The gym echoed with the rhythmic squeak of sneakers on polished hardwood as Coach he glanced at the Rookies Taro, Rukawa, and Watari—then shifted his gaze to the Upperclassmen.
"Alright, listen up!" Hurley's sharp voice cut through the low hum of murmurs. "You've all had your break, but now it's time to see what level you're really at. We're running a scrimmage, Rookies against the Upperclassmen first to 21."
A ripple of excitement ran through the group. Taro glanced at Rukawa and Watari, catching the competitive gleam in their eyes. Across from them, Shin, Hachiman, Tokuchi, and Kobayashi exuded quiet confidence, their experience clear in their movements. Around them, a few other players who had recently been promoted from the practice squad looked eager to prove themselves.
Hurley waved towards the players by the hoop. "New first-stringers, step up. You'll fill out the teams."
From the sideline, the newly promoted players jogged onto the court, their faces a mix of nervousness and determination. Hurley pointed to each in turn. "Yamada and Okabe, you're with the Rookies. Take your shot and show me what you've got. Tanaka, you're filling in at center for the Upperclassmen."
The teams quickly took shape. The Rookies now featured Taro, Rukawa, Watari, Yamada and Okabe. Taro wasn't sure about the other members on his team, but Yamada assured him, "I'm a solid defender. You can count on me to keep their scorers in check." Okabe, on the other hand, smiled sheepishly and said, "I've got a good mid-range shot if you can get me the ball."
Across the court, the Upperclassmen looked confident, believing their experience and teamwork giving them an edge before the game had even begun.
Hurley nodded toward the sideline, where Rin stood. "Rin will keep the score. Let's start the game off with a tip-off."
Tanaka the other newly promoted fist stringer, stepped toward the center circle to take the tip for the Upperclassmen, but Shin placed a firm hand on his shoulder. "I know you've worked hard," Shin said, his voice steady but kind. "But I'm faster and can jump higher. Let me take this one."
Tanaka hesitated, then nodded. "Alright, it's yours."
Shin moved to the circle, squaring off against Taro, who stepped forward for the Rookies. The tension in the gym was palpable as Coach Hurley tossed the ball high into the air for the tip-off. Taro's eyes locked onto the ball, his timing impeccable as he jumped with precision, his hand already in position to make contact.
But Shin's superior athleticism proved decisive. With his raw power and incredible vertical, Shin soared higher, his fingers brushing the ball first. He tipped it cleanly toward Kobayashi, who caught it effortlessly and immediately started orchestrating the offense for the Upperclassmen.
"Good jump," Shin said to Taro as they landed, a faint smile on his face. "But not high enough."
Taro didn't respond, his focus already shifting to defense as he sprinted back, determined to prove himself in the next play. The game was on, and the Rookies weren't about to back down.
As the ball landed in Kobayashi's hands, the Upperclassmen spread out into their offensive set. Hachiman, true to form, casually drifted toward the corner, looking as though he had no intention of being part of the play. He leaned against the baseline, feigning indifference.
"Hachiman!" Kobayashi's voice cut through the gym, sharp and authoritative. "Move! Get in the play!"
With a sigh, Hachiman jogged toward the top of the key, setting a quick screen for Kobayashi. Okabe who was guarding Kobayashi was forced to stumble around Hachiman's frame, giving Kobayashi a moment of daylight to survey the floor.
"Shin, get up here!" Kobayashi called, gesturing for another screen.
Shin stepped forward with purpose, his massive frame creating a brick wall as he screened Kobayashi's Okabe. The play forced Taro to rotate over, his focus zeroing in on the captain's potential attack. He positioned himself perfectly, ready to contest Kobayashi's drive.
But Kobayashi didn't drive.
Instead, he flicked the ball toward Tokuchi, who was now wide open near the baseline. Tokuchi's smirk widened as he caught the pass, immediately driving toward the hoop. His quick step left Rukawa a half-step behind when he was caught ball watching, but just as he rose for the layup, Rukawa came flying in with his hand reaching up for a spectacular block.
Except Tokuchi had anticipated it.
At the last second, Tokuchi drastically slowed down, baiting Rukawa into overcommitting. Rukawa's momentum carried him forward, his body colliding with Tokuchi's shoulder.
Tokuchi absorbed the contact effortlessly, finishing the layup as the ball kissed the backboard and dropped through the net. He landed smoothly and turned to Rukawa, his grin infuriatingly smug.
