Chapter 110: Basketball and an Invitation

Chapter 110: Basketball and an Invitation

November 17th, 2089

Veronicas POV

Alright team, just do as we did in practice and well win! Lets do our best! Haruko said as we broke from our pre-game huddle and prepared to start. Tonight is the first game of the high school basketball season, and I am slightly ashamed to admit that I am a little nervous. I didnt realize that high school basketball games have an audience, let alone one of a couple hundred people. When I first noticed the number of people staring at me, it was rather unnerving. I was almost considering withdrawing due to my discomfort.

However, Terra and the rest of my dear family were in the stands. They had these large, colorful signs of support and were cheering for me wholeheartedly and without shame despite acting like court buffoons while doing so. Only Terra was restraining himself, seemingly content with holding his sign up high. It was particularly amusing when he had to hastily muffle Irene when she started yelling her curse-laden encouragement. She struck him hard in the head, apparently outraged at his interference. Terra simply gave an apologetic smile, which succeeded in causing Irene to turn a remarkable shade of red and become quite flustered. Her crush has been rather obvious to everyone except him (and given his past record on the topic, that is not surprising).

I couldnt help but smile at their silly antics, and my high anxiety reduced to just this current twinge of nervousness. Terra has increased the training seals on me to reduce my physical abilities to about average. All the fun in playing the game would have been lost otherwise. The other team is also aware of my shooting abilities due to preseason scouting reports, so Haruko warned me that they will do their best to press me. Thus, I wont be able to coast through this with my superior accuracy. I will have to rely on my other basketball skills and teamwork in order to contribute.

Ayaka, our center, won the jump ball and the game was officially on. Haruko claimed the loose ball and dribbled up the right side of the court. I ran for my designated position behind the 3-point line with my defender trailing close behind. Momoka set a screen for me, freeing me up to catch the pass from Haruko and shoot a long 3-pointer. I made it, naturally, and the crowd cheered at the fact that the home team was on the board first. It was thrilling to hear the crowd rooting for me. I didnt get lost in the moment, choosing to instead hurry back on defense. The player I was guarding was dribbling it up the floor, but she was too careless. I saw an opportunity and took it, swiping the ball away and sprinting down the floor for an uncontested lay-up to make it 5-0. Momoka gave me an enthusiastic hi-five as I returned and the crowds cheers grew even louder.

Fuck that shit. He said, promptly unleashing his magic to extinguish the summoning circle. Its connection to us was severed completely, causing the room to come back into focus. He pointed at Reiji, releasing a quick burst of healing magic that woke him right up. Reiji was quick to readjust to his surroundings, looking like he had expected something different. When he realized we were still at the restaurant, he was not pleased. NOOOO!!! Reiji wailed. He turned to Terra. You heartless bastard! I was about to see the promise land! We couldve been summoned to a kingdom of cat-girls! He then promptly dissolved into tears. Rin started patting him on the back Dont cry, Big Sis! Itll be okay? Why are you saying it as a question!?!

I chose to ignore the 2-man comedy routine going on to instead question Terra on behalf of the group. What just happened? A damn clich, thats what. Terra responded moodily. And it was horrible timing. This sort of thing is supposed to happen after the current crisis facing the protagonist is resolved. How do you know that it was targeting you specifically? Couldnt it have been any one of us and the rest were simply being dragged in? Hikari astutely asked.

No, it had to have been Terra. She said the Peerless Devil, after all. Terra was known as the Peerless back home. But it doesnt make sense, there is no such thing as a summoning ritual for non-spirits. And I dont understand the Devil and destroyer of worlds parts either. Kira said. Terra shook his head at Kiras words. I have no clue about the phrasing, but it isnt crazy to assume that there is more than our world and the other world out there. Maybe they have a hero summoning ceremony or something.

Hero summoning? I asked. Calling an OP guy who fights the demon lord and gets the harem of beauties. Reiji responded, finally tuning back in to the conversation. You mean like the boss? Irene asked. Yep! Minato is the textbook definition of a Hero somebody would summon! His words caused Terra to openly scowl I am not a Hero. He said with an air of absolute conviction. Yeah, right. And the summoner was most certainly not a beautiful young maiden who was going to offer herself to you in exchange for your help. Youre a hero, Minato. You save people and do the right thing. Reiji said.

Minato snorted at those words If only you knew. He muttered, although no one seemed to have heard him except me. Anyways, this is all irrelevant since I interrupted the summoning circle. Lets head on home. I walked with him as he went to pay the bill. He seemed to be brooding, which was extremely unusual for him. Is it related to what he said at the end of the discussion?

Terra. Yeah? I may not know why Reijis words upset you, but Im here when youre ready to talk about it. Ok. I smiled at him, leaning in to give him another kiss before whispering Cheer up, wasnt there something that you werent going to ask me to do tonight?

Terra broke out into one of his incredible smiles at my invitation. Yeah, I suppose there was.