Ace of the Bench

Once hailed as “The Prodigy of the Court,” he was the future of his school’s basketball program, Yuuto’s world crumbled after a devastating knee injury which put him out of the sport for months. While he healed, a new star Shun rose to claim the spotlight, and Yuuto’s name faded into the background. Now cleared to play again, Yuuto returns to find himself no longer the team’s ace, no longer the center of attention even his longtime crush barely notices him.But Yuuto isn’t the same player he was before. Armed with a mysterious system that pushes him past his limits and forces him to turn his weaknesses into weapons, he begins a grueling journey of self-reinvention. Late nights of endless shooting drills. Early mornings of quiet resolve. Rivalries that sting and fuel his hunger. And somewhere between sweat-stained jerseys and sidelong glances from the cheerleader he’s always admired, Yuuto discovers what it truly means to fight his way back.DISCLAIMER:This is a work of fiction. While the names of certain basketball clubs, competitions, and figures are used for the purposes of creating a sense of realism, this story is purely imaginary. No association with or endorsement by any actual person, team, club, governing body, or organization is intended or should be inferred. All trademarks and service marks, including club and federation names, are the property of their respective owners, and no infringement is intended. Any resemblance to actual events or persons, living or dead, beyond those clearly identified, is purely coincidental.