Chapter 50: Talent

Aizen left early, thinking he would be the first to arrive. But when he walked into the gym, he found Shota already deep in training. Judging by the amount of sweat, he had been there for a while. Shota saw Aizen and stopped training.

Aizen walked up to him, puzzled. He had never seen Shota arrive so early. Was he mentally affected after being beaten by Murasakibara yesterday?

Aizen smiled and said, "Shota, you came early."

Shota scratched his head and said, "Hey, it's okay. I just wanted to practice a bit more."

After a simple greeting, Aizen went to the side to change his jersey. He could see that Shota seemed worried, but if he didn't want to talk, Aizen wouldn't press him. When Aizen finished changing and was pushing a cart of basketballs to practice shooting, Shota finally couldn't hold it in and walked over.

He sighed and said, "Aizen, do you think I have any talent for basketball?"

Aizen looked at him seriously and answered without hesitation, "No."

Shota's mouth twitched. Although he didn't expect comforting words from Aizen, hearing such a harsh answer was still tough. The truth often hurts. Aizen really thought Shota had no talent for basketball. The only reason Shota played a main position was his height, but aside from that, his other talents were mediocre.

Shota smiled bitterly, "Aizen, you always speak so directly. I know I'm not talented, and besides my height, I don't have much to show. Meeting a genius like you makes me feel I'm not suited for basketball. So, I've decided not to play basketball after entering high school."

After saying this, Shota looked like a weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Aizen listened carefully and realized Shota wasn't joking; he was serious. In that case, what else could Aizen say but offer his support?

"Since you've decided, as a brother, I will support you. Just one last thing—basketball isn't just about comparing yourself to others."

Just as Aizen finished speaking, Da He ran into the gym, looking excited. "Aizen, Shota, we aren't out of the competition! The rules have been decided, and we will continue to compete for the top eight in Kanto."

Hearing Da He's excited voice, Aizen was momentarily stunned, then relaxed. It would be uncomfortable for anyone to be eliminated, especially for Aizen, who had strength. Although he always appeared calm, he was actually very nervous. If he were eliminated and didn't make it to the national competition, he would lose face. He had promised to bring his teammates to the national competition, and ending halfway would be a regret.

But fortunately, everything was back on track. Aizen, in a good mood, suddenly remembered Shota, who seemed dejected beside him. Aizen turned to him with a smile, "You can think about whether to play or not later. First, let's try our best to play the next game well!"

Shota was awakened by Aizen's words, and he wasn't as negative as before. Aizen continued, "When everyone is here, let's start a training match. Damn, my hands are itching!"

...

People soon arrived at the gym. Once everyone was gathered, Aizen led his teammates in warm-up exercises. Then they split into two teams and started a training match. The teammates were confused about the captain's intentions. Yesterday's game was so intense that many hadn't fully recovered. They expected simple training, not a full-on confrontation match.

However, soon after the training match started, they noticed something different. Today, Aizen played completely differently. He didn't shoot once, only passing the ball to his teammates. Even if his teammates didn't have a good chance, he still passed it. If they couldn't score, he would pass again.

In this state of confusion, they entered the last quarter. In that period, the players witnessed something astonishing. The four teammates led by Aizen on the court displayed an unprecedented level of cooperation. Offense or defense, they moved as if sharing one mind. They didn't need to say much or even interact with their eyes. Everyone executed the tactical cooperation that Aizen wanted with perfect synchronization.

In the last quarter, they played a 46:0 score difference. The most important thing was that Aizen didn't shoot at all, and all points were scored by his teammates. The training match ended in shock and awe.

When it was over, the teammates withdrew from this magical state of synchronization. Instantly, they returned to normal, feeling the stark contrast in their strength. Everyone realized that the powerful feeling on the court was thanks to Aizen's influence. Taiga excitedly asked, "Aizen, what is this..."

All the teammates looked at him curiously. Aizen responded with a confident smile, "I call it 'Same Frequency'."

After Aizen's simple explanation, the excitement didn't diminish. Instead, they became even more excited. Taiga and Shota couldn't help but recall the game with Teikō. What would happen if they played against Teikō again in that wonderful state?

With this thought, everyone could no longer control their emotions. At the same time, they sincerely admired Aizen. This guy was truly a genius, improving constantly. He had just finished the game with Teikō and evolved again. It was truly a blessing to have such a genius as their captain!