Chapter 16

"Hmm..."

"That's not right..."

"Combining the feeling of using ball control..."

"The combination of the Ball Control attribute and the Ball Control Master Badge, the one playing the greater role is clearly that Badge."

"Attributes are just the foundation..."

"How to actually make the attributes effective depends on how one uses them personally, or... relying directly on the Badge; obviously, a Badge like 'Ball Control Master' can fully unleash the power of the base attributes."

At first, Yukimiya Kazuma thought the 'Ball Control Master Badge' was bound to the Ball Control stat, meaning obtaining the Badge would grant the corresponding stat value.

However, looking at it now, given how stingy the growth was from a single training session, it is clearly not the case.

Otherwise, if obtaining one Badge in the future instantly maxed out the stats, the meaning of gaining a fraction of a training value from meditation training each time would cease to exist.

The 'Ball Control Master' badge reward at the start of the game seemed more like a newbie welfare reward; to enable the use of this Badge right at the beginning, the system forcibly boosted the two attributes.

It was just like giving a little sweetness first, then luring you into paying.

"So, the path forward is very clear."

"First, work hard to raise the attributes, so as not to fall into an Awkward Situation later where one obtains a Badge but the attribute value is insufficient to equip it."

Yukimiya Kazuma: "..."

Wait...

How to obtain a Badge hasn't given a single hint yet.

On the other side.

Takehaya Masaki saw Yukimiya Kazuma seemed to be resting on the spot, so he waited a few minutes before coming over.

"This is the training method you talked about?"

"Playing against thin air..."

"Is it really useful?"

Takehaya Masaki couldn't help but ask.

"This is called meditation training," Yukimiya Kazuma said seriously, "and you saw the effect today; it was surprisingly good."

Takehaya Masaki shook his head and said admiringly, "You really are a genius."

It was obvious that being able to come up with such a strange training mode that also improved skills so quickly made Yukimiya Kazuma undoubtedly a genius.

"What about you?"

"Why haven't you left yet?"

"Waiting to lock the door; seeing you training so fervently, I didn't want to disturb you." Takehaya Masaki rolled his eyes at Yukimiya, then suddenly smiled: "However, watching you rely on meditation and playing against thin air, I could even really feel the opponent's movements; it was indeed quite interesting."

Seeing Takehaya Masaki looking ready to lock the door, Yukimiya Kazuma immediately said, "Wait a moment, lock it later... just give me the key, I'll lock the gym last."

Takehaya Masaki heard the implication in Yukimiya's words and asked in surprise, "You want to keep training?"

Yukimiya Kazuma nodded and said, "Yes, I want to practice a bit more; this training mode needs a relatively empty court, and now is perfect. Leave the key there, and I will lock the gym properly."

Having finished speaking.

Yukimiya Kazuma prepared to return to the court to challenge another round of meditation training.

But just then.

He heard Takehaya Masaki behind him say, "Then... I'll stay too."

"Hmm?"

"There is still over a month until the All-Japan qualifiers; I want to try a bit harder. I can't have someone like you, who just recovered from an injury, doing extra training while I, the captain, slack off."

Takehaya Masaki looked at Yukimiya Kazuma seriously, then took off his jacket and pushed the cart full of basketballs toward the other half of the court.

Yukimiya Kazuma watched for a while and found that Takehaya Masaki was mainly training his shooting.

Suddenly, he thought of a question.

"Want to play a few shots to see?"

"Eh?" Hearing this, Takehaya Masaki paused for a moment, "Sure."

Takehaya Masaki came to his senses and quickly arrived at the half-court where Yukimiya was; looking at Yukimiya Kazuma before him, Takehaya Masaki suddenly realized that the look on this guy's face was very relaxed.

When Yukimiya was doing that meditation training, his expression gradually became Grave, and in the end, he even looked like a man-eater; now, however, he seemed quite relaxed.

While thinking, Takehaya Masaki passed the ball to Yukimiya Kazuma and immediately made a defensive move.

The two were of similar height, one 184, the other 189, and their athletic abilities were also about the same; in the past, they each had their own roles, one good at defense, the other good at offense.

However...

Judging from Yukimiya Kazuma's performance today.

Takehaya Masaki knew that in terms of offense, Kazuma was now incomparable.

The next second.

Pat~!

Pat~!

Pat~!

In the silent gym, the rapid dribbling sounds went Pat-Pat!

By the time Takehaya Masaki came to his senses, he had been faked into a stumble and completely lost his defensive position!

Only when standing truly in front of Yukimiya Kazuma did Takehaya Masaki personally experience what level Yukimiya Kazuma's ball control had reached now.

"So strong..."