Chương 37: Chapter 36
The reality is not as easy as I initially thought. Initially, I used to think that Midorima was the least threatening player among the Generation of Miracles. However, after today, I'm not so certain about that anymore. With such noteworthy progress from Midorima, one can only imagine how much the other members of the Generation of Miracles have improved.
Just thinking about it makes my blood boil with excitement. I can't wait for the start of the Interhigh Tournament. After that, Takao and I casually talk, or rather, Takao does the talking while I listen and nod along.
A few minutes pass and then we hear the whistle of Miyaji Kiyoshi-senpai, signaling us to gather as he announces the teams. With only 14 participants remaining, the senpais divide us into three teams. The team with four members is given Miyaji Kiyoshi's little brother to make it fair for everyone. Maybe it's because Midorima and I are already known as great players, but they decided not to let us be teammates.
So I find myself teamed up with a bunch of seniors, while unfortunately for Takao, he is paired up with Midorima, he won't be able to test his skills against him like he wants to. The remaining four players are teamed up with Miyaji Yuya-senpai.
With all the players assigned to their respective teams, my team gathers for a huddle to discuss some basic plans for the upcoming game. Since my teammates are seniors and already familiar with each other, they have a solid team chemistry. As a freshman and new to the team, I feel like I'm not included in their plays.
But I understand where they're coming from and it doesn't bother me that much. They've been together for at least a year, so they know the team's basic plays and have built their team chemistry. It's not surprising that they won't include me as much in the plays, and it's not like they're purposely excluding me. They patiently explain the plays to me so I can understand and participate.
Our huddle was brief as we warmed up and prepared for the upcoming game. Once we saw that both teams were ready, the senpais announced the start of the game. The first match featured Miyaji Yuya-senpai's team against Takao and Midorima's team.
Miyaji Kiyoshi-senpai officiated the game and blew his whistle, signaling the players to take their positions for the jump ball. Surprisingly, Midorima was chosen to jump for his team. Perhaps it was because he was currently the tallest player on their team.
The two players lined up for the jump ball, and even though Midorima wasn't a big man, he was still taller than the opposing team's player. As I thought about it, I realized he was actually taller than me, who stands at almost 195cm. I estimated that he was at least 195cm or even taller.
Seeing that the players were already in position, the older Miyaji blew his whistle and tossed the ball into the air. Both players jumped as the ball reached its peak, and not so surprisingly, Midorima won the tip for his team.
Takao, who was playing as the point guard, received the ball as the opposing team quickly got back on defense, while his teammates closely followed for the offense. Positioned at the top of the three-point line, Takao surveyed the court using his Hawk Eye. Immediately, he spotted a gap in the defense and passed the ball to an open player, who happened to be Midorima.
Midorima caught the ball without any hesitation and wasted no time. He immediately pulled up for a shot, setting his feet, while his defender tried to bother his shot. Nevertheless, the defense couldn't faze Midorima as he released his signature high-arching shot. The ball soared through the air and gracefully dropped into the basket, securing the first points of the game.
After they scored the first point, Midorima and his team quickly got back on defense. Now it was the opposing team's turn to go on the offensive. They inbounded the ball to their point guard, who then took it past halfcourt. As the point guard dribbled the ball, he casually surveyed the court.
In that moment, Takao saw an opportunity and went for a steal, noticing that the other point guard was being too casual with the ball. The point guard, however, remained calm and tried to avoid Takao's extended hand. To his surprise, Takao reacted swiftly and anticipated his move. Just as the point guard dribbled the ball from right to left to avoid Takao, Takao managed to sneak behind him and poke the ball from behind.
The ball landed in the hands of one of Takao's teammates, who quickly passed it ahead to Takao, who was already sprinting down the court after the steal. With no defense in sight, Takao gently laid the ball in the basket, increasing their team's score to 5-0.
The game continued, and Midorima's team maintained their momentum. They quickly established a lead of 10 points, making the score 14-4 in just three minutes of play. Miyaji Yuya, who was only in the game to fill a vacant spot, could only watch as his team struggled to keep up. Him taking over the game wouldn't be in his team's best interest at the moment, especially with the coach closely observing their performance.
I watched as the game continued, witnessing Midorima's team completely dominate the other team. I expected Miyaji Yuya-senpai to take charge and turn the tide, given that his team was being blown out by Midorima's team. Surprisingly, he didn't do so.
You could tell from the frown on his face that he wasn't happy with what was happening. Perhaps he didn't want to steal the limelight from his teammates, so he let them be. Ultimately, winning or losing didn't matter as much as the fact that they showcased their abilities.
A few more minutes passed, and the elder Miyaji blew his whistle, signaling the end of the game. The score stood at 40-12 in favor of Midorima's team. In this game, Midorima didn't score as much as he usually does. He only attempted five shots, all of them from three-point range.
The major contributor to their team's performance was Takao, their point guard. He scored only eight points, all of them from fastbreaks. However, he efficiently distributed the ball, and every teammate got a chance to score. Furthermore, his defense forced turnovers from the opposing point guard.
I was so focused on the game that I didn't notice the coach on the sidelines with his main lineup players. He watched the game intently, occasionally jotting down notes in his notebook. Although it wasn't visible on his face, but you could sense his satisfaction with the players' performance, especially Takao, who truly put on a display. In this game, Takao showcased his passing and dribbling skills, but what impressed the coach the most was his vision and decision-making ability.
It is already evident from Takao's impressive performance that he will secure a spot in the main lineup. However, whether he will become the starting point guard of the team is still at the discretion of the coach.
After the game between Miyaji Yuya-senpai's team and Midorima's team concluded, I immediately begin my warm-up routine as my team is up next. I am unaware of which team from the previous match we will be facing, but I am ready regardless of the coach's decision.
I am eager to play the game since it has been a long time since I participated in an organized match. During the break, I could only engage in casual pickup games with kids my age. Unfortunately, I haven't had the opportunity to face off against skilled opponents.
Most of the players I encountered were just casual enthusiasts playing for fun. Although there were occasional visiting teams, they didn't present much of a challenge. Due to this, I am craving for competitive play, perhaps taking after Sakuragi's enthusiasm. Therefore, I am filled with excitement as I eagerly anticipate the opponent I will be facing today.
Just as I was performing my warm-up exercises, I noticed the coach approaching me with a serious expression on his face. Sensing his seriousness, I stopped my warm-ups and greeted him with a slight bow. Coach Nakatani's stern expression made me instantly nervous, anticipating what he was going to say.
After what felt like an eternity, Coach Nakatani finally spoke to me. "Ichigo, as the previous two teams have just finished their game and are still resting, and with the sun almost setting, I don't want to wait for them. So, I have decided to pit you against my main lineup. Do you understand?"
Hearing this, my teammates around me started to worry. They were unsure if they could perform as well against the main lineup as they would against the previous two teams.
Noticing the worried expressions on my teammates' faces, Coach Nakatani quickly added, "Don't worry about facing them. I will talk to the main lineup and ask them to take it easy on you guys." Coach Nakatani reassured them.
Upon hearing the coach's words, my teammates reluctantly nodded their heads, knowing that it was the coach's final decision. While they were concerned about facing the main lineup, deep inside, I was filled with excitement. This was the challenge I had been seeking.
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