5 Show Off
Life was monotonous, especially the final hurdle of the school year. For instance, the school year was rather complicated compared to what he was used to.
The school began in early April, so the year was divided into 3 terms, Jun researched everything coupled with competitions (For Junior and high school) for basketball.
The 1st term, which starts in early April and continues until late July within this term clubs strive to build a solid foundation for the team while solidifying the team through whatever they might want for the team.
From April to May it would be the Regional tournament, where schools of the same region go against each other in a Knockout bracket system. Determining the top teams that qualify for the next competition of the Term.
The next tournament starts in June and till July and it is the Inter-Regional Cup more known as the Summer Cup. Here around 16 Regional tournament winners go against each other, in a group stage format or Round-robin style, where you are grouped with 3 other teams and each team goes against every other team in the group, and the top 2 teams (8 teams) move to the Knockout Phase. Crowning the Regional Champion of Designed Areas.
After this competition, the end of July marks the start of the summer break, which spans from late July to early September. It is a break, which allows time for teams to both rest and perfect themselves for the real deal.
Then comes the 2nd term, from early September to early December.
The term starts with the Fall tournament or Inter-High/ Junior-High depending on the age, and the regional tournament process starts all over again but this time adding other regions, amplifying the possible opponents that you could match up against. Meanwhile, the Summer Cup winners gain a free ticket to the qualifiers. The most ruthless competition system, and here if you lose your out. Teams play the regional matches and soon are seeded to the qualifiers then Winner's Eight then Quarters, Semi-Finals, and then the Finals. The winner of the Inter-high moves toward the National Tournament. (Note that this is the full region bringing all the 16 regional tournament teams.) ( But usually, you don't match up against teams from too far at the start. Normally only adjacent teams are your opponent until the Qualifiers.)
The end of Inter-High also marks the end of the 2nd term and the start of winter break. The winter break is the busiest time for sports clubs. The best of the best gather in a predetermined location, and the National and most important competition to determine the best team in all of Japan begins.
The format of the Nationals is a knockout stage up until the finals.
Once January comes it marks the start of the 3rd Term which goes till early March. During this period 3rd year students are no longer allowed to play, outside of friendly matches.
During this last term, it was the Winter Cup. Depending on how the teams did through the year. Each team is ranked through the efforts they had, and they then are invited to a specific Group WC and the teams that get the most attention are the S-ranked schools which are the schools that went to the Nationals stage.
A solid system that prepares the 1st and 2nd year students who didn't have much experience competitively to play with the absence of the 3rd year students.
And why would Jun be contemplating this? Well, he currently is watching Kibito who is C-Rank team losing against a fellow ranked team.
Jun stared at the players who were panting and shook his head. Kibito's team was weak, the players although with good ideas, seemed very distant from each other, as if the pieces were playing for their benefit and not the team.
But it probably was bound to happen, losing the 3rd year students makes teams fall apart. Players who had little to no action all year long are bound to go out of hand and try to show their worth.
The pressure of becoming a regular, the pressure to do well so you can play. Jun stared at 2 players and analyzed them thoroughly.
One was doing very well in rebounds and the other was stealing balls left and right, it was actually quite surprising to see them be this good.
''Nii-chan is your school weak?'' Hina was accompanying him, she seemed quite bored.
''Hina-chan...'' Jun was about to retort and try to teach her that she shouldn't be so blunt but then again she wasn't saying any lie. In the end, he nodded and ruffled her hair. ''Mhm, they are weak, you seem bored and brother has seen what he wanted to see.''
Jun picked up his sister and walked out of the Gymnasium. As he was leaving someone tapped him on the shoulder.
''Hey stop.'' The person spoke as his voice sounded rather angry.
''Do you need anything?'' Jun asked confused.
''What you said inside, you are from our school how could you say that?'' The person raised his voice seemingly offended.
''I mean... My sister wasn't wrong the team is indeed weak.'' Jun shrugged as he said the facts.
''You don't even play so how dare you speak about us our efforts.'' The youth continued speaking.
Jun seriously looked at the youth and asked. ''You answer something to me. What is the basic of sports?''
''Huh?'' The youth confidently answered ''Hard work, commaradie, trust, ambition.''
Jun shook his head, he looked tenderly at his little sister. ''You see... You can work hard, you can have the most trustworthy teammates, and you can have the biggest of ambitions. Let's trace it back, the first sport was wrestling, and it was popular among ancient civilizations, this was a way to find the strong, those capable of war. So those who got recognized for their strength were the winners. Because sports is a sort of war, you fight for victory. Because victors write history.''
Jun wanted to leave after these words, he felt rather cool in saying these words in front of his little sister.
''Since you are so full of yourself play 1 on 1 against me.'' The youngster spoke freezing Jun in place, turning around he focused his eyes on the kid.
''Sure, do you have a ball?'' Jun nodded in the end.
''Come...'' The youngster said and Jun followed while carrying Hina. He has been practicing and getting used to this body, and he now felt he could do most of what he could do previously.
Soon they found themselves in an outdoor court, Jun with ball in hand while the youngster glared at him. Jun asked before starting. ''What is your name?''
''Ogawa Yoshio.'' He curtly answered.
