Chapter 010: Obtained 10 Minutes of Advance On-Demand Footage: "Spider Step"!
Ōdai Gymnasium.
The match between Ōdai and Iwaori was about to begin, with players from both teams warming up. On Iwaori's side, their guard, Tsugawa Tomoki, eagerly requested a defensive assignment from the coach:
"Coach, let me take Imatsu!"
Without hesitation, the Iwaori coach readily agreed:
"Alright, Imatsu is yours to handle!"
Tomoki's eyes instantly lit up with determination.
Though physically outmatched by Ōdai's Shinshu, Tomoki remained fiercely competitive. As a second-year player, he dared to lock down the opponent's core player.
Of course...
None of Iwaori's teammates considered him arrogant.
Because ever since Tomoki advanced to second year, everyone on the team had endured their share of suffering during his defensive drills.
...
Soon, the match commenced.
Mirai habitually sat in his usual spot on the bench.
While intently watching the intense gameplay, he kept his ears perked for any movement from Coach Akira, afraid of missing the call to sub in.
As the coach had said, both teams were evenly matched, guaranteeing a tight contest.
Indeed.
The game started with both sides trading blows.
Ōdai held a significant advantage in the paint, so they focused their attacks inside.
Iwaori possessed solid shooting, so they leveraged their strength with perimeter shots.
On the court.
Tomoki stuck to Shinshu like glue.
Wearing his signature "Tsugawa Smile," he simultaneously taunted opponents with provoking remarks to draw fouls, all while maintaining aggressive defensive pressure.
However, Shinshu's playing style remained remarkably composed.
When scoring became difficult for himself, he prioritized setting screens for his teammates.
Fortunately, Ōdai Middle School's shooting held up reasonably well today, avoiding a repeat of the Seiei match where missed outside shots forced the offense back into the hands of Shinshu and Tarō for tough interior plays.
Throughout the first half, they shot 5 out of 11 from three-point range.
By halftime, the score difference was merely two points.
But right after the second half began, Ōdai Middle School's outside shooting faltered again.
Several long-range attempts clanked off the rim.
The point gap quickly widened to double digits.
Coach Akira urgently called a timeout, emphasizing tighter defense on Iwaori's perimeter players. However, defense alone wasn't enough—Ōdai needed to score too!
But reality was harsh.
After the timeout, Iwaori sank two more three-pointers.
Meanwhile, Ōdai's collective shooting went cold. With Tomoki's stifling one-on-one defense shutting down Shinshu's drives, and center Tarō contained by Iwaori's packed zone defense, Ōdai was forced to seek opportunities from the outside.
Yet, as often happens, the harder they pressed, the more the ball seemed to resist them. By the 6th minute of the second half, Ōdai trailed by 20 points.
Every player knew that the best way to break a zone defense was with three-point shooting.
But when the shots won't fall, the frustration becomes unbearable!
...
As Ōdai fell behind by twenty points, the Ōdai students in the stands grew increasingly anxious.
A rather knowledgeable basketball club fan analyzed:
"It's the same old problem—we lack perimeter shooting to break through the defense. The zone defense Iwaori is using now has only one weakness: outside shooting. Iwaori clearly knows this, which is why they're employing this targeted strategy. Our Ōdai team naturally knows this too, but as everyone can see, in these past few minutes, Nagakura Shun from the guard line has taken three shots, Kochi Masaya has taken two, and Captain Imatsu has taken one. Combined, these three players have only made one out of six attempts."
"With this kind of shooting percentage, if it were any other team, the point difference would probably have widened much more already. It's only because our Ōdai team is equally skilled at defense that we're still only trailing by twenty points."
"So their current problem still lies in solving the perimeter shooting issue. Otherwise, just like before, it won't just be against Iwaori—they'll struggle against any team's zone defense."
"Fortunately..."
"This year we have the potential to solve this problem."
"Everyone saw Hoshiumi-kun's explosive performance in the last game. Since the match has just entered the second half, we should put Hoshiumi-kun in now."
The surrounding Ōdai students all visibly perked up upon hearing this.
"That's right!"
"Put in Hoshiumi!"
"Put in Hoshiumi!"
...
Meanwhile, at the scene.
Ōdai Middle School called another timeout.
With their long-range shooting failing to make an impact, the starting third-year players couldn't help but recall Mirai's recent performances.
During games.
During practice.
To be honest...
They, too now felt it was time to put Mirai in.
Including third-year shooting guard Nagakura Shun, who had direct competition with Mirai for playing time.
Eventually, Shun took the initiative to approach Coach Akira and said: "Coach, how about... substituting Hoshiumi in? Actually... it's really fine. You don't need to worry about my pride..."
"Even if people say 'how pathetic that a third-year has to be a substitute for a junior,' I truly don't care at all. As long as it strengthens the team, I'll do anything. Even if I'm not a starter, I'll never slack off."
Hearing this.
The other third-year team members all looked over with surprise.
Coach Akira remained silent for a moment.
He had already planned to substitute Mirai at this point, but he hadn't expected Shun's resolve to come so quickly, and with such frankness.
Coach Akira nodded.
"Hoshiumi!"
Mirai had long been ready. Hearing Coach Akira's call, he immediately stood up from the bench and quickly approached the coach.
"You heard him, right?"
"Nagakura suggested substituting you for him. I hope you won't let him down."
Mirai's heart instantly burned with passion.
Not just because he could play.
But also.
Because of what Shun had just said.
He nodded firmly: "Don't worry."
...
And the moment he stepped onto the court.
[Confirmed entry to official match...]
[Extract Advance On-Demand material?]
'Yes!'
[In the future, through relentless effort and sweat, you have become an outstanding defensive stalwart.]
[...]
[Acquired 10 minutes of Advance On-Demand footage 'Spider Step']