Chapter Forty-Six: A Brand-New Application-An Almost Cheat-Like Jump! / Chapter Forty-Seven: He Lost, but He Won

Kira Ryosuke might be able to learn something from this project and apply it to soccer. It could also serve as a warm-up.

"I'm terrible at this, so go easy on me."

Kira Ryosuke said this with a smile.

"No worries, no worries. We're just playing around!"

Kiyoshi Teppei said, then led Kira Ryosuke onto the court.

He believed Kira Ryosuke to some extent. After all, Kira Ryosuke was a soccer player, so he surely spent most of his time training for soccer and probably did not have much time to play basketball.

Soon, the teams were divided into two groups—the five Seirin starters on one team, and the four substitutes plus Kira Ryosuke on the other.

In terms of strength, the starting team was definitely stronger. However, practical training within a team usually had the starters and substitutes split into separate teams. The starters spent more time playing together, and the result of a practice match was not important. What mattered most was practicing the execution of tactics.

Therefore, even if Kira Ryosuke was not very good at basketball, it would not have too great an impact.

The game soon began, and the centers from both teams came to the center circle to prepare for the tip-off.

"Um, may I try doing the tip-off?"

Before they began, Kira Ryosuke politely asked his teammates.

"You want to jump against Kiyoshi?"

The players present were somewhat surprised, but they soon assumed Kira Ryosuke was joking and laughed along.

Although Kira Ryosuke was 180 centimeters tall and could not be considered short, Kiyoshi Teppei was nearly two meters tall, and his physical abilities were exceptional. There would be a huge difference between them in a jump ball.

But that might not necessarily be true for Kira Ryosuke.

While watching the other players train just now, Kira Ryosuke had come up with an idea. Since Thunderclap and Flash could be used for shooting and running, could it also be used for jumping?

Jumping ability was also extremely important on a soccer field. It could play a major role when competing for headers and could help stop an opponent's attacks more effectively on defense.

In theory, it was feasible, but he had not verified it yet. Kira Ryosuke wanted to participate in the tip-off precisely to test whether it could work in actual combat, simulating a contest for a header with a jump ball.

"Sure. It won't affect anything."

Kiyoshi Teppei nodded with a smile. It was only a training session, after all, so it would not matter.

"Really?"

Aida Reiko was a little puzzled, but since nobody else objected, she said nothing. She then had Kira Ryosuke and Kiyoshi Teppei walk to the center circle to prepare for the tip-off.

She lowered her right hand, then tossed the basketball high into the air—

Waiting for the right moment, Kira Ryosuke and Kiyoshi Teppei leaped at the same time.

Chapter Forty-Six: A Brand-New Application—An Almost Cheat-Like Jump!

Kiyoshi Teppei and Kira Ryosuke jumped together. To be honest, Kiyoshi Teppei did not think Kira Ryosuke posed any threat to him in the tip-off.

After all, there was a huge difference in their heights. Although Kiyoshi Teppei was not the kind of interior player who overwhelmed opponents with physical ability, his jumping ability was not bad either. Beating Kira Ryosuke in a jump ball should be effortless.

But just as he was about to hit the ball in midair, another hand reached it first.

Kira Ryosuke.

"What?!"

Kiyoshi Teppei's eyes widened, his gaze filled with shock.

Kira Ryosuke, who had originally been more than ten centimeters shorter than him, was now above him in midair. Kiyoshi Teppei's head only reached around Kira Ryosuke's shoulder, forcing him to look up at the other player.

Kira Ryosuke and Kiyoshi Teppei had a huge difference in height and wingspan, but Kira Ryosuke had made up for it with his terrifying jumping ability.

The instant he took off, Kira Ryosuke had tried using Thunderclap and Flash to increase the explosive power in his legs and improve his jump.

Just as he had expected, it really worked.

Everyone present was stunned by the difference between Kira Ryosuke and Kiyoshi Teppei's jumps. The gap between the positions of their feet in midair made it obvious.

"Hey, hey, you've got to be kidding me... Kira's only a little over 180 centimeters, right? He beat Kiyoshi in the tip-off?"

"Could Kiyoshi have gone easy on him?"

"That's as high as Kiyoshi usually jumps. And even without comparing him to Kiyoshi, Kira's jump is ridiculously high! His physical abilities are completely at the monster level..."

Everyone was dumbfounded, and Aida Reiko was no exception.

"Does Ryosuke really have jumping ability this terrifying?"

When Aida Reiko had examined Kira Ryosuke's body earlier, she had judged that his jumping ability was merely average. Yet now, Kira Ryosuke had displayed astonishing explosive power.

Did I misjudge him? Or did he reach this level through Blue Lock's outrageous training? That shouldn't have been possible in such a short time...

Aida Reiko was puzzled.

Kira Ryosuke had already touched the ball in midair and immediately slapped it toward a teammate.

"Nice one, Kira!"

His teammates shouted their praise. Although it was impossible to see any skill yet, the physical ability Kira Ryosuke had displayed was already at a terrifying level.

"Did you go easy on him?"

Hyuga Junpei, who was on Kiyoshi Teppei's team, asked him.

"No... And you saw it just now. Kira's jumping ability is absurd. I couldn't tell before..."

Kiyoshi Teppei said seriously as he ran back on defense. He was full of praise for Kira Ryosuke.

