Chapter 137: The Interception

Before Takenori had even fully enjoyed the first session, the practice for the first group had already concluded.
As the captain, Takenori did not show much emotion, but when their paths crossed as they left the court, Vice-Captain Kimihiro, who had noticed a few things, patted him on the shoulder. "Both first-year rookies are in the second group."
Although there were more than two rookies in their first year, only Hanamichi and Kaede were participating in official practice.
Takenori then punched Kimihiro lightly on the shoulder—knowing that he was trying to encourage him because they had gained two promising rookies this year!
To say the least... it was not entirely hopeless for them to break through the regional preliminaries.
At that moment, Hanamichi discovered that Kaede was also in this group, but... he was on the green team!
Hanamichi immediately flashed a wicked grin, then sidled up right next to Kaede with an expression that screamed, "I'm going to stick to you like glue," though Kaede remained completely unresponsive.
"Hanamichi... forget it," Kimihiro shook his head. As the captain of the red team, he had originally intended to assign Hanamichi elsewhere and mark Kaede himself, but seeing how enthusiastic Hanamichi was, he didn't have the heart to interrupt him.
"Is this the temporary overseas reinforcement you borrowed?" Kimihiro asked, looking at the "Cofagrigus."
Even though it wasn't a specialized Pokémon school, Kimihiro was the solidly knowledgeable type, well worthy of his glasses. "This is a Ditto, right? Transformed into a Cofagrigus?"
"That's right! And don't let his looks fool you; even though he's about your age, he only started his journey as a trainer this year!" Hanamichi hurriedly said.
"Well, that doesn't really matter..." Kimihiro didn't pay it much mind.
After all, it was just a temporary loan for internal practice anyway; it wasn't like they were actually hiring a ring ringer, so exceeding the age limit didn't matter at all...
The reason someone from the Sakuragi Research Institute lent it out was probably just for ease of observation, right?
Hmm? Sakuragi? That surname felt like he had seen it somewhere before...
Kimihiro didn't dwell on it for long and quickly started the practice for the second group. Tossing off the throw-in, he aimed the ball toward the Hitmonchan in the opposing half—who was his Pokémon partner!
"Hitmon... mon..."
"Na-na-nan!"
Just as Hitmonchan extended its gloved hand, preparing to trap the ball, Gallade swooped in from the side, its arm blades hacking directly toward Hitmonchan's arm...
In Poké-basketball, physical contact between human players was restricted, but for Pokémon, the only limitation was that they could not use aggressive moves to directly attack opponents. Outside of actual moves, direct physical contests were permitted against targets holding the ball or standing in the path of the ball.

Seeing Gallade taking advantage of the momentum to snatch the ball, Hitmonchan wrapped its other arm around in an attempt to entangle Gallade...
Lucario, positioned in the midrange, unleashed its Aura Sphere at that moment, attempting to "pull" the match ball toward itself from a distance through wave resonance.
However, just as the ball resonated with the aura and shifted slightly toward Lucario, Hitmonlee on the other side extended its spring-like leg, intercepting the ball with a hooking kick. Due to its special design, the "match ball" was quite friendly to direct physical steals and ball control; remote methods like auras and psychic powers were still separated by an extra layer.
"Don't get too careless!" Kimihiro reminded Kaede.
Hitmonlee was also Kimihiro's Pokémon. Although the combination of "Hitmonchan and Hitmonlee" seemed a bit generic, Kimihiro's Pokémon, much like himself, possessed very solid techniques.
Hitmonlee juggled and dribbled the ball, dodging an opposing Sandshrew, but right at that moment, the Gallade that had been entangled by Hitmonchan suddenly vanished!
"What?" Kimihiro couldn't help but be startled.
Takenori called out from the sidelines, "Kimihiro is too careless! It's [Substitute]!"
That's right, Gallade had just used [Substitute], and its real body suddenly appeared right beside Hitmonlee...
Yet at that exact moment, a "red arrow" came charging horizontally across the court.
"Scrafty! Scrafty! Scrafty!"
With a loud "Thud," it was a headbutt delivered flying by the "Scrafty," knocking Gallade off course!
"Hehe, that's not the [Headbutt] move, just a regular headbutt!" Hanamichi showed off nearby.
The Kaede cheer squad watching outside the window instantly let out a chorus of jeers, but Hanamichi was immensely pleased with himself.
Even without his explanation, everyone could tell—that "headbutt" lacked the condensed energy of a Normal-type attack; it was indeed just a plain, physical headbutt and not a move.
It was simply that Hanamichi's Scrafty was the type whose ordinary physical state was so strong that even without moves, its headbutts pack a massive punch!
"Nice one..." Kimihiro praised, while already getting into position to receive the ball.
However, the instant Hitmonlee passed the ball back, Kaede used a pump fake to shake off Hanamichi, and then intercepted Kimihiro at the first face-to-face encounter. When it came down to a contest of "human player" technique, both Vice-Captain Kimihiro and the beginner Hanamichi fell far too short compared to Kaede!
With a quick steal and a fast pass, the match ball returned to the Pokémon's half—because a steal had occurred, there was no need to wait the five seconds.
Lucario, already in position with perfect telepathic synchronization, received the ball and successfully secured possession!
Hitmonlee attempted a sliding tackle to win it back, but Lucario nimbly leaped away, the match ball hovering right beside it...

At that moment, Lucario's aura perception was fully activated. The figures of all surrounding opponents and teammates appeared clearly within its mind; no one could possibly...
Suddenly, a "shadow hand" silently appeared and "hooked" the match ball away from Lucario's side!
Lucario: ! !
That's right, it was Coffin-coffin—the shadow hand essentially did not physically exist, being merely the product of aggregated Ghost-type energy.
Furthermore, Ghost-type energy would not interact with Normal-type or Fighting-type energy, meaning the "Aura," which was a sublimation of Fighting-type energy, naturally could not perceive it.
Though startled, Lucario, alongside Gallade, launched a pincer attack from both sides toward the "Cofagrigus" in front of them...
"Scrafty, Scrafty!" Scrafty hopped about, trying to