"Wait a minute! Something exciting is happening again!"
"Wasn't the game already over? Why is Akagi back on the court?"
"Looks like there's going to be a one-on-one showdown with that short guy!"
"How can someone so small play basketball seriously?"
The spectators who were initially packing up and heading toward the exit froze in place, their curiosity rekindled. A buzz of chatter filled the stadium as everyone turned their eyes back to the court.
"Wait... I know that shorty! He was the one who came off the bench in the last ten minutes of the middle school championship and led Wako Center to a comeback. They called him 'The Wind'!"
"Right, I've heard of him too... Isn't his name Oliver? Did he transfer to Shohoku?"
"I'm curious—how can someone so small go up against Akagi? He only reaches up to Akagi's shoulders!"
"No matter what, this is going to be entertaining!"
The atmosphere grew electric. The crowd's murmurs turned into a frenzy, and students began rushing back into the gymnasium. A new buzz filled the air, and more and more people gathered to witness this unexpected showdown.
Even Kaede Rukawa, who had just exited the gym, turned back around. Upon hearing the commotion, he climbed to the second-floor gallery and leaned against the railing, silently watching Oliver from above. His eyes were sharp and unreadable, but a flicker of curiosity glinted in them.
He had to know: how much had the guy who once beat him in middle school grown during the summer break?
Inside the Gymnasium
"I didn't expect you to be this popular," Akagi muttered, eyeing the swelling crowd with a hint of disbelief.
"I just like to watch the fun," Oliver replied nonchalantly, casually dribbling the ball back and forth in a warm-up rhythm.
"..."
Akagi looked at him again, more closely this time.
In high school, players are usually eager to show off, especially in front of a crowd. Attention from others often made them nervous, excited, or overly aggressive. But the boy standing in front of him had a calmness that defied his age. His dark eyes were steady, his focus unshaken. It was as if the people around them didn't exist at all.
He wasn't distracted. All he saw was the basketball.
No wonder Haruko held him in such high regard. His character was definitely not ordinary.
"How about we play five balls? First to score three wins."
"Fine by me," Oliver responded coolly.
While Akagi sized him up, Oliver was also carefully analyzing Akagi.
Ding!
A system notification beeped in Oliver's mind as a stats panel appeared in his vision:
---
Player: Akagi Takenori
Age: 17
Height: 197 cm
Weight: 90 kg
Stats:
Strength: Excellent – 80
Endurance: Excellent – 75
Speed: Excellent – 65
Skills: Excellent – 65
Shot Accuracy: Good – 60
Bounce: Excellent – 70
Talent Skill – "Iron Man":
Receives only 75% of physical impact in confrontations.
---
"What a monster..." Oliver muttered internally, impressed. "This is the ability of one of the nation's top centers? He's practically a six-sided warrior—no weaknesses."
The Iron Man skill alone was a cheat code for a big man. It allowed Akagi to suppress even taller players like Uozumi, who stood at 202 cm.
"This is a skill tailor-made for someone who dominates the paint."
"How do you want to decide the first ball? Rock-paper-scissors or a coin toss?" Akagi asked.
"No need. You can have the first ball," Oliver said, tossing the basketball toward him.
It wasn't arrogance. Oliver simply wanted to use the first round to observe Akagi's playing style. That way, he could build a proper strategy.
Oliver glanced at his own skill configuration. His legendary "Fadeaway Jump Shot" was still locked, and only four skills could be equipped at once. He had to choose from:
Sonic Dash
Accurate Shooter
Quick Recovery
Magic Pass
Bull Charge
After a moment of thought, Oliver settled on:
Sonic Dash
Accurate Shooter
Quick Recovery
Bull Charge
Since this was a one-on-one, there was no need for passing. These four gave him the best possible setup.
"Alright then," Akagi said with a grin. "Don't blame me if you lose and feel like I took advantage."
"You say that as if you've already won. Celebrating at halftime isn't exactly a good habit," Oliver replied, spreading his arms wide as he took a defensive stance—like a sparrow opening its wings before an eagle.
The duel began.
Akagi grunted and suddenly dribbled hard to the left, trying to get around Oliver.
But Oliver, reading the movement like a seasoned pro, moved ahead of him, blocking the route perfectly.
"..."
Akagi's eyes narrowed. He took a smaller step to the left, then lunged sharply to the right—a classic fake.
But Oliver didn't flinch. He saw through it and stood his ground, completely unbothered. His eyes were locked on Akagi's like a chess master predicting his opponent's moves ten steps ahead.
This guy… is no ordinary freshman.
Anyone with experience knew that a player's skill level could be seen within minutes of stepping on the court. From how they moved, dribbled, read plays, and even drew fouls—everything revealed their caliber.
Akagi had already realized it.
Oliver wasn't some rookie. He was a storm waiting to hit.
But...
He's still a small guy.
No matter how much experience you have, a shorter and lighter frame means limitations.
Akagi's expression hardened. He bent low, dribbling the ball with greater force. The sound of leather slapping the floor echoed like thunder in the gym.
Swish!
He burst to the left again, and Oliver kept up. But then Akagi suddenly stopped and exploded to the right. His change of direction was lightning-quick, and this time, even Oliver's reflexes couldn't keep up. Akagi slipped past and charged toward the basket.
So fast…! Oliver thought, chasing closely behind.
Even with the help of his Sonic Dash ability, his stride couldn't match Akagi's longer legs. His wingspan was shorter. His frame smaller.
No matter how good his technique or timing, there were some physical realities that couldn't be completely overcome.
Oliver understood that better than anyone.
Even the Bull Charge skill had limitations—it could hurt him too if misused.
His greatest weakness was his body.
The system could help reduce the disadvantages, but it couldn't erase them entirely.
As Akagi approached the basket, Oliver made one final sprint into the three-second zone.
Akagi leaped high into the air, gripping the ball tightly. His body soared like a rocket.
"Come on then! Stop me if you can!" he roared.
"Let's go!" Oliver shouted back.
He sprang into the air with all his strength. His 85-rated bounce launched him higher than expected—his hand met the ball at the peak of Akagi's leap.
The crowd gasped.
"He's flying!!"
"This freshman… his jump is insane!!"
Even Akagi was startled. He hadn't expected Oliver to challenge him at this height.
But experience made all the difference.
Akagi gritted his teeth and pushed forward with sheer power.
Oliver tried to block, but Akagi's strength was monstrous—too much for him to withstand.
Bang!!
With a booming crash, Akagi forced the ball through the rim.
Slam dunk! First point—Akagi!
The crowd erupted in cheers and shock.
But Oliver didn't flinch.
He touched the ground quietly, looked at the rim, and smiled.
This was just the beginning.
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