Chapter 003: The future of the Star Sea doesn't look back, it just reaches out its hand~
The game whistle blew again!
Seiei Junior High executed a beautiful pass-and-cut, easily scoring two points.
The deficit instantly widened back to 23 points.
Kamomedai immediately organized a counterattack.
That bald guard from Seiei stuck to Hoshiumi Mì like glue. His coach had told him to focus on guarding number 12, and he was determined to put on a good show and prevent this guy from scoring a single point!
The bald guard chattered incessantly, his trash talk non-stop, but Hoshiumi Mì paid him no mind. Following the coach's tactical arrangement, he used a deft screen to get open and once again received the ball steadily at the top of the arc.
His opponent's defensive footwork was swift, and he pounced forward!
The time Hoshiumi Mì had to shoot was but an instant!
Without a shred of hesitation!
Sudden stop!
Jump into the air!
Raise arm and aim!
Flick of the wrist!
Release!
It was all one fluid motion!
The entire sequence flowed like water. Even under pressure, his shooting form was as steady as a rock!
Swish~!
The basketball grazed the fingertips of the bald guard's desperate block, whistling through the air. Under the glow of the dome's white lights, it traced a dazzling orange arc!
Swish~!
A white wave instantly erupted from the center of the net!
Nothing but net!
Clean and crisp!
Hoshiumi Mì lowered his right hand, glanced at the bald guard, his fist unconsciously tightening, and a faint curve appeared on his lips.
It was different!
The feeling was completely different!
With the so-called 'Almost Never Misses' boost, his shooting touch was unbelievably good. The moment the ball left his hand, he knew it was going in!
Was this the feeling of a super shooter?
At this moment, the ace player on Seiei's bench couldn't help but glance at Hoshiumi Mì. Hoshiumi Mì, in turn, casually glanced back at the buzz-cut guy on the bench. Seeing this, the bald guard on the court immediately tailed him like a shadow, chattering non-stop: "Hey! I'm your opponent! Don't get the wrong guy!"
Hoshiumi Mì couldn't even be bothered to turn his head, simply shrugging nonchalantly.
..................................................................................
At this point, thanks to Hoshiumi Mì's four precise three-pointers, the deficit had been cut to just 20 points. From 30 to 20, it felt like it had happened in the blink of an eye!
On the sidelines, the Kamomedai players stood up in excitement. They thought to themselves that even if they lost today, the sight of Hoshiumi Mì hitting four threes in a minute and a half was spectacular enough!
The next possession.
Seiei was clearly rattled by Hoshiumi Mì's shooting.
Their offense clanked.
On Kamomedai's counterattack, as soon as Hoshiumi Mì crossed half-court, he decisively raised his hand to call for the ball. His performance had won over his own point guard, and the ball was naturally passed obediently into his hands.
Seiei's bald guard was on him like a shadow again. Hoshiumi Mì used a teammate's screen, dribbled one step laterally, and his opponent was solidly blocked, instantly creating a bit of precious space.
He was a good meter and a half away from the three-point line!
If he continued to dribble, given the bald guard's sticky defensive speed, he'd be caught in a blink.
No time to think!
Stop!
Aim!
Flick!
The release was one fluid motion!
Swish!
Another three, crisp and sweet!
The deficit: 17 points!
Whoa~!
The remaining audience in the venue erupted into a deafening cheer. Although there were less than three minutes left in the game and a 17-point deficit was almost impossible to overcome, this substitute player's barrage of five consecutive threes had ignited everyone's passion!
"This guy is too good!"
"Who is he? I've never seen him before."
"Second-year Hoshiumi Mì..."
"I don't remember seeing him on the bench last year."
That three-pointer, where he intentionally created distance from a range he normally would never make, sent a surge of adrenaline through Hoshiumi Mì. His confidence skyrocketed along with his excitement. Of course, it wasn't a baseless feeling. The wonderful touch on that shot was real, making him feel like the basket was as wide as the ocean, and no matter how he threw it, the ball would obediently go in.
On the Seiei bench, the buzz-cut ace's eyes burned with intensity. His competitive spirit was rarely ignited like this, and he longed to get on the court and face this guy. But when he looked at his coach, the coach gave a barely perceptible shake of his head.
Victory was already secured, and they had shown what they needed to. There was no need for the ace to play again.
..................................................................................
Next possession.
Seiei executed a set play, answering with a three-pointer of their own. The deficit was back to 20 points.
Kamomedai's offense.
As soon as Hoshiumi Mì crossed half-court, he once again held out his hand for the ball!
The bald kid was smarter this time. Before Hoshiumi could catch the ball, he positioned himself a meter outside the three-point line, completely sealing off any shooting space.
Hoshiumi Mì skillfully dribbled in place. The bald guard seemed to see through his 'hesitation' and immediately pressed harder!
Clapping his hands with a 'papapapa' sound, he taunted:
"Yeah! Shoot another one if you've got the guts!"
This kind of trash talk was meant to be a mental poison.
Shooting, especially long-range threes, is the ultimate test of mental fortitude. The slightest mental fluctuation can alter one's form and rhythm, causing the shot to go bust.
Hearing this, Hoshiumi Mì couldn't help but chuckle. Then, from a meter behind the three-point line, instead of moving forward, he took two steps back while dribbling!
That posture...
It looked like he was about to retreat to the center circle!
At that moment.
The bald guard on the court, the entire audience, everyone was stunned!
"...He gathered the ball?"
"Huh? From that spot?!"
Before they could finish their sentences.
Hoshiumi Mì had already leaped lightly into the air!
His heels were almost on the center circle. From such a distance, he subconsciously used more force to flick his wrist. His body leaned slightly forward as he jumped, and his release point was a bit low!
But...
Although his shooting form had changed.
Although the ball had just left his hands and was still flying through the air.
He coolly turned around, his back to the basket, and raised his right hand high, making the classic three-point celebration gesture!
At the same time.
The ball traced a super-long, perfect rainbow arc through the air. A full second after Hoshiumi Mì struck his pose, like a precision-guided missile, it whistled down and slammed into the hoop!
BANG!!!
It went in