Chapter 156 - New Semester, Member, Routine (1/2)

The first day of school after the summer break was over, and it was time for the first practice of the new semester.

The players of the Tokiwadai Basketball Club gathered in their respective gyms.

Today was also the first day of a new member in the first string.

The name of the new member was Narumiya Mei, first-year, who played as the shooting guard. [1]

He was promoted just before the summer camp, but this was his first day in the first-string.

-*-*-*-

Narumiya looked around the first-string gym and saw the players around the gym.

Narumiya: 'So these are the people I am going to play.'

Narumiya was a proud player.

He knew that his promotion to first-string in the first year put him above the rest of his year mates.

Narumiya looked at the regulars players of the first-string team.

He turned his eyes to Kaitani.

Narumiya: 'Kaitani Riku, small forward, he is an offensive player and uses his speed to his advantage.

Close-perimeter shots and floaters are his go-to moves.

Compensates his short height with skill, and is a skilled rim-finishes.'

Narumiya was not that much taller than Kaitani and stood at 165 centimeters, so he knew Kaitani's skill level, and had a decent amount of respect for him.

-*-*-*-

His next target of observation was Yuki Tetsuya.

Narumiya: 'Yuki Tetsuya, a defense playing, and plays as the power forward for the team.

His specialty is his lockdown defense. He doesn't let his mark breathe easily.'

Narumiya made a face when he saw Yuki.

He had played against Yuki, it was when Yuki had helped out with second-strings practice, and when they played, Yuki was Narumiya's defender.

Narumiya: 'He is tall and has good defensive skills. I don't fare against players like him.'

Yuki's defensive tenacity and persistence was a thing that all players that had played against hated but at the same time respected about him.

Narumiya turned to the giant of Tokiwadai.

Narumiya: 'Hyakuzawa Yudai, plays as the center for the team.

What was his height again? Oh yeah, 190 centimeters.

Man, he is tall.'

If Yuki made Narumiya feel difficult to move around, then Hyakuzawa made him scared to shoot.

Narumiya: 'Miss the shot, and he would be under the basket for the rebound.

His height is a weapon, but he lacks the skill to play in the post.

What did a senpai say? Ah, he started to play in middle school.

Well, reaching this level in just over two years is an impressive feat, even though his height did most of the work.'

Narumiya looked at Kaitani, Yuki, and Hyakuzawa and thought.

Narumiya: 'All of them are second years.'

Narumiya let his eyes roam around the court to find someone, but his eyes caught the sight of the shortest player of the court.

Narammiya caught the sight of Kurumatani Sora.

Narumiya made a displeased face when he saw Sora.

He didn't like the fact that Sora was scouted right around the start of the year.

Narumiya: 'I am a much better player than him, but why did he have to be the one to be promoted even though he has close to zero attack or defensive skills.'

Which was true, as Sora was short, and didn't have Kaitani's skill set, and neither did he have impressive defensive skills.

Sora had spent his short time in first-string to improve his pass work and bring up his physical stats to first-string standards, so Sora alone still wasn't a threat.

Narumiya: 'I would have been a much better choice.'

-*-*-*-

Narumiya glared at Sora for a while, but then he saw two members entering the gym, and he recognized them instantly.

Narumiya: 'Mibuchi Reo and Aone Takanobu.'

Narumiya looked at the two retired third-year members of the team.

Narumiya: 'They are an inside-outside combo that provided the team its stability.'

He looked at Aone and found that he looked much meaner than Hyakuzawa and felt that if he had Aone on his team, then he could shoot without pressure.

Narumiya: 'Well, Aone-san remained the official center of the team even with Hyakuzawa on the bench shows how good of a player he is.

And, unlike Hyakuzawa-san, Aone-san has the skill to play in the post.'

Narumiya: 'Uncrowned King, Mibuchi Reo. The best shooting guard outside of Generation Of Miracles' Midorima Shintaro.'

Narumiya was mesmerized by Mibuchi's playstyle the first time he had seen him play and had thought that he was everything he wanted to be.

Narumiya: 'I have to learn from him. The coach did say that the third-year will still come to practice to help out.

I need to benefit from the time he is here.'

Narumiya was a shooting guard, so he wanted to learn from Mibuchi, who was a renowned shooting guard, and one of the most skilled players in the country.

-*-*-*-

Narumiya looked around the gym and saw that all of the first-string members had already arrived, but he couldn't find the player he wanted to see the most.

Narumiya: ”All of the players are here, but where is he?”

Narumiya was looking for the ace and point guard of Tokiwadai, Kageyama Shun.

Just as he was about to ask someone about Shun's whereabouts, he heard a voice announcing his arrival.

Shun: ”Kageyama, here.”

Narumiya turned to see the silver-haired, second-year member of Tokiwadai popularly known to the middle-school basketball scene as The King Of The Court.

-*-*-*-*-*-*-

Shun entered the gym and announced his arrival.

He saw his teammates and smiled as he walked towards his seniors, Mibuchi and Aone.

Shun grinned as he bowed to great them.

Shun: ”Mibuchi-san, Aone-san, it has been a while. How have you two been?”

Mibuchi smiled as he patted Shun on his shoulder and said.

Mibuchi: ”We both are just fine, Kageyama-chan~. What about you? How was the summer camp?”

Aone nodded in agreement.

Shun was about to start when an arm wrapped around his shoulder, he smiled, as he knew who it was.

Shun looked and addressed the person.

Shun: ”Yes, Kaitani. I am also happy to see you.”

Kaitani was about to say something, but Shun spoke again.