"Phew… we're finally here."
Nango held his waist with one hand and his luggage with the other, gazing at Nittaidai's basketball gym with mixed feelings.
The long, bumpy journey made him want to drop everything and take a nap. But since he'd promised Coach Kawasaki he'd report today, he could only suppress his fatigue and head straight for the gym.
"Go! Go! Go!"
"Attack him! Fast break!"
"Switch! Switch!"
The open gym doors echoed with powerful shouts. The squeak of sneakers and the pounding of the ball filled the air, painting a vivid picture of the intensity inside.
"Excuse me!" Nango called out from the doorway.
A few players looked his way but quickly went back to practice, completely uninterested.
"Hahaha! You're finally here!"
Coach Kawasaki strode over, beaming. "You've worked hard coming all this way alone. Have you eaten yet? I'll take you to grab something."
Nango shook his head quickly. "I ate something on the way, Coach. No need to trouble yourself."
"Oh, nonsense! You're still underage, I can't let you skip a meal!" Coach Kawasaki laughed heartily before changing the subject. "Since you're here, how about joining the boys for a game?"
"Huh?"
That escalated fast!
But after a moment of thought, Nango realized some light exercise might help him loosen up. Besides, he wasn't here for sightseeing. He nodded. "Alright, I'll follow your lead."
"Haha! Good, good!" Coach Kawasaki turned toward the court. "Hey! Hyuga! Sub out and let Nango take your spot!"
"Yes!" Hyuga Yuichi responded, glancing back at his teammates with a knowing smirk.
Moments later, Nango had changed into his uniform. As he passed Hyuga, the latter smiled faintly. "Good luck, kid."
Although they didn't know each other, Nango returned the smile politely. Yet the instant he stepped onto the court, his brow furrowed.
The air was heavy. The atmosphere here was different.
If high school basketball was about passion, university-level basketball was about survival.
At this time, Japan didn't yet have a professional basketball league. For the players in universities like Nittaidai, this was the proving ground for future national team members. They were, in essence, semi-professionals. Every game, every possession, every point—it was a fight with everything they had.
"Hey, hey," Hyuga said teasingly from the sideline. "You're really cruel, Coach. He's just sixteen, full of dreams. What if you crush him before he even starts?"
Despite his words, his tone carried no sympathy at all.
Coach Kawasaki shot him a glare. "Don't talk nonsense! This wasn't my idea. That old man Anzai was the one who insisted on sending him here."
"Oh?" Hyuga raised an eyebrow. "Coach Anzai has that much faith in him?"
"Yes. He said this kid's potential is enormous, but high school-level training isn't enough. He wanted me to 'temper' him properly."
Hyuga chuckled. "Is that so? Well, I hope he doesn't cry halfway through."
On the court, the scrimmage resumed.
Nango received a sideline pass. Before he could even dribble, the player guarding him was already pressing close, trying to strip the ball from his hands with fierce intensity.
Nango turned slightly, shielding the ball with his body while quickly scanning the court.
The difference in physique was striking—these weren't high schoolers anymore. Their movements were faster, tighter, more refined.
The opposing point guard, Blue Team's No.7, looked built like A Mu—compact and muscular.
Though Nango managed to evade the first reach, No.7 didn't back off, keeping constant pressure.
Nango's teammates, wearing red jerseys, stood still in the distance. Not a single one moved to help or receive a pass.
So this is how it is, huh? Testing me already.
His calm gaze sharpened. He lowered his stance and dribbled between his legs. No.7 hesitated for just a split second—half a step back, half a second late.
That was all Nango needed.
He exploded to the left—then abruptly crossed over to the right, driving hard past his defender.
"Oh? Tanaka's getting burned!" Hyuga jeered from the sideline.
"Not yet!"
Tanaka lunged after him, but Nango had already created a solid gap. His acceleration was sharp, his control flawless.
"Kid, you think you can just waltz into the paint?!" The Blue Team's center, No.8, a towering player even bigger than Uozumi, rushed forward to block him.
Nango slowed slightly—baiting both defenders into converging on him.
As soon as they lunged, he burst forward again, cutting between them in one smooth motion.
"Bang!"
The ball slammed through the hoop as Nango completed a clean one-handed dunk.
Coach Kawasaki squinted one eye, murmuring to himself, "I saw it during the prefectural tournament, but it's much clearer now… this kid's fundamentals are solid."
Hyuga burst into laughter. "Tanaka! Hayato! You two are pathetic! Letting a high schooler humiliate you like that—don't embarrass Nittaidai!"
"Shut it, Yuichi!" Tanaka barked. "Watch how I deal with him next time!"
He turned to Nango, eyes blazing. "Kid, you've pissed me off!"
Nango resisted the urge to roll his eyes. You were the one who started this, weren't you?
Tanaka dribbled up the court, leaning his body into Nango as he drove forward, using his arm to subtly hook Nango's hip and create space.
"Cheap move," Hyuga muttered from the sideline, still smirking.
Coach Kawasaki glared at him. "Idiot! On the court, there's no such thing as mercy!"
"Yes, yes, you're right, Coach," Hyuga replied casually, clearly unbothered.
Coach Kawasaki sighed. Hyuga had skill and talent, but his attitude was always borderline infuriating.
Tanaka pushed through, using his strength to gain half a step, then slowed just enough to throw Nango off balance. Using his free hand, he went for a quick layup—
"Swish!" The ball dropped cleanly through the net.
Tanaka turned, smirking, clearly expecting a reaction.
But Nango didn't even look at him. He calmly took the baseline pass and started dribbling upcourt again.
That quiet indifference stung worse than any insult.
Tanaka's jaw clenched. "Don't think you'll score again, kid! This isn't high school anymore—you're in our world now!"
Nango just smiled faintly, refusing to rise to the bait.
But even that calmness made Tanaka bristle with anger.
This brat… does he think he's above us?
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IM SORRY EVERYONE I COUDN'T UPDATE THIS FEW DAYS BECAUSE I FORGOT TO PAY OF MY INTERNET 😭