"It's time for the jump ball," said the gym teacher, his whistle clipped and sharp. He raised his hand, signaling both teams to the center circle.
The gym smelled faintly of polished wood and sweat. Overhead fluorescent lights hummed steadily, casting bright, even illumination across the glossy floor.
The gym buzzed with excitement. Shoes squeaked sharply against the glossy floor as players shifted and stretched. The faint echo of bouncing balls punctuated the low chatter of spectators gathering at the sidelines.
"This game will be intense. I wonder who will come out the victor," a boy muttered, shifting his weight and adjusting the sleeves of his T-shirt.
"Class 2O is way stronger; however, Class 1T has that boy who can shoot," another commented, tapping his fingers on the bleacher beside him.
"Everyone seems excited for this game," Takahiro observed, brushing a strand of hair from his forehead.
"Well, of course. They both won their previous matches pretty convincingly, so this should actually be a fun game," Yukio replied, eyes scanning the court as the players warmed up.
The two preparing for the jump ball stepped onto the center circle. Liam tilted his head slightly and gave Tetsuo a cheerful grin, his sneakers squeaking as he shifted his weight.
Tetsuo's face remained calm and unreadable, eyes fixed on the ball.
The referee's whistle blew, sharp and clear, cutting through the low murmur of the crowd. The orange ball arced upward under the glaring fluorescent lights, its surface reflecting the brightness as it spun.
Both Tetsuo and Liam leapt simultaneously, muscles tensing in their legs and shoulders, fingers reaching toward the ball with precise timing.
I will definitely win this ball for the team, Liam thought, feeling the tension in his legs and the pressure under his sneakers as he leapt. But mid-air, a sudden doubt shot through him, and his confidence wavered.
What the…? How can he reach this high? He's shorter than me… no, wait… is he jumping over forty inches? Liam's chest tightened, and his palms itched from gripping the ball too tightly. His eyes widened, tracking Tetsuo's effortless rise.
Despite the shock, Liam stretched out and managed to tip the ball, feeling the brief resistance against his fingertips as it grazed the orange surface.
It was a close tip-off. But if you compare their heights and wingspans, it's more like that first-year won it. This kid is really intriguing, Yukio remarked, a small smile tugging at his lips as he followed the players' movements.
Hayato caught the ball, pivoting sharply, the sneakers squealing against the polished court as he scanned for an opening.
"Alright, let's go, Liam!" he called, voice cutting through the murmur of the spectators. But the moment he brought the ball down, Makoto slid in quickly, the soles of his shoes scraping the floor, and snatched it cleanly from his hands.
"Crap, I didn't even see him!" Hayato muttered, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he sprinted after Makoto, sneakers squeaking against the court.
Makoto charged forward, weaving nimbly between defenders. He pushed off with both feet and rose for a smooth layup. The ball fell cleanly through the hoop, the net snapping sharply.
This guy… he really reads the play well, Hayato thought, a small smirk tugging at his lips. He clenched his fists. Alright… now it gets interesting.
"Whoa… Kurai is really amazing! He saw right through their formation," Takahiro exclaimed, leaning forward in the bleachers, eyes wide and voice full of awe.
"Well, with the kind of sense he has, figuring out Nakajima's weakness was easy," Yukio noted, eyes narrowing as he followed the play. "Nakajima leans too much on Liam, so his whole offense is clear to us and their team. But…"
Yukio paused, watching as Hayato passed the ball to Liam near the post. Both Tetsuo and Noboru converged immediately, muscles tensed, sneakers scrapping the floor.
"Damn… this guy's strong! What does he even eat every day?" Noboru grunted, shifting his weight, sweat sliding down his temple as he struggled to hold his position.
If you think the two of you can stop me… forget it! Liam shouted, pivoting hard, legs and core coiling like springs. He jumped, releasing the ball with explosive force. The rim rattled as the ball slammed through it, sending both defenders stumbling back a step.
"Whoa! That's amazing! He sent both of them flying!" a boy called from the sidelines, voice cracking with excitement.
Naomi's eyes widened, her chest tightening with excitement. W-wow… that dunk! He's so strong… and cool… Her hands clenched briefly, then relaxed as her heartbeat spiked. She couldn't help smiling, a small flush creeping across her cheeks.
Shino's stomach twisted, and his hands felt clammy as he watched the ball slam through the hoop. We… we can't win against him… His knees trembled slightly as he shifted on the court, eyes darting between Liam and their teammates. His heart hammered in his chest, every muscle tense, but he forced himself to stay alert, hoping he wouldn't make a mistake.
"I'm impressed. That guy really knows his post moves. More skilled than I expected," Takahiro said, leaning forward on the bleachers, eyes following the players' feet and ball movements.
"If we had someone like him on our team, it would help my versatility a lot. Heck… maybe I could even play point guard if I trained him right," Yukio added, eyes glinting as he studied the court.
