Kishi was a small but exceptionally agile player, standing at 5 feet 5 inches tall. In contrast, Renji was 6 feet tall. Catching up to Kishi's speed proved challenging, yet Renji was slowly adapting. His body was still adjusting to the demands of basketball stamina, and he was visibly panting, with sweat streaming down his face.
Jin, another player on the court, was notably tall and had a strong presence under the basket. Despite Jin's height of 5 11 feet, he managed to hold his own in vertical jumps, which impressed Renji. Although Renji was still recovering from an injury and had just regained his footing, he observed the others practicing with a sense of determination.
Shin, who stood at 5 feet 7 inches, possessed a refined shooting technique, though his range was limited to two-point shots and he struggled with the three-point line. His physical strength was not his strongest attribute, but his muscle memory was exceptional. Using his skills, Shin and Renji attempted to outmaneuver their defenders with strategic plays. Despite missing twice, Shin managed to make three out of five shots, which was a decent performance.
"Score! 1-3!" Shin exclaimed, visibly excited. "Yes! We've got the tempo now! The tables have turned!"
Renji, however, remained calm and unruffled. His demeanor suggested he was not overly concerned about the current score.
"It's still early. Don't let it get to you. This is just the beginning," Renji advised.
Kishi and Jin responded with smirks after successfully blocking Shin's shot and taking possession of the ball. The block left Shin feeling frustrated.
"Damn, it's not working anymore," Shin muttered, realizing their tactics had been neutralized. Their strategy had been thwarted.
Undeterred, Renji suggested they change their approach. They devised a new tactic: a triple pass strategy.
"I'll either take the shot or pass it, depending on the situation. Can you handle being the double shooting guard?" Renji asked.
"Of course!" Shin replied confidently.
"I'll control the ball, pass it back if there's no opportunity, or shoot if the moment is right. I'll also act as the point guard," Renji added. They fist-bumped, signaling their readiness, and faced their opponents with renewed focus.
"Are you ready?" Kishi asked.
"Yes!" Renji responded.
Renji executed a series of dribbles, moving the ball from his left to his right and then back to his left. However, he almost lost his balance and had to halt his movement. Kishi took advantage of this, causing Renji to fall to the floor.
"Wow, ankle breaker!" Shin shouted in disbelief.
Kishi swiftly moved towards the hoop and passed to Jin, who dunked the ball with impressive force. They repeated the alley-oop tactic successfully for a second time, forcing Renji to reassess his opponents with a renewed sense of respect.
The score was now 3-3. Jin became increasingly serious and seized an opportunity to steal the ball from Kishi, sending it out of bounds.
"Tsk!" Renji muttered in frustration.
He was given the ball and raced towards the hoop. After executing a crossover move to evade a defender, Renji attempted a shot, but the ball hit the side of the hoop and missed.
"Tsk!" Renji cursed again.
Shin retrieved the ball and passed it back to Renji. Seeing an opportunity, Renji took the shot, but Jin's towering presence resulted in a block. Renji's pride took a hit as his efforts were continuously thwarted. His shot was blocked!
The team struggled with missed shots, and Renji found himself playing center, focusing on rebounds. Despite Renji's five rebounds, the score remained 8–5 in favor of the opposing team.
Renji positioned himself under the hoop and briefly assumed the role of a temporary center. He passed the ball to Shin, who attempted a shot. However, the opposing team's point guard managed to block several of their passes, and Jin continued to aggressively pursue dunks.
The score climbed to 10-8. Renji made several attempts under the hoop, including a board throw from the side of the court, which resulted in only one successful shot landing in the hoop.
The score was now 11-9. Renji made a simple pass to an open ground without anyone and he dashed, chasing after the ball and grabbed it. It look like he passed to himself and took another shot, which swished through the hoop, making the score 11-10.
Renji then dashed down the court, took control of the ball, and dribbled towards the basket. He attempted a dunk, but Jin's quick reaction resulted in another block. Jin grabbed the bouncing ball and dribbled it up the court with impressive speed and agility.
"Watch," Jin said with a smirk. He dashed, demonstrating his slashing skills and crossed over Renji before executing a one-handed dunk that sent the ball slamming into the hoop. A very powerful Forward that could slash and dunk, but also an aerial Center!
The score was now 12-11. Kishi and Jin celebrated their victory with enthusiasm. Despite Shin's defeat, he acknowledged that the game had been challenging. As a result, Shin and Renji went out for burgers and soft drinks, with Shin making a light-hearted comment about Renji owing him.
"Hey, you're in debt with me. Pay me later," Shin said, slightly irritated. "If you had kept your emotions in check, we might have won."
Renji accepted the criticism with a bitter smile but enjoyed the meal nonetheless. They sat on the bench by the court, savoring their snacks while engaging in conversation. The others were chatting, and for a moment, the group fell silent.
"Where are you from?" Kishi asked.
"I live a few streets away," Renji replied, taking a bite of his burger.
"I meant, where do you go to school?" Kishi clarified.
"I'll be enrolling at Shukaku Academy. What about you?" Renji asked, now curious.
"Then we'll see each other soon," Kishi said as he stood up, adjusting his jacket. "That's all for now. We'll be going. Bye!"
With that, Kishi, Jin, and Shin left, while Renji reflected on the game. Despite his lack of recent exercise, he was pleased with his performance and wondered how much better he could become with more practice. However, the next morning, his body ached from the previous day's exertion, a reminder of the physical toll of his first memorable play.