''Then Ogawa-kun first to 11 baskets wins.'' Jun got in position. ''are you ready?''
As Yoshio nodded and got ready, Jun began to dibble and closing down on Yoshio, his eyes glued to Yoshio's.
He was constantly dribbling the ball from one hand to the other, a funny thing that Jun realized is that he now is ambidextrous in his previous life, he was left-handed heavily relying on his left hand, while original Jun was the opposite. Jun found out after waking up here that he would use his left hand like he normally did because it was a brain response to something he had done since very young, but somehow he didn't feel bothered in using his right either to write or not. It is a mix of brain play and muscle memory. However, the left hand still needed more training cause it has less muscle than the right hand slowly Jun would match it.
Jun picked the pace as their gap reduced, and moved his body to the right. Lowering his shoulder to the right and dribbling with his left hand Yoshio quickly found an opportunity to steal the ball, but he fell into Jun's trap who abruptly stopped and took a step back and dribbled the ball between his legs. Already committed to the movement Yoshio didn't balance himself fast enough to contest this basket anymore.
After placing Yoshio out, Jun did a behind-the-back and crossed the ball to his right hand, landing an easy layup afterward. ''2-0''
Jun picked the ball and went back to the starting positing a little behind the 3-point line. Once in position, Jun burst with speed, accelerating forward always dribbling with his right hand and going toward the right side of the field. Yoshio who closed down was met with Jun's left side not allowing him to make a move, he followed and matched Jun's speed since he would just corner Jun.
Unfortunately for Yoshio Jun turned over 180 threatening to move toward the other side. 'He is going to the right.' Yoshio stopped abruptly and reacted wanting to block the right side.
Jun instead of dribbling with his right hand like he had done till now he used his left hand, passing the ball through the rooted Yoshio's leg and passing the ball through Yoshio's left side. What followed was an easy Lay-up. (4-0)
Yoshio was surprised and with his eyes wide stared incredulously at Jun who wore a casual smile.
''You...'' Yoshio wanted to say something but was interrupted by Jun.
''No talking focus.'' Jun wasn't in for chitchat, once he was in game mode he didn't want to indulge in pointless conversation.
Jun once more mirrored what he had done, he dribbled to the right while shielding the ball once he got to a certain point he turned and faced the same pattern Yoshio didn't react the same way guarding himself from getting the ball passed between his legs, but Jun already expected it and resumed his dribble to the right. (6-0)
The brain is the worst enemy of humans, and recognition and familiarity are the worst senses of security that happen in sports, at least when you don't understand your opponent. This false sense of security makes people predictable and if smart enough you can use it against anyone.
It is the most efficient way to win. Make your opponent fall into a sense of security and crumble him there, then he will be a sitting duck. Because he will doubt himself. If he doubts himself he will question any move he makes, and so you can easily win because he is more worried about facing his fantasies and not you.
Yoshio was visibly shaken but Jun only shook his head as he saw his expression.
''Nii-chan so cool!'' The little girl was cheering on the side her eyes twinkling as she saw her brother play, it was way more interesting than what she had seen in the Gymnasium.
Jun's smile widened as he heard his little sister. 'Imouto you so adorable, brother will show you something super cool.'
Jun accelerated forward without going to any side meeting Yoshio head-on, he swayed his body to the right and burst with speed to the left, Yoshio was a decent player as such he read the movement well and followed up.
But as soon as he caught up to Jun just crossed over and stopped. Yoshio who wished to stop didn't manage to do so falling to the ground. Jun proceeded to make an easy throw. (8-0)
Yoshio was on the ground and groaned. ''Are you okay?'' Jun asked as he extended his hand helping him up.
''Sorry, I got too excited for a second.'' Jun apologized he wanted to show off to his sister but he didn't expect Yoshio to fall so violently.
''Thanks...'' Yoshio spoke as he accepted the lift.
''It seems like you got hurt, you should get that checked right now,'' Jun advised as he walked toward his sister.
''Hey wait, we haven't finished.'' Yoshio said as the sting from his arm made him frown.
''We can do it some other day, you aren't in a condition to continue.'' Jun shook his head refusing to continue, Yoshio was decent but with this little incident he would get slower and Jun would exploit his right side, Yoshio couldn't handle Jun's body movement and was injured even worse so it would be boring from here on.
For Yoshio going back and tending to his injuries and then reflecting on what he did here was more beneficial than being stomped further.
Walking back with Hina holding his hand he heard her voice. ''Nii-chan is he alright?''
''Yeah, he should be. What I did was an ankle breaker, you know when you make the defender lose balance or fall it is called so.'' Jun spoke as he educated his sister. ''People usually don't get hurt because of it.''
''Mhm Nii-chan you're very strong.'' Hina praised her brother with twinkling eyes.
''Obviously, brother has to be the best to make Hina proud.'' Jun chuckled as he lifted Hina.
-----------------------------------------------------------
Extra large chapter so yeah... Hope you enjoyed this action and explanation of what we need. If you have tips in writing matches and 1v1's please voice it out. I am inexperienced and write on my inspiration and imagination so there are things that I myself don't take into account cause they aren't in my head to begin with. As such please voice out your opinions.
