Forging my Small Forward

The morning sun filtered through the gym's high windows, casting long shadows across the court. The rhythmic sound of basketballs hitting the polished wood floor echoed as the Sekiro team gathered for an early training session. The tension was tangible—everyone knew what was at stake. The upcoming friendlies were more than just practice; they were the proving ground for who would make the starting lineup.

Akira arrived alongside Kazuya, both looking focused. They had put in extra time over the past few days, and it was starting to show in their chemistry. Kazuya was sharp, eager to prove himself, but Akira's gaze was set on the bigger picture—dominating in the friendlies and showing everyone just how far ahead he was.

Coach Yamamoto stood near the center of the court, clipboard in hand. His sharp eyes scanned the gym as the team finished warming up. Akira noticed how the coach's gaze lingered on him for just a second longer than anyone else. He was aware of Akira's skill, and there was an expectation.

The whistle blew, and the playful chatter between teammates faded. Coach Yamamoto stepped forward, clipboard still under his arm. 

"Alright, listen up! We've got two friendlies ahead. Kadooka Junior High next week and Kamata West Junior High in three. These games are crucial—they're where I'll finalize the starting and reserve teams."

Everyone straightened up, the weight of the coach's words hanging in the air.

"We'll start today with some specific drills," Coach said. "Kazuya, Hiroshi—you're paired up. I want you to work on situational awareness. Kazuya, you need to improve your court vision and game sense. Hiroshi, push him on defense; make him read the plays faster."

Smart, Kazuya really needs to experience more of Hiroshi's experience.

Kazuya nodded, a hint of nervous excitement flashing in his eyes. He had been improving, but Coach wanted to push him further.

Akira, however, was assigned a different task. "Akira," Coach called. "You'll be running pick-and-rolls with Mitobe. Koganei, you'll be defending."

Mitobe, the quiet, reliable player who never spoke, gave Akira a short nod. His presence on the court was solid, a pillar to work with in this drill. Koganei, known for his hustle and quick reactions, flashed Akira a confident grin as he bounced the ball.

The team broke off into their groups, and the gym quickly filled with the sounds of drills. Akira grabbed a ball and jogged over to Mitobe and Koganei, already running through the possible plays in his mind. 

"Let's start simple," Akira said, spinning the ball in his hands. "We'll get faster once we hit our rhythm."

Mitobe didn't respond verbally, just positioned himself, ready to set the pick. Akira dribbled forward, and as Mitobe set a solid screen, Koganei dashed to defend, trying to anticipate Akira's movement. Without hesitating, Akira made a quick move, threading the ball perfectly to Mitobe as Koganei stumbled to recover.

"Nice," Akira said, watching the ball swish through the net. He turned to Koganei, who shook his head with a grin. "You've gotta be faster than that, Koga."

Koganei laughed. "Yeah, well, I'm not guarding some random rookie here."

As they continued running the drill, Akira sharpened his timing and reaction. Koganei upped his defensive intensity, making Akira think on his feet. But no matter how hard Koganei tried, Akira's speed and decision-making outclassed him, and Mitobe's screens were perfectly timed.

Meanwhile, Kazuya and Hiroshi worked on their drills. Hiroshi played aggressively, forcing Kazuya into uncomfortable situations, pressuring him to think faster and make quicker decisions. The scrappy point guard struggled at first, getting caught in traps and losing the ball a few times. But under Hiroshi's relentless defense, Kazuya's instincts sharpened. He started reading Hiroshi's movements better, anticipating his defensive shifts, and making smarter passes and faster plays.

Hiroshi, wiping sweat from his forehead, gave Kazuya a small nod of approval. "You're getting it. Just gotta react faster. Don't hesitate."

Kazuya grinned, catching his breath. "Yeah, thanks. Still gotta work on my handles."

Across the court, Renji was locked in an intense one-on-one drill with Takeo. Renji, known for his stamina and speed, was pushing hard, trying to out-dribble Takeo. But Takeo's sharp defensive instincts were proving to be more of a challenge than Renji had expected. As Renji made his moves, Takeo adapted, gradually figuring out Renji's rhythm.

"You're fast, but predictable punk! Let's see you change it up."

Renji, taking the challenge to heart, shifted gears. He started experimenting with his dribbles, adding more misdirection and speed changes. The battle between them escalated, neither wanting to back down.

Near the baseline, Coach Yamamoto stood watching another pair. Kenta and Daichi were working together on their mid-range shots. Kenta, with his massive frame, had developed impressive strength, but his shooting technique needed refining. Daichi, smaller and quicker, was more accurate but lacked Kenta's power.

"Focus on form, not just muscle," Coach Yamamoto said as he held a long wooden block up to mimic a defender's outstretched arm. "Kenta, you need to get your release point higher. Daichi, keep your feet steady."

Kenta's shots thudded against the wooden block several times before he adjusted, finally getting the ball to arc perfectly over the obstacle and into the hoop. Daichi, with his refined technique, was more consistent but found the added pressure from Coach's block challenging.

"Come on, Daichi, you've got this," Kenta grunted after sinking a difficult shot. "Just pretend there's no block."

Daichi, gritting his teeth, adjusted his shot, launching it with a clean, high arc. The ball swished through, and he sighed in relief.

Coach nodded approvingly. "That's better. Remember, accuracy beats power every time."

The intensity in the gym grew as the drills continued. The sweat, the effort, the pressure—they were all pushing each player to their limits. The real-life drills Coach implemented today forced them to focus not just on their strengths, but on shoring up their weaknesses.

Finally, after hours of relentless work, Coach Yamamoto blew the whistle. The team gathered, breathing heavily, some slumping over their knees in exhaustion. Akira stood tall, wiping his face with his towel, eyes still sharp, not even winded from the drills. He could sense the others looking at him, the unspoken acknowledgment of his level floating in the air.

"Good work today," Coach said, clipboard under his arm. "But don't get comfortable. The friendlies are just around the corner, and that's when it really counts."

He paused, scanning the group. "Next week, we're facing Kadooka, known for their defense. In three weeks, Kamata West Junior High will be a solid test. They are one of the best teams in tokyo. But no matter who we're up against, what matters is how well you play as a unit."

Coach turned his eyes toward Akira, Kazuya, Kenta, and Renji specifically. "You four—this is your chance to stand out. I expect nothing less than your best."

As they left the gym, Akira slung his towel over his shoulder, Kazuya walking next to him. The friendlies were close, and the excitement was building.

"We've got this," Kazuya said, grinning.

Akira smirked, his eyes gleaming with confidence. "You better believe it."

When it was time to leave, Akira saw Renji frustrated, staring at the basketball in his hands.

It might be a bad idea to ask but...

"Is everything ok Renji?"

"Oh...The great Gold Hearted Exorcist is never bad."

I knew I shouldn't have said anything.

On the way out, Kazuya pokes Akira.

"I was able to watch when Hiroshi and I started shooting training. At the end of Renji and Takeo's 1v1 training, Renji didn't score even once."

Akira widens his eyes, surprised.

Not once? That's weird, Renji was the most ready player of the guys I joined... But I understand what's wrong with him.

Akira starts to laugh, almost villainously. "I have a plan!"

Kazuya moves away a little. "I'm afraid of what you're going to do to him."