Sorry late update šĀ
--------------------------
After school, as everyone changed into their sports gear, Nango walked into the locker room.
"Yo, the big star is here!" someone teased.
"Seriously, what big star? Stop teasing me," Nango replied with a helpless smile.
Kogure grinned. "The whole school knows about you now. Don't expect any peace for the next few days."
"That's right. The girls in our class were asking me about you today," Kentaro added.
"And what's the deal with that girl who came to watch your game last time?" Yasuda chimed in, gossiping.
Nango shrugged casually. "She's my girlfriend. We just started dating. I'll introduce her to everyone next time."
His openness surprised them. They had expected him to be shy, but for Nangoāreborn and confidentāpretending modesty felt unnatural.
After changing, the group walked and chatted toward the gym.
Sakuragi trailed behind, glancing at Nango with envy. Middle school had been lonely; no one ever talked to him. He had dyed his hair red hoping to make friendsābut having friends didn't depend on hair color.
Nango was not only skilled at basketball but also popular. And now, he had a cute girlfriend. Sakuragi muttered under his breath, "What an enviable jerk."
Practice began with a few warm-up laps, followed by basic drills.
According to the plan, the next exercise should have been half-court offense and defense drills. But Nango pulled Akagi aside.
"Captain, I request that Sakuragi and I skip the next practice session," he said.
Akagi raised an eyebrow. "Oh? Why?"
"Sakuragi still lacks offensive variety. Continuing the usual drills won't help him much. For the next few days, I want to focus on teaching him techniques for shooting under the basket. If he masters that, we'll have more offensive options."
Akagi considered it and nodded. Nango's judgment was always reliable.
Nango led Sakuragi to an empty spot, ready to begin.
Everyone, including Akagi, watched curiously.
Nango held the ball. "Sakuragi, do you want to expand your arsenal?"
"Of course!" Sakuragi answered eagerly, forgetting his earlier jealousy.
Nango's guidance was clear and effective. Sakuragi absorbed instructions quickly and applied them in practice, far more enjoyable and useful than monotonous drills.
"This time, I'll teach you the bank shotāusing the backboard to score," Nango said, pointing to the board.
"Backboard?" Sakuragi frowned.
"Yes, watch."
Nango launched the ball in perfect arcs from around the restricted area, each shot banking in.
"Oh!" Sakuragi finally understood.
"This is called a bank shot. It's easier to master, but later, you'll need to refine basic shooting techniques to improve further."
He warned Sakuragi ahead of time, preparing him for more advanced training.
"Once you master this, your post-up offense will be stronger. Remember the heel turn Akagi taught you, and the fakes Miyagi taught you? Combine them. This will make you more versatile."
With the bank shot, Sakuragi gained an independent offensive option under the basket. If Kainan tried to use Miyamasu to limit him, they would face a serious problem.
Meanwhile, Kouzu observed the team's unusually intense practice.
"Maki, why is everyone so fired up lately? Even you aren't yourself. Training hard is good, but you need to know your limits," he said.
Maki wiped sweat from his brow. "Coach, have you seen our schedule? Our first round-robin match is against Shohoku. Their win over Shoyo wasn't a fluke. Their newcomers are promising, and two of them have already surpassed Kiyota. They'll be tough opponents."
Kouzu's fan paused mid-wave. "Shohoku is really that strong?"
"Yes. Mitsui Hisashi from Takeshi Middle School, the MVP back then, has recovered from injury. His three-point shooting rivals Sendo's," Maki explained.
Kouzu realized the first game would demand their full effort. He let the team continue training, understanding the challenge ahead.
After a long day, Nango returned home, dragging his tired body.
"Dad, something wrong?" he asked. His father seemed unusually cheerful.
"Nothing," Chikum replied. "Just wondering when your next game is. I want to watch and cheer for you."
"Oh! Mom wants to come too!" His mother, mid-cucumber face mask, rushed over eagerly.
Nango hadn't expected his parents to be so enthusiastic.
"Really? Sunday morning, 9 AM. Arrive early, good seats are limited," his father instructed.
"Got it! We'll be there. Good luck, son!"
"Yes! With both of you watching, I won't lose," Nango said happily.
The visit of his parents wasn't just supportāit was approval. Fame had its perks.
----------------------
Support me at patrƩon com/DaoOfPeeking