Makoto called out, "Let's get a point back!" and pushed the ball up the court. He passed quickly to Naomi, who pivoted on her sneakers and swung it to Noboru without hesitation.
Noboru turned, scanning rapidly, muscles tensed, heart beating in rhythm with the bouncing ball.
"Hey, catch it!" he shouted, flicking a sharp pass to Shino.
Shino froze for a moment, palms clammy, sneakers gripping the floor nervously.
What… what should I do with this? His chest felt tight, and his fingers itched as he caught the ball. His eyes flicked between teammates and defenders. Then he heard a familiar voice.
"Pass me the ball," Tetsuo called.
"Oh… it's Kawaguchi," Shino muttered, flinching slightly as he forced a quick, shaky pass toward him.
"Liam! Don't let him shoot!" Hayato barked, lunging toward Tetsuo.
Tetsuo moved with fluid precision. He caught the ball cleanly, set his feet, and launched it. The orange sphere arced high under the bright gym lights and dropped straight through the net with a crisp swish.
"Whoa… so cool! They might actually have a chance!" a student shouted from the sidelines, clapping.
"That guy just swished a three-pointer! Amazing!" another voice chimed in.
"Nice lucky shot, dude," a spectator added, thumbs up, eyes wide as the ball bounced softly on the court.
"His three-pointers are dead on," Takahiro said, nodding in acknowledgment of the shot that had just landed in the net.
"Yeah, you're right. No beginner could pull that off. Takes steady practice, years of it. Looks like Class 2O is in trouble with that first-year," Yukio replied, leaning forward, fingers tapping lightly against his knee as he watched the players reset for the next play.
Hayato took the ball for the next possession, pushing the pace as he weaved past defenders, sneakers squeaking sharply with each pivot. He kicked the ball out, received it back on a give-and-go, and released a smooth jumper. The net snapped again as the ball dropped through cleanly.
"Now it's really heating up. From here on, it's going to be a proper match. Can't wait to see who wins," Yukio said, voice calm but eyes gleaming with interest.
Naomi drove hard into the lane, sneakers squeaking as she pushed off the polished floor, but Liam stepped right into her path. For a moment, the gym felt almost still—the bounce of the ball, the shouts from the sidelines, even her own breath.
Oh no… he's definitely going to block this… she thought, chest tightening.
At the last moment, Liam moved aside just enough, letting her float the ball up. It bounced off the glass once and dropped cleanly through the hoop with a soft swish.
"What… it really went in?" Naomi gasped, eyes wide, heart racing.
"Good shot, Naomi! That was really good!" Sachiko called from the sidelines, clapping her hands.
"Why didn't you block it, Liam? Are you trying to make us lose?" one teammate shouted.
"I can't help it… she's a cute Japanese girl. I'll get it back," Liam said casually, shrugging.
"Dude… you're really strange for a foreigner," his teammate muttered, shaking his head.
What followed was a scoring storm. Back and forth, the ball flew across the court.
Liam slammed in a dunk, sneakers squealing on the polished floor. Noboru answered with a clean layup, the ball rolling softly along the backboard before dropping through. Hayato stepped back and fired a three-pointer; the net snapped as the ball swished.
Makoto stole it right back, weaving past defenders and finishing with a swift layup. Naomi pushed off the floor and sent a shot off the backboard, the ball bouncing once and dropping in.
Liam, cut off again by Tetsuo and Noboru, pivoted on his foot, muscles coiling, and released a high hook. It kissed the glass and fell cleanly through the net.
Makoto found Tetsuo open at the arc and passed. Tetsuo rose, launched the shot, and the ball dropped pure through the hoop, net snapping crisply.
Hayato responded immediately with his own triple, sneakers squeaking as he pushed past defenders, sending the crowd into a roar.
"Damn… they don't give up!" Makoto muttered under his breath, brushing sweat from his forehead. If Kawaguchi wasn't here, we'd probably be losing badly.
He scanned the court quickly, chest heaving. They're guarding Tetsuo tightly, and the others are marked too. And he's not giving me any space at all.
His eyes caught a flash of movement. Wait… Katsuragi is open!
He whipped the ball toward Shino. Shino's mouth hung open, chest heaving, sweat dripping from his forehead.
"Shino! The ball! Catch it!" Noboru yelled, his voice sharp as his sneakers squeaked on the polished court.
Shino's hands froze for a fraction too long. The ball bounced off his fingers and rolled out of bounds.
"Out of bounds. Class 2O's ball," the referee called.
Shino stood frozen, shoulders slumped, breathing shallow. This is all my fault… We're going to lose because of me. His eyes burned as he glanced at the scoreboard: 19–19. Thirty seconds left.
"Don't worry about it. There's still thirty seconds, and the game is tied. Just… get back on defense," Makoto said, wiping sweat from his brow, voice calm but carrying urgency.
Hayato took over, dribbling slowly, measuring every step. Each bounce of the ball echoed against the gym floor.
Makoto squared up in front of him, knees bent, eyes narrowing, sweat stinging at his temples.
