Physical Test (2)

Just as Shuzo Nijimura was drawn by the whispers of the crowd around Ken Kaneki, wanting to investigate, a gasp also came from the speed test area: "This kid is so fast!"

Everyone's attention was once again drawn to the adjacent court. Daiki Aomine stood proudly by the sidelines, hands on his hips, looking at Ken Kaneki and saying, "Haha, Kaneki, the upperclassman just said I broke the freshman record for the physical test... Nijimura-senpai." Seeing Shuzo Nijimura standing with his arms crossed, Daiki Aomine quickly straightened up and greeted him.

Shuzo Nijimura looked at Daiki Aomine, nodded noncommittally, and said to the two recorders, "Show me the current data for those two."

"Yes, Captain." The two individuals who were addressed took the recently recorded data and handed it to Shuzo Nijimura.

"Daiki Aomine, 175cm, 60kg, wingspan 190cm, baseline shuttle run... 12 seconds? 3/4 court sprint 3.95 seconds? Ken Kaneki... bench press... 140kg?" Shuzo Nijimura's expression froze instantly, as if time had stopped at that moment. His eyes widened, pupils dilating rapidly, as if trying to absorb all the incredible data before him.

"Yes, Captain, we also found it incredible," said one of the recorders with a sigh.

"Have they tested in other events?" Shuzo Nijimura asked urgently, his expression like he had found a great treasure.

"They haven't finished yet," the recorder replied truthfully.

"Then prioritize finishing their tests first," Shuzo Nijimura commanded decisively. "I have a feeling these two possess extraordinary talent."

"Yes, Captain." The personnel responsible for the physical tests nodded in agreement.

Before long, Daiki Aomine and Ken Kaneki's physical tests were all completed. The recorders, who had initially been shocked, had now become numb.

"Captain, Daiki Aomine and Ken Kaneki's physical test data has been recorded," said the person in charge of compiling the results, handing the data sheets to Shuzo Nijimura with a sigh. "Captain, you were right, their talents are in a league of their own. Especially this Ken Kaneki, it's like a god resides within him!"

Shuzo Nijimura took the data sheets with a serious expression. The physical test data for both of them was clearly laid out on the report.

"Daiki Aomine, bench press 90kg, vertical jump 85cm, running jump 95cm; Ken Kaneki, baseline shuttle run 11.5 seconds, 3/4 court sprint 3.63 seconds, vertical jump 92cm, running jump 112cm." Looking at the data before him, Shuzo Nijimura felt as if he had won the lottery, his happiness about to explode.

At this moment, Daiki Aomine looked at Ken Kaneki with some surprise. "You, kid, I didn't expect you to be this physically gifted! Faster than me, jump higher than me! You're not trying to hit on Satsuki, are you?"

"A-Dai, what are you saying? That's rude," Satsuki Momoi, who had just passed the Basketball Club manager interview, had come to see what the commotion was about and happened to hear Daiki Aomine's comment. Blushing, she playfully hit his arm.

"Haha, it's okay, Satsuki," Ken Kaneki said, scratching the back of his head and smiling. "Actually, I was sick a while ago. I wasn't feeling well, and then I got bumped, which is why I fainted. Please don't misunderstand, Aomine-kun."

As the three were laughing and joking, Shuzo Nijimura approached them and said solemnly, "Daiki Aomine, Ken Kaneki, you two, come with me."

"Yes, Captain," the two replied in unison. Shuzo Nijimura turned and led them to the basketball skills testing area. Behind Shuzo Nijimura, Ken Kaneki and Daiki Aomine exchanged glances, both looking utterly confused.

Just as Shuzo Nijimura was about to stop the ongoing basketball skills tests, a recorder from the skills testing area excitedly stepped forward and said, "Captain, we have two promising point guards here! Look at Seijuro Akashi, he's a bit short, but his ball-handling skills are incredible. He completed the dribbling course (full-court dribbling obstacle course + passing + layup, similar to a skill challenge) in just 33.2 seconds, with no misses on the four passing targets. In the two-minute intensity shooting test, he made 19 out of 20 mid-range shots and 15 out of 17 three-pointers. And this one, Shintaro Midorima, although his dribbling course was a bit slower at 36.8 seconds and he missed one passing target, in the two-minute intensity shooting test, he made all 35 of his three-point attempts! This is unprecedented in our Teiko history!"

