On their way back to school, Miyamoto Tokima extended an invitation to Dicky Anthony.
Hearing this, Shuzo Nijimura showed a rare look of anticipation.
The competition in Japan was just too dull. And with Miyamoto Tokima being so overwhelmingly dominant, Shuzo Nijimura had been bored out of his mind.
At least for now.
But if Dicky Anthony joined, things might finally get interesting.
Dicky Anthony fell silent the moment he heard the invitation.
After a brief pause, he nodded.
"Alright. I'm willing to follow you, Tokima-san."
Miyamoto Tokima was momentarily stunned. He hadn't expected Dicky Anthony to agree so readily.
Still, he didn't dwell on it. Since Dicky Anthony had agreed, that settled it.
He quickly arranged for Dicky Anthony's enrollment, processing a transfer application.
As for overseas high school? Dicky Anthony hadn't attended one.
He had dropped out in middle school and joined a local street team. After several years of grinding it out, he eventually became the captain.
His family had been poor, and he needed to work to help support them.
The street team, at least, paid him.
Of course, Dicky Anthony had his own motives for joining Miyamoto Tokima's school.
He wanted to enter the Black Dragon Team. The team's high salaries were already well known across the United States.
Every streetballer dreamed of joining the Black Dragon Team. Dicky Anthony was no exception.
But he had no intention of bringing it up now.
Over the next few years, he would serve Miyamoto Tokima well.
Only then would he have a chance to ask.
...
Soon, the enrollment procedures were complete, and Dicky Anthony officially became a student of Kirisaki Daiichi High.
Thanks to Miyamoto Tokima's arrangements, he also quickly joined the basketball club.
Now, all that remained was for Dicky Anthony to make the rest of Kirisaki Daiichi acknowledge his strength.
Miyamoto Tokima and the others brought him to the training court.
Seeing everyone training hard, Miyamoto Tokima shouted:
"Assemble!!"
Every member of Kirisaki Daiichi immediately stopped what they were doing and sprinted over to line up in front of him.
The entire process took less than ten seconds.
Dicky Anthony was visibly surprised. The training atmosphere here was incredible.
It was even better than what he had experienced with the Venom Squad.
After everyone assembled, Miyamoto Tokima pointed to Dicky Anthony beside him.
"Everyone, this is Dicky Anthony. From today on, he's a member of the basketball club."
The team shouted in unison:
"Yes!"
There was no discussion. There didn't need to be.
They had accepted the Miyamoto Family's funding, and that meant abiding by the Miyamoto Family's rules.
And one rule was clearly stated:
Unconditionally obey Miyamoto Tokima's commands.
Seeing no objections, Miyamoto Tokima continued:
"Alright. As tradition dictates, we'll have a one-on-one."
"Anthony will face all of you."
"He already had a one-on-one with Senior Nijimura-senpaiearlier. Now it's your turn."
"Go get ready. We'll start shortly."
"Yes!"
"Dismissed!"
The team dispersed to recover their stamina.
Shuzo Nijimura turned to Dicky Anthony.
"So, Anthony, what do you think? Our school's atmosphere isn't bad, right?"
Dicky Anthony nodded.
"It's great. Even back in the States, I never saw a street team with this kind of atmosphere."
"Truly worthy of Tokima-san's squad."
Miyamoto Tokima smiled faintly, slightly amused that Dicky Anthony could flatter him too.
He patted him on the shoulder.
"Go loosen up. We're starting soon."
"Understood."
Dicky Anthony went off to warm up.
Meanwhile, Satsuki Momoi took out a notebook and pen, preparing to record data.
More precisely, she intended to record Dicky Anthony's current stats.
Soon, the one-on-one matches began.
Dicky Anthony went through Kirisaki Daiichi's players one after another.
Against the others, he looked completely relaxed. He barely even needed to jump.
A slight lift onto his toes and a smooth release—that was enough.
The rest of Kirisaki Daiichi was stunned.
With his height and wingspan, they had assumed he was a center.
They had all prepared for him to attack the paint.
But to their shock, he just kept shooting.
And his accuracy was outrageous. Almost every shot went in.
Aren't you a center???
Dicky Anthony quickly defeated everyone else and moved on to the final opponent—Shogo Haizaki.
Seeing Shogo Haizaki's gray hair, Dicky Anthony's expression grew more serious.
He could feel it.
The aura radiating from him.
Animal Instinct.
'Didn't expect another Animal Instinct user.'
The match began.
Shogo Haizaki didn't hold back. He immediately activated Lone Wolf Animal Instinct and launched into offense.
But as soon as he attacked, he froze.
Dicky Anthony's defense was absurd.
Forget getting past him—he couldn't even get a shot off cleanly.
Dicky Anthony swiftly sent his attempt flying with a block.
When it was his turn to attack, Dicky Anthony didn't hesitate. He gave a light hop and released the ball.
Swish.
When Shogo Haizaki got the ball again, he actually used [Pillage] to copy Dicky Anthony's shooting form and took the shot.
Dicky Anthony was dumbfounded.
Shooting right in front of him?
Wasn't that just begging to be blocked?
The last idiot who had dared to shoot directly in his face had been Shuzo Nijimura...
Without hesitation, Dicky Anthony sent the shot flying.
The form looked a little familiar, but that didn't stop him from swatting it away.
After that, the match became bizarre.
Dicky Anthony kept draining shot after shot.
Meanwhile, Shogo Haizaki seemed obsessed.
He did nothing but shoot over Dicky Anthony again and again.
Dicky Anthony was confused—but also thoroughly enjoying himself.
A free delivery of blocks?
How could he not send them flying?
And just like that, the match ended in ridiculous fashion.
After it was over, Shuzo Nijimura shouted in disbelief:
"Haizaki, what are you doing? You're shooting right over Anthony???"
Shogo Haizaki looked frustrated.
"I already used [Pillage] on your shot! So why are you still making them?!"
He had clearly copied Dicky Anthony's shooting form.
Yet Dicky Anthony's shots still went in.
Shogo Haizaki couldn't figure it out.
Neither could Shuzo Nijimura.
Wait—you used [Pillage] on Dicky Anthony's shot?
Are you out of your mind?????
...
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