The sound of sneakers squeaking against the polished wooden floor echoed through the gymnasium as Toshigawa Academy's basketball team began their warm-up. The rhythmic thudding of the ball against the court mixed with the steady breathing of the players as they jogged in unison.
"Toshigawa, fight!!" they shouted in sync, their voices reverberating through the gym, igniting a competitive energy among them. Noboru, Shino, Makoto, Yukio, Hayato, Liam, Takahiro, and Tetsuo finished their laps before immediately diving into their stretching routines. Their muscles, still sore and tense from the previous day's practice, gradually loosened as they prepared for the intense training ahead.
The first drill was a rebounding exercise designed to enhance their reaction speed and agility. The team lined up beneath the backboard. The first player in line launched the ball off the glass, and the next had to leap, catch it mid-air, and shoot it back off the backboard before landing. This continued down the line, the ball never touching the ground. The sound of sneakers skidding, the sharp thuds of the ball hitting the backboard, and the occasional grunts of exertion filled the gym as each player pushed themselves to be quicker and more precise.
After that, the team gathered for a passing drill to improve their ball movement and communication. They formed a large circle, each player standing a few feet apart. Nanaho instructed them to pass quickly without letting the ball touch the ground.
"Fast hands, no hesitation!" she called out as the ball zipped from one player to the next. Noboru passed to Shino, who immediately sent it to Makoto. Makoto flicked it to Takahiro, who then lobbed it toward Liam. The players focused on speed and accuracy, keeping their passes sharp and efficient. Occasionally, Nanaho would call out a change—one-handed passes, bounce passes, or overhead throws—to keep them alert. After several minutes, sweat dripped from their faces, and their arms burned from the fast-paced movements.
They then moved on to layups. Noboru started off, receiving a crisp bounce pass from Yukio. He took two quick steps, leaping as high as he could and extended his right hand toward the hoop. The ball kissed the glass before falling through the net. Yukio hustled to grab the rebound, passing it to the next in line before switching roles.
Shino stepped up next, his face tense with focus. Liam passed him the ball, and he took a careful approach to the basket, his movements fluid but cautious. He laid the ball in gently, though it bounced off the rim before dropping in. Liam caught the rebound swiftly, giving Shino a nod of encouragement before switching places.
Makoto was up next, his confidence evident as he dribbled toward the basket after a sharp pass from Takahiro. Instead of a simple layup, he elevated, adding a slight reverse spin before flicking the ball off the glass and in. Takahiro smirked at the extra flair but grabbed the rebound nonetheless.
Tetsuo, ever silent, received a pass from Hayato. His steps were controlled and powerful as he drove toward the basket. With a simple, no-nonsense layup, he banked it off the backboard cleanly. Hayato retrieved the ball, handing it off to the next in line without comment.
Takahiro, on the other hand, relied on finesse, using different angles off the glass to avoid imaginary defenders.
Yukio then took his turn, receiving a pass from Noboru. He drove towards the basket, skillfully switching hands mid-air before finishing with a soft finger roll off the glass. Noboru collected the rebound.
Liam, being the last in line, stood at the top of the key as Takahiro lobbed the ball toward him. Instead of going for a routine layup, Liam took two powerful steps forward, gathered his momentum, and exploded into the air. With one strong motion, he slammed the ball through the hoop, the rim shaking slightly from the force of the dunk.
"Whoa!" Takahiro whistled, clearly impressed.
"Damn, Liam," Hayato grinned. "Didn't think you'd go that hard."
Liam smirked, wiping his forehead. "Felt like the right moment."
"Nice one Liam, I love the energy, keep it up everyone!!" Shouted Nanaho.
As the drill continued, the pace picked up, forcing each player to react quickly. Their chemistry and rhythm improved with each repetition, the teamwork evident as they seamlessly rotated between roles.
Next, the team transitioned into fundamental skills training. Tomoe, the new manager, stood on the sidelines observing as Noboru and Shino focused on their dribbling. The sound of bouncing basketballs resonated through the gym as they maneuvered through cones, switching hands and slightly fumbling every once in a while.
"Damn, why am I back to square one again?" Noboru muttered under his breath, frustration evident in his tone. He gritted his teeth as he controlled the ball, determined to sharpen his skills. Shino who was once reckless now has better control on the ball.
