When Haizaki Shogo understood that his goal was to improve his physical condition, he had already begun considering how to achieve it. Many plans and training ideas he had previously prepared were ultimately discarded one after another.
The reason he sought Coach Yamamoto's help was simple—he needed an experienced, professional, and data-driven coach. Someone who could monitor his progress in detail, prevent unnecessary detours, and, most importantly, avoid permanent damage to his body.
Improving physical ability was not as simple as thinking up a plan and then immediately heading to the gym to squat, bench press, or lift dumbbells. Fitness training and basketball power usage were fundamentally different. Overtraining gym-style movements could easily disrupt muscle coordination for basketball performance.
These things could be done, but only in a targeted, structured, and carefully monitored way, with proper nutritional support as well. At one point, Haizaki Shogo even considered the very popular vertical jump training program used by professional athletes in the United States. However, after considering its long cycle of fifteen weeks and strict requirements, he decisively rejected it.
Everything he had done before—swimming, running, fencing, and combat sports—had all been carefully chosen. They were full-body exercises designed to maintain coordination and agility. He deliberately avoided overly specialized gym training because he did not want to accidentally ruin his own athletic balance.
More importantly, what he wanted to improve was not just raw strength or jumping ability. It also included neural reaction speed, flexibility, coordination, and overall body adaptability. The complexity was enormous, which was exactly why he needed a professional coach—to reduce risk and guide his development scientifically.
To use jumping ability as an example, a vertical jump was a combination of full-body strength, speed, reaction time, coordination, flexibility, and mobility. It was a mistake to think that simply running and jumping every day would improve it. True improvement came from consistently stretching tendons, ligaments, and muscles, expanding joint mobility, and strengthening the body's functional range.
As for footwork, waist control, and hip flexibility, those were even more complicated layers on top of it.
Haizaki Shogo shook his head, forcing those scattered thoughts out of his mind as he continued walking home.
CLANG!
He tossed the empty sports drink bottle into a trash bin, the metallic echo briefly cutting through the quiet night. He was only a first-year high school student. His body was still developing, and that was exactly why he avoided extreme training—he did not want to stunt his growth.
Tokyo at night was a contradiction.
Silent, yet noisy.
The silence belonged to exhausted workers packed into trains and subways. The noise belonged to cars stuck in traffic, their horns blaring endlessly.
Under the glow of the streetlights, Haizaki Shogo's mood slowly dipped into a strange, inexplicable heaviness.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
A phone call rang from his bag, pulling him back to reality and breaking the fog in his mind.
"Shogo-kun, I'm about to board the plane. I'll arrive tomorrow. Let's go out together the day after tomorrow, okay?"
"Ha, alright, Shimizu-chan. Do you want me to pick you up tomorrow?"
"Thank you, Shogo-kun. My father will pick us up."
"Got it. Have a safe trip."
"Thank you."
The call ended, but Haizaki Shogo did not immediately put the phone away. Instead, he opened the calendar app and checked the date.
The day after tomorrow.
July 7th.
Tanabata.
It was also often called the Star Festival.
He placed the phone back into his bag, and a faint smile formed on his lips.
So she picked that day on purpose…
And just like that, summer vacation was nearing its end. School would soon begin again, and a new semester awaited.
Somehow… that thought makes me feel a little expectant.
When Haizaki Shogo returned to the villa, the streetlights outside stretched across the road like a guiding path.
Warm.
Comforting.
Almost like a light leading him home.
"I'm home, Mother."
"Welcome back, Shogo-kun. I left dinner for you on the table. Eat after you shower."
"Got it. Thank you."
Shower.
Dinner.
A walk.
Walking the dog.
By around ten o'clock, he jumped into the swimming pool wearing only shorts. An hour later, completely exhausted, he showered again before falling into a deep sleep.
The strange heaviness in his chest, the low mood, and the unease were completely washed away through physical exhaustion.
The next morning, sunlight slowly crept into his room. It climbed across his face until it touched his eyelashes.
Then his eyes slowly opened.
A new day.
Full of energy.
Full of purpose.
After quickly washing up, Haizaki Shogo grabbed a basketball and left the house in a hurry.
Today was the day he had arranged to meet Midorima Shintaro.
A one-on-one training session.
Scheduled quietly during the final days of the training camp break.
======
Private Gym — Western District of Tokyo
Inside a standard indoor basketball court, a lone figure repeatedly practiced shooting. It was Midorima Shintaro, dressed in a black training vest.
After a while, Haizaki Shogo walked in wearing a purple jacket and carrying a sports bag.
"Hey, hey… the training camp just ended not long ago, and you're still practicing this hard."
"Training has already become a habit. I can't stop it."
Haizaki Shogo paused slightly.
Only someone like him… someone who can endure loneliness… could turn repetition into instinct.
No wonder he developed that kind of consistency… that level of perfection.
He glanced around the empty gym.
"So it's just the two of us today?"
"Yes. Just you and me."
"Interesting. Then let's not waste time—let's play a few rounds."
"You're not warming up?"
"I ran all the way here. I'm already warmed up."
"Fine."
The two figures faced off on the empty court, and sweat quickly filled the air as the intensity rose. At some point, a faint electric-like rhythm seemed to appear between them. Their movements accelerated, and even the court itself felt sharper… faster.
SMACK!
In his normal state, Haizaki Shogo slapped the basketball out of Midorima's hands.
Midorima, who had just entered the Zone, froze. His eyes widened in pure shock.
And in that instant of mental disruption…
He dropped out of the Zone entirely.
He stared at Haizaki Shogo with a stunned expression, as if he had just witnessed something impossible.
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