It had been a week since Liam joined the basketball team.
Nanaho stood near the edge of the court, clipboard held close to her chest. The sound of rubber soles sliding across the wooden floor echoed through the gym. Sweat and varnish mingled faintly in the air.
Her gaze followed the players' movements, steady and measured. She drew in a slow breath, then let it out through parted lips, her shoulders easing slightly as the rhythm of practice filled the space.
Nanaho's eyes followed Liam as he moved through a post drill, his timing sharper than the week before. Her fingers tapped lightly against the edge of her clipboard, the faint sound swallowed by the echo of bouncing balls.
Liam's really amazing, she thought, a quiet sense of surprise tightening in her chest. He's improving so quickly… it's almost hard to believe it's only been a week.
Nanaho adjusted her stance, the faint creak of the court beneath her shoes grounding her thoughts. Her gaze lingered on Yukio and Liam working side by side near the paint.
Yukio's guidance has really helped him learn the Center position, she thought, eyes narrowing slightly in focus. I'm honestly glad he's with us. With Liam anchoring the inside, Yukio finally has the freedom to shift positions… it changes everything for the team.
On the court, Yukio stood facing Liam with a basketball tucked under his arm, sweat visible on his arms and forehead. The echo of shoes squeaking on polished wood filled the air.
"Liam, lower your stance!" Yukio's voice cut through the rhythmic echo of bouncing balls, firm but even. Sweat traced the side of his temple as he pointed toward the floor.
"You're strong, but there are plenty of strong centers out there. Use all your power when you post up—don't hold back."
He turned the ball in his hands once, the sound of leather brushing against his palms, then sent it toward Liam with a light toss. "Watch carefully. I'll show you again."
"Takahiro, defend me," Yukio's voice carried clearly across the court.
Takahiro gave a short nod, sliding his foot back. The sharp squeak of his sneakers broke the steady rhythm of the gym as he sank into a low stance, body angled between Yukio and the basket.
"Liam, pass it to the spot I call for," Yukio called out, raising both hands and steadying his breathing.
Liam gave a firm nod, eyes steady on Yukio. The ball left his hands in a crisp chest pass, cutting through the air before landing solidly in Yukio's grip.
A quick bounce followed—a dull thud on polished wood—then a sharp pivot on his left foot. In one smooth motion, Yukio slipped past Takahiro, lifted off the floor, and let the ball roll softly from his fingertips against the glass.
The net rustled with a clean swish that carried through the gym.
He turned back toward Liam, breathing lightly. "See that? It's simple, but effective. If you move just like that, no one will be able to stop you."
Stepping closer, Yukio pointed at Liam's waist, his tone calm but firm. "When you use your full strength, bend lower. Against weaker defenders, that stance forces them under you—it's hard for them to respond. You'll find scoring much easier that way."
Yukio reached for a towel resting on the bench, pressing it against his face and neck. His breaths came slow and heavy, the sound of his exhale mixing with the faint echo of bouncing balls from the other end of the court.
He lowered the towel, voice steady but quieter now. "When you face stronger or more experienced players, they'll notice your balance. They won't take careless chances. If they see you're grounded and aware, they'll think twice before reaching in."
"I understand." Liam gave a slow nod, eyes narrowing in concentration. "So… lower my hips, right?"
Yukio motioned with one hand, palm open. "That's it. Let's go again. Takahiro, pass it to him."
The ball snapped through the air with a quick whistle before landing solidly in Liam's hands. His fingers shifted over the warm, textured leather, tightening his grip.
Across from him, Yukio dropped into position—knees bent, arms spread, eyes fixed. The sound of the gym seemed to fade for a moment.
I can't move him, Liam thought, feeling the solid resistance in front of him. He's too strong…
He drew in a breath. No—focus. Just bend your hips.
Liam dropped his hips, legs tightening as he drew power from the floor. His movements steadied—measured, heavy with focus.
The air filled with the harsh squeal of sneakers and the sharp impact of bodies meeting near the paint. He drove forward, the ball pressed firmly to his chest, and pivoted off his right foot.
In one clean motion, he turned left and rose, the sound of the rim rattling as the ball slammed through.
