After the legendary 3-on-3 match, Sakuragi sat on the bench, wiping sweat with a towel. His mind was elsewhere.
'System, show me the rewards again,' he thought.
[Ding! Rewards Summary:]
[100 System Points Earned.]
[Skill 'Lightning Steal' (Permanent) Unlocked.]
[Level Up! Current Level: 4.]
Suddenly, a new icon appeared in his vision: [System Store].
Sakuragi's eyes widened. A store? Let's see what I can buy.
The screen flickered with various items:
[Grip Tape: Increases ball control by 5%] - 50 Points.
[Basic Stamina Drink: Restores 20% energy] - 20 Points.
[Gravity Shoes (Rank D): Increases jumping height by 10cm] - 150 Points.
'Only 100 points... I can't afford the shoes yet,' Sakuragi sighed. 'But wait... what's this hidden tab?'
[Limited Time Offer: 'Rebounder's Instinct' (Passive Skill) - 100 Points.]
[Effect: Predict the landing spot of missed shots with 30% accuracy.]
Without hesitation, Sakuragi clicked buy. I need this. If I can control the rebounds, I control the game.
A warm sensation washed over his eyes. For a split second, he looked at the hoop and saw faint glowing circles on the floor where a missed ball might land.
"Hanamichi? Why are you staring at the floor like a weirdo?" Haruko asked, walking toward him with a smile.
Sakuragi quickly stood up, his confidence soaring. "Just calculating the trajectory of my genius, Haruko-san! Next practice, nobody will touch a single rebound!"