"Hey, Kawaguchi, I didn't know you could play," Makoto said, his eyes wide in surprise as he wiped sweat from his brow.
"I just got lucky, that's all," Tetsuo replied, his breathing steady despite the sprint-heavy game.
"Whoa, Tetsuo, dude, that was freaking awesome!" Noboru clapped him on the back, his palm landing with a sharp slap that stung just a little. "I totally lucked out picking you for this!"
The thud of shoes against the polished gym floor echoed all around them as Naomi raised a fist, her short hair bouncing with the movement. "We're doing great, guys! Let's win this thing!"
On the sidelines…
"Takahiro, do you know that first-year?" Yukio asked, his arms crossed tightly, gaze pinned to Tetsuo.
"Nope. First time I've seen him. I didn't see him in any junior high matches either."
"This guy just popped up on the radar, but that shot he made was flawless…" Yukio's brow twitched, something inside him shifting uneasily. "Where did this guy come from?" His heart thumped faster as he muttered to himself, "Whatever the case… maybe this time, if I play this smart, we might actually make it."
Elsewhere…
Sachiko walked slowly, the dull squeak of her indoor shoes brushing against the hall's wooden planks. Her thoughts churned, the image of Tetsuo's face flashing in her mind. "Something about Tetsuo Kawaguchi… it reminds me so much of him…" She bit her lip. "Tetsu-kun always carried around that worn-out basketball. He could play, just like this one. And he had a little sister too… that girl from yesterday—she looks just like her." Her pulse quickened, a shiver crawling up her arms. "There's no other explanation… it has to be him."
Back on the court…
"A victory for Class 1T! Twenty-nine to zero! Not half bad!" The PE teacher's voice boomed through the gym. "But we'll show them how it's really done, right, Liam?" said a student with a red headband, his smirk glinting with challenge.
"Yeah. Just like we practiced," Hayato replied, the calm edge in his voice promising trouble.
The match between Classes 1O and 1S ended quickly, ten to six.
"We might really have a shot at this," Shino thought, gripping the hem of his jersey, his palms slick with nervous sweat.
"Are you ready, Liam? Let's go crush them." Hayato's fingers spun the ball lazily as he looked up at his towering teammate.
"Yeah. Let's finish this."
The PE teacher's whistle sliced through the air, sharp and shrill. As the ball soared up, Liam surged forward. The gym lights glared off his pale skin as he tipped the ball to Hayato almost effortlessly. His long arm shot out, his fingertips brushing the ball before anyone else could react.
"How have I never noticed this second-year before?" Yukio's eyes narrowed. "His wingspan… it's insane. His reach covers the sky."
"Fast break!!!" Hayato's voice roared as his sneakers screeched across the court. He hurled the ball ahead to Liam, who caught it like it weighed nothing. The rhythmic pounding of his footsteps reverberated through the gym as he took two quick steps, vaulted into the air, and slammed the ball into the rim with a violent clang.
"That was a badass dunk!" a boy on the sidelines shouted, his voice cracking with excitement.
"That guy's crazy tall! Is he an athlete?!" a third-year girl asked, eyes wide as she leaned forward.
"That guy was so cool! He probably jumped over forty inches!" Shino's jaw dropped as he watched Liam land.
"I think that's Liam Ainsworth," Yukio muttered. "A foreign exchange student. He transferred in during our second year."
"Didn't he come to Japan for track? He wanted to go pro, right?" asked Takahiro.
"Yeah, but it looks like he's more than decent at basketball."
"The next match is a crossover between juniors and freshmen, right?"
"Yeah. Keep your eyes on the next game. It's definitely gonna be 1T vs. 2O. I need to see how this plays out."
Back on the court…
Hayato's shoes squeaked as he swiped the ball from the opposing class and darted forward, his chest rising and falling rapidly as he laid it in with a smooth flick. Before the defenders could reset, Hayato stole it again, his legs pumping like pistons. He crossed half-court, pulled up, and drained a mid-range jumper with a soft swish that echoed in the gym's stillness.
A player from the other class leapt for a desperate layup, but Liam's palm smacked the ball out of the air with a resounding slap. The basketball ricocheted across the court as gasps rippled through the crowd.
Liam dashed ahead with surprising speed for his size, caught Hayato's pass, and twisted midair for a reverse dunk. The rim rattled, the net snapping violently as he dropped back down.
"That guy is a beast! That's it, Liam! Kick some ass!"
"I feel sorry for them. 2O isn't letting up—they're relentless," a girl whispered, her voice tight with pity.
"He's a freak of nature. No way they're losing this," said a boy, shaking his head in disbelief.
"Here you go, Liam! Another slam dunk!" Hayato passed with precision.
Liam's lips tugged into a half-smile. "Yeah, yeah—I got it." The ball snapped through the net as he hammered it home, the rim trembling under the force.
On the sidelines…
"Ma… Makoto, look at the scoreboard!" Shino stammered, his voice cracking.
Makoto's eyes darted up. 42 to 0. His throat tightened. What the hell… forty-two to zero in ten minutes? This guy's a monster.
"Unfortunately, I heard they're our next opponents," Naomi muttered.
"Yeah… it's too bad for them—because I'm here," Noboru said with a cocky grin, spinning the ball on his fingertip.
Naomi sighed. He's still the same loudmouth he was in junior high.
"Do you think we can actually beat that guy, Kurai?" Naomi asked.
"There's always a way to win. Even this has a solution." Makoto's fingers drummed against his elbow as his mind whirred.
"I don't know… he's seriously scary."
"Yeah, but basketball isn't just about height and hops. There are plenty of ways to be effective." Makoto's gaze sharpened. "We'll find one."
Back on the court…
"The next matchup is Class 2O vs. Class 2S!" the PE teacher called out.
A boy from 2S raised his hand quickly, his face pale. "Um… we forfeit! We're not getting embarrassed in front of all these girls!"
"Suit yourself," Hayato said, sitting down and taking a long sip of water.
"Why did they forfeit so fast? I mean, I get it, but…" Makoto frowned.
"So we'll get to see 1T vs. 2O sooner than expected," Yukio murmured, excitement pulsing in his chest.
"You guys get a five-minute break before the next match," the PE teacher announced.
Strategizing…
Makoto's mind raced as he stared at Liam and Hayato. Okay… the headband guy's running guard. Liam's their center. The others? Just filler players. That's our opening.
"Takemoto, Kawaguchi—I need you both to double-team their center. It's a gamble, but it's our best shot."
Noboru cracked his knuckles. "Don't sweat it. We've got this, right, Tetsuo?"
Tetsuo gave a small nod, wiping his damp palms on his shorts. "Yeah."
"Nakamura, Katsuragi—you'll have to guard three players between you. Can you handle that?"
Naomi smirked. "So you're leaving the extras to us, huh? Got it."
"You ready, Katsuragi?" Naomi asked.
"Y-yeah! I'm ready! Let's win this!" Katsuragi's fists trembled, but his eyes burned with determination.
Makoto's gaze fixed on Hayato. And I've got him—their mastermind. All we can do now… is trust my analysis is right.