"He really deserves his reputation. It isn't just an empty show."

The substitute team launched the first attack. Although Kira Ryosuke had rarely played basketball, he analyzed the situation using what he knew from watching anime and moved into position.

I'm probably playing small forward right now. Although this is a different sport, the principles of competitive sports can be applied by analogy.

Kira Ryosuke thought this over.

Moving into position, receiving the ball, and looking for an opportunity—these were the core elements of offense.

"Kira!"

At that moment, the teammate with the ball saw Kira Ryosuke open and passed it to him.

Kira Ryosuke caught the ball, and at the same time, a figure appeared in front of him.

Hyuga Junpei.

He was the captain of Seirin's basketball club and an excellent three-point shooter. He took everything seriously, even a routine practice game like this.

"Sorry, Kira, but although this is just part of training, we still have to give it our all."

Hyuga Junpei said this to Kira Ryosuke.

"Yeah."

Kira Ryosuke nodded, but at that moment he hesitated, holding the ball without knowing what to do.

His understanding of basketball was limited to anime. He had never actually played before.

The reason Kira Ryosuke possessed excellent soccer skills was that his original body had already belonged to an excellent soccer player. He had inherited the original owner's techniques and memories—but basketball was another matter entirely.

After all, Kira Ryosuke had never even dribbled before.

Still, he felt an urge to try. For some reason, a series of movements seemed to surface in his mind, and he began moving on instinct.

First, he leaned his body to the right, his shoulder tilting at a certain angle as he tested Hyuga Junpei's center of gravity. However, Hyuga Junpei's defense was not weak, and he was unaffected by Kira Ryosuke's feint.

Kira Ryosuke suddenly accelerated, dribbling past Hyuga Junpei's side. Hyuga Junpei immediately retreated without losing his defensive position.

So fast! And judging from his dribbling movements and rhythm, he doesn't look like someone who has never played before. He was definitely being modest.

Hyuga Junpei thought this as he remained fully focused on defense. His opponent's first-step acceleration had been so fast that it exceeded even his expectations.

But after taking only one step, Kira Ryosuke's right hand suddenly pulled back with the ball, shifting his center of gravity from right to left.

A crossover.

It was one of the most basic moves for getting past a defender, using dribbling rhythm and a shift in center of gravity to shake the opponent.

"That rhythm is incredible!"

Izuki Shun, Seirin's starting point guard, praised him without thinking.

Although it was a basic move, it directly reflected a player's ball-handling ability. Their dribbling proficiency, sense of rhythm, and weight transfer were all revealed by it.

Kira Ryosuke was definitely no ordinary player! He might very well be a master ball-handler.

"Damn it!"

The excellent crossover threw Hyuga Junpei's center of gravity off balance for an instant, but he quickly recovered and tried to keep up with Kira Ryosuke's attack.

But at that moment, Kira Ryosuke changed his movement again. He bounced the ball from his left hand to the floor and into his right hand, pretending to drive right once more. This drew Hyuga Junpei to the right and shifted his weight backward.

Kira Ryosuke suddenly spun and followed with a step-back, creating a full two-player gap and giving himself a completely open shot!

Kira Ryosuke knew clearly that this was the effect brought by Rice Spirit.

His flashy, practiced ball-handling ability was not limited to soccer!

"He's lost him!"

Hyuga Junpei shouted.

Kira Ryosuke had already jumped and taken the shot.

Chapter Forty-Seven: He Lost, but He Won

"That dribbling sequence was absolutely top-tier!"

Izuki Shun watched Kira Ryosuke shake off Hyuga Junpei, his face filled with shock.

Kira Ryosuke had just chained together a crossover, a behind-the-back dribble, and a spin step-back in one smooth motion.

The move looked incredibly flashy, but it was impossible without outstanding ball-handling fundamentals.

If he only wanted to imitate it, Izuki Shun felt he could probably reproduce the movements. But Kira Ryosuke's fluidity and sense of rhythm were both beyond him.

This made Izuki Shun realize that the Kira Ryosuke before him might truly be a top-level basketball player. His fundamentals might even be better than those of every player present—even Kiyoshi Teppei.

"That's a streetball move, right?"

"That was so cool!"

"I can't believe I actually believed Kira when he said he couldn't play basketball!"

Everyone praised Kira Ryosuke's skills in unison.

At the same time, Kira Ryosuke had already leaped outside the three-point line and was preparing to shoot.

He had shaken off Hyuga Junpei and created a comfortable shooting space. His astonishing jumping ability also made it impossible for anyone to block him.

The shot had an extremely high chance of going in!

Kira Ryosuke adjusted his form and released the ball. It traced a beautiful arc through the air.

Everyone's attention focused on Kira Ryosuke's shot.

The ball drew closer and closer to the hoop—

Then it flew over the backboard and smashed directly into the wall.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Everyone present fell completely silent, unable to think of anything to say for a moment.

Kira Ryosuke's shot had missed. In fact, it had missed spectacularly, flying directly above the backboard.

Airballs were common—missing the rim, the backboard, and the net—but this was the first time they had seen one fly over the top of the backboard.

He had displayed astonishing ball-handling fundamentals just moments ago, only to produce such an absurd shot.

Even calling it a promising start followed by a disastrous finish felt inappropriate.

"That was... a shot?"

"I thought a cannonball had just been fired."