Nearby, Hayato assisted Yukio as he helped Liam understand his role in the post. Liam, still learning the intricacies of positioning, stood firm as Yukio played defense against him.
"Alright, let's try it," Hayato instructed, tossing the ball into Liam's hands. Without hesitation, Liam used his strength to back Yukio down, his muscles tensing as he forced his way closer to the hoop before pivoting and sinking an easy layup.
"Nice, you're catching on well," Yukio praised with a smile, wiping the sweat from his forehead.
"Thanks Captain. I took note of what you taught me, that's why," Liam responded, grinning.
Takahiro, Makoto, and Tetsuo engaged in one-on-one defensive drills. Makoto started with the ball, and Takahiro stepped up to guard him. Makoto dribbled between his legs, his movements swift and calculated. Takahiro reacted instantly, shifting his weight, but the moment he did, Makoto exploded into a sharp crossover to his right, leaving Takahiro stumbling slightly as Makoto drove to the hoop and finished with a clean layup.
"Damn, that kid's fast," Takahiro muttered, wiping the sweat from his brow.
Tetsuo passed the ball to Makoto and took his defensive stance. Takahiro crossed his arms, watching intently. "Now that I think about it, this is the first time these two will be playing against each other," he mused.
From the sidelines, Nanaho, the team's coach, observed the two with keen interest. "This should be interesting," she whispered to herself.
Makoto initiated his attack, dribbling to the right. Tetsuo responded instantly, shadowing his movements. In a split second, Makoto spun to his left, attempting to shake Tetsuo off. The moment he went for the layup, Tetsuo's hand shot up, swatting the ball straight to the ground with a loud smack.
Makoto let out a short chuckle, shaking his head. "I thought I had you, but I guess I was wrong."
"Alright, everyone, take a ten-minute break!" Nanaho called out. The players collapsed onto the floor, their chests rising and falling heavily as they tried to catch their breath.
"I'm really impressed with everyone's progress so far. Keep it up," Nanaho said encouragingly, a proud smile on her face.
Noboru scoffed, his frustration evident. "Impressed? You're a liar. If you were really impressed with me, then why am I stuck doing dribbling drills?"
Nanaho sighed. "Think of it as fine-tuning your skills, Noboru. Then you'll understand."
Tomoe walked over to Tetsuo, who was sitting quietly, his expression unreadable. She held out a towel and a bottle of water. "Here you go, Tetsuo."
"Thank you," Tetsuo said, taking them without hesitation. Tomoe nodded before heading back to the court to collect the stray basketballs.
Noboru narrowed his eyes. "Wait, so how does he get a towel and a bottle of water, but I don't? This is unfair!"
"Calm down, Noboru," Yukio sighed. "She bought him the water of her own free will. It's not like she's obligated to buy it for all of us."
"Who would waste money on a loser like him anyway?" Makoto sneered.
"Shut up, Kurai! You're acting like you're not in the same boat as me," Noboru snapped back.
"Please don't lump me in with you. It's insulting," Makoto said smugly.
Noboru clenched his fists, ready to retort, but Shino chuckled beside them.
"I like how lively you guys are," Liam said, lifting both of them up effortlessly.
"Let go of me, you big oaf!" Noboru shouted, squirming in Liam's grasp. The rest of the team burst into laughter, the tension dissipating as quickly as it had formed. Meanwhile, Tetsuo drank his water in silence, his expression as blank as ever.
Later that evening, Noboru and Makoto found themselves begrudgingly assigned to pick up extra water for the team. "I can't believe they sent me out to buy water with you of all people," Noboru grumbled.
"I should be the one saying that, idiot," Makoto retorted.
"Come on, guys. At least try to get along," Shino murmured, his voice low and hesitant.
"As if I could ever get along with this cocky bastard," Noboru muttered, pushing Makoto lightly. Makoto dodged effortlessly, causing Noboru to stumble and knock over a nearby bike.
"Tch. Noboru, are you okay?" Shino asked, concerned.
"Of course I'm fine," Noboru huffed, brushing himself off. "This damn bike was in the way."
A sudden voice cut through the air, laced with a dangerous edge. "Hey. What the hell do you punks think you're doing with my bike?"
A chill ran down Shino's spine as the three of them turned around. The expression on Shino's face shifted to one of shock, his breath catching in his throat as he recognized the tall figure that stood behind of them.