2 Chapter 2__: Junior High School (2)

AN__: I know Mitobe is mute. However, he will not be in this novel since I don't know how to write about a silent character. I revised this chapter multiple times because of that. If you can't deal with it, you're allowed to leave.

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"Pass!" Yelled Shinji as he got rid of his defender and ran to the left wing on the frontcourt, his defender quickly running after him.

*Pah*

Receiving the ball, he did a quick jab-step with his right foot before driving past his defender on his left side. Leaving the latter unable to follow as his center of gravity shifted to the left. Seeing the opposite C run toward him as he approached the basket, Shinji suddenly stopped near the high post before throwing the ball in a text-book-like form, scoring two points for his team. Unguarded, he would rarely miss an elbow shot.

*Swish*

All net, not even the rim was touched!

"Good ball, Koganei!" The coach on the side-line praised while the teammates looked surprised by Shinji's improvement. Although this is not their first intra-team match since school restarted, they still can't believe someone could improve so much with only one month of training.

Nodding at his coach, Shinji returned to defense. On his side, a tall kid, 183 Cm in height, gave him a thumbs up before speaking. "I can't believe you grew 5 Cm in one month and became this good. Now you're almost as good as Hideki." Said Mitobe as he rushed to his backcourt with Shinji.

"Thanks, Mitobe-kun. Growing in height made me more confident in myself. Now, I can do things I didn't dare do in the past." Explained Shinji, a smile on his face. He's 175 Cm now. He grew by five centimeters in one month thanks to his professional training. Plus, he became a much better player as he kept practicing. He can be said to be close to the team's best player in terms of strength, who's already been recruited by Senshinkan High, one of the better teams in the Tokyo area.

Thankfully, Shinji is a small forward. So he doesn't have to compete with that guy for a place on the team. He wouldn't fair that long against him, otherwise.

As Shinji was thinking, the opposite PG and best player on the team, Hideki Mori, dribbled the ball up the court. The man was the same height as Shinji, 175 Cm, but he looked much thinner. Although a month of training isn't enough to increase strength exponentially, Shinji's physique improved. At least he will not lose to Hideki in a physical battle.

Quickly passing the half-court line, Hideki stopped at the top of the key and looked at Shinji with a cold expression. Surprised by that stare, Shinji suddenly saw the man call for a screen. Hideki's C immediately ran to him, giving him a solid and standard screen, allowing the fast and agile point guard to drive past his opponent and directly face the opposite C. 

However, that wasn't a problem for him. What's the most considerable difference between point guards and Centers? It is speed. 

So, Hideki flew past the taller man with a quick change of direction and laid the ball into the hoop.

*sounds of someone clapping!*

"That's what I'm talking about, Hideki! I told you they couldn't guard." Yelled the coach, excited that two of his players were having such an exciting battle. However, in the back of his mind, he started thinking of ways the two could help each other play better on the field. 

...

'He's pretty good. If only he had a stable three-pointer, he would be even more dangerous on the court.' Lamented Shinji as he ran up the court, getting into position. After his team's PG dribbled the ball up the court, he immediately gave the ball to the team's SG on the wing, afraid that he'd lose the ball. He was facing Hideki, one of the better perimeter defenders on the team, after all.

As arrogant as he is, Shinji would never allow someone as bad as that guy to be his point guard. However, he doesn't have much power in the team. So, he might restrain his personality by a notch until he gains more influence. 

Showing great performances during intra-team games is a good way to accelerate that gain.

So, Shinji ran from the left corner, alongside the baseline, to the right corner while using Mitobe's screen to open. The ball came to him as soon as he asked for it. Looking up, he noticed his defender was more than two meters away, so he immediately shot the three-pointer, scoring another goal.

While high-fiving Mitobe and thanking him for his high-quality screen, Shinji returned to his backcourt, ready to defend.

"Mitobe, can you defend that Center? Hideki might ask for another screen, you're more suitable to defend against that." Shinji asked, slowly running back, alongside Mitobe. The teenager looked at Shinji with a surprised expression. He had never seen his friends take the initiative on the basketball court.

Mitobe was surprised, but he still followed Shinji's instruction as it made sense. He was afraid the coach would sermon them later for doing that, though. 

"I will do that. I don't think Susugi would mind doing that." Responded Mitobe before slightly accelerating to discuss with their team's C, who's a substitute during formal games.

Nodding his head, Shinji looked at Hideki with a smile. 'He's trying to compete with me, even though our skill sets are different. Let's see how much I can push him.' Thought the reincarnated man as Hideki arrived at his backcourt.

Again, as soon as Hideki came up, he asked for a screen from his C, taking Mitobe away from the paint. Running past the screen, Hideki noticed the open lane and drove toward it to make another layup. Mitobe tried to stop him from shooting a mid-range, effectively slowing Hideki. However, the man still managed to pass him with his unimaginable speed.