As if the surprises weren't enough for Shuzo Nijimura, another tall, purple-haired guy was brought over by the personnel from the physical testing area.

"Captain, Captain, this guy named Atsushi Murasakibara is also amazing! He's 186cm tall, weighs 80kg, has a wingspan of 202cm, and benched 120kg! His shuttle run was 13 seconds, sprint 4 seconds, standing vertical jump 75cm, running vertical jump 87cm! Although he's not as good as Ken Kaneki, he still broke Teiko's previous records!" The recorder from the physical testing area rattled off Atsushi Murasakibara's stats like a machine gun.

Looking at the five young boys before him with red, green, gold, blue, and purple hair, a faint blush appeared on Shuzo Nijimura's stern face. He clenched his fist and coughed twice, as if to calm his inner excitement. Once his emotions had slightly stabilized, Shuzo Nijimura waved over the person from the physical testing area, placed his left hand on his shoulder, and pointed at Seijuro Akashi and Shintaro Midorima with his right hand. He said, enunciating each word, "Take these two rookies and test them yourself. Prioritize testing them, and report the results to me immediately."

Seeing Shuzo Nijimura's serious and solemn expression, the person in charge of the physical testing area replied earnestly, "Yes! Captain!" With that, he led Seijuro Akashi and Shintaro Midorima to the physical testing area.

After arranging for Akashi and Midorima, Shuzo Nijimura turned to the three youths before him and said, "Alright, show me your fundamental skills."

"Huh? Captain, you care about us that much?" Ken Kaneki, under everyone's gaze, grew increasingly excited. He stretched his shoulders, and a glint of eagerness in his eyes was almost about to burst out. "Then let me go first!"

Standing at the starting line, almost the moment the timer spoke, Ken Kaneki shot out with the ball like an arrow released from a bowstring. His slightly exerted calves seemed to be digging into the ground.

The first set of cones posed no obstacle for Ken Kaneki, who moved as if on level ground towards the dummy boards. As if showing off, he crossed over the first dummy board with a crossover, then spun past the second with a turnaround, followed by the third and fourth. In the blink of an eye, Ken Kaneki was under the basket. He jumped from the right side of the hoop, but instead of a simple layup as expected, he floated to the left side of the basket in mid-air before effortlessly laying the ball in with a reverse layup.

Upon landing, Ken Kaneki casually scooped up the ball as it slowly descended from the hoop and returned, the scene mirroring his previous run. Then, standing before the ball rack, he looked at the passing targets. He picked up a ball and tossed it casually. The basketball flew through the hole with a resounding sound. Without exception, all four passing targets were hit on the first try. Only after the fourth target was thrown did the timer seem to snap back to reality and press the stopwatch.

"2...29.7 seconds!" The timer stared at the data on the watch as if witnessing a miracle.

"Senpai, can we start the two-minute intensity shooting test now?" Ken Kaneki asked gently, raising his hand.

"Oh, oh, yes!" Hearing Ken Kaneki's voice, the timer snapped back to attention and quickly asked, "You'll have two tests, do you want to test mid-range shots or three-pointers?"

"I'll test three-pointers, just like Midorima-kun!" Ken Kaneki replied.

"Oh, okay, then I'll pass you the ball."

"Thank you for your trouble, senpai."

Ken Kaneki took two steps behind the three-point line and extended his hand to the timer, signaling he was ready. The timer understood and passed the ball to Ken Kaneki. Ken Kaneki caught the ball and dribbled it a few times, as if finding his rhythm. Then, he smoothly caught the ball, jumped, and raised his hand. His body stretched out in the air like a unfurling scroll. With a gentle flick of his wrists, the basketball left his fingertips with an almost perfect spin, tracing a beautiful arc towards the basket.

"Swish!" A crisp, clear sound of the ball going through the net echoed. The basketball landed perfectly in the basket without touching the rim at all.

However, Ken Kaneki didn't stop there. He continued to stand beyond the three-point line, repeating the same process of catching and shooting. Each shot was like a precise missile, flying accurately towards the basket. The speed of his shots, the height of his arcs, and the precision of his angles were all breathtaking.

As the two shooting tests concluded, the entire skills testing area erupted in excitement. Ken Kaneki, in the two-minute intensity shooting test, made all 40 of his three-point attempts in two rounds!