The whistle blew sharply, and Coach Hurley's voice rang out. "Foul!" he called
"Gotta be quicker than that," Tokuchi said, brushing off his shoulder theatrically. "Or maybe just smarter."
Rukawa scowled, his fists tightening as he stepped back into position. The Upperclassmen clapped and cheered for Tokuchi as he strolled to the free-throw line, still smirking.
Tokuchi dribbled once, then sank the free throw with ease, completing the three-point play. The Rookies regrouped, their determination rising as they prepared to respond. This was going to be a battle.
Watari took the ball out and dribbled up the court with purpose, his eyes darting around for an opening. The Upperclassmen set up their defense, with Shin anchoring the paint, his imposing frame ready to contest anything in his vicinity. Watari reached the top of the key, hesitated briefly, and then passed the ball into the post to Taro.
Taro caught the ball cleanly, pivoting to face Shin, who was already in a low defensive stance. The gym grew quieter as the matchup came into focus Taro, the first year with a reputation for dominating in the post, against Shin, the Upperclassman known for his physical strength.
Taro didn't hesitate. He leaned in, driving his shoulder into Shin's chest with the kind of brute strength that had worked against every defender he'd faced so far. The collision echoed across the court. But instead of yielding ground, Shin held firm, his body like a wall.
Taro grunted, pushing harder, his muscles straining. Shin didn't move.
"Not bad," Shin said with a grin, his tone calm and steady. "But you're gonna need more than that."
Taro's eyes narrowed. He stepped back slightly, readjusting his approach. If raw power wasn't enough, he'd have to rely on his skill. He faked a drop step to the right, causing Shin to shift, then spun to his left, gaining a sliver of space. The maneuver was fluid, and Taro was ready to rise for his shot.
Just as he turned toward the basket, Tanaka, the Upperclassmen's other center, stepped in to double-team him, cutting off the angle. Taro didn't panic. He kept his pivot foot grounded and surveyed the court, his eyes darting to the corner.
Without hesitation, he swung a wraparound pass beneath the outstretched arms of both defenders. The ball zipped perfectly into the hands of Rukawa, stationed in the corner, ready and waiting.
Rukawa didn't hesitate. He rose for the shot, his form pristine. The ball arced high and fell cleanly through the net, the swish echoing in the silent gym
As the scrimmage pressed on, the game became a heated battle. Taro, though not scoring as effortlessly as in the tryouts, still managed to find the basket when it mattered, using his footwork and strength in the post to create opportunities against Shin and Tanaka. Even so, it was his passing that truly kept the Rookies in contention. His ability to create scoring chances for his team allowed them to keep pace with the experienced Upperclassmen, though his defense left something to be desired. He often struggled to rotate quickly enough on some plays and found himself outmaneuvered when guarding a quicker opponent.
Rukawa, meanwhile, displayed flashes. He slashed to the rim scoring impressive layups and nailed quick pull ups, but the alternating defense from Kobayashi and Tokuchi wore him down, leading to rushed shots or forcing him into bad attacks.
Shin, for all his physical gifts, showed clear limitations. His inability to shoot from any real distance or dribble effectively made him predictable, relying almost entirely on his athleticism. Still, his sheer power and vertical leap were enough to dominate near the rim, making him a constant threat when positioned correctly.
Tokuchi, on the other hand, seemed unusually restrained during the game, his smirk replaced with a tight-lipped expression. Every time he opened his mouth, Kobayashi shot him a sharp look, and Tokuchi visibly clamped down on whatever taunt or snide remark he was about to unleash. It was clear the captain had issued some directive to keep Tokuchi's trash talk in check after his first attack, much to his annoyance.
The Upperclassmen's chemistry though began to shine through midway into the scrimmage. A perfectly executed play had Kobayashi setting a screen near the elbow while Tanaka slipped into the paint to draw attention. Hachiman darted to the perimeter, clearing space, and then a lob pass from Tokuchi soared into the air. Shin came thundering through the lane, leaping well above everyone else to hammer the ball into the hoop with an emphatic alley-oop that left the rookies shaken.
Hachiman became a problem as the game wore on too. While others began to show signs of fatigue, he remained as fresh and relentless as he was at the opening tip-off. Darting into gaps for easy buckets and outrunning the Rookies in transition, his boundless energy seemed limitless. His constant movement disrupted the Rookies' defensive schemes, creating opportunities for the Upperclassmen and keeping the momentum on their side.
