It's 9:30pm as we reach the basketball court, a little late for my taste, but whatever I don't see this taking too long.
"How do you want to play? Best of 10 or first to 11." I ask Aomine
(AN: idk why, but in the show they never play to 11 or 21 they just get a point if they score or block a shot)
"First to 11?" Ikehara asks, and before I could answer Momoi begins.
"Most places use first to 11 or 21 in their 1on1 games. It's played like a normal 1on1 but inside the arc is 1 point and outside is 2 points.
The reason you probably haven't heard of it is we usually play a different version where blocks count towards you points as well since we play a round based system. Whoever wins the exchange, wins the round. Hence best of, instead of first to."
"I don't care you choose." Aomine gives the choice to me. While I don't really care either way, I think I'll get more fun out of this if I choose first to 11.
"Hmmm very well then, I choose first 11 and it's make it, take it. Aomine you're on offense first."
"Fine, let's get this started already." You can see the intensity in Aomine's eyes, so I might as well mess with him a bit. Stepping on the court we take our positions, usually this is where I'd get a little serious, but I want to see how he would do against a skilled Kuroko.
Keeping my bored expression I get in a lazy stance, most wouldn't notice, but it has a slight sway to it. The only problem with this sway is that my center of gravity never changes, it just looks like I'm leaning side to side as if drifting in the wind.
Aomine jabs right before doing a quick crossover left and roll back to the right side he just jabbed at. He decided this route while reading my body, however I never said the sway was my problem, it's my opponents problem to deal with. During that first jab he saw my body slightly sway into his path, so he crossed and as soon as he saw me to start to sway left he rolled back to the right expecting to catch me off guard.
The shock on his face when I was back in front of him caused me to smile a little bit, a devilish smirk of a smile. He grits his teeth after seeing my face and picks up his speed, tsk tsk Aomine. You going faster makes it that much easier for me to play invisible.
As soon as completes his drive and he thinks he's passed me I pop the ball out of his hands with a back tip.
[3rd person POV]
The spectators of this match were in equal disbelief as Aomine. The Teiko spectators at least, the rest of the Katagiri members while not knowing how good Ryosei really is, they do know that he's not even serious yet.
"Momoi is that?" Midorima starts ask but leaves the rest unsaid.
"Yes, he's somehow keeping up with Dai-chan, and it's not disrupting his low presence. His misdirection abilities are honestly better than Tetsu's. Uh Uh sorry Tetsu, I just me-.."
"Don't worry Momoi, I was thinking the same thing." Kuroko said with a determined look on his face. They all focused their ears when they heard Ryosei talk.
"Hmm I know you aren't trying or taking this seriously yet, but I'm getting a little bored Aomine. Let's finish this already, my turn to attack. Do try to stop me, it would be unfortunate if this ended too soon."
The Teiko members were surprised as this was the first time they had seen Ryosei like this. His eyes grew sharper with a cold feel to them and his face lost the aloof expression and formed a slight smirk cocked to the right. His stance became serious and he no longer had a low presence, everyone could clearly feel him. Outside the court they could feel it, but inside Aomine felt the air get heavier and it was slightly hard to breath.
"Why did Dai-chan start breathing harder?" Momoi asked.
"Step on the court, this is the Captain when he gets a little serious." Kawahara said while looking on impassively.
Midorima, Kuroko and Momoi each take a single step onto the court for them all to freeze and Momoi along with Kuroko stumble slightly with shocked expressions crossing their face.
"What is this pressure." Midorima grits out before stepping back off the court. While the pressure effected him, it was much less severe for him compared to Kuroko and Momoi.
"That's the Captain's will, intent, whatever you want to call it. When he steps on a court he knows he's going to win, and this is how he lets the opponents know it too.
I've heard of Teiko obviously since you guys are a strong team, but your guys play style must have really rubbed Captain the wrong way. I've only seen him more serious than this once, but he was also angry that time, so I can't be sure if it's the same." Kawahara once again spoke up for the Teiko members while Midorima pulled the frozen Kuroko and Momoi off the court.
[back to Ryosei POV]
"Hehehe sorry Aomine, maybe I shouldn't have tricked you with the misdirection to start the match. That was a little unfair of me. Let's reset, please try to keep up. I have been looking forward to playing against you and Teiko after all."
He stands their still shocked for a second before he finally gets into stance to guard me. He gains a wild grin of his own along with an almost crazy glint in his eyes. Yes, gets serious Aomine, show me what you can do.
"Here I come."
I jab right then crossover left before rolling back right, Aomine is surprised for a second but he buries it as he struggles to keep up. Right as he catches up I hard stop, causing him to try and follow but right as he's about to come to a full stop I charge past him again leading to him stumbling as I put in an easy layup.
A frown comes across my as I look back at him, he's already standing back up but he's just so slow.
"Please keep up, this isn't even my fastest." I say coldly before getting ready to defend. Maybe I'm being too hard on a 12 year old Aomine, he hasn't had time to bloom yet. While I've practically been training since I was a young kid. Specialized training menus from my dad to make sure my body progresses at my ideal rate to keep up with my basketball skills.