His dribble rhythm… it's different. What is he thinking now? Makoto muttered to himself, heart pounding.
Hayato feinted. Makoto bit immediately.
"I won't allow you!" Makoto leapt—but the shot never came.
What the…? It's a fake! Makoto gasped, landing hard, sneakers squeaking as his chest heaved.
Hayato tossed the ball into the air.
What is he doing now… that shot is way off…
From the side, Liam launched himself upward, muscles tensing, catching the lob with both hands and slamming it down with a resonant thud. The gym shook slightly from the impact.
"An alley-oop? That dunk… unbelievable!" someone shouted, voice cracking from excitement.
Hayato bowed slightly, catching his breath. "I'm sorry, first-years. You put up a good fight. But today, the victory is ours," he said respectfully, voice steady.
"I guess the game is over," Takahiro muttered from the bleachers, leaning forward with his elbows on his knees. His chest rose and fell rapidly from the excitement.
"Very unlikely," Yukio replied calmly, still scanning the court with a steady gaze. "There are still eight seconds left. Where do you think that first-year is?"
Takahiro squinted, eyes wide. "What do you mean? Wait… he's already moving?!"
Makoto's eyes caught him—Tetsuo sprinting along the sideline, sneakers squeaking sharply against the polished floor. Without hesitation, Makoto flung a precise pass.
Tetsuo caught it mid-stride, his body perfectly balanced. The gym fell into a tense hush, everyone holding their breath.
"Oh no! They caught us off guard!" Hayato's voice cracked as he sprinted across the court, sneakers squeaking against the polished floor. "Liam, stop him!!"
Liam pivoted sharply, his chest heaving as he pushed off the hardwood. Muscles tensed, he surged forward, the air around him vibrating with each powerful step. He closed the distance just as Tetsuo planted his feet at the three-point arc, eyes locked on the basket.
"I won't let you pass me," Liam warned, his voice low as he spread his arms wide. His broad frame cast a shadow over Tetsuo, cutting off the space between him and the rim.
Tetsuo's sneakers screeched as he planted hard, the sound echoing across the gym. He shifted back a step, knees bent, and rose smoothly into his shooting motion. The ball left his fingertips with a sharp flick.
Liam lunged forward, sweat flying off his brow as he extended his arm. But the ball was already gone, sailing high above his reach.
It is perfectly clear now… that first-year is a rare player to come by, Yukio thought, his eyes widening as he leaned forward on the bleachers. The hum of the gym lights seemed to vanish in his ears. He will be our one-way ticket to the Inter-High this year.
The ball sliced cleanly through the net. Swish.
"Game over! Class 1T wins!" the PE teacher declared, his whistle blowing right after.
The gym erupted. Cheers burst from every corner, echoing against the high ceiling. Students stomped their feet against the wooden floor, and the sound of clapping mixed with the roar of voices.
"Whoa! He was so calm under so much pressure!" one boy shouted, almost losing his balance as he leaned over the railing.
"What's that guy's name?" another asked, his voice nearly drowned out by the noise.
Liam stood frozen for a moment, then exhaled with a lopsided grin. "This guy single-handedly beat both me and Hayato—I can't believe it." His chest still rose and fell heavily, sweat dripping from his chin. Yet a cheerful smile spread across his face. "Well, that's what makes basketball so interesting."
"I can't believe it! We actually won!" Naomi squealed. Her ponytail bounced as she leapt into the air, sneakers smacking against the hardwood when she landed. Her face was flushed, eyes shining with excitement.
"Well, I didn't doubt it for a second," Noboru said, grinning broadly. He slung a damp arm around Tetsuo's shoulders, sweat staining his jersey. "Nice shot, Kawaguchi."
Makoto's gaze lingered on Tetsuo. His arms were crossed, but his jaw tightened as his eyes narrowed slightly. This guy is the real deal. A genuine basketball player with the talent for shooting threes… he is somewhat amazing, he thought, chest rising with a quiet respect.
At the edge of the group, Shino stood frozen. His sneakers felt heavy against the floor. His eyes drifted downward, fixed on the reflection of the gym lights in the polished wood.
We won… I should be happy, but… I did nothing at all to help them. I was only a burden. Why am I so useless and hopeless no matter how much time I devote to basketball? His hands trembled at his sides as his throat tightened.
Makoto noticed. He stepped closer, tilting his head slightly, his sharp voice softening. "Hey, is everything alright, Katsuragi?"
Shino jerked his head up. "O-oh, yes. I'm fine," he stammered, his lips twitching into a forced smile that never reached his eyes.
Takahiro nudged Yukio, his voice still buzzing with excitement. "We definitely need to recruit that guy to our team." His eyes stayed locked on Tetsuo, who stood calm among the noise, wiping the sweat from his face with the back of his hand.
"Easier said than done," Yukio replied, his expression steady despite the roar of the gym. "If he was interested in the first place, he would have come to the court yesterday."
Still, his gaze lingered on the first-year.