A smile started forming on his face as he gathered the ball, ready to lay it into the hoop. However, as soon as Hideki finished his first step, he felt someone's breath on his neck, gravely spooking him, and prompting him to pass the ball to the corner where that breath came from.

That pass was instinctual. Even Hideki himself didn't think he could make it so fast. It surprised everybody, but the play had to continue as the ball reached the opponent's SF.

The SF thought he was open. However, as soon as he caught the ball, Shinji, who went to help defend the paint, appeared, prompting him to protect the ball.

Noticing that he might lose the ball, he dribbled it and tried to distance himself from Shinji. Unfortunately, as soon as the ball touched the floor, it got snatched by Shinji, who immediately ran toward the frontcourt, ready to score.

As one of the fastest players on the team, even before his month of training, nobody except Hideki could keep up with Shinji. As he reached the free-throw line, he noticed Hideki approaching him. So, he deliberately slowed down and allowed the PG to get close to him before starting his layup. However, before he jumped, he purposefully bumped into Hideki, prompting the referee to call a foul while he scored the ball.

"Good ball! This is basketball!" The coach, more hyped than Shinji, who scored the basket, jumped up and yelled. Since school restarted a week ago, he noticed his player's improvements. Hideki's vision has widened, and his usage of the pick-and-roll tactic has become more exquisite, while Shinji's scoring ability and defensive awareness have increased exponentially.

'As long as we avoid in-fighting, we will make it to the semi-finals of the Winter Cup this year!' He excitedly thought as Shinji scored the free throw. 'With this team, only those monsters should be able to beat us.' He thought again, looking at his two players as if looking at billions of dollars.

The game continued as Shinji and Hideki showcased their skills. Although they did not score every basket, they at least contributed to others' scores.

Shinji used his offensive threat to attract double teams, allowing his teammates to have open-shot opportunities, while Hideki did his best to help his inside players score by using the pick-role tactic. In the coach's mind, he can already think of the cooperation between the two players.

Hideki is a ball-dominant player who has a good sense of rhythm. He can dictate the pace of the game. Shinji, on the other hand, doesn't need the ball in his hands to shine. He is the most versatile scorer on the court. Plus, he has amazing defensive skills.

The two players complement each other very well, giving the coach a headache on how to help them play together better.

'If we had a stronger C, having a tough game against Teiko wouldn't be a dream.' Lamented the coach as he glanced at Mitobe and the primary C of the team. They are good but not good enough to be a threat against high-level competition.

'If I knew Koganei would be this good, I would've tried my best to get a talented C!' He thought again, shaking his head. Unfortunately, both Hideki and Shinji would graduate after the Winter Cup.

...

"Alright, huddle up!" Yelled the coach, prompting the players to gather around him. Seeing that everybody was present, he started speaking.

"I can see that most of you didn't slack off during vacation, and I'm happy with that." He started and looked at Shinji for a second before continuing his speech. "There are still two months before the start of the Winter Cup preliminaries. So, we need to strengthen the cooperation between our two core players." He stopped and pointed at both Hideki and Shinji before continuing.

"These two are our best players. We must find ways to showcase their skills better." He stopped and looked at Mitobe and the starting C. "You must increase the screens you do for the two of them. The level of the screens must also be elevated. I don't care who it is. Even Micheal Jordan must be stopped by them." He finished with a solemn expression, prompting the two teenagers to nod their heads.

Finishing that, he looked at the other players and commented. "The other players must also learn how to run around the court. Never stay in one place, waiting for the better players to score the ball." He started, looking at some of them. During the intra-team game, some people stopped running as Hideki and Shinji started showing their skills. 

The coach didn't want that to happen during formal games, so he addressed it. He would not point at anybody, but the concerned people knew he was talking to them.

"I want you to run more and force the opponent to follow you. To do that, you must have great awareness and consistent shooting skills. I will help you improve before the preliminary starts. So, you don't have to worry about that." He stopped, looked at the slightly hesitant players, and sighed. 

Everybody wants to be the team's star, but their talents don't match the actual stars. 'They are going to accept it.' Thought the coach as he reminisced about his past. He played professionally and even captained a team. However, he was never a star player. He was never good enough to be a certain team's star. So, he understood how his players felt.

Unfortunately for them, the sooner they accept that fact, the better it will be for them. You're not talented enough to lead the team, so develop in a way any team would need you. The star players can't win games alone. They need pieces around them, and the role of those pieces is extremely important. 

"Hideki and Shinji have good passing levels and can find you if you're open, so run and make the open shots when you have them. Everybody will shine as the two of them are not selfish. Did you hear me?" 

"Yes, sir!" The players enthusiastically responded after the coach finished his speech. Although they haven't fully accepted their roles, they're enthusiastic about the Winter Cup. 

They made it to the Inter-high competition, but they faced Teiko Junior High School in the Quarterfinals and lost by 18 points. However, Yuuki Junior High is the second or third-best team in the Tokyo area.

