Ace of the Bench

[Flashback – A Few Days Ago, Practice]

The squeak of sneakers echoed against the walls as practice ended. Coach Takeda clapped his hands, drawing the attention of the weary team. "Alright, listen up," he said, voice calm but commanding. "I've devised a new offensive plan. This is for dire situations only. Yuuto, you're going on the court as point guard."

Yuuto froze, eyes wide, a mixture of excitement and apprehension washing over him. Finally… finally, a chance to step back onto the court.

Coach continued, pacing in front of the line of players. "Marcus, you'll move to shooting guard. Height advantage. Make the offense lethal in the paint. Shunjin stays where he is. Yuuto, your job is to orchestrate. Not to score… yet."

Yuuto felt a pang of disappointment. Just a passer? I wanted to shine, to dunk, to take over…

Coach's gaze softened, noticing his hesitation. "If you can break through, if the opportunity arises, you may score. But the main priority is your knee. I won't risk another injury. I need you healthy, controlling the floor. We'll take the shots after you create openings."

The players nodded, absorbing the strategy. Yuuto felt his shoulders tighten with responsibility. He had never commanded the offense before, never been in control of the game's pulse.

After Training finished Yuuto and Marcus walked home together Ayaka wasn't at school that day.

The Caribbean breeze tugged at their Training clothes, carrying the distant sounds of students practicing elsewhere.

"Hey," Yuuto asked, breaking the silence, "what's it like being a point guard?"

Marcus shrugged, a half-smile on his face. "It's… not as complicated as it looks. You control the offense. You read your teammates, you read the defense. The other stuff comes naturally if you keep your head clear. Focus on your team, focus on the court. The basics will get us through. The rest… comes with time."

Yuuto nodded slowly, absorbing the weight of the words. Being point guard wasn't just about speed or dribbling it was about seeing the game before it happened. And now, the game was happening.

[Back to Present]

"So thats what they were planning on doing its a good thing I prepared the boys" said coach Shimizu.

[Flash back yesterday]

At Shikoku High, their coach stood in front of the whiteboard, marker in hand. "We can play Yuuto two ways," he said to his team.

"If he's in his usual power forward position, box him up 4v1. Do not let him move freely. If he's point guard… double coverage. Tallest and shortest players on him. Anticipate his passes, cut off angles. He may orchestrate the offense, but we will force mistakes."

The rookies nodded, determined. They had been underestimated before, but today, they would not relent.

[Back to Present ]

The whistle pierced the gym like a knife. Ball in hand, Yuuto stepped onto the court, the crowd erupting at his unexpected entry. Kana and Ayaka screamed his name, voices piercing over the chaos of cheers and stomps. Teachers and students alike glanced, mouths agape, no one expecting him to move with such precision so soon after his injury.

The system pinged softly in his mind: "Turn the Tide"

He adjusted his stance, bouncing the ball rhythmically. Two defenders converged Riku Senda, tallest on the court, and Akira Hoshino, smallest but lightning-quick. A 2v1 trap formed instantly.

Yuuto's eyes flicked between them. His knees tensed, not quite as springy as before, but instincts fired. He dribbled, slower than his usual explosive speed, feeling the weight of every step. The crowd's cheers blurred into white noise.

thump-thump-thump… The ball hit the hardwood like a heartbeat.

He made a feint left. Riku shifted slightly, overcommitted. Akira lunged. Yuuto's mind slowed, each fraction of a second stretching out like elastic.

Now.

He jumped back, creating space. The gym seemed to hold its breath as he launched a perfect three-pointer.

The ball arced high, the fluorescent lights glinting off its surface. Time slowed. Marcus, Shunjin, Riku, Daichi all watched, stunned. The other team's defenders froze mid-step, realizing too late that the shot was clean.

Swish.

The net rippled. Gasps and screams erupted. Yuuto's eyes burned with focus, adrenaline igniting every nerve.

The gym exploded.

"Yuuto! Yuuto! Yuuto!" Kana's voice cut through the noise,Even the teachers in the corner clapped, their expressions a mix of disbelief and awe. Nobody had seen Yuuto touch a ball in months not like this.

Yuuto landed softly, one hand brushing his knee. Still stable. He caught Marcus's eyes across the court.

The scoreboard updated. Shikoku 61 – Seiryō 38.

Still down, but the Points are creeping closer, tension snapping like a wire. The game was still on, but everything had shifted.

And in the stands, the King of the Court's green aura pulsed brighter. Everyone felt it the energy, the power, the unspoken challenge.

A slow smile tugged at the corner of Yuuto's lips. He raised his right hand, forming a perfect number three with his fingers. Not to the side, not as a flash to the crowd he brought it gently to the right side of his head, the gesture precise.

His right index finger pressed lightly to his lips. "Shhhhhhh…" he seemed to say, a quiet command that cut through the gym's roar. The soundless hush carried weight, a reminder that he controlled the court now.

Then, with smooth motion, he brought both hands forward, a subtle push that wasn't an attack or a show-off just a gentle signal, almost like a hand on the air telling the noise to settle. His chest rose and fell steadily, shoulders relaxed. The gesture wasn't loud; it was calm, commanding, and confident, letting the crowd and teammates know: the storm had arrived but it was measured, controlled.

Yuuto lowered his hands, exhaling slowly, scanning the court. Every eye followed him, some in awe, some in disbelief. The celebration wasn't about ego. It was a statement, a whisper to the world: I'm here. Watch closely.

Yuuto's heart hammered, but a small, sharp smile tugged at his lips. This was his moment.

The crowd roared. The gym shook. And the game, just like that, had turned on its axis.