On the night when the competition between Ryonan and Hakata Shang ended, Yayoi Aida had dinner with a man. The other party was a very attractive middle-aged uncle, tall and capable.

"Mr. Maeda, your son's performance today is truly amazing. He is really worthy of being a child of the country." Aida spoke while waiting for the food to be served.

"Haha, I'm proud of him." Maeda Dai I, who was sitting opposite Aida, picked up the cup and sipped it, and said softly. "However, he is not able to get his level today."

"I hope to hear the details."

"Well...whether should I start?" Big I touched my chin in annoyance and said slowly. "By the way, you should know the growth history of Eiji Zebei, who is known as the strongest high school student in the country, right?"

"Did you mean that he started to play basketball with his father since he was a child?" Aida said uncertainly. Compared to Zebei, he was more familiar with the history of Sendao's growth.

"Yes, yes, that's it. In fact, Takuya's history of being exposed to basketball is similar to that of Zebei. I also gave him a basketball when he was very young. Because of my work, I didn't have much time to spend with him. He grew up holding basketball since he was a child."

"It's similar to Zebei." Aida said that last year, a magazine conducted a very detailed interview for Zebei, and many people know about his growth process.

"It's a bit like that, but there was no basketball court near our home at that time. When he was not in school, he would practice dribbling in the park near his home. After I asked him to watch NBA videos, he told me that when he grew up, he must go to the United States and become an NBA star." Speaking of these warm memories, I inadvertently showed a kind smile.

"Do you know, Takuya's original goal was to become a point guard."

"No!" Yayoi was shocked. You should know that Takuya's data in the game averaged no more than 3 assists per game.

"Because he knew since he was a very young man that Japanese people are too short compared to Americans. So, the position that is most suitable for short people on the basketball court is not the only point guard left." Although it is a bit far-fetched to say the reason, it is reasonable.

"But soon he discovered that he had no talent for passing, not that he lacked skills, but that he had a natural lack of grasp of the timing of passing and his vision. When he was still in elementary school, he had little demand for passing. After he was promoted to junior high school in the United States, he realized that he was really not suitable for this position." Thinking of this rather bitter memory, I became a little depressed.

"Just just came to the United States to study, Takuya joined the school's basketball team as soon as possible. Although he was good at dribbling skills, his height was too short and completely unpopular, and he was discriminated against. It was really uncomfortable at that time."

"So, how did he spend it?" Aida Yayoi continued to ask.

"There is still a way, only practice." I spread my hands and said helplessly. "He only had skilled dribbling and breakthrough skills at that time, but in the United States, the holy place of basketball, he was really not excellent, and he could barely be in the ordinary position. In order to be able to play in the game, he kept practicing shooting hard. At the beginning, he had an ordinary fixed-point shooting, slowly reaching a fixed-point shooting of three-pointers, thus practicing various difficult shooting skills. You must know that there are too many players in the United States who can be his learning targets, and soon he made a good shooting."

"So that's it. Is this why Takuya Maeda can be so accurate on the court?" Yayoi suddenly realized.

"This is also the result of his training that lasted for four years, so I am truly proud of him." Big I said with a smile.

"So, is there any secret to his strong defensive skills?" Yayoi asked again.

"Well, it's purely because I'm not convinced." When it comes to this, I find it funny.

"Don't convince?" Yayoi was puzzled.

"Yes, when he was promoted to the second grade of junior high school, he finally got the recognition of his coach, and he was promoted to the position of substitute shooting guard. As the sixth man in the team, in fact, his scoring ability is not inferior to that of the regular scorer, but due to the gap in body shape, Takuya has become a defensive loophole. For this, he has been ridiculed by the regular scorer." I smiled and told the reason.

"So he just practiced defense hard, right?" Yayoi asked guessing.

"I don't know if it's hard to practice. Anyway, he's been looking for the one-on-one contestant who was the same year as him, and it lasts for a whole year, making him very good at defending one-on-one." Big I was dry and took another sip of the drink.

"In the third grade, he was finally admitted by the coach and got the starting position. At that time, Takuya suddenly grew taller and his height reached the height that could barely be the current striker. It happened that the coach had graduated from the previous small forward and let Takuya become a small forward. That year, he and the point guard were very effective." A very typical inspirational story was fully expressed from the mouth of Big Me, and the protagonist was his son.

"So that's it, no wonder he is so omnipotent." Yayoi murmured after hearing this.

"Well, and this year, he has been playing against the enemy's small forward in the game, which has further tempered his defense. He can't help but defend alone, and even assisting and joint defense are very proficient."

"After he was in high school, he was only in the first grade. Due to his outstanding outside defense skills, he was entrusted by his coach with an important task. He played in the game as a defensive vanguard and occasionally seized shooting opportunities. After a year, he became a real regular choice. After that, he and I returned to Japan, and his story in the United States ended like this."

"It's a pity, otherwise, Maeda Takuya would continue to study in the United States for two years. Maybe he could shine in the American high school league in his third year." Aida sighed regretfully.

"It doesn't matter. There are also excellent players in Japan. He also decided to go to the American university after high school to compete in the NCCA and use it as a springboard to participate in the NBA draft. He already has a plan, so don't worry." I shook my head. From childhood to adulthood, Taku has not let him feel much about success as a father. Taku has clear plans for many things and has his own opinions.

"Is it NBA? It's such a surprising extravagant idea!" Yayoi said a sentence that he didn't know whether it was disdain or expectation.

"Is this? I really think he may succeed because he is really amazing~" I took a bite of the food I just delivered, and I said with a smile.

"Zebei, it's becoming quite powerful!" Takuya said loudly. At the beginning of the game, Takuya directly shot a goal on Zebei's head and entered the net hollow. Takuya, proud Takuya loudly mocked Zebei.

"This kid is still so cheap! But his football skills are really amazing!!" Zebei showed an excited smile. Today, both of them were full of fighting spirit!

———

PS: Takuya once told Ayako that he had transferred to school almost once a year, and that was just a random talk to gain sympathy, don't mind.

He actually transferred to the same school in the fifth grade of elementary school, and in the sixth grade he transferred to the primary school in the United States. In fact, he has been studying in the same school in junior high school.
Chapter completed!