room.

Tasuku silently deletes that file.

"Toya, that's enough, let him go."

"But."

"We're in the middle of the tournament. It's better not to cause a strange commotion."

When Tasuku says that, I release the man.

When Tasuku returns the camera, he says "Go," and the man fled.

"Is it okay to just leave him?"

When I ask, Tasuku speaks to Sakura-san.

Sakura-san smiles and shows her smartphone.

An image of the man was captured.

She sends that image to the Unity group.

"That was rough, huh?"

Watanabe-kun says.

"What about your side? Is Kanna okay?"

When I ask, he says "Everyone is gathered because of that."

"Sakurako, stay in the room. Be careful," Tasuku says, and Sakura-san returns to the room.

"Sorry, I'm going to call Airi."

"Be careful."

Saying that, Tasuku returns to the room.

I call Airi.

"Hello, Toya-kun~"

Airi speaks in her usual tone.

"Airi, is everything okay on your end?"

"Yeah, it's okay. It's just that Kanna is a bit shaken. Ah, I'll put Kanna on."

Saying that, Airi switched to Kanna.

"Toya, sorry. Because of me..."

"It's okay. Are you okay, Kanna?"

"Yeah, I'm okay. To think that things from the past would be brought up like that..."

You're not okay at all.

"We'll all go cheer for you in the match the day after tomorrow, okay!? Don't lose tomorrow!"

"I know. Don't worry."

"Yeah, then I'll switch back to Airi."

"Hello, Toya-kun?"

"What is it?"

"A message from Watanabe-kun: 'Don't worry about things on this end, focus on the match for now.' I think so too."

"I get it, tell him thanks."

"Toya-kun, you don't have to come back until the tournament is over!"

"I know."

"Well, see you."

"Yeah, good night."

The call ended there.

"Toya, I'm most worried about you, you know? Will the Universiade be okay?"

"I didn't do anything bad, so it should be fine."

"I hope that's the case."

"More than that, the interviews after the tournament might be tough. For Tasuku and the others too."

"If it's an interview about basketball, I'd welcome it."

"True."

If you're hit, hit back—that's the Unity way.

I just have to execute that.

I was now simply waiting for the opportunity to counterattack.