"Yo, Oba—this exchange student's not bad. Looks like the whole first-year team is rallying around him."
"Not sure exactly how good he is… but he's definitely better than Sakuragi."
"Sakuragi hasn't even touched the court. There's no comparison."
As they watched Shoichi's performance from the sidelines, Takamiya and the others chatted in hushed tones, voices filled with curiosity.
Sakuragi, who was still doing basic drills, overheard them—and instantly exploded.
"You guys shut your traps! Bunch of nobodies who don't know a damn thing about basketball, talking like experts!"
"He's just subbing in for me, that's all! When this genius steps onto the court, you'll all see what real talent looks like!"
"Shoichi! You hear me? I don't care if you're filling in for me—just don't pass the ball to Rukawa Kaede!"
"Quiet."
Ayako, clipboard in hand, gave Sakuragi a gentle bonk on the head to shut him up.
Nearby, Coach Anzai watched Shoichi on the court and smiled softly.
"Flawless form… explosive first step… razor-sharp court awareness… He's got everything you want in a top-tier player. A raw gem, just waiting to be polished."
On the court.
"Focus up, everyone! If we lose to the first-years, you're all doing double practice!"
Akagi's voice boomed across the court.
Despite how pleased he was with Shoichi's performance, letting the underclassmen take the first score was still a blow to his pride.
His original plan was to use this scrimmage as a way to test the rookies, and humble them a bit while he was at it.
But Shoichi had completely thrown that plan into chaos.
Akagi's warning sent a ripple of pressure through Yasuda and the others, they looked visibly tense.
Seeing this, Kogure offered a reassuring smile.
"That last one was on me. Let's shake it off and bring it back."
"Right!"
The upperclassmen replied in unison.
"Let's go!"
With the team morale back up, Akagi passed the ball to Kogure to start the play.
Kogure quickly dribbled past the half-court line, reaching the top of the arc.
Seeing the upperclassmen's aggressive push, Shoichi's expression grew serious.
"Everyone—lock in! Let's hold them on this possession."
Shoichi may never have played organized basketball before, but he understood one crucial truth:
It's harder to defend a kingdom than it is to conquer it.
"Got it!"
Scoring first with Rukawa had electrified Kuwata's trio—they faced the senior team without a trace of fear.
Seeing their confidence, Shoichi nodded with satisfaction.
This is the edge you get from striking first.
He gave one last shout to refocus the defense and moved up to meet Kogure head-on, eyes fixed, body tense.
[Ding: Mission Triggered — Defense. Stop Kogure's dribble penetration. Reward: Passive Buff "Prediction."]
"A powerful ability… I have to make this stop."
The system's alert sharpened Shoichi's concentration even more.
"Watch yourself, underclassman."
Kogure gave a quiet heads-up, then began searching for a way to break through.
But Shoichi's speed was clearly on another level.
No matter how hard Kogure tried to shake him, he just couldn't find a gap.
Again and again he feinted—only to be shut down every time. And each failed attempt drained more of his energy.
Eventually, he came to a sobering realization:
Physically, he was no match for Shoichi.
Frustrated, Kogure abandoned the idea of breaking through.
"Kogure! Move the ball—you're holding it too long!"
Akagi barked the order before the 5-second violation hit.
Snapping out of it, Kogure immediately passed the ball to Akagi.
[Ding: Mission Complete — Defense successful. You've acquired the passive buff: "Prediction."]
Prediction (Passive Buff):
Your perception of the ball during matches reaches a near-omniscient level, allowing you to instinctively read its trajectory and make precise interceptions.
Note: If any opponent holds the ball for over 5 seconds during a single possession, your chance of stealing it jumps to 80%.
"This is basically a steal god-skill."
Reading the description, a smile bloomed on Shoichi's face.
In real games, point guards often hold the ball beyond five seconds to read the defense or set up a play.
With this skill in hand, Shoichi had the potential to become a nightmare for opposing guards.
And more importantly—it helped compensate for his current weaknesses on defense.
Boom!
Akagi received the pass, instantly taking position and using his bulk to shove Rukawa out of the paint.
Once he locked into position, he spun and leapt into the air.
BAM!
A thunderous sound echoed through the gym.
Akagi slammed the ball into the basket with raw force—evening the score.
"Captain, that was awesome!"
"Way to go!"
Kogure and the others roared in celebration. The dunk revitalized their energy and morale.
But on the other side, Kuwata and his squad looked deflated.
"Crap… the senpai are serious now. This just got tough."
"No way we're stopping the captain. He's a total beast."
"Rukawa… Shoichi… it's all up to you two now."
…
The three muttered anxiously, shoulders slumped.
Seeing their morale dip, Shoichi quickly stepped in.
"Don't get discouraged. The game's only just begun—we're nowhere near a final outcome yet."
"Remember, we scored first. If anyone's feeling the pressure, it should be them, not us."
His words steadied them. Slowly, the anxiety faded, and their spirits returned.
With that handled, Shoichi turned to Rukawa and said:
"Rukawa Kaede, I'll try to get you the ball as much as possible—be ready to finish."
Rukawa looked at him, slightly surprised, before replying coolly, "…Got it."
"Let's move."
With everything said, Shoichi inbounded the ball to start the next attack.
Under his steady control, they crossed half-court and entered enemy territory once more.