The metal frame quivered before settling. Yukio stepped back, wiping sweat from his chin, his breath steadying. A faint smile tugged at his lips as he looked up at Liam.
"Good," his tone carried a low satisfaction. "That's how it should feel. Simple, right?"
"Well… yeah. It's fun," Liam replied, a bright grin spreading across his face. His voice carried a light, cheerful rhythm, the kind that lifted the quiet air around him.
From the sideline, Nanaho's pen paused briefly above her clipboard. Her eyes followed the exchange, noting the ease in their movements, the quiet understanding forming between them.
I had to adjust their training, she thought, lowering her gaze to her notes. There were small gaps before, but now Yukio, Liam, and Takahiro are working together smoothly. Liam's learning the Center position well, and even Yukio's extending his range. He's been practicing those outside shots… maybe it's time to shift him to power forward.
Nanaho glanced at her notes, mentally forming the lineup.
I'm planning to make the starting five like this, she thought, eyes narrowing slightly. Hayato at point guard, Tetsuo at shooting guard, Takahiro as small forward, Yukio as power forward… and Liam as center.
Her lips curved faintly, the sound of sneakers squeaking across the floor steady in her ears.
Not bad at all.
Across the gym, Tetsuo and Shino practiced quietly at the far end of the court.
The ball slipped from Tetsuo's fingers, his form steady and composed. The soft swish echoed, clean and sharp. His arm stayed raised a moment before he lowered it.
Shino caught the rebound, the sound of the ball thudding against his palms breaking the silence. He passed it back carefully.
Tetsuo's voice came low, even, almost detached. "Widen your base before you shoot. Don't rush. Feel the rhythm."
Shino hesitated, his shoulders tense, then gave a small nod. He drew in a breath and lifted the ball again. The shot went up—clumsy, but a little steadier this time.
Behind the basketball gym, on the track, Noboru ran along the perimeter with the girls' track team. Their footsteps overlapped in rhythm, the air filled with the sound of quick breaths and rubber striking the ground.
Sweat trailed from his chin as he pushed through the laps, his breathing steady but shallow, body close to its limit.
Nanaho watched from the side, her gaze following his pace. Once Noboru's done, she thought, Tetsuo will help him with shooting too.
Hayato moved along the sideline, weaving through a line of cones set in a sharp zigzag. His sneakers struck the floor in quick rhythm, the ball echoing with each controlled dribble.
The sound shifted as he stepped into a layup, then again with a light floater, both landing clean against the board.
It was a good idea when Hayato suggested morning practices, she thought. We've been getting so much more out of them.
Nanaho's fingers tightened around the pen. This time… we can make it to the Inter-High.
Nanaho clapped her hands sharply, the sound cutting through the steady rhythm of bouncing balls.
"Alright, everyone—switch from individual drills to team practice."
Her gaze swept across the court before stopping on Shino.
"Shino, go call Noboru for me. He's probably had enough running with the girls' track team for now."
Shino straightened. "Got it."
He jogged toward the back hallway, footsteps echoing lightly as the door creaked open and shut behind him.
Yukio lifted his head, towel draped around his neck. "What kind of training are we doing today, Nanaho?"
A small curve tugged at her lips, the clipboard tilting slightly in her hand.
"You'll see soon enough."
Once everyone gathered at center court, the faint squeak of sneakers quieted. Nanaho stepped forward, her expression settling into focus as practice began.
"After rewatching the match against Yokonan," she began, her eyes moving from one player to the next, "I found a major issue. In three-on-two or two-on-three situations, you lose rhythm. Our offense collapses, and we get scored on even when they're outnumbered."
The players shifted slightly, the sound of sneakers and shallow breaths filling the pause.
"With the exception of Tetsuo—who broke their defense alone—the rest of you need to learn to adapt. I've made a drill to fix that. You'll learn how to function even when the numbers aren't in your favor."
She glanced at her notes before looking up. "Team one: Yukio and Noboru."
Noboru straightened, still breathing hard but smiling faintly. "Let's go rack up some points, Captain."
"Team two: Hayato, Shino, and Liam."
"Team three: Tetsuo and Takahiro."
The gym settled into a low hum, sneakers squeaking softly as each player stretched and found their spot on the floor.
Nanaho's tone carried clearly through the space.