However I'm still limited by my own body, even if it is at the peak of a middle schooler, that's nothing compared to a peak high schooler and above. I could still beat a high schooler just because of my basketball skills, but if I played a high school Kagami or even a high school Aomine I'd likely be crushed. I guess that's why I'm so disappointed with this match, I came here naively expecting Generation of Miracles Aomine.
*sigh*
"Sorry Aomine, I think I came here expecting too much from you. Let's finish this quickly, as we all have games tomorrow."
Everybody seems stunned by my sudden change, and can I blame them. I went from a battle hungry psycho to nonchalant 'let's get this over with'. Oh well, I'm bored and I'm a little upset by that.
Aomine gets in his defending stance, not that it will change much. Watching him closely I bait out some movements with small movements of my own. As soon as he leans forward a hair too much I dash passed him, he slams on his right foot turn around. Although I've already stopped and shot the ball.
2-0
We reset and begin again, I rapidly dribble between the legs and behind my back before hard stepping left drawing him out of his stance. I take a quick step back behind the arc and shoot a 2 pointer.
4-0
It continues you like this for the rest of the match with score ending 11-0. Aomine while not in his hands and knees, had knelt to one knee while he breathes heavily and pours sweat. I look at him one last time before going back to my aloof expression and heading off the court. However my teammates noticed I had a slightly annoyed expression that made it through and wisely didn't say anything.
As I passed the Teiko members I spoke.
"Sorry, I got a little annoyed. See you at Nationals. I'll be hoping for a challenge." And with that me and the rest of the Katagiri squad headed to the inn we are staying at near the stadium. They have 3 weeks, the rest of this week is the preliminary tournament and then there is a 2 week period before Nationals, hopefully this will have inspired at least Aomine to get better.
Fully leaving the court I finally see our spy that's been watching our game, Akashi's red hair disappears around a corner. I slight smile crossed my face, let's see what your precious 'I don't know what losing is' mind can come up with to stop me.
"Er Captain was that wise, back there?" Kawahara asks.
"Hmmm, probably not so much. But I'd rather lose to a stronger team than beat a weak one. That might sound strange, but when you're the best at something winning brings little joy anymore if it wasn't a struggle the whole way through.
I had more fun calling play from the bench for you guys than I just did there against Aomine. Only 52% Kawahara."
"Uhm 52% Captain?" Ikehara is now the one to speak up.
"Yes Ikehara, 52%. That's how much I "tried" in that 1on1." I respond casually.
They all stumble a step before quickly falling back into line.
"Haha don't be so surprised, I've told you guys before. I'm a monster compared to everyone else."
They all gulp and feel a chill run down their necks, as they think back to their "practices" and how the Captain easily did all the exercises with them. They knew that I was much better than them, but they didn't realize I was better than everyone else too.
"Ah and remember the teams we will be playing will get better, and I need to blow off some steam. Our first game tomorrow I'm going to be playing seriously, please excuse my selfish play tomorrow."
"How hard will you be playing Captain?" This time it's Arata asking, which makes sense, seeing as how when I play he gets less time.
"Well you see I still have a whole 48% that didn't get used tonight, so maybe I'll burn all that off. Don't worry I'll be done after the first half." I say happily.
"Won't be much of a game after that." Arata mumbles.
"Lunges? Did somebody say lunges?" I ask while turning around, looking from face to face.
""No Captain!"" They all shout with a bow.
"Oh that's too bad, I must have misheard. Anyways everyone hit the bath and hot spring, but don't soak any longer than 15 minutes. Also if I hear anything about you idiots trying to peep, you will play the entire next game while doing lunges, you will shoot from a lunge position, you will dribble and pass from a lunge position. Am I clear?"
""Y-yes Captain!"" They bowed before running off to the bath. I merely smiled and followed after them, they are definitely an interesting bunch. If only they were better. Oh well, they'll probably hit their peaks basketball wise in high school and then go on to join the work force or something. Not everyone has the talent or skill to play sports passed high school.
I wonder what I'm going to do? Am I even going to want to keep playing basketball? I might get bored of it at this rate just like I did with every sport in my last life. Oh well that's a problem for future Ryosei to figure out. I'll hit the bath and hotspring and then go to bed, not that tomorrow will be difficult or anything m. I just really like my sleep.
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Author's Note
Sorry if this 1on1 was disappointing, but Ryosei is just better than an individual GoM in my opinion. None of them have truly gained their broken abilities yet. Besides he grew up with a National team member as a dad who owns his own gym. It was bound to happen where he's better than the GoM.
Also I'll explain Ryosei's annoyance if that wasn't understood. He came to this world because he wanted to play against strong players thinking that he would never get bored against people like the GoM. However now he figured out he over prepared and he's mad. It's just like football and baseball now where he'll just take over a game and the opponents are going to give up.
His only hope is that Teiko will put up a fight, but what is he going to do if he beats them? Guess we'll have to see how I'm feeling if that happens.
Hope you enjoyed.