Chapter 6: First Game
Even though it's only been 2 weeks the 5 who came to me, Kawahara, Ikehara, Teshima, Otake and Arata, have improved by leaps and bounds. I mean I wouldn't put them at as first string on any of the other middle schools, but they were definitely better than before.
That will have to be enough for our first game of the year. Sadly though after that first day Tao, and Otani quit the team. It's not really like we lost out on anyone good, but it definitely hurts the team as we now only have one person to be on our bench. And besides me, nobody can play the full 4 quarters without a break and depending on how hard I have to try that would be pushing it even for me if I have to do everything.
That's why this game serves 2 purposes:
1. To show these guys those 2 brutal weeks of training was worth it.
And 2. As an advertisement to any Katagiri Junior High students to join the basketball team.
If we go out here and crush our opponents surely some kids would want to join the team.
Our opponents are another weaker team much like us, they do however have 15 players so they won't have the only one substitute problem we have. I will start the game at 30%, I could play the whole game at 70% if I had to but I'd rather not be completely exhausted afterward. It would look better if I barely looked tired to scare future opponents and entice future teammates who will see me as an unstoppable force.
Either way it's game time.
Referee: ""Katagiri Junior High vs Hida Junior High! Match Start!""
*whistle*
As the whistle stops the ref tosses the ball up, Kawahara braces himself to jump as does Hida's jumper. Kawahara is slightly shorter being just 5'10 while the other guy looks to almost be 6 foot, however Kawahara has longer arms and I have been training him in jumping for the tip offs these past 2 weeks.
The first score can set the pace of the first half and I want us to be able to always take the lead at the start. They both leap at the same time, and just like in practice he reached the ball first, sadly he tipped the ball the wrong way and it landed in an opponent's hands and he immediately broke towards our basket. So the game begins.
I told them at the start who to mark and my teammates quickly found their spots not giving up quick and easy passes and I jogged to the guy with the ball, number 8. We get settled with him casually dribbling on his right side looking around the court for an open pass or lane too bad for him I wouldn't give him the chance.
As soon as the ball left his hand again I popped it out and dashed passed him smoothly transitioning into a dribble before pulling up at the arc and sinking a 3. The opponents were shocked, they've played against this team a lot the past years and have always crushed them. They were their punching bags to start the season, Katagiri never scored more than 20 points against them. But now they had Ryosei who not only stole the ball, but casually shot a 3 with all the confidence of a seasoned 3 point shooter.
Number 8 approached me as they crossed back to their side to inbound the ball.
"That won't happen again, that was all luck." He sneered.
"Mmmm no, I think it will happen at least 9 more times. Do try not to let it be you all 10 times would hate for you to get benched." I respond with my usual aloof expression.
"You better get serious or your team is in trouble, I mean that monkey armed bastard doesn't even know how to tip off to his own team."
(AN: From my understanding from the show, calling Japanese people a monkey is like a curse word or phrase? I'm not really sure, I'm terrible with trash talk. Hope that explains what happens next.)
Man what is up with these haughty guys thinking they are good enough to talk like this when they have no championships or hard victories? Ahhh maybe I'll go a little harder, they don't see that good just from seeing their movements. Lets crush them, 50% should be good enough.
"Guys." I say as I turn towards my teammates
"Pass to me for the rest of this quarter, then we'll go back to the normal game plan." I finish casually.
[Short 3rd POV]
With a nod from the other 4 starters of Katagiri everyone on the court could feel the air get a bit heavier. Everyone's eyes naturally gravitated to Ryosei and his normal aloof expression was gone and his eyes were now sharp with a smirk on his face staring down number 8.
"Haha you should really watch your mouth when you can't back up your trash talk. You just made this match that much worse for yourself. I also didn't want to play this hard before the preliminaries, now I'll be on people's radar."
The voice that came out was not exactly the same either, while Ryosei couldn't be described as a happy or jovial person. However they haven't heard his voice this cold, calm and confident before. Even Riko sitting in the audience has only heard this voice one time, Ryosei is angry. Another thing that astonished her is that she could actively see Ryosei's stats rising and this confused her to no end.
What happened next can only be called cheating, unfair, or dominance depending on who you ask. Hida inbounded, but the ball seemed to be replaced with pitch black feathers, the one waiting to catch the ball stood there confused before they heard the sound of a shot being made.
Katagiri 5-0 Hida
Everyone still in shock, even Ryosei's teammates as they haven't seen him move that fast before. This time they got the inbound in, but it was immediately stolen and shot from out side the arc. 8-0. You could see that Ryosei was completely focused on the game and was just waiting on the next inbound.
Again they get the inbound in and finally make it past half court, 3 players are huddled around Ryosei to try and keep him in check. Number 8 thinking that he finally had a chance to shoot, started his shooting motion only to see a hand come out of nowhere and spike the ball down.
Ryosei grabs the ball and starts dribbling, all 5 of Hida standing in front of him. It's been long enough now that he knows their tendencies and what parts of their bodies move first depending on the direction they want to go. 8 specifically swings his arm back in the direction he's going. To the right? His right arm swings back before stepping over with his left foot.
With ball in Ryosei right hand he starts dribbling rapidly and showing off his ball handling. Through the legs, behind the back, finally 8 gets fed up and attempts to spear the ball in anger. Ryosei just crosses the ball to his left and side steps 8, he didn't completely lose balance so he attempts to correct and get back in front, but Ryosei spins back right tripping 8 up causing him to fall in his hands and knees.
The other 4 try to stop him just to get met with quick and precise dribbling as he weaves his way through the remaining 4. While he was doing that 8 tried to get back and stop him, but Ryosei hard stops causing 8 to stumble forward. Stabbing his right foot to stop his momentum he goes to turn just to see Ryo go the opposite, he follows his turn to spin around only to see Ryo cross back and jab step.
This faked 8 out once again as he stumbles once again expecting Ryo to drive to the basket, just for him to pull up and drain another 3.
Katagiri 11-0 Hida
Staring down the opposing team for a small second before resetting and getting ready. 7 minutes still remain in the 10 minute quarter, and unfortunately for the players of Hida it was just more of the same for the remaining time. End of the first quarter saw the score end up being
Katagiri 35-0 Hida
The rest of the game played out with Ryosei back to his usual self and the whole Hida utterly demoralized and too scared to pass, shoot or do anything. This allowed the rest of Katagiri team to get some much needed practice for the remains 3 quarters, not to mention the confidence even if it was against a team that seemed like they may not be fighting back. For a team that had never won a game, they would take it and promised in their hearts to get better, so they could actually help Ryosei.
Final Score
Katagiri Junior High 115-10 Hida Junior High
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Author's Note
Hope this game was easy to follow and understand. Ryosei won't always get angry like this, but he will be similar when he's serious against stronger teams.
Also I think I'm gonna swap to 3rd person for the games unless there are specific moments I want it to go first person, sorry if that's confusing.
Also I know Ryosei is OP he's got to be to compete against Teiko, not to mention we haven't seen all of his abilities yet. These players were just so bad he didn't need to use his abilities against them. Besides the Raven Eyes, that's always active, but it has other abilities we won't see until he progresses even more.
Once again I hope this was fun and easy to visualize, I hope to improve in describing games and plan to only describe games that have notable players from now own.
Hope you enjoyed
Weekly Power Status
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Ranking 
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