NOVEL NEXT Chapter 3: The Power of "Genius" and a New Skill
Shinji Hiro dribbled the basketball with confident, measured bounces. Houichi's eyes stayed locked on Shinji's, remembering Akagi's advice to Hanamichi: The eyes are the window to the soul. The first reaction is always honest.
He's going to break to the right, Houichi thought.
Lowering his stance, Houichi prepared for defense. He wasn't skilled at stealing the ball—his playstyle didn't rely on risky moves like that. A failed steal could leave a gaping hole in defense.
As expected, Shinji made a quick acceleration fake to the left. It was a move Houichi had seen and practiced against countless times, one he recognized well. Shinji's signature crossover was coming.
But Shinji smirked, noticing Houichi's readiness.
As the ball bounced to his left hand, Shinji smoothly transitioned into a behind-the-back dribble. He didn't push forward immediately but kept bouncing the ball behind his back, controlling it expertly.
The sudden change in rhythm threw Houichi off for a moment. As he stepped forward to block, Shinji seized the chance and drove right.
Houichi reacted quickly, keeping low to stay balanced. His focus was on cutting off Shinji's path to the paint.
But something was off.
Instead of sprinting past, Shinji leaned his left shoulder into Houichi while dribbling.
Though Houichi stayed grounded, the difference in their physiques became apparent. Shinji's larger frame pushed him back, making him stumble two steps.
Taking advantage of the opening, Shinji jumped and shot cleanly over Houichi's reach. The ball swished through the net.
It's tied, 1-1.
Shinji grinned smugly at Houichi. "You thought that was enough to stop me?"
On the street court, being physically overpowered was a humiliation.
Houichi remained expressionless as he retrieved the ball and stepped back to the free-throw line.
Shinji had been holding back earlier, but now he was showing the true strength of a high school player. His technique was solid, and it was clear this was no casual match.
Houichi's teammates exchanged uneasy glances.
"Is Houichi going to be okay?"
"The size difference is too much…"
"This looks bad—he's going to lose."
Shinji smirked as Houichi prepared to inbound the ball.
"I don't even need to try hard against you."
Houichi ignored the taunt, his focus entirely on Shinji's movements.
Amateurs watched the ball, but seasoned players watched their opponent's feet.
Shinji moved into position just inside the three-point line, dribbling with steady rhythm.
Thud. Thud.
This time, he skipped the fancy footwork and went straight into a back-down play, using his body to force Houichi toward the basket.
Houichi braced himself, digging in to resist Shinji's push. But Shinji's strength was overwhelming. Step by step, Houichi was driven back into the paint.
"Using your size to bully people—how shameless!" someone from the crowd shouted.
Shinji leaned into Houichi repeatedly, each push testing his balance.
Finally, after five heavy bumps, Shinji forced Houichi out of position. Spinning halfway around, he switched the ball to his left hand and jumped for a short-range shot.
Houichi leapt, his hand brushing the underside of the ball.
The ball spun on the rim before falling in.
2-1.
Houichi clenched his jaw.
Damn it. He figured out my weakness.
Shinji's aggressive style was risky—his dribbling left gaps that could be exploited by players with fast hands. But Houichi wasn't skilled at stealing, and Shinji knew it.
"You're done!" Shinji sneered, his voice dripping with contempt. "You think you're good enough for the nationals? You should focus on just making it out of the preliminaries!"
Houichi bent to pick up the ball. His thoughts wandered as he recalled his background.
Qin Houichi, a name nearly identical to his past life's. In his previous life, "Qin" was just another common Chinese surname.
But here in Japan, the Qin family was part of the Hua ethnic elite—descendants of the earliest Chinese settlers. His family had immense wealth, owning vast tracts of land in Japan.
If basketball didn't work out, he'd probably end up managing forests or family estates.
Why am I thinking about this now? Houichi shook his head, clearing the distracting thoughts.
"Hey, kid! Stop daydreaming and start playing—you're about to lose!" Shinji's taunt brought him back to reality.
Houichi's gaze sharpened. Though he rarely attempted steals, this time, he decided to take a risk.
Just as he was about to make his move, Haruko's voice rang out from the sidelines.
"Houichi-kun, you can do it! Don't give up!"
Shinji laughed, pointing at Haruko. "Hey, missy! Why don't you take this little boy home to play house? This court isn't a place for kids like him!"
The crowd burst into laughter.
Houichi's teammates frowned but stayed silent, suppressing their frustration.
"What are you talking about?" Houichi snapped, throwing the ball directly at Shinji's face.
Shinji caught it effortlessly, smirking at the provocation.
Houichi inhaled deeply. One more chance. I can't lose here.
Shinji predictably went back to his back-down strategy.
This again… Houichi narrowed his focus, watching Shinji's movements closely.
As Shinji began leaning into him, Houichi concentrated on his opponent's center of gravity. He thought of Sakuragi's battles against Kawata and how he managed to hold his ground.
How did Sakuragi counter Kawata's strength?
From the sidelines, Haruko shouted again, "Houichi-kun, don't give up until the very end!"
Her voice jolted something in him.
He's just a substitute. If he relies on back-downs, it means his ball-handling is weak.
Ding! "Genius" skill activated.
New skill unlocked: Bullet Time.
Bullet Time (Level 1): When fully focused on your opponent, your perception of time slows down. The higher the skill level, the more time slows and the wider the range of application.
Houichi's vision sharpened as Shinji dribbled. The ball's motion seemed to slow to half-speed, each bounce and rebound clearly visible.
I can see it now.
For a professional player, slowing time even slightly was enough to make the perfect move.