...

'He's a good coach!' Muttered Shinji as he drove his bicycle home. Although Shinji decided to stay in the basketball team because he wanted to feel how strong the renowned generation of miracles was, he feared their coach wouldn't be at a decent level. However, this week of training made him cross that thought out.

'At the Junior High school level, he's the best coach I've met yet.' He thought, smiling as a sudden thought came to him. 'Should I invite him to coach Seirin once we form the team? Riko Aida can be the manager and help him control the team better.'

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A couple of days later.

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In the quiet moments after their basketball practice, Mitobe found himself standing on the court beside his friend, Shinji Koganei. The setting sun cast long shadows across the empty court, but the weight of Mitobe's request made it feel as if time had stood still.

Koganei, known for his easygoing nature and penchant for humor, couldn't help but tease Mitobe, who stood before him with a determined expression.

"Hey there, Mitobe! What's got you looking so intense today? Did someone steal your lunch?" he playfully remarked.

Mitobe, usually a man of few words, took a deep breath and finally spoke up. "No, nothing like that, Koganei. I've been watching you get better every day, and I want to get stronger too. I want to help the team win the Winter Cup."

Koganei arched an eyebrow, realizing the depth of Mitobe's request. He decided to drop the jests and nodded with a serious expression.

"All right, all right, I'll stop with the jokes. What's on your mind, buddy?" Koganei asked sincerely.

Mitobe continued, "I want to improve my skills, Koganei. I want us to get stronger together, so we can make a real difference on the court."

Koganei's playful demeanor faded as he grasped the depth of Mitobe's plea. Placing a hand on Mitobe's shoulder, he responded with sincerity.

"Alright, Mitobe. I'm in. Let's get stronger together and help our team win the Winter Cup. No more messing around. We'll give it everything we've got."

A rare smile broke across Mitobe's face, and he offered a nod of gratitude.

"Thank you," Mitobe said, his voice filled with determination.

Koganei reciprocated the sentiment with a grin, lightening the mood once more.

"No problem, buddy! Just promise me one thing – no more of those intimidating stares during practice. We'll leave that to Hideki."

Mitobe chuckled, and the two friends continued their conversation, discussing their training plans and goals for the impending Winter Cup. Though Koganei might have experienced a remarkable transformation, his unwavering dedication to his friends and the game of basketball remained a constant force in his life.

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A couple of weeks later.

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"How are you growing so fast? You're taller than me now." Complained Akane as she looked at Shinji, who was getting ready for his daily morning run. Although not much, Shinji's height increased by another 3 Cm, shocking his big sister, who was proud to be taller than a basketball player.

"I don't know. Maybe God wants me to be the tallest in this family." Answered Shinji as he finished tying his shoes before stretching his body. Rolling her eyes, Akane did the same, ready to start her daily running session with Shinji.

An hour later, Shinji and Akane finished their running session and went to the basketball field. Arriving there, Shinji found a tall figure waiting for him. Looking closely, you could see Mitobe standing in the middle of the court, accompanied by his little siblings.

"Did you have to bring them with you?" Asked Shinji, worried that the little kids would get hurt while training.

"Don't worry. They said they wanted to learn basketball, so I brought them to you. Don't worry! My mother agreed to let them come." He answered, a wry smile on his face. Mitobe is the type of person who can't say no when asked to do something unless he thinks it's immoral. That's why some people call him a pushover behind his back. However, he doesn't mind even though he knows about it.

"Well, you start them early. Maybe they'll become basketball stars in the future." Shinji shrugged his shoulders and answered, getting ready to start training.

Since that intra-team training game a month and a half ago, Mitobe has been training with Shinji on this outdoor basketball court. With Shinji's professional training, Mitobe's physique and technique increased exponentially. He grew from 183 to 186 Cm(His height at the start of the show), showing his lack of professional training. His inside skills have also developed. Although he can't compare to players like Murasakibara and Kiyoshi, he's one of the better inside players in Tokyo, at least at the Junior High School level.

After their usual dribbling training, Shinji walked up to Mitobe and spoke.

"How do you feel?" He asked, as Mitobe also finished his dribbling training.

"I feel like I could become a guard, at least in this team." Answered Mitobe, prompting a smile to appear on Shinji's face. However, it quickly disappeared as he reminded Mitobe of some things.

"Don't grow conceited. Having better dribbling and being more flexible is your advantage over inside players. You can use that to your advantage." Started Shinji. Noticing that Mitobe nodded his head, he continued. "However, to be more dangerous, you must learn mid-distance shots. We will focus on that since we only have two weeks until the start of the Winter Cup preliminaries." Mitobe nodded before subconsciously looking at his siblings, ensuring they were right.

However, upon noticing Akane supervising their dribbling training, he sighed and looked at Shinji. "Let's start. I don't want to drag the team down."