"Ah~ I can't take it anymore. This time, I'm really out of energy!"
Inside the basketball gym, a freshman dropped the basketball from his hands, his arms hanging limply at his sides as if they had lost all strength.
"That guy's a real monster. Even though he's a genius, he still works hard?" Sitting in the rest area, Shoichi Shiratori took a sip of water and glanced toward Akashi Asuka, who was drenched in sweat from relentless practice. His eyes reflected a mix of admiration and something else he couldn't quite name.
"Genius? You mean Asuka?"
A voice suddenly came from beside him, making Shoichi jump. Turning, he realized that at some point, Tsugawa Tomoki had also arrived in the rest area to drink water.
"You scared me! Tsugawa, you walk without making a sound, huh?"
"Ah, sorry. But you were just talking about a 'genius.' Were you referring to Asuka?"
"Yeah… is there a problem with that?" Shoichi asked, puzzled.
"Idiot, there's a big problem with that. Have you ever seen a so-called genius work this hard just to refine basic skills like dribbling and passing? Have you ever seen a genius who refuses to slack off even during holidays, just to squeeze out even the tiniest improvement in stamina?"
Tsugawa turned his head to look at him. His calm gaze made Shoichi feel an odd chill.
"I'll admit Asuka has some talent for basketball, but he's nowhere near what you'd call a true genius. Because if there really were a genius who could endure his training regimen, that person's skill level would be far above Asuka's."
"And more than that…" Tsugawa's eyes narrowed slightly, "…I think this guy is far more terrifying than any so-called genius. In all my years, I've never met anyone who can be this ruthless toward themselves."
Shoichi froze. Maybe it was because of his first impression, seeing Asuka's physique and skill during tryouts, that he automatically assumed the guy was a born basketball prodigy.
But now, after hearing Tsugawa, when Shoichi looked at Asuka again, something felt… off.
In junior high, Shoichi had once had a teammate who was undeniably gifted, nowhere near the level of those Generation of Miracles freaks, but still a clear talent.
In training or games, the difference in progress was obvious; that kind of player felt like they lived in a world apart.
And such people carried a certain aura.
Maybe it was pride. Maybe arrogance.
Whatever it was, when you played alongside them, your instincts told you instantly, this person is different.
But with Asuka… aside from the overwhelming strength he showed in the selection match, Shoichi realized that during daily practice or scrimmages, he didn't feel that same "otherworldly" aura at all.
"This… doesn't make sense."
Shoichi almost scared himself with that thought.
At that moment, Asuka wrapped up his basic drills, and to Shoichi's shock, he started walking toward the third-year training area.
"Well? Wanna go see?" Tsugawa suggested.
Shoichi hesitated… but in the end, he nodded.
They quietly crept to the doorway of the third-year training room. Compared to the first- and second-year sessions, the third-year training incorporated a lot of specialized equipment for physical conditioning.
Since third-years' bodies were nearly fully developed, using such equipment carried less risk of injury.
But the moment Shoichi saw the scene inside, his eyes went wide.
"T-th-this is…!"
"If you ask me about talent," Tsugawa said calmly, "other than his height, this might be Asuka's greatest gift."
Shoichi could barely speak.
Asuka was doing squats with a loaded barbell, weights almost equal to what senior captain Tsutomu Iwamura was lifting.
Even the third-years in the room stared in disbelief.
"During the last break, I tried following his training routine. I lasted three days… then I got injured," Tsugawa admitted with a wry smile.
"I've never seen someone with a body this durable. I guess you could call that a rare kind of talent too."
Most people couldn't survive Asuka's training schedule, not because they lacked willpower, but because their bodies simply couldn't take it.
The human body needs recovery time.
If you don't rest enough after an intense session, the only result is injury, no matter how hard you work.
That's why modern sports always emphasize scientific training.
But Asuka had an "advantage" that let him ignore that limitation, and that was his greatest weapon in both practice and games.
"Well? Do you get it now?" Tsugawa patted Shoichi's shoulder.
"I think I do." Shoichi's expression was still dazed, but he nodded. "You're right, Asuka isn't a genius. He's a monster through and through."
Tsugawa: "…Well, put that way… I guess you're not wrong."
Back in the main court, Shoichi's training intensity was visibly higher.
Seeing this, Tsugawa nodded with satisfaction. He hadn't gone out of his way to "defend" Asuka.
The truth was, he'd noticed Shoichi's potential during the selection match.
He didn't want that potential to go to waste, after all, Seiho's future would eventually rest on the shoulders of their freshmen. Even with himself and Asuka, two players alone couldn't carry the team.
So, thinking ahead, Tsugawa decided it was worth motivating him early.
Of course, Tsugawa's mind sometimes wandered to… unconventional places.
Like right now,
They'd only just entered their first year, and he was already plotting how to overthrow the seniors one day.
==========
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