THE PREVIOUS BASKETBALL TEAM; I FINALLY HAVE A GOOD TEAM TO COACH

Alright, Miss Fukazawa, what do you think we should start off with today? asked Seiji.

"Well, for one, I would advise that you guys start off with a thirty-minute run around the soccer field to warm up," said Nanaho.

"Come on, nobody wants to sweat so early into training. Save that until the end," said Jirou.

"I think that's a great idea. You heard the coach, let's go," said Seiji as he led the way.

"And that should about do it," said Nanaho as she stopped the timer.

"Wow, I haven't felt so alive at the start of training," said Hiroki as he stretched.

"Yes, you're right, Hiroki. This is just what we needed," said Yukio.

"Before diving into our training, we should have been running sooner. Thanks, Fukazawa, my team really needed a wake-up call," said Seiji.

"It's finally over, and I'm sweating," said Jirou as he breathed heavily.

"Hey, Jirou," said a girl as she ran up to him. "Here you go, drink up."

"Thanks, Tomoe. I really appreciate it," said Jirou.

"Who's that girl?" asked Nanaho curiously.

"That's Tomoe Yukimura. She's a first-year just like you, and she's Jirou's girlfriend," said Yukio.

"Tomoe, don't you have homework or something to do? Quit wasting time after school to take care of this punk," said Hiroki.

"But he's my boyfriend, so I have to be here for him every step of the way," said Tomoe.

"Whatever, just make sure you're not falling behind. Also, I forgot to mention, she's also Hiroki's younger sister," said Yukio.

"Well, at least that explains his behavior," said Nanaho to herself.

"Come on, move quickly! Quit holding up the line!" shouted Seiji.

"Yes, Captain!" shouted everyone.

Takahiro passed the basketball to Yukio, and he scored a layup. Jirou passed the basketball to Hayato, then Hayato scored a flashy layup. Seiji passed the basketball to Hiroki, and Hiroki scored a layup. Junpei passed the basketball to another player, and he scored a layup.

"Wow, they move so in sync and so fast at that. None of them missed a shot at all," said Nanaho, surprised.

After the layup session, all of them did defensive slides for half an hour, then they shot around for the rest of practice.

"Alright, everyone, take a five-minute break," said Seiji.

"So far, you've been helpful with your training regimen, Nanaho. I'm glad that you chose Toshigawa, even if it was blind luck for us," said the captain.

"No, if anything, I was the one who lucked out. You guys are amazing," said Nanaho.

"Well, save your praises for after we play a full-court game. Come, Yukio, you and I will be choosing the teams. I'll give you first pick, just to be fair."

"If you say so, brother, but it's going to cost you because I choose Hiroki," said Yukio.

"It was a no-brainer that you'd choose him, but that's okay. I'll go with the first-year, Hayato."

"He has Hayato, then I'll need someone to guard him," said Yukio to himself. "I want Jirou on my team. You'll be playing point guard," said Yukio.

"Alright then, I choose Junpei to be on my team."

"My next choice is Takahiro," said Yukio.

"And I choose Akira, which means Marube will be on your team."

"So then, let's get started. Could you referee the match, Nanaho?" asked the captain.

"Yes, of course," said Nanaho as she picked up the whistle and held the ball in the center of the court.

Yukio and Seiji faced each other, anticipating when the ball would be thrown up. As soon as Nanaho blew the whistle and the ball was in the air, both Seiji and Yukio jumped. However, Seiji easily won the tip-off.

Hayato caught the ball and immediately started dribbling up the court. Jirou stepped up to guard him. However, Hayato crossed through his legs and blew right past him. Takahiro then attempted to slow him down, so he quickly made a pass to Junpei, who scored a layup.

"Nice one, kid," said Seiji as he gave Hayato a high-five.

On the next possession, Jirou dribbled the ball up the court and made a pass to Hiroki, who was guarded by Seiji.

"I thought you were going to mark your younger brother," said Hiroki.

"We both know that no one on the team is capable of guarding you but me," said Seiji.

"That's true, but you shouldn't underestimate Yukio either," said Hiroki as he passed the ball to Yukio.

Junpei started guarding him on the wing. However, Yukio spun out of the defense and went for a layup. Seiji, however, blocked him. Hayato, who was in the paint, tipped the ball to a wide-open Hiroki, who shot a three-pointer that swished.

"Nice one, Hiroki," said Takahiro.

"You shouldn't take your eyes off me, Seiji, or you'll pay dearly," said Hiroki as he got back on defense.

"Challenge accepted. I won't lose," said Seiji as he smiled.

Hayato dribbled the ball up the court, and Jirou met him near the half-line. Out of nowhere, Seiji set a screen for him, and he utilized it, dribbling to the three-point line, where he shot a three-pointer that swished.

"Right back at you, Hiroki," said Hayato as he went back on defense.

"Damn, this first-year will be a pain to guard," said Jirou.

"If that's the case, then he's exactly what we've been missing, and we'll need him for the upcoming season," said Yukio.

On the next possession, Takahiro scored a backboard shot. Immediately after, Seiji slam-dunked the basketball on a fast break. Yukio responded with a slam dunk of his own.

Hayato passed the ball to Honda, who swung the ball to Junpei on the wing, who swished a two-pointer. Jirou swiftly made a run to the other side of the court as Takahiro made a long pass to him, allowing him to score a wide-open layup.

Seiji pulled up and shot a two-pointer that swished. Hiroki crossed Seiji and stepped back to shoot a three-pointer, which Seiji tried to block. However, the ball swished.

Coming off an off-ball screen, Junpei passed to Rantaro, who scored a layup. Seiji blocked Yukio as he attempted a dunk. Hayato shot and swished a wide-open three-pointer. Hiroki pulled up for a mid-range shot that swished. Yukio blocked Junpei on the next play, then managed to score a layup.

"Wow, I'm at a loss for words. This team of ten is split up into five, and they all are operating so in sync. They hardly wasted any possessions at all. This is a team that has what it takes to make it to the Inter-High," said Nanaho to herself in amazement at what she was witnessing.