With electric currents flashing in his eyes, Haizaki Shogo completed the final 100-meter shuttle run extreme test. As the electricity in his gaze faded, Takeuchi Daijuu frowned while staring at the data in his hands, clearly confused as he looked back at Haizaki.
"You're in a completely different state compared to your normal condition. That's not normal."
"Yeah. We call that state the Zone. It pushes the body into peak performance at the cost of massive stamina consumption. Every ability is amplified to its limit."
Takeuchi continued to frown, shaking his head seriously.
"Do you understand? The greater the gap between your normal state and your Zone state, the higher the risk when you enter it. It puts enormous strain on your stamina, your bones, your tendons—everything is being pushed beyond its limits. That makes injury very likely. Permanent injury, even."
"I know basketball well enough. Do you know why the Zone is considered rare? It's not because it's uncommon—it's because so few people are able to use it, so it feels rare."
Haizaki lowered his head, deep in thought. Ever since he absorbed the Zone and repeatedly triggered it up until today, doubt had been building inside him.
So this is… really dangerous?
"Coach Takeuchi… can you explain it more clearly? I don't really understand. I only get part of it."
Takeuchi exhaled.
"The Zone is essentially the body running in an overclocked state. Do you know why humans normally only use about 80% of their capability?"
"I don't know."
"That's the result of natural selection. Through countless generations of evolution and elimination, the human body settled into a safe operating range. Around 80%—that's what the body can sustain without destroying itself."
Haizaki still looked completely lost.
Takeuchi let out a small laugh. Talking about human evolution with a high school athlete was probably going too far, so he decided to give a simpler example instead.
"Do you know about the human brain usage myth?"
"Yeah."
"People often say humans only use about 10% of their brain. Very few exceed that limit. Those who do are either geniuses in history… or end up in psychiatric hospitals."
That example finally made something click in Haizaki's mind.
"You mean… activating the Zone is basically forcing the body into overdrive. And if I don't get injured, I become like those historical geniuses… but if I do, I end up like those people in mental hospitals?"
"Exactly. That's a valid way to understand it."
At that moment, Haizaki finally understood something important. That was why players like Nash, who could enter the Zone at will, rarely ever used it unless absolutely necessary. And in this world, there were surely many people capable of entering it, but most of them deliberately chose not to.
So that's how it is…
A sudden wave of realization washed over him, but another question quickly followed. Haizaki looked straight at Takeuchi.
"If the Zone damages the body… then why was it developed in the first place? Why even create something like that?"
"That question is similar to history's greatest figures. There are always a few lucky ones—people who can enter the Zone at will without suffering the damage."
"Wait—are you saying there are people who don't face any risk at all?"
"Yes. Those who have trained their bodies to the absolute peak."
"To the absolute peak?"
"Right. People like that already operate at 90%, even 95%, in their normal state. So when they enter 100%, the gap is much smaller. That reduces the risk significantly."
Takeuchi's explanation finally gave Haizaki a deeper understanding of human limits and physical conditioning. Glancing at Haizaki's data sheet again, he continued his evaluation.
"Your physical structure and development level place you in the top tier. Your build, posture, nutrition, and overall composition are excellent. No major flaws have been detected so far."
"Your physiological functions and metabolic efficiency across your organs are also very high."
"Your athletic abilities—speed, strength, endurance, agility, and flexibility—are already at a peak level for your age group."
"Even your psychological profile, though still in its early testing stage, shows excellent body awareness, personality traits, and willpower. We'll need a deeper evaluation later—but not now."
"And based on all the data you've provided, along with our tests, your adaptability to external conditions and resistance to illness or stress factors are also exceptional."
"In short… your body is currently in a perfect state."
"But since you're still growing, I recommend a full check-up every week."
Haizaki nodded. He had no reason to refuse—it was exactly what he wanted.
When he left the training facility, he held a detailed data sheet in his hand. It was filled with dense information about every aspect of his body.
Body structure: height, weight, chest circumference, arm circumference, sitting height, body composition (skinfold thickness, body fat percentage, lean mass, etc.).
Body function: resting heart rate, blood pressure, lung capacity, cardiovascular stress tests.
Physical fitness: strength (grip strength, back strength, abdominal strength), explosive power (vertical jump, standing long jump), hanging strength (bar hang tests), flexibility (sit-and-reach, back extensions), agility and coordination (repeated lateral movement), balance (one-leg stand with eyes closed).
Athletic ability: running (sprint, long distance), jumping (long jump, vertical jump, reach tests), throwing (medicine ball throw, javelin throw, etc.).
...
Two days… and this is everything I've learned about my body.
Haizaki quickly scanned the data, fully grasping his physical condition in detail for the first time.
And he made a decision.
He would temporarily seal the Zone until his body finished developing. Only then would he use that over-limit ability again.
He exhaled slowly, placed the data sheet into his sports bag, and boarded the train home. The day after tomorrow would be the start of school. It was time to focus once again—on his studies and on the Winter Cup.
At the thought of the Winter Cup, a heat ignited inside him. Even without the Zone, he would still dominate them.
That was confidence.
He had the ability to back it up.
The Winter Cup… hurry up and come already.
I'm really looking forward to it.
On the train, as he thought about the upcoming semester and his own body, Haizaki's mind gradually drifted. The past two days of discussion with Coach Takeuchi had expanded his understanding of the world.
And then another thought surfaced in his mind.
A character from an anime I remember—Tezuka Kunimitsu.
Wasn't his injury exactly what Coach Takeuchi had been talking about?