The moment Taoka Moichi announced that the losing team would face punishment, a chill ran down everyone's spine.
After all, Coach Taoka was infamous for his harsh training methods. If he said the punishment would be "severe," it wouldn't just be a couple of laps around the court. The players knew they had to give it everything they had in this training match.
Soon, under Taoka's arrangements, the two teams were assembled.
Red Team:
Captain Yuzumi
Koshino Hiroaki
Kenichi Uesugi
Makoto Masaru
Kazuki Kishino
Blue Team:
Sendoh
Sugihara
Ikegami Ryoji
Uekusa
Aida Hikoichi
To Kenichi Uesugi's slight surprise, Taoka Moichi assigned him to play as a power forward. Although Kenichi had told the coach his natural position was small forward, Taoka had different plans. Given Kenichi's physicality and athleticism, perhaps the team urgently needed a more reliable inside presence.
Ikegami Ryoji had been the starting power forward for some time. While his defense was solid, his offensive ability was lacking. Conversely, Fukuda Kicchou had strong offense but was notoriously weak on defense. Taoka often joked he wished he could fuse the two into one perfect player.
But now, with Kenichi's blend of physical prowess and potential, Taoka saw hope for a true all-rounder in the power forward spot.
Kenichi didn't mind. After all, with Kise Ryōta's talent, versatility came naturally. Power forward? No problem!
After warming up, the players took their positions on the court. Kenichi stood opposite Ikegami, his soon-to-be rival on the floor. Ikegami, slightly shorter, couldn't shake the odd feeling in his chest.
"Why am I feeling pressure from a first-year?" he thought.
Despite Kenichi's dominant rookie performance, Ikegami didn't believe a newcomer could surpass him—especially not now.
He forced himself to focus.
Beep!
The assistant coach blew the whistle. The game had begun.
Yuzumi and Sugihara leapt at the center circle for the jump ball. Though Sugihara had decent height, he lacked Yuzumi's explosiveness and experience. As expected, Yuzumi won the tip easily, slapping the ball toward Koshino.
Koshino, acting as point guard, slowed the pace. His plan was simple: wait for Yuzumi to get into position, then feed him the ball. Against Sugihara, Yuzumi had a guaranteed scoring edge.
But then something unexpected happened.
A flash of red darted ahead—Kenichi Uesugi.
He was already racing toward the basket, waving his arms, calling for the ball.
Koshino hesitated. Kenichi's positioning was excellent, but Yuzumi was the more reliable option.
Still… that speed. That timing.
After a brief second of inner conflict, Koshino threw the pass.
But as soon as the ball left his hands, he regretted it.
Ikegami had seen everything.
Anticipating Kenichi's early break, Ikegami had followed him from the start. While Kenichi was fast—shockingly so—Ikegami's defensive instincts were sharp. He managed to catch up just in time, spoiling what might have been an easy fast break.
"Damn, he got back fast..." Koshino thought, now anxious. "Ikegami's no pushover—not even Sendoh has it easy against him!"
Now face-to-face, Kenichi and Ikegami squared off at the rim.
Ikegami steadied himself, eyes locked on Kenichi.
"Will he drive? Pass? Or shoot?"
He'd seen Kenichi's explosive drives during the rookie match, and wasn't about to be embarrassed by a newcomer. He readied for the drive—when suddenly…
Kenichi jumped.
Right as he caught the ball, with no hesitation or windup.
He was shooting.
Ikegami's eyes widened. "He's already in the air? That quickly?"
There was no preparation—no setup, no rhythm—just an instant leap and release.
"Can that kind of shot even go in?" Ikegami spun around, tracking the ball with disbelief.
Swish!
The ball sailed cleanly through the net.
For a moment, the gym was silent.
Ikegami stood frozen, stunned.
"The ball… went in?"
Kenichi, unfazed, turned and jogged back, as if it was nothing.
Because to him—it was.
That shot wasn't just natural talent. He had just activated one of his copied skills—Sakurai Ryo's "Quick Shooting."
No setup. No wasted motion. Just catch, jump, and shoot—with deadly precision.
Ikegami stared after Kenichi, a chill creeping up his spine.
This "newcomer" wasn't just fast.
He was dangerous.