Chapter 01: The Effort and Sweat System has been bound. Initiate Excessive Seeding
Tokyo, Kamomedai Junior High, located no more than 10 kilometers from the powerhouse Teiko.
Zhou Zhe before transmigration, Hoshiumi Mì after. He was currently wearing Kamomedai's #12 jersey, sitting at the end of the bench on the exclusive throne jokingly called the 'towel-waving spot'.
To be honest.
If it weren't for the new school year just starting and the team being in a transition phase between old and new players, according to the memories in his head, he probably wouldn't have even secured the 'towel-waving spot' last year.
But then again...
Where the hell was he?
Hoshiumi Mì was stunned for a moment.
Kuroko's Basketball?
"..."
Good grief.
And Teiko was right next door.
Last year, the first-year Generation of Miracles won the National Championship with their team. The title 'Generation of Miracles' was first published as a major headline in Monthly Basketball magazine after last year's tournament.
Not good...
So, the current him was a second-year, in the same grade as the Generation of Miracles?
At this thought, Hoshiumi Mì suddenly shuddered.
Immediately after...
The previously hazy memories instantly flooded his mind with perfect clarity. The next second, he snapped his head down, looking at the brightly polished floor that could almost serve as a mirror.
White spiky hair.
Short, arrow-like eyebrows and a fierce gaze.
Appearance-wise...
He looked almost identical to the 'Little Giant' Hoshiumi Korai from Haikyuu!!.
The only two differences were probably the single character difference in their names and a significantly taller physique.
Kamomedai Junior High, second year.
Hoshiumi Mì.
Height: 177 cm, Position: Shooting Guard.
..................................................................................
After briefly organizing the tangled mess of thoughts flooding his mind, Hoshiumi Mì quickly forced himself to calm down and refocused his attention on the court before him.
Kamomedai's opponent today was Seiei Junior High, a lower-to-mid-tier team from the Tokyo district that had rushed to schedule a practice match right after school started. With 7 minutes left in the fourth quarter, Kamomedai was trailing by a full 25 points. It was clear the opposing coach's eagerness wasn't baseless—it was a premeditated attempt to show off.
Just as in his memories.
Kamomedai's offense was, as usual... constipated. The flow was pitifully low, the outside shooting was an eyesore, and the accuracy was abysmal. The entire offensive system relied almost entirely on the third-year forwards forcing their way inside.
On Seiei's side, that unfamiliar buzz-cut guy, their ace player, had effortlessly scored a game-high 36 points, single-handedly dismantling Kamomedai's defense.
Currently.
Because it was just an insignificant practice match and seeing that a comeback was hopeless, with the chances of a turnaround being minuscule, Kamomedai's coach, Nakama Sho, seeing the opponent's ace being subbed out, followed suit by gradually pulling his own starters. The newly appointed captain, small forward Imamatsu Shinshu, was now subbed out and sitting back on the bench, staring blankly at the floor.
It was a habitual action when feeling down and utterly defeated.
Focused.
And silent.
It made Coach Nakama Sho frown repeatedly.
Meanwhile, another third-year player, center Ouboki Taro, though his eyes were vaguely watching the players run on the court, was clearly unfocused. His mind had already drifted far away, having lost all interest in the game.
In this dull and demoralized atmosphere, Hoshiumi Mì, sitting at the very end of the bench, felt his nerves tense up and his heart quietly accelerate.
Because it was clearly garbage time now. The starters were being subbed out one by one, and a few bench players had already been sent in. At this rate, even though he was last in line...
There was a chance...
As expected!
In front of the bench, Nakama Sho shook his head helplessly. His gaze shifted from the captain, Imamatsu Shinshu, scanned across the bench, and finally landed on Hoshiumi Mì.
Nakama Sho: "..."
This second-year player... although his talent seemed average during his first year and he never got a chance to play for Kamomedai, he was only a first-year back then. Now that he was a second-year, his height had visibly increased significantly compared to last year. At least in terms of static talent like height, he had some potential and room for development.
On a basketball court.
Height itself is a valuable talent.
Besides...
The kid was proactive and hardworking during practice, and he was humble in his duties for the basketball club, a stark contrast to his cold exterior. This gave Nakama Sho a rather good impression of him.
School has just started.
It was about time to give him a chance to show what he's got.
At least to see...
If his skills, like his height, had improved over the break, though in just one or two months, that possibility was basically negligible.
With that thought, Nakama Sho beckoned to Hoshiumi Mì:
"Hoshiumi, it's time for you to go in!"
Half of Hoshiumi Mì's attention was already on Nakama Sho. Hearing his name called, the anticipation in his heart was instantly realized, and he quickly shot up from his seat on the bench.
Although his playing time had drastically decreased after entering the workforce, and his body had uncontrollably gotten out of shape, his theory, technique, and knowledge had undoubtedly grown with age. Coupled with the young body he inherited from Hoshiumi Mì...
Playing in a Japanese junior high league shouldn't be a big problem...
...right?
..................................................................................
And so, with a mix of anticipation, excitement, and apprehension, Hoshiumi Mì stepped onto the youthful court before him.
The moment his feet touched the floor of the Kamomedai gymnasium's court, a voice, the expected stroke of luck that accompanied his transmigration, suddenly echoed in his mind:
[Effort and Sweat System has been bound. Scanning environment...]
[Confirmed entry into an official match...]
[Draw a Future Preview Package?]
Hoshiumi Mì was slightly taken aback.
But with the game waiting for him, he had no time to think it through.
He subconsciously responded in his mind:
'Yes!'
[In the future, through the tempering of effort and sweat, you will become an outstanding three-point shooter]
[...]
[Acquired a five-minute Future Preview Package: 'Almost Never Misses']