Chapter 3: How on earth did that pass get through?!

The coach of Bai Shui Guande Middle School clearly sensed that Yukimiya Kazuma wasn't quite right today, but he didn't think much of it, assuming it was just a lack of confidence after returning from injury.

He then called out from the sideline: "Yukimiya, once you're in, watch the rebounds and keep the turnovers down!"

In his view, Yukimiya Kazuma, as a power forward at the middle-school level, had decent height and athleticism, but his technique was seriously lacking.

As Bai Shui Guande's starting power forward, what he was actually good at was solid defense and rebounding.

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

The game was just at the start of the fourth quarter. Middle-school basketball doesn't use the professional 12-minute quarters, but 10-minute ones, so there were still about 8 minutes left.

The score on the court was 68:62.

Bai Shui Guande Middle School, where Yukimiya was, was leading by 6.

Bai Shui Guande missed the free throw. Their number 4 center, Takefuji Masaki, grabbed the rebound and kicked it out to the perimeter for a second-chance offense.

Bai Shui Guande Middle School's possession.

The opposing backcourt rushed out, pressing hard and sharp.

Bai Shui Guande's number 7, second-year player Teruyama Daisuke—who had just taken a hard foul—clamped down tight on the ball.

"Pass it!"

Suddenly, a shout at his ear saved Teruyama Daisuke from his dilemma.

But the moment he passed the ball and saw who he was passing to, his face went blank.

Yukimiya-senpai?

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

Teruyama Daisuke knew perfectly well that what Yukimiya-senpai was good at on the court absolutely did not include dribbling. Even in low-pressure situations, his on-ball offense was pretty dire—losing it after two dribbles was a regular occurrence.

Of course, on the court, every player has different strengths. Yukimiya-senpai's strength was camping the paint on defense, or setting screens for his teammates. The senpai himself was well aware of what he was good at, so a situation like this—running out to the perimeter and actively calling for the ball—hadn't happened in a long time.

After Yukimiya Kazuma caught the ball, he threw out a between-the-legs on the spot. The feel of the dribble was better than ever. He swept a quick glance at the players' positions on the court, and instinctively, several passing lanes flashed into his mind.

This is…

The Pass Control Master Badge?!

It had fused with him way too well. Yukimiya Kazuma's eyes lit up.

The surge of confidence flashed through his mind and was gone. Facing the opposing player's tight pressure, he put on a slick behind-the-back dribble, instantly becoming one with the ball, and easily carved out a driving lane.

Then he pushed the ball forward with his left hand, his feet following right after, charging toward the paint at full speed.

Bai Shui Guande's center under the basket, number 4 and captain Takefuji Masaki, stared at a Yukimiya Kazuma whose playing style didn't look like Yukimiya Kazuma at all. Before he could even be surprised, he was astonished to find that the ball had already slipped through the opposing defense and been threaded precisely to his chest.

That catch point…

He raised his hand in one motion—bank shot, good!

70:62!

In front of the Bai Shui Guande bench, coach Shinmatsuharu suddenly widened his eyes.

On the bench, the third-year players who knew Yukimiya Kazuma well were even more stunned.

"Huh?"

"What's going on?"

"What did this guy Yukimiya do while he was injured? That dribbling is insane!"

"And how on earth did that pass get through?"

Coach Shinmatsuharu scratched his graying hair, unable to suppress his astonishment. Setting aside the dribble escape earlier, that pass was just too beautiful!

It sliced precisely through the opponent's entire defensive line. In that brief moment, the paint was collapsing and crowded—with three opposing players in there. If that pass had been off by even a little, it wouldn't have reached Takefuji Masaki under the basket.

And on top of that…

Yukimiya's pass even accounted for the catch point!

That perfectly placed spot meant Takefuji Masaki didn't need to make any adjustment—he just raised his hand and attacked. The opposing defense, whose attention had been drawn by Yukimiya, had no one left to rotate over.

The pass was…

So fast, and so clever!

"What's with this kid?"

"I drilled him so hard before and got nothing out of him—a total blue-collar player…"

"And then he gets hurt and suddenly sees the light?"

As Bai Shui Guande's coach, Shinmatsuharu knew Yukimiya Kazuma's abilities all too well. A pass and dribble at this level were completely beyond what Yukimiya Kazuma could pull off.

So was what just happened a coincidence?

The two teams switched sides.

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

But Bai Shui Guande's retreat on defense was extremely fast, shutting down the fast break and forcing the opponents into a grinding half-court battle.

Yamane's number 6 and number 7 set a screen at the top of the three-point arc, but Yukimiya Kazuma saw through it at a glance—this pick-and-roll was just a feint.

Because the screen wasn't set with much quality, and the space deliberately left open was clearly meant to compress Bai Shui Guande's defense and create an open look from deep.

The next second.

Number 6 indeed faked the drive, then kicked it back to number 7 cutting behind him.

Just then, a figure in a light-blue jersey suddenly slid into the passing lane between the two of them.

Hair flying white as snow.

Bai Shui Guande's number 5.

Yukimiya Kazuma!