The uproar in Teikō Basketball Gym gradually died down as the players left, leaving only the sound of the cleaning lady mopping the floor and the sporadic thump of a basketball from the distance. Beneath the bright lights, Momoi Satsuki sat alone on the edge of the empty court. Unlike usual, she did not immediately pack up and leave. Instead, she opened the thick, professional clipboard that had accompanied her for so long.
Her gaze fell on the densely packed writing and charts on the newest page—that was the detailed record of the just-concluded, brutally intense yet spectacular one-on-one match between Aomine Daiki and Bai Ze You. Her fingertips brushed lightly over the notes, still warm with ink, while her mind uncontrollably replayed every suffocating moment from earlier: Aomine's wild assault like a black storm, and Bai Ze You's repeated twists and turns on the edge of his limits, his astonishing defense and offense as elusive as the White Phantom...
Momoi took a deep breath and turned the clipboard to the section belonging to Bai Ze You. It recorded every detail of his life from the day he entered Teikō until now. As the manager—and even more as someone who... paid special attention to him—it was a collection of "evidence" she had gathered.
She picked up a sharply pointed HB pencil, its tip hovering and trembling faintly above the paper. In the end, she began to write. She did not record the data right away. Instead, at the top of the page, in handwriting slightly rounder than her usual calm analytical script, she wrote a title:
"Subject of Observation: Bai Ze You (Shirasawa Yū)—Codename: Mirage"
After finishing, her cheeks grew slightly warm, but she forced herself into professional mode. She began organizing the observations from the one-on-one match just now, as well as those from previous training sessions and games, and filling them into the "database" she had created for Bai Ze You:
1. Basic Physiological Data (Updated)
* Height: 173.2 cm (171.5 cm upon enrollment; still growing steadily)
* Weight: 62.5 kg (muscle ratio significantly increased; body-fat percentage decreased)
* Wingspan: 178.6 cm (Excellent)
* Standing Reach: 224.3 cm (Good)
* Standing Vertical Jump: 68.5 cm (Excellent)
* Running Vertical Jump: 85.2 cm (Outstanding; his hang time feels even greater than the data suggests)
* 100-Meter Sprint: 11.85 seconds (Good; not explosive by nature, with greater emphasis on starting and changing direction)
* Shuttle Run (baseline—midcourt—baseline): 28.73 seconds (Outstanding; reflecting exceptional agility when changing direction)
* Core Strength (Plank): 15 minutes 48 seconds (Far above average; the foundation of his core stability)
* Flexibility (Sit-and-Reach): +28.5 cm (Exceptionally high; extraordinary joint range of motion) → "Key Talent Point"
* Balance (One-Leg Stand with Eyes Closed): Left foot: 2 minutes 15 seconds / Right foot: 2 minutes 8 seconds (Exceptionally high; outstanding proprioception) → "Key Talent Point"
2. Technical Ability Analysis (Major Update)
* Ball Handling:
* Balance Between Hands: ★★★★★ (No difference between left and right)
* Ball Protection: ★★★★☆ (Combined with a low center of gravity and flexibility, making the ball difficult to strip)
* Fancy Dribbling: ★★★☆☆ (Focused on practicality rather than flashiness)
* Signature Moves: Rapid double change of direction from a low center of gravity (combined with a shoulder Fake Move), behind-the-back dribble into a sudden stop/start, and Rhythm Change through in-and-out dribbles.