"Yukio and Noboru, you'll start on offense. Hayato's team defends. If they score, they stay on. If not, it switches. And Liam—no posting up. Everyone plays outside the arc."
Liam caught the ball, his grin bright. "Got it, Coach."
The ball bounced sharply against the floor, rhythm steady. His gaze flicked toward Nanaho. She was standing before the players, clipboard in hand, hair brushing lightly against her cheek as she wrote something down.
She's such a beautiful Japanese girl, Liam thought with simple admiration, his face shifting into that odd expression people make when they see something cute—cheeks puffing slightly, lips pressed together, eyes softening.
It lasted barely a second before he blinked hard, shaking his head. No, no. Focus, Liam. Basketball.
He slapped the ball against the floor a little too loudly, pretending to warm up again as Hayato, who was beside him, gave a puzzled glance.
Shino lifted her hand slightly, her voice careful and unsure. "Um… I have a question. H-How can two players defend the hoop? That doesn't seem possible."
Nanaho turned toward her, expression calm but focused. "You're right—it's difficult. But this drill is about awareness. One player stays in the key, the other at the top. You'll need to communicate. When it's three-on-three, the one with the ball should always face a double team."
Hayato straightened, nodding once. "Understood, Coach Fukazawa."
Nanaho glanced over the court, then clapped her hands once. "Alright, now that we've gone over the rules… let's begin."
The sound of the ball echoed softly across the gym. Noboru dribbled with care, his steps steady and his eyes fixed forward. The wooden floor carried each impact, clear and rhythmic.
Shino and Hayato moved in from the side, closing the space around him. Their shoes brushed lightly, the faint squeak repeating as they adjusted their stance.
Tch… I can't even see the hoop, Noboru thought, twisting his shoulders and turning his body to protect the ball. His breath shortened a little.
At the top of the key, Yukio raised his hand. "Noboru, pass here. I'm open."
The ball left Noboru's hands with a sharp flick. "Here, Captain."
Yukio caught it cleanly. His shoes scraped the floor as he drove toward the rim, his steps quick and direct. The air around him shifted as he jumped, arm stretching forward.
Liam moved without hesitation. His sneakers hit the floor hard, the sound firm and heavy. He pushed off, rising fast. His hands struck the ball in midair, blocking it with both palms.
The rebound bounced out of reach. Yukio landed awkwardly, breath escaping through clenched teeth. "This guy… like a wall in front of the basket."
The ball rolled to Hayato. He caught it and turned at once. "Our turn. Let's move."
He crossed half-court, the rhythm of his dribble sharp. But Tetsuo stepped in suddenly, the ball knocked loose with a quick tap of his fingers.
Without a word, Tetsuo caught it and drove forward, his movements clean and quiet. He passed by Noboru easily, then faked a layup towards Yukio. The pass went to Takahiro, who finished with a light touch at the rim.
Nanaho's voice carried from the sideline. "Good one, Takahiro."
The players reset. Tetsuo started again, the ball bouncing steady under his hand. Hayato and Shino rushed in, closing from both sides.
He slowed, crossed the ball over once, then slipped past Shino with a burst of speed. He stopped just beyond the line, lifted his shoulders, and released.
The shot flew straight and dropped through the net.
Nanaho's eyes followed the ball. Her lips curved faintly. "Mm… this is better than I thought."
The next sequence moved faster. Yukio blocked Takahiro's layup, then sent the ball out to Noboru, who tried to score again.
Liam was already there. He swatted it down easily, then caught the rebound and took off.
The sound of his steps grew louder. He drove to the rim and dunked, the chain rattling as the ball dropped through.
Hayato's shot followed—a clean three that drew a short cheer. Liam caught the next pass and dunked again, his breath coming out in a low laugh.
Hayato floated one more shot, smooth off the glass. Yukio answered by stealing the next ball and finishing with a dunk.
Noboru's layup ended the drill, the gym filling with the last echo of rubber on wood.
Nanaho stepped forward. "That's enough. Good work, everyone. Go freshen up before class."
A low cheer rose in reply. "Yes!"
The players wiped sweat from their faces, their steps dragging slightly as they left the court. The gym fell quiet again, filled only with the soft hum of morning light through the high windows.