NOVEL NEXT Chapter 2: The Challenge from Miuradai's Substitute
Time returned to reality.
Haruko's voice had been loud and clear, and everyone around the court heard her declaration.
At first, there was silence.
Then, laughter erupted.
"Ha! Shohoku High?"
"They should focus on making it to the Kanagawa top eight first!"
"That team with only one decent center thinks they can win a championship?"
"Houichi is a genius small forward from Hikaru Middle School. Why would he go to some bottom-tier school like Shohoku?"
The mocking voices rose around them. Even Houichi's own teammates tried to stifle their laughter behind their hands.
"Miss, you might want to stop chasing after Houichi. Talking about the national tournament? Not even for free…"
Haruko's face turned bright red.
Girls her age often admired athletic boys, and Houichi, the star player of Hikaru Middle School, was not only skilled but also had striking looks that could rival even Rukawa Kaede.
Embarrassed and flustered, she lowered her head and stammered, "I'm sorry," before turning to leave.
But before she could escape, she felt a hand gently tugging her arm.
"It's a deal then. We've made a promise," Houichi said with a smile.
Ding! Choice completed. "Genius" talent (trial version) activated.
Houichi's potential value jumped from 0.05 to 0.5. Now, just two days of focused training would be enough to improve his stats by one point!
Haruko's eyes widened in surprise but quickly softened into a warm smile.
"Really, Houichi-kun?" she asked, her voice full of hope.
"Yeah!" Houichi nodded, his face lighting up with determination. "I'll lead Shohoku to win the national championship!"
The crowd, which had been mocking Haruko, fell silent.
His teammates looked at him like he'd lost his mind. Joining Shohoku's basketball team and boldly claiming he'd lead them to victory? Shohoku's best performance so far was making the Kanagawa top eight—it was practically a pipe dream!
But Houichi paid no attention to their skepticism. He was thrilled about unlocking the "Genius" skill.
Just then, something unexpected happened—a basketball smacked him squarely in the back.
Startled, Houichi turned toward the court.
There stood a man with long blond hair tied back with a headband. His expression was smug, and he made no effort to apologize. Instead, he sneered, "If Shohoku—a loser team—ever wins the championship, I'll eat this basketball on the spot. Hahaha!"
Ding! A challenge from Shinji Hiro has been detected.
Option 1: Yell at him and rally your teammates to gang up on him. Reward: Energy Recovery Potion x1
Option 2: Toss the basketball into the nearby river and walk away. Reward: +3 Passing Attribute
Option 3: Challenge him to a one-on-one basketball match. Reward: +2 Dribbling Attribute, with a bonus for winning.
This time, the system didn't stop time.
Houichi narrowed his eyes. So, you're picking a fight, huh?
"Hey! What's your problem?"
His teammates, already agitated by the blatant provocation, looked ready to jump in and defend him.
On the other side, Shinji's teammates and friends—many of whom were gathered at the sidelines—stepped onto the court, matching their aggression.
Tensions flared, and a brawl seemed inevitable.
Houichi raised his hands, stepping in to block his teammates. His eyes locked coldly on Shinji, the man who had thrown the ball.
Picking up the basketball, Houichi tossed it back to him.
"Shinji, if you've got a problem, settle it on the court like a real player," Houichi said coolly.
Fighting with fists would accomplish nothing. It wouldn't break Shinji's pride, and it could lead to unnecessary trouble—especially with high school entrance decisions just around the corner.
If they were going to settle this, it had to be through basketball.
True revenge was crushing your opponent's dreams on the court. That was the kind of humiliation he wouldn't recover from.
"Alright, how do you want to play?" Shinji asked, his smirk widening into a crooked grin.
"One-on-one. First to three points wins," Houichi replied confidently.
"You've got guts for a middle schooler. Fine, I'll crush you!" Shinji laughed.
The players on both sides moved to the sidelines, clearing the court. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Houichi stepped to the three-point line.
Shinji passed him the ball, and the duel began.
"Do you think Houichi can beat a second-year high schooler?"
"Doubtful. Shinji might be a jerk, but he's a regular on Miuradai High's basketball team."
"Houichi's way too impulsive this time."
Shinji Hiro was 195 cm tall—taller and bulkier than Houichi. His imposing frame radiated confidence as he stared Houichi down.
"Kid, I heard you were decent in middle school, but don't forget—you only made it to the prefectural top eight. You're nowhere near a national championship!"
Shinji's trash talk was relentless, his words stinging.
Houichi didn't respond. He studied the court instead, mapping out his first move.
Shinji's speed impressed me back when we played casually, but this time he's serious. I'll need to be clever.
With the ball in hand, Houichi suddenly faked a drive to the left.
Shinji reacted instinctively, stepping back and to the left to block him.
But Houichi wasn't aiming for the left. With a quick flick of his wrist, he shifted the ball to his right hand and crossed over.
Caught off guard, Shinji couldn't keep up. A gap opened, and Houichi seized the opportunity.
Shinji sprinted back toward the paint, his speed making it clear he'd block any layup attempt.
Too risky for a layup.
Houichi stopped abruptly and went for a jump shot.
Swish!
The ball sailed cleanly through the hoop.
"Yes! Beautiful shot!" Houichi's teammates cheered, their excitement infectious.
But Houichi wasn't celebrating. His brows furrowed.
Even Miuradai's substitute players are this strong? The gap between middle school and high school is huge.
He had hoped to drive past Shinji for a dunk—a powerful move to humiliate him—but Shinji's athleticism and defensive awareness had forced him into a safer jump shot.
Is every Japanese high school team this intense? Without serious talent, making it to nationals is no joke.
Shinji retrieved the ball from the baseline, visibly unfazed by the score.
"Not bad, kid," he said with a cold grin, walking back to the free-throw line.
"But that'll be your last basket."
This time, Shinji was serious.
Houichi braced himself, knowing he couldn't rely on the same tricks.
Shinji caught the ball, his stance low and focused.
"Time to show you the difference between a high school player and a middle schooler."