* Shooting:
* Mid-range: ★★★★☆ (Stable form, quick release, strong resistance to interference; fadeaway jump shot as his finishing move)
* Three-Point Shot (3PT): ★★★☆☆ (Steadily improving; not a primary weapon, but highly reliable when open)
* Free Throws (FT): ★★★★★ (Steady mentality; over 92% accuracy)
* Layups/Finishing: ★★★★★ (Core strength! Excellent control of his body in the air; highly skilled in using underhand scoop shots, double-clutch finishes, reversals, finger rolls, bank shots, and other techniques; the combination of flexibility and balance gives him an exceptional ability to evade blocks)
* Passing:
* Court Vision: ★★★★☆ (Quickly spots open spaces, especially good at finding weak-side players and cutting teammates)
* Accuracy: ★★★★☆ (Consistent)
* Creativity: ★★★★★ (No-look passes, bounce passes through gaps, and behind-the-back passes are used masterfully, with excellent timing) → "Today's assist to Kuroko-kun is a typical example"
* Deception: ★★★★☆ (Subtle technique paired with eye deception)
* Defense:
* On-Ball: ★★★★☆ (Key observation today! Displayed top-tier potential against Aomine-kun)
* Sliding: ★★★★★ (Small steps, quick frequency, steady center of gravity, excellent lateral movement)
* Anticipation: ★★★★★ (Critical! Highly perceptive of an attacker's center of gravity, gaze, and habitual movements; successfully predicted Aomine-kun's direction of attack and blocked him today)
* Physicality: ★★★☆☆ (Strength is a weakness, but his Roll-off Teique is outstanding; combined with his low center of gravity and balance, it greatly reduces the impact of collisions) → "Key survival skill"
* Shot Contests: ★★★★☆ (Wingspan + jumping speed + anticipation; keen sense for blocks)
* Help Defense: ★★★☆☆ (He has the awareness, but currently devotes more energy to on-ball defense)
* Steals: ★★★★☆ (Quick hands and good timing; even more effective when combined with anticipation)
3. Tactical Awareness & Mental Attributes
* Basketball IQ (BBIQ): ★★★★☆ (Quick to understand tactics, strong court awareness, reasonable decision-making)
* Off-Ball Movement: ★★★★☆ (Active, skilled at using screens and finding cutting opportunities)
* Leadership: ★★★☆☆ (The first signs are appearing! After the captain entrusted him with an important responsibility today, he lifted the team's morale through his actions and passing)
* Mental Toughness: ★★★★★ (Key advantage! Extremely resistant to pressure; he did not back down against Aomine-kun's furious assault, grew stronger with every setback, and remained calm at crucial moments)
* Competitiveness: ★★★★★ (Intense, but not twisted; he enjoys the game itself)
* Work Ethic: ★★★★★ (Exceptionally hardworking, especially when addressing weaknesses and learning new techniques such as balance training) → "Praised repeatedly by Captain Nijimura"
4. Style Summary & Potential Evaluation
* Core Style: Technical all-around scorer/playmaker (bo Guard). Built around exceptional body control (flexibility + balance), combined with refined ball handling, deceptive Fake Moves, and outstanding finishing skills around the basket to form a unique "Mirage" style. He is difficult to predict on offense, slips away on defense, and excels at completing plays in tight spaces and while off balance.
* Strengths:
1. Top-tier flexibility and balance (core talents)
2. Outstanding finishing ability around the basket and shot-evasion skills
3. Excellent ball-handling technique and Rhythm Change
4. Good court vision and creative passing
5. Exceptional mental resilience and a calm mind
6. Diligent training attitude and rapid learning ability
* Weaknesses:
1. Absolute Strength and explosiveness lag behind Aomine, Murasbara, and others (at a disadvantage against powerful forwards)
2. Three-point shooting consistency still needs further improvement (expanding his range)
3. Help-defense awareness and experience need strengthening
4. As a playmaker, he sometimes leans too heavily toward solving things alone (needs better balance)
* Potential Rating: S (Highest Level). His talents are unique and top-tier, his skills comprehensive, his mentality mature, and his training attitude diligent. He possesses the absolute potential to grow into a superstar capable of changing the course of a game. The title of "Seventh Miracle" is thoroughly deserved.
* Development Path:
1. Continue strengthening his core and lower-body strength to improve his physicality.
2. Refine his three-point shooting and add a more consistent scoring method.
3. Deepen his playmaking abilities and improve his overall vision and command.
4. Develop more deceptive combinations of Fake Moves.
5. Improve his defensive versatility (help defense and boxing out for rebounds).
When she wrote "Seventh Miracle" and "S-class potential," Momoi's pencil paused for a moment. She raised her head, as if she could see that white figure challenging his limits again and again on the court. The sight of Captain Nijimura patting Yū on the shoulder during the day, the resolute look in his eyes as he faced Aomine, and that breathtaking double-clutch layup... One scene after another surfaced clearly before her eyes.
Her gaze fell on the blank space along the edge of the clipboard. The little figure she had unconsciously drawn during the day—the simple sketch taking a fadeaway shot in midair—still sat quietly there. Momoi looked at the little figure, and the corners of her lips unconsciously curved into a tender smile.
She picked up the pencil. Rather than adding any more data, she gently drew a tiny, simplified basketball beside the little figure, then wrote two small lines beneath it:
> "Observer's Subjective Notes:
> 'He is like light... creating the impossible on the court.'
> 'Heart rate... displayed abnormal fluctuations multiple times during the observation period. Need to... investigate the cause further.'"
After writing the final line, Momoi's cheeks instantly flushed bright red, like ripe apples. As if she had been caught doing something illicit, she quickly closed the clipboard and hugged it tightly to her chest, as though trying to conceal the heart pounding uncontrollably within her chest.
The gym lights quietly spilled over her, illuminating her flushed earlobes and faintly upturned lips. The air still seemed to hold the scent of sweat left behind by the fierce battle, along with a trace of... the faintly sweet flutter belonging only to a girl's secret feelings. The records on Bai Ze You were not merely a cold collection of data and analysis, but also a precious observation report quietly growing into something called "love." This report belonged to Momoi Satsuki alone.
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