Chapter 2

Wait...

That's not right...

I'm supposed to be a power forward, right?

The coach of Hakusuikan Middle School clearly felt that Yukimiya Kazuma's state today was not quite right, but he didn't think too much about it, assuming it was just a lack of confidence after returning from injury.

He immediately reminded him from the sidelines: "Yukimiya, pay attention to rebounds after getting on the court, and control your turnovers!"

In his view, as a middle school-level power forward, Yukimiya Kazuma had decent height and athletic ability, but had major problems at the technical level.

As the starting power forward for Hakusuikan, his strengths were excellent defense and rebounding.

On the other side, Yukimiya Kazuma nodded upon hearing the coach's words.

At this moment, the fourth quarter had just begun. Middle school basketball wasn't the professional 12-minute quarters, but 10 minutes, and there were about 8 minutes left in the game.

The score on the court was 68:62.

Yukimiya's Hakusuikan Middle School was leading by 6 points.

Hakusuikan missed a free throw, and the team's No. 4 center, Masaki Taketou, grabbed the rebound and passed it to the perimeter for a second-chance offense.

Hakusuikan Middle School's possession.

The opposing backcourt rushed out, pressing quite fiercely.

Hakusuikan's No. 7, the second-year player who had just been fouled hard, Daisuke Teruyama, held the ball tightly.

"Pass!"

Suddenly, the shout beside his ear saved Daisuke Teruyama, who was in a dilemma.

However, when he passed the ball and saw the target, his expression suddenly froze.

Senior Yukimiya?

How did he get to that position to receive the ball?

Daisuke Teruyama knew very well that Senior Yukimiya's strengths on the court definitely did not include dribbling. Even in non-urgent environments, his ball-handling offense was quite worrying, and getting the ball stolen after two dribbles was a common occurrence.

Of course, every player had different strengths on the court. Senior Yukimiya was good at interior defensive positioning or providing screens for teammates. The senior himself knew his strengths very well, so a situation like this, where he ran to the perimeter to actively ask for the ball, hadn't happened in a long time.

After receiving the ball, Yukimiya Kazuma did a between-the-legs dribble in place. The ball-handling felt better than ever. He observed the distribution of players on the court with his peripheral vision, and subconsciously, several passing lanes suddenly appeared in his mind.

Is this...

The Playmaking Master badge?!

It fused with him so perfectly, Yukimiya Kazuma's eyes lit up.

The thought of surging confidence flashed through his mind. Facing the tight pressure from the opposing player, he executed a very agile behind-the-back dribble, instantly achieving a state of man-and-ball unity, easily flashing out a breakthrough route.

Then, pushing the ball with his left hand, his footsteps followed closely, and he sped toward the interior.

The Hakusuikan center under the basket, No. 4 captain Masaki Taketou, looked at Yukimiya Kazuma, whose playing style was completely unlike 'Yukimiya Kazuma'. Before he could be surprised, he was astonished to find that the basketball had already pierced through the opponent's defensive line and was passed precisely to his chest.

This receiving point...

He raised his hands in one motion and banked it into the basket!

70:62!

Off the court, in front of the Hakusuikan bench, coach Osamu Niimatsu suddenly widened his eyes.

On the bench, the third-year players who were very familiar with Yukimiya Kazuma were even more stunned.

"Huh?"

"What's going on?"

"What did Yukimiya do while he was injured? Such strong dribbling!"

"Also, how on earth did that ball get through?"

Coach Osamu Niimatsu scratched his graying hair, unable to hide his astonishment. The previous dribbling escape aside, this pass was simply too beautiful!

It precisely penetrated the opponent's entire defensive formation. In that moment of contraction, in the crowded interior, there were three opposing players. If this ball had been off by even a tiny bit, it wouldn't have reached Masaki Taketou's hands under the basket.

Even...

Yukimiya's pass even took into account the receiving point!

That perfect position allowed Masaki Taketou to attack without needing any adjustments, and the defense, whose attention was drawn by Yukimiya, had no one left to provide help defense.

The pass...

Was both fast and brilliant!

"What's going on with this kid?"

"I tried so hard to train him before, but he just wouldn't improve, a total blue-collar player..."

"Did he suddenly have an epiphany after getting injured?"

As the coach of Hakusuikan, Osamu Niimatsu knew Yukimiya Kazuma's abilities too well. This level of passing and dribbling was absolutely not something Yukimiya Kazuma could accomplish.

So, was it just a coincidence?

The two sides switched offense and defense.

The opponent, Yamane Middle School, inbounded from the baseline.

However, Hakusuikan's retreat defense was quite fast, curbing the fast break and forcing the opponent into a positional struggle.

Yamane's No. 6 and No. 7 set a screen at the top of the three-point arc, but Yukimiya Kazuma saw at a glance that this pick-and-roll was just a feint.

Because the quality wasn't high, the deliberate space left was clearly intended to compress Hakusuikan's defensive line, thereby creating an opportunity for a long-range shot.

The next second.

No. 6 indeed made a breakthrough feint, then passed back to No. 7, who was cutting behind him.

Just at this moment, a figure in a light blue jersey suddenly crossed between the two.

White hair flying like snow.

Hakusuikan No. 5.

Yukimiya Kazuma!

To be honest.

Even Yukimiya Kazuma himself felt a bit surprised that this ball was successfully intercepted.

The vision and awareness brought by the passing ability of the Playmaking Master badge were not just reflected on the offensive end.

It also showed excellent effects on defense. Almost the moment Yamane Middle School made the screen move, Yukimiya Kazuma made a judgment immediately.

That is, the opponent's pick-and-roll was just a feint, No. 6's breakthrough was a fake, the screen space left with room to spare meant No. 7 would likely not roll down, and Yamane Middle School would go for a long-range shot.

This was the ability to read the game indirectly brought by 'Playmaking Master'.

*Slap~!*

Under the astonished gazes of everyone, Yukimiya Kazuma completed this sudden steal.

And then he took the lead and sped away!

Yamane Middle School's reaction was not slow either; No. 7, who was on the outermost perimeter, immediately followed in pursuit. Although this No. 7 was only about 175 centimeters tall, he was quite fast.

Yukimiya Kazuma didn't turn his head to observe much. Relying solely on his peripheral vision and the position judgment from when he intercepted the ball, he easily locked onto his teammate who was also following up to support.

With a very short flick of his wrist, the basketball drew an orange arc in the air, a no-look pass that precisely passed through Yamane Middle School's No. 7 and landed in the hands of Hakusuikan's No. 8, point guard Yuji Kasuga.

This pass was still extremely effortless. Although it was Yuji Kasuga who finally scored the layup, everyone's eyes were focused on Yukimiya Kazuma in this instant.

"Hakusuikan's... Yukimiya Kazuma?"

"Senior, Hakusuikan was hiding such an ace!"

"No..."

"This guy Yukimiya Kazuma was just a player with average skills and decent athletic ability before, at least that was the case last year."

"Huh?"

"He didn't play in the first three quarters; I heard he was injured during training."

As the opponent, Yamane Middle School's bench was buzzing with discussion.

72:62!

After Yukimiya got on the court, Hakusuikan scored two in a row, and the point difference had reached double digits.

"Beautiful!!"