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MHA:MPR CH4 - Pro Basketball Player?
🕑 Added 2024-12-28 21:16:20 +0000 UTC"Great work today! You're all free to go on break!" the teacher announced, her voice ringing with a mix of relief and energy. In an instant, the classroom erupted into a flurry of motion as students hurriedly grabbed their bags and dashed for the door.
Shiro, however, moved at his own pace, picking up his school bag as he stood. Before he could head out, the teacher called to him. "Your name was Shiro, right, dear? You can leave your bag in the cupboard behind you," she said, gesturing toward the storage area.
"Oh, sorry. I forgot," Shiro replied politely, making his way to the cupboard. He opened it and carefully placed his bag inside. His name was neatly labeled on the shelf.
'Old habits die hard,' Shiro thought, closing the cupboard door. In high school, he'd always kept his bag under his desk. The adjustment to elementary school norms was oddly jarring.
As he walked out of the classroom, the teacher waved at him. Out of respect, Shiro waved back before stepping into the hallway.
"Where are you going?" a familiar voice called out, stopping him in his tracks. Shiro turned to see Uraraka standing a few steps behind, her face bright with curiosity.
"Out to the schoolyard. I need to get some fresh air," Shiro replied, resuming his stride and walking past her.
But Uraraka wasn't deterred. "Wait! Hold up!" she called, breaking into a jog to catch up with him.
Shiro quickened his pace. He wasn't trying to be rude, but his mind was elsewhere. 'I've got XP to grind,' he thought. Every moment spent in idle conversation felt like wasted time.
Despite his efforts to outpace her, Uraraka persisted. He could hear her breathing grow heavier with each step. 'She's persistent,' Shiro thought, glancing back briefly. His years of basketball training had given him excellent stamina, while Uraraka seemed to be pushing herself to her limit just to keep up.
"What's… your… name… ee?" Uraraka panted, falling into step beside him.
Shiro raised an eyebrow but answered simply, "Shiro."
Uraraka's face lit up at his response. "Shiro, is it? I'm Uraraka!" she exclaimed, her tone filled with excitement. Her pace slowed slightly, her energy waning, but she pushed herself to keep up.
Acknowledging her persistence, Shiro finally stopped. "Nice to meet you, Uraraka," he said.
Unprepared for his sudden halt, Uraraka took a few steps forward before spinning around. "Huh?" she stammered, realizing she had overshot.
Shiro stifled a chuckle. 'She's more determined than I gave her credit for,' he thought. 'No wonder she made it into UA.'
After catching her breath, Uraraka straightened up and asked, "Do you plan to do anything in particular?"
"Basketball. I plan to play basketball," Shiro replied, his tone neutral.
"You do sports? That's pretty cool. That explains why you're so fast!" Uraraka said, her eyes shining with admiration.
Shiro gave a noncommittal nod. He wasn't looking for compliments; he just wanted to get to the court. But then Uraraka asked, "Can I come?"
Shiro sighed and facepalmed lightly. 'There's no harm if she tags along, I guess,' he thought. "Sure," he replied.
Uraraka's reaction was immediate. She jumped up and down, clapping her hands. "I've made my first friend!" she declared, her joy contagious.
Shiro couldn't help but smile. 'She's a lively one,' he thought as they made their way outside.
The schoolyard was bustling with activity, but Shiro's focus quickly landed on an outdoor basketball court in the far corner. On the court, three older kids were engrossed in a game of one-on-one.
"Those are big kids. Are you going to play with them?" Uraraka asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and concern.
Shiro nodded confidently. "I've played with big kids before. It isn't a big deal."
As they approached the court, Shiro observed the players closely. They were in the middle of a fast-paced game of King of the Hill. The player who scored stayed on, while the one who got scored on swapped out with the boy sitting on the sidelines.
'This is perfect,' Shiro thought. 'I just need to get their attention.'
Seizing the moment, Shiro sprinted onto the court and swiped the ball from the current player. His speed was so sudden and precise that it left the others stunned.
Spinning the ball on his finger, Shiro asked, "You have room for another?"
The boys exchanged surprised glances. The one who had lost the ball finally cleared his throat. "I guess we can do a two-on-two," he said, clearly still processing what had just happened.
[New Quest! Win a 2v2 against upperclassmen. Reward: 50XP] the system announced, a notification flashing in Shiro's vision.
Shiro grinned and tossed the ball back to the boy. "Check up," he said.
"What's your name, kid?" the boy asked as he prepared to start the game.
"Shiro. You?"
"I'm Kenichi," the boy replied, pointing to his teammate. "That's Takami. And the guy sitting over there is Tatsu."
"Nice to meet you all. So, I take it Tatsu is on my team?" Shiro asked.
Kenichi nodded, and the match began.
Kenichi started with the ball, dribbling confidently as Takami tried to find an opening. Shiro stayed alert, his Metavision allowing him to track every movement.
'Let's see what this kid's made of,' Kenichi thought. He burst forward, attempting to dash past Shiro. For a moment, he felt triumphant—until he realized the ball was no longer under his control.
Turning around, Kenichi saw Shiro standing a few feet away, casually dribbling the ball with a smirk. "2-0," Shiro said, sinking a three-pointer with ease.
Kenichi's jaw dropped. "What…"
"Quit playing around," Takami muttered, frustration evident in his voice.
Gritting his teeth, Kenichi positioned himself to guard Shiro directly. "Let's see if you can get past me," he challenged.
Shiro didn't need to hear it twice. Using a combination of speed and sharp movements, he easily maneuvered around Kenichi, leaving him scrambling to catch up. Shot after shot, Shiro and Tatsu dominated the game. By the time it ended, the score was 21-0.
Tatsu, who had barely needed to do anything, scratched the back of his head and chuckled. "You're really incredible, Shiro."
Meanwhile, Kenichi and Takami lay sprawled on the ground, utterly defeated. Sitting up, Kenichi looked at Shiro with newfound respect. "You're trying to go pro, aren't you? Good luck. I believe you can make it."
Takami nodded in agreement. "I didn't believe Kenichi at first, but after guarding you, I know you're the real deal."
Shiro bowed slightly. "Thank you for letting me play."
[Congratulations! Quest Complete. Reward: 50XP] the system announced.
As Shiro turned around, he noticed Uraraka standing frozen, her mouth agape and her eyes wide.
"Uraraka?" Shiro called, concerned.
Snapping out of her trance, she exclaimed, "You were amazing! That was so awesome to watch!"
Shiro chuckled, scratching the back of his head. "Thanks."
'She's not wrong,' he thought, reflecting on how effortlessly his Metavision had guided him. It allowed him to spot every weakness and exploit every opening. If basketball were his goal, he could probably make it to the top. But his path lay elsewhere.