Despite the pressure, the Upperclassmen couldn't help but admire their opponents. Taro's composure and sharp playmaking and Rukawa's raw flashes of brilliance, even allowing them to outsmart their more experienced counterparts at times. Tokuchi, visibly annoyed every time Taro caught him with a clever pass or a fake, muttered to Kobayashi during a pause when the ball went out of bounce "These kids… they're monsters."
Kobayashi nodded, his gaze narrowing on the Rookies as a small smirk tugged at his lips. "Yeah, but let's remind them who's still in charge."
As the score reached 20-20, the tension was palpable. The Upperclassmen had the ball, and Hachiman, ever tireless, burst down the court on a fast break, his speed leaving most of the Rookies trailing behind. It seemed like an easy layup was inevitable. But Watari, refusing to give up, sprinted full speed from the opposite side of the court. Timing his move perfectly, he lunged in just as Hachiman rose for the finish, swiping the ball cleanly from his hands and turning the momentum back in the Rookies' favor.
Watari didn't hesitate after his steal, gripping the ball tightly as he scanned the court. His eyes found Taro, who was tiredly jogging toward half court, sweat dripping from his face. Without a second thought, Watari launched a crisp pass to him, the ball cutting through the air with purpose.
Taro caught it cleanly, took a deep breath, and started dribbling down the court. His legs felt heavy, but his determination burned brighter than ever. As he reached the free-throw line, Kobayashi and Shin closed in on him, their combined presence forming a wall of experience and strength. Refusing to let him score on them.
For most of the game, he had relied on passing in situations like this, finding his teammates to keep the offense moving. But not this time. Taro did something completely unexpected.
He side-dribbled awkwardly, looking off-balance before launching into a one-legged fadeaway. The shot looked bizarre his form, his legs almost tangling as he jumped sideways. The entire gym seemed to pause, watching what could only be likened to a fat kid trying to do Dirk's fadeaway in pickup without any practice at all.
Kobayashi and Shin stared, baffled, they were sure the ball wouldn't even make it halfway to the rim and would be an airball.
Swish.
The gym exploded with noise as the ball fell cleanly through the net. Taro landed awkwardly, stumbling slightly, before turning to face his stunned defenders, his chest heaving.
Kobayashi blinked, a disbelieving grin forming on his face. "What even was that?"
Shin shook his head, laughing despite himself. "It was ugly as hell… but damn, it worked."
Taro just smirked, his hands on his hips, catching his breath. "Doesn't matter how it looks. Two points are two points."
Coach Hurley clapped his hands, stepping forward with a rare grin. "Great job, both teams," he said, his voice calm but commanding. "That's the kind of effort I want to see. This season's going to be a grind, but if you play like this every day, we'll be ready for anything."
The players quieted down, turning to listen. Hurley glanced toward Rin, who was standing on the sideline, her clipboard balanced against her hip. "Rin," he called, "I believe you have something to share."
Rin stepped forward "That's right. You all remember Shinkyō Academy from last year's Intercup run?"
Several players nodded, murmurs rippling through the group. Shinkyō Academy hadn't been much of a challenge back then, a solid but unremarkable team that they had beaten handily.
"They're our opponent for next week's practice game," Rin continued, her tone sharp and professional. "Now, before anyone gets too comfortable, you should know they've added a foreign player to their roster this year. I've been told he's athletic and skilled, which could shake things up. Don't expect them to roll over."
Coach Hurley nodded in agreement. "Shinkyō wasn't a problem last year, but basketball's never static. Teams change, players evolve, and surprises happen. That's why I want us sharper than ever. This game is about more than winning it's about building the habits that'll carry us through the season."
He stepped back, pulling out a stack of papers from a folder tucked under his arm. "Speaking of preparation," he continued, "I've put together personalized schedules for each of you. These focus on what you specifically need to improve. Stick to them, and we'll be stronger as a team by next week."
Hurley continued down the line, distributing schedules to every player, even those who hadn't seen much action in the scrimmage. As the final sheet was handed out, he straightened, looking at the group.
"Everything on those pages is designed to push you to your limits," Hurley said. "If you commit to these plans, you'll see the results, not just against Shinkyō, but throughout the season. Stick to it. Trust the process. And remember, we're building something bigger than just one game."
With that, Hurley dismissed the team, the players already glancing over their schedules as they headed toward the locker room. Taro tucked his paper into his bag, his mind already churning with thoughts of the work ahead. Shinkyō was the immediate challenge, a stage set for him to prove himself. It was time for Taro to make his presence known.