The "Great Seer," Shigure Akihito, possessed an analytical ability for dissecting basketball technique that far surpassed what Fukatani Reiji and Midorima Shintarō could comprehend.
However, when it came to on-the-spot analysis based on firsthand observation, he was still no match for that monster — Nijimura Shuzo.
Take this moment for example
Second half of the second quarter: Senzan vs. Teruo.
Nijimura Shuzo had just arrived at the spectator stands. He came to drag back a few of his runaway teammates to prepare for their own match — but while he was at it, he casually turned his eyes to Reo Mibuchi on the court.
Now that Teppei Kiyoshi had become familiar with him, both "Heaven's Shot" and "Earth's Shot" had been more or less deciphered.
Then came Shigure Akihito's assessment.
And then
After observing and breaking down a massive volume of Reo Mibuchi's movements on the court, Nijimura reached a very different conclusion.
"Just like last year…
Until we face him ourselves, Reo Mibuchi is still holding back the true form of his 'Heaven's Shot'…"
"This year
is all just another act."
"Though Mibuchi looks slender, the fact that he can still sink three-pointers after mid-air contact makes one thing clear — he's far more physically powerful than he appears."
"Granted, he still lacks the muscle strength to perform both 'Earth's Shot' and 'Heaven's Shot' with identical mechanics. He has to change form to adjust for contact…"
"But on the flip side
if his 'Earth's Shot' form is locked by his physical constraints…"
"Then all he needs to do is let the 'Heaven's Shot' compromise a little. Adjust the form so it aligns more with the 'Earth's Shot.' For someone with Mibuchi's shooting ability, sacrificing a bit of accuracy to change mechanics shouldn't be a big deal."
"That 'Earth's Shot' might be unfinished — but as part of his overall 3-point threat, it's more than enough."
Upon hearing this, Shigure Akihito went silent for a few seconds.
"…."
Logical.
Reasoned.
But a little too advanced, isn't it?
Weren't they all supposed to agree that Reo Mibuchi's skills only awakened in high school?
Still…
He glanced over at Nijimura Shuzo.
Fair enough.
Everything had already changed anyway.
"Sigh~
This is all my fault for being too strong in first year~
One by one…
Now they've all been forced to mutate into monsters~"
Because Teiko's own match was about to enter warm-up, Shigure Akihito wasn't able to see the result of Senzan vs. Teruo.
Meanwhile, on another court
Bench side of Ibu Middle School.
Buuurp
Burp
Burp
Nebuya Eikichi let out a drawn-out, deeply satisfied belch, causing one of the third-year seniors to shoot him a look.
"How much did you even eat? That burp's going on way too long, isn't it?"
The rest of the team just stared at him, dumbfounded.
"Right?
That might be the longest burp in school history!"
"Haha! I went all-in with the super combo meal today — after all, I'm going up against Shigure Akihito!" Nebuya Eikichi flexed his arms, which had grown noticeably thicker than last year. "It's great! Shigure's the only one who really gets what I'm after. Just knowing he's going to witness the result of my training today…"
"Makes me so pumped I feel like my muscles are gonna explode!"
"Muscles!"
"More muscles!"
"And then even more muscles!"
His mind entirely consumed by muscles, Nebuya drew an exasperated look from one of the seniors — a power forward who had stepped down from the center position this year to make room for Nebuya's ever-expanding physique.
"Shigure Akihito is a shooting guard.
The one you'll be matching up against is Kurokami Shinji."
And with that
He gave up trying to talk sense into him.
He turned to their team captain.
"Where's the captain?"
Ibu's captain, also a mass of rippling muscle, was finishing tying his shoelaces with precision before he finally replied:
"I'll be guarding Shigure Akihito."
"Coach's orders."
"They call him the 'strongest in the nation,' sure"
"But in middle school…"
"What we all lack is strength. That's the real strongest weapon."
"And on that front,"
He clenched his fist.
"I'm confident I won't lose."
"Ughh…
All that muscle training…"
"What a disaster."
One of the senior point guards darkened as he recalled their past year of workouts.
"You can thank Nebuya for that.
The guy used Shigure Akihito as a shield…"
"Said it was that guy's suggestion."
"That damn musclehead…"
"I heard he even made a training plan proposal that day."
"…Whatever."
"Let's not talk about him."
"I'm more worried about you, Kamimori.
Teiko's twin star, Nijimura Shuzo — he may be listed as a power forward, but his game is all-around. You can barely tell what position he plays."
Kamimori, their current power forward, simply smiled brightly like none of it fazed him.
"No matter what,
We'll find a way — right, Captain?"
"Mm."
"Nijimura's drive-and-kick ability is insane."
"Which is why he prefers hard, aggressive drives that compress the opponent's whole formation.
When that happens, focus on guarding the perimeter — and if he drives in…"
"Let him feel the full weight of Ibu's strength."
SMACK!
Nebuya slapped the bulge of muscle on his arm.
"Exactly! That's what I'm talking about!
Captain Inomaru, you really understand muscle power!"
Captain Inomaru paused for a moment.
Then…
He clenched his fist again.
"…"
If it weren't for the enormous gap in talent on the court, no one would choose to pursue muscles over skill in middle school…
That kind of path, so far off the beaten track—
For a basketball player—
Comes at a price.
One that, Nebuya's freakish talent aside, most can't afford to pay.
Still…
This wasn't just about pride.
It was about doing whatever it took to not walk away from their final year with regrets.
Even if it meant spending years afterward struggling to balance power and technique.
Because this — was the only shot Ibu had at closing the gap with Teiko.
While Inomaru was deep in thought, the rest of the team glared at Kamimori, whose sunny smile and shameless attempt to dodge guarding Nijimura hadn't gone unnoticed.
"Kamimori…"
"Could you be any more spineless?"
"What's wrong with Nijimura Shuzo?"
"Why don't you dare to go toe-to-toe with him?
Was your whole year of training a waste?"
"Even if you can't win"
"What about morale, huh?"
"Morale!"
"We're up against Teiko today — and this is the elimination round.
Lose, and it's straight home.
No — it's goodbye middle school basketball forever!"
"After this, we all go our separate ways. Who knows if we'll even be teammates again…"
Kamimori's face darkened.
Of course he knew.
But still
This was Nijimura Shuzo!
He wasn't confident enough to step up like the captain and just say "Leave Shigure Akihito to me."
"It's okay…"
At that moment
Captain Inomaru stood.
Just as Teiko entered the court, a roar of cheers erupted, nearly drowning his words beneath the tidal wave of excitement.
"We're a team.
If you can't do it, don't force it.
Relying on your teammates — that's part of basketball too."
"Even I need your support."
"Because Teiko is strong."
There was a glint in Inomaru's eyes.
"I'm not gonna stand here and say we'll win."
"But…"
"Think of the choice we made for ourselves,
in the midst of all this struggle"
"Isn't that already the best thing?"
The entire Ibu team huddled close.
In the silence of the circle, it was Nebuya who broke it first:
"MUSCLE!
Of course it's the best! Orah! Orah!"
"…Nebuya…"
"Muscles are great."
"But you…"
"Are way too loud."
Everyone burst into laughter.
"Yeah, seriously
You're too damn loud~"
"Just imagine… after we're gone, third-year Nebuya leading the basketball club…
Will it just turn into a bodybuilding gym? 😂"
"Haha~ That visual is nightmare fuel."
"Let's go, everyone!"
"ORAH!!"
"Don't imitate Nebuya!! It's embarrassing!!"
End of chapter...
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