What's So Wrong with Coming in Second in a Sports Anime?

Tokuhisa Emiri, formerly Zhang Jiajia, was a victim of achievement obsession. She spent her whole life grinding away, and finally managed to transmigrate.

She thought she could take it easy, but when she enrolled, she realized it was Teiko!

Teiko, where everyone but the top-ranked student is considered worthless!

Before starting school, she set herself a goal for life: Coast whenever possible!

To earn credits, she joined the basketball club to slack off, only to be worked to the bone.

Emiri was on the verge of tears. "I only wanted the title of [championship team's water boy]!"

Akashi smiled. "Actually, the entrance test was to evaluate the coach."

...What a devious red-haired brat!

Before a game, Akashi gave a speech. "In short, strive for victory and fight to be number one."

"Number one, number one! That's all you ever think about! What's wrong with coming in second? Life isn't only valuable if you're number one!"

That was the opinion of Tokuhisa Emiri, the celebrated Teiko coach and three-time national middle school league champion.

*

Emiri, who only wanted to come in second, went to high school in Miyagi.

On her first day, she was told that only the top-ranked player could survive there.

Oikawa grinned. "Scared now, aren't you? If you're scared, you'd better help me win, Teiko's renowned coach..." *Thwack.*

After getting beaten up by her new deskmate and then by her childhood friend, Oikawa clutched his head in grievance. "I just want to win! What's wrong with that?"

Emiri took it all in stride.

You want to win? Fine. But I don't want to win, so what does that have to do with me?

Coaxed into becoming the volleyball club manager, she remained unruffled. "Hey, you there, Bun-kun, get me a sports drink. Peach flavor."

"Who's Bun? I'm Hanamaki!"

"You're both flour-based foods, anyway."

"Hey, you there, Pine Tree-kun, see how far the coach has gotten. I want to skip practice."

"He's right behind you."

"Gah!"

"Hey, you there, Iwaizumi-kun..."

"Why is he the only one whose name you get right?!"

Of course, because in this enormous volleyball club, Iwaizumi-kun was the only one who was even remotely normal.

"What about me?"

"Oikawa, you should've gone to Teiko."

"Huh?"

Only Teiko could satisfy your lifelong ambition of being number one! I'm not a wishing well!

"Hey, Emiri," called Tendo, her cousin from Shiratorizawa, the kings of Miyagi, panting from the other side of the net. "Didn't we agree not to fight for first place?"

"What's wrong with coming in first?"

From the coaches' seats, Emiri said calmly, "If first place is so great, then it's about time Seijo got a turn."

*Welcome, Ms. Tokuhisa! We are delighted to have you bring your extensive experience in management at Teiko to Seijo!

*No need to explain the Teiko era. During the Seijo era, the team will win every match it can, as long as it makes sense. I'm considering letting Seijo win a national championship, but that may mean changing which schools some characters attend. I'll clarify before the story begins~~

*This time, the male lead really is undecided.

Theme: Strive for the top and never give up.