Chapter 21 - Shooting Guard

Next day at School

A lot boys are excitingly lined up outside the gym. Among them is Faust with his bored expression and William who was cautiously glancing left and right.

"Man, can you stop doing that. You look like you've done something illegal. Can't you just stay still?"

"I'm just a little bit nervous."

"Nervous of what? Are you going for a try out too?"

"No... I'm just nervous for you."

"Heh, that's unnecessary. Watch how I'll make the coach's jaw drop."

"Has anyone told you that you're arrogant?" William scoffed.

"That's called confidence brother, no big deal. Are you proficient in Math? Physics maybe?"

"I know some advance math. Why?"

Faust didn't answer and just keep his smug face which annoyed William greatly.

Then they heard a voice calling out from inside the gym.

"Next!"

Finally, it was Faust's turn. He patted William's shoulder before going in.

"Good luck, Faust."

"I'm always lucky."

When he went inside, he startes to observed his surroudings. They are in an enclosed makeshift office and he saw a young guy, probably in his 20's sitting behind the desk while tapping the ballpen he was holding on his notebook. He wore a track suit and a whistle slung over his chest like a necklace.

"Hi, Mr..?"

"Rodriguez."

"Right, Mr. Rodriguez. I'm assuming you are the assistant coach."

"How do you say so?"

"Well, you are quite young and coaches doesn't always held pen and notebook because they tend to observe rather than take notes."

"You got keen sense of observation."

Faust just shrugged.

"Interesting, but..."

He looked at his notebook and found Faust's name before continuing.

"..Mr. Valentine, we're not here to play Sherlock. We're here to play basketball."

"Wow, that's a good one! Nice line you got right there. But you know, Mr. Rodriguez, as far as I'm concerned, I can certainly read properly and I'm pretty sure I'm not lost." Then Faust gestures towards the signed on the entrance that says 'Basketball Tryout'.

"Very well, have you ever played basketball?"

"Yeah?" Faust was actually not sure how to answer that since played basketball before his crossing, not after becoming Faust.

"You know the rules of the game?"

"Of course!"

Then Mr. Rodriguez grabbed a basketball and threw it at him. Faust unconsciously catched it. Realizing this, he became relaxed. He could feel that he still had it inside him.

Without waiting for Mr. Rodriguez instructions, he began to dribble the ball in basic first until it becomes complicated showing some tricks of crossover, in and out, faint and spin move.

Faust made it look easy because there's no opponent and he was just trying to show off but if there were, it would be harder to pull it off. However, this is enough for him to pass this preliminary interview and head on to the actual try out.

"Impressive, you really know how to play. Alright, get on to the court."

"Thanks!" He then pass the ball to Mr. Rodriguez before going through the double doors where the basketball court was.

Inside the court, he saw lots people on the bench including Darcy and William. They are craning their neck to find him and after they spotted him, they wave their hands and shouted his name.

He was a bit embarrassed but he raised his hand and pointed at them acknowledging that he can see them.

He went to the coach who was standing not far away with his hands crossed while watching the players like a hawk.

"Hello, Coach."

"Go ahead and get your ass on the court. Just follow the drill." The coach barked in an irritated tone.

Faust didn't take it to heart and said, "Got it."

He strictly follow the rule that first impression last longer so he didn't complain and just do what he's told.

He started with stationary drill, zigzag drill, full court drill, then cone drill. He manage to pass these drills exceptionally cause he knows that the coach is watching.

After a few minutes, they heard the coach's whistle for assemble. Faust was one of the guys who run rather than those who walk. The coach noted them silently.

"Next is 3-man weave drill. Begin!"

The coach shouted.

Faust and another two guys sprang into action as soon as they heard it. The three immediately positioned themselves in the court while Faust started it. They didn't know each other and they didn't talk, just eye communication. They completed the drill in 3 rounds full court before the coach signaled for the next.

After a few minutes, the coach whistled for another assemble and announced the preliminary elimination.

"You, you, you, and you..Stay! You also stay big guy and you the guy with green eyes and sarcastic look. The rest can go." The coach pointed continuesly among the crowd.

Faust wasn't surprised that he was included on those who stayed but he was a bit annoyed of how the coach described him.

"My name is Scott Hedger and you can just call me coach Hedger. Or just coach would do."

"Those of you who have stayed are the new added players I've chosen for the team. Don't worry, you'll meet them soon. Now in this paper, I need you to fill out your name, jersey number and your position to the team. After that, group yourselves into three cause we're going to have a 3 on 3 match."

Faust went forward and received the paper from the coach before writing in his details. He wrote his name, put in number 0 for the jersey, then put in Shooting Guard as position.

After that, he greeted the other two players who partnered with him during the 3-man weave drill and proposed to form a team. The two guys doesn't have a problem with it so they accepted his offer. Faust talk a little more with them and found out their names.

The tall black guy was named Mike who is a power forward and the latino guy was named Spencer in which he holds the position, point guard.

"Okay, let's start." The coach announced and then he whistled.

The ball was on Faust Team as a start and Spencer was carrying the ball towards the opponent's basket. Spencer was skilled in dribbling as he performs his maneuver through the opponent. Faust shrink their distance a little while Mike went under the basket.

Spencer was eventually cornered and he saw Faust was available outside the 3-point line area. He quickly threw the ball at him which Faust managed to catch.

The moment he held the ball, he thought it was a good chance to practice his Overdrive.

When he activated it, he entered slow motion. As his brain was running in high-speed, he saw an imaginary calculations of lines, angle, velocity and force in order to score. Then he deactivated Overdrive again which only lasted less than a second before he made his shot.

Whoooooosh fwap!

First score belongs to Faust's team with three points. But they didn't let their guard down. Spencer manages to steal the ball which made Mike and Faust run for the basket.

Spencer tried to go inside but was blocked by their opponent's center so he passed the ball again to Faust who was still free. The opponent team probably thought it was just luck when he scored 3 points but they were proven wrong when Faust scores another 3 for their team.

'It's funny using Overdrive when shooting the ball. This is feels like Slamdunk, where Kogure takes his shot and it took one week before the ball could land." He thought amusingly. He shook his head to get away from distracting thoughts and focus his head on the game.

Now it was another time for defense, Faust team played it safe on their defense, not engaging for a foul so the opponent's center managed to score under the basket.

Now it's their turn for offense. Spencer carries the ball and looked for an entry. He turn his eyes on Faust where he saw two opponents guarding him and then looked at Mike who had no one guarding him so he threw the ball near the basket. Mike on the other hand caught Spencer's eye signal and jumped up for an alley-oop which he slammed into the basket.

Bang!

Coach Hedger who was watching the game intensely caught the team work and the eye signals between the trio. He couldn't help but mutter in excitement, "These three punks are good."

As the game progress, Faust team were able to dominate the game scoring 63 in 12 minutes mostly due to Faust scoring three every time he shoots.

Faust scores 33 points, Mike scored 18 points and Spencer scored 12 points. While the opposite team only managed to score 30 points overall.

The game match ended and coach Hedger gather them once again.

"Congratulations, guys. You are now officially part of the Culver Knights Basketball team. You have to attend every practice and I don't want anybody coming late or absent, are we clear?"

"Yes coach!!"

"Practice starts at 9 in the morning, every Thursday and Friday, you got that?"

"Yes coach!!"

"Alright then, see you punks! By the way, Faust you stay."

Faust exchanged glances with Spencer and Mike before he shrugged. He didn't move as the other players started to leave.

Then coach Hedger approached him.

"Kid, I see how you throw the ball as if you knew it'll never miss. How are doing that?" Coach Hedger asked curiously.

"Oh that? Well I used math."

"Are kidding me? Math? What math?"

"Well, when position myself outside outer ring, I already calculated the distance, angle and the force I need to exert in order to get the ball in the basket. So everytime Spencer passes the ball to me, I'm ready to shoot anytime."

Coach Hedger stared at him dumbfoundedly as he didn't expect the answer he'd get. He thought Faust had a technique where he can teach it to other players and he is prepared to hear anything but math.

"I know what you're trying to achieve coach but unfortunately this cannot be thought to just anyone. It involves high speed calculation within a matter of seconds so...."

Coach Hedges sigh in regret but still encouraged him. He patted his shoulder and said, "You will be a good asset for the team, Faust. Keep up the good work."

"That's for sure!" Faust grinned reassuringly.

After talking with his basketball coach, Faust went to the bench where William and Darcy is sitting. The two of them stared at him in awe as they overheard a bit of Faust and his coach's conversation.

"You really used Math?" William asked as he remembered what Faust said during their chat earlier.

"Yeah, I told you! If you have a brilliant mind, imagination is just your limit." Faust confirmed.

"You are so awesome and handsome when you shoot. I'm sure my board mates are going to get excited when they see you. I could use that to my advantage to gain favor." Darcy said excitedly, happy for his friend.

"How dare you sell me out! I think I need to take a part of the benefits you gain from selling me. Say about 70%?

"That's high, how about 5% plus the phone book for the top ten beauty in the campus."

"Deal!"

William watched the two secure their deal like an underground boss of some sort.

Suddenly, Faust realized a new way of using his Overdrive. Instead of activating it in longer duration during the fight, why not activate it for a few seconds and only during critical moments. Since he can use it in Basketball, then he can also used it during Combat. He became excited at the thought and couldn't wait to go home to test it.

This way, the flaw that he found when using Overdrive can be largely minimized so he could avoid overtaxing his body.