Rebound of the Shadow Prodigy

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The gym began to quiet as players and coaches paused their drills to watch. His dribbles grew more intricate, punctuated by sharp spins and rapid crossovers, his body moving like a finely tuned machine. Even the youngest players stopped in their tracks, wide-eyed at the display.

"Damn," One of the older players muttered under his breath, his voice tinged with reluctant admiration. "He's smooth."

Ryan, standing with his arms crossed, narrowed his eyes.

"It's just dribbling," He said, though his tone lacked its earlier smugness. "Let's see him shoot."

Coach Brooks, now leaning slightly forward, clearly intrigued, clapped his hands. "Not bad, rookie. Let's step it up. Shooting drills. Ten from the free-throw line, ten from the three-point arc, and five from mid-court. Show me that range."

Kaito nodded, moving to the free-throw line with quiet confidence. The court seemed to shrink around him as his focus sharpened. He took a deep breath, bent his knees, and released the ball in one smooth motion.

It soared cleanly through the air before swishing through the net with a satisfying snap.

One shot. Two. Three.

By the time Kaito sank his tenth consecutive free throw, the whispers in the gym had grown louder. Players exchanged glances, their earlier skepticism melting into genuine curiosity.

"Beginner's luck," Ryan muttered, but the slight crack in his voice betrayed him.

Coach Brooks nodded approvingly. "Alright, let's see if that translates to the three-point line."

Kaito stepped back, his expression unchanged. The further distance didn't faze him. He adjusted his stance and released the first shot.

Swish

It swished through the net with ease.

The second shot followed, then the third.

By the time the tenth ball fell cleanly through the net, even Ryan was shifting uncomfortably, his arms uncrossing as if he were unconsciously readying himself for a challenge.

"Damn," Someone else murmured, this time louder.

But Coach wasn't done. "Okay, mid-court. Five shots. No breaks."

A ripple of disbelief swept through the crowd.

Mid-court shots were reserved for the showboaters, not warm-ups.

Yet, as Kaito stepped up, his calm demeanor didn't waver. He dribbled once, set his feet, and launched the ball. It arced high before sinking perfectly through the hoop.

Another shot. Another swish.

By the fifth flawless shot, a small crowd had gathered, the tension in the room palpable.

The younger kids looked up at Kaito with awe, while the older players watched him with grudging respect. Even Ryan, who had now fallen silent, stared with furrowed brows, his earlier confidence shaken.

Coach Brooks let out a low whistle, his grin wide. "Not bad, kid. Not bad at all."

But he wasn't finished. Over the next hour, Coach put Kaito through the paces, testing him in every position. Layups, fast breaks, defensive drills, passing under pressure—Kaito tackled each with the same quiet focus and unshakable precision. His footwork was crisp, his passes sharp, and his defense relentless. No matter what Brooks threw at him, Kaito delivered.

By the end of the session, the gym had come to a standstill, the players too captivated to return to their own drills.

Whispers and murmurs filled the air, a buzz of excitement that was impossible to ignore.

Coach Brooks turned to the group, his voice carrying an edge of triumph. "You still think he's just a kid?"

No one dared to answer. The silence was answer enough.

After the drills, Coach Brooks clapped his hands to gather the team, his voice ringing out with authority. "Alright, everyone, come over here. It's time to meet your new teammate. This is Kaito, and if you didn't already notice, he's got skills to spare. Let's give him a proper welcome."

The players gathered in a semicircle, their varied personalities on full display.

"Let's start with our veterans," Coach said, gesturing to the tallest among them, a broad-shouldered player whose presence seemed to fill the space. "That's Marcus, our center. Don't let his quiet demeanor fool you—he's a powerhouse under the hoop."

Marcus nodded, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"Welcome to the team, man," He said in a deep, rumbling voice. "Hope you're ready to work."

"And over here," Coach continued, motioning to a sharp-eyed girl with a confident smirk, "is Jen, our star point guard. She's quick on her feet and even quicker with her mouth."

Jen extended her hand to Kaito, her grip firm and her tone teasing. "Nice moves, kid. Let's see if you can keep up during scrimmages."

Kaito shook her hand, smirking back. "Looking forward to it."

Coach's next introduction carried a hint of amusement. "And, of course, Ryan—the team captain."

Ryan stepped forward, his posture commanding as he crossed his arms over his chest. His piercing gaze met Kaito's, the competitive edge in his expression unmistakable.

"We'll see if you can handle the pressure," He said, his voice calm but edged with challenge. "Skills aren't everything."

Kaito met Ryan's stare without flinching, his tone light but firm. "I guess we'll find out."

Around them, the other players chuckled. Coach waved a hand toward the rest of the team.

"Now for the rest of our crew. That's Amir, our three-point sniper—don't blink, or you'll miss his shot. Kiera over there is our defensive specialist; nothing gets past her. Nate's the speedster, all about fast breaks. And Sofia, our small forward, has a knack for making impossible plays look easy."

The players greeted Kaito in their own styles: Amir offered a friendly fist bump, Kiera nodded with a competitive gleam in her eye, Nate grinned and said, "Hope you can keep up rookie," and Sofia flashed a quick smile before returning to tie her sneakers.

Coach stepped back, hands on his hips as he surveyed the group. "Kaito's younger than most of you, but talent is talent. I'm thinking of adding him to the main lineup."

A ripple of surprise swept through the group.

Ryan's frown deepened slightly, while Jen raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued.

"He earned it," Coach said, his tone leaving no room for argument. "Now, hit the benches and get acquainted before scrimmages."

The players moved to the sidelines, where their personalities began to shine. Kaito sat quietly, observing the group dynamics. Ryan, unsurprisingly, dominated the conversation, sharing stories of past victories and throwing in the occasional critique of a teammate's performance. Jen kept pace with him, her quick wit and sharp comebacks earning laughs.

Marcus, seated near the end of the bench, chimed in occasionally with dry humor that sent the others into fits of laughter. Amir and Nate exchanged banter about who was faster, while Kiera and Sofia debated the best ways to counter certain plays.

After a while, Jen turned her attention to Kaito, her sharp gaze locking onto him.

"Hey, Kaito," She said, her voice carrying a playful edge. "What's your deal? You've got the skills, but you're like this walking mystery box. Spill."

Kaito leaned back, a faint smirk tugging at his lips.

"Just a kid trying to learn," He said casually. "Nothing special."

"Yeah, right," Marcus drawled, his tone skeptical. "Nobody's that good without a story. What's your secret?"

Kaito shrugged, his expression unreadable. "Years of practice. And maybe a little talent."

The group fell silent for a moment, each player studying him as if trying to crack an enigma.

Then Jen grinned, breaking the tension. "Alright, mystery man. Let's see if your skills hold up when the pressure's on."

The others nodded in agreement, their skepticism replaced by growing respect.

Kaito said nothing, his calm demeanor speaking volumes.

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