Tsuda Shoichi activated the draw card, and a glowing prize wheel appeared in front of him on a shimmering light screen.
There were all kinds of rewards displayed on the wheel: Attribute Boost Cards, Basketball Skill Cards, Buff Cards, and more.
"Come on, give me a Buff Card!"
Sweeping his gaze across the options, Tsuda Shoichi tapped the spin button, silently cheering in his heart: Let's go!
As soon as he pressed the button, the pointer began spinning rapidly, sweeping past prize after prize.
Moments later...
With Tsuda Shoichi watching expectantly, the pointer gradually slowed down—and stopped on a Buff Card.
[Ding! Congratulations, Host. You've won the Buff Card: Perfect Form.]
[Ding! You've received the Buff Card: Perfect Form. Would you like to activate it now?]
"Activate!"
Tsuda Shoichi didn't hesitate for even a second.
A moment later, his character panel displayed a new buff.
Perfect Form
Every movement you make on the court exudes flawless execution, offering an aesthetically pleasing and graceful presence.
While in Perfect Form, you are always the most dazzling player on the court. Stamina consumption during matches is halved.
"Amazing!"
After reading the description, Tsuda Shoichi couldn't help but admire it.
His biggest weakness at the moment was his stamina, and this buff perfectly compensated for it.
Having stamina consumption during games was an absolute game-changer.
For instance, if your stamina would normally last ten minutes, now it could last twenty. The difference was staggering.
Take Rukawa Kaede, for example—if he'd had this kind of buff during the match against Kainan, the outcome would've been entirely different.
Just as Tsuda Shoichi was still marveling over the effect, the Perfect Form buff activated.
In that instant, he felt a clear change in himself, as if something had fundamentally shifted.
He quickly opened his character panel to check his updated stats.
Character Info: Tsuda Shoichi
Height: 177 cm
Weight: 63 kg
Strength: 61
Speed: 69
Stamina: 59
Jump: 68
Buffs: Newbie on the Court, Perfect Form
"Let's aim to hit 1,000 dribbles before today's training ends."
Motivated, Tsuda Shoichi picked up the basketball again and resumed his dribbling drills.
With both buffs active, his entire aura had changed.
His dribbling speed was noticeably faster—at least 10% more than before—and his movements flowed with newfound smoothness.
Most notably, every single movement he made seemed effortless and elegant, pleasing to the eye like a perfectly choreographed performance.
"Huh? Tsuda Shoichi looks different now... like a completely new person."
Ayako was the first to notice his transformation. Her eyes sparkled with surprise. "His form is textbook perfect. Every time the ball touches his palm, it lands in the exact same spot."
"To improve this much in such a short time... he must have incredible talent and intuition."
The more she watched, the more amazed she became.
There's no sting like a comparison.
Seeing Tsuda Shoichi's drastic improvement while Sakuragi remained distracted and unfocused made Ayako's temper rise.
Smack!
She picked up her clipboard and gave Sakuragi another sharp whack on the head.
"Focus! Look at Tsuda Shoichi—he started with zero experience in basketball, just like you. But it only took him a short while to perfect his dribbling form!"
"At this rate, it won't be long before he becomes an official team member."
"And you? You'll still be stuck on the sidelines, watching him shine in real games."
Hearing her words, Sakuragi's face turned gloomy. "Ayako, I'm a genius! I don't need that kind of training…"
"Zip it!"
Before he could finish, Ayako smacked him again, cutting him off.
Due to Tsuda Shoichi's earlier heatstroke, both Akagi and the others had been keeping a close eye on him, so Ayako's scolding quickly drew their attention.
"Such clean dribbling technique… Tsuda Shoichi's progressing fast."
Pushing his glasses up his nose, Kogure's eyes glinted with surprise. "I honestly thought he'd be like me—gradually improving over time, maybe becoming a full member in his second year."
"But now... it looks like that timeline might shrink. He might make it before the end of his first year."
"No."
Akagi, unusually serious, shook his head—but this time, he wore a faint smile. "He might become a full team member much sooner than that. Maybe even before this semester ends."
"He's a rare talent. I misjudged him before... it's just a shame he's a bit short."
Kogure looked stunned. He hadn't expected Akagi to hold Tsuda Shoichi in such high regard.
After observing Tsuda Shoichi a bit longer, Kogure gave a faint smile. "Even though he's not tall, with his talent and potential, he might just be able to replace that guy."
Hearing that, Akagi froze for a moment—then slowly nodded in agreement. "If that guy hasn't recovered by the start of the prefectural tournament, we should consider letting Tsuda Shoichi take his place."
"Until then, pay close attention to his training."
Kogure nodded firmly, eyes reflecting a new determination.
Rukawa, Sakuragi, and Tsuda Shoichi—these three were the future of Shohoku.