After speaking, Riko's cheeks grew warm — she felt like she was introducing a new boyfriend to her friends.
'If it's really with Ryōsuke... but he's too perfect, I... oh, what am I thinking!' She quickly dismissed these unbidden thoughts and led Ryōsuke into the gymnasium.
As they opened the door, they found the basketball club members standing in perfect formation.
"Hello, Coach Riko!"
"Welcome to Seirin Basketball Club, Kira-kun!"
"Welcome, welcome!"
The players bowed deeply to them both.
Considering Ryōsuke an important guest of Riko's, they were determined to make a good impression.
Ryōsuke, unused to such a reception, found himself momentarily speechless.
Still, he managed a warm smile and politely introduced himself to everyone.
During the introductions, Teppei studied him carefully. Ryōsuke's muscular build spoke of intense physical training.
He'd heard about Riko's merciless training regimen for Ryōsuke — one so demanding that even the basketball team members would break down after just a few days.
Yet Ryōsuke had endured it all, proving his exceptional willpower and explaining his rise to athletic stardom.
Veins began popping on Riko's forehead as she fought the urge to throttle her team.
But with Ryōsuke present, she forced herself to ask in an unnaturally sweet voice, "Have you all completed the training I assigned earlier?"
"Yes, we've finished everything!"
"Why has Coach Riko suddenly become so gentle?"
"It feels strange..."
"Then let's do some extra practice!" Riko announced with a smile, though her gentle tone carried an unmistakable hint of menace.
"I have a bad feeling about this..."
"I told you this wouldn't work!"
"Help!"
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An hour passed quickly.
Riko guided the players through basic physical exercises, followed by ball handling drills and tactical training.
From his spot on the sidelines, Ryōsuke watched intently, noting how many of their exercises could be adapted for everyday training.
"Let's move on to practice matches. Since we have nine people today, why don't we split into three teams for 3v3 half-court games?" Riko suggested, ready to transition to the next phase.
"Only nine?" Teppei glanced around, then spotted Ryōsuke, "Kira-kun, do you play basketball? Would you like to join us?"
"Me? I've never really played — I only know the basic rules." Ryōsuke said, about to decline with a smile.
His knowledge of basketball came mostly from anime, as he'd never played the actual sport.
But then an idea struck him.
The Thunder Breathing technique he'd obtained from the system specialized in competitive sports, particularly soccer — but could it work in basketball too?
If it did, his ability might have broader applications than he'd first thought. Though basketball and soccer were distinct sports, their fundamental principles shared some similarities.
Ryōsuke realized he might learn valuable lessons to apply to soccer, plus it would serve as a good warm-up.
"I'm not very good though, so please go easy on me." He said with a smile.
"Don't worry—it's just for fun!" Teppei said, leading him onto the court.
He took Ryōsuke at his word; after all, as a soccer player, Ryōsuke would naturally dedicate most of his training time to soccer rather than basketball.
They quickly divided into two teams: Seirin's starting five versus the four substitutes plus Ryōsuke.
Though the starting team was clearly stronger, these practice matches regularly pitted starters against substitutes since the starting players needed more court time together. The final score mattered less than implementing proper tactics.
So even if Ryōsuke struggled with basketball, it wouldn't significantly impact the practice.
As the game was about to begin, the centers from both teams approached the center circle for the jump ball.
"Um, could I try the jump ball?" Ryōsuke asked his teammates politely.
"You want to do the jump ball against Kiyoshi-kun?"
The players were surprised at first, then assumed he was joking and laughed good-naturedly.
Though Ryōsuke stood at a respectable 181 cm (5'11"), Teppei towered at 193 cm (6'4") and possessed explosive physical abilities. The height difference would create a significant disadvantage in the jump ball.
However, Ryōsuke had other ideas.
Observing the basketball practice, he wondered — if Thunderclap and Flash worked for shooting and running, why not jumping?
In soccer, jumping was crucial for aerial duels and intercepting defensive plays.
The theory seemed sound, but he needed to test it. The jump ball would be perfect practice, similar to competing for a header in soccer.
"Sure, it doesn't matter." Teppei nodded with a smile, "This is just practice after all."
"Really?"
Though puzzled, Riko raised no objections. She directed both players to the center circle for the jump ball.
She lowered her right hand and tossed the basketball high into the air—
Both players tensed, waiting for the perfect moment to jump.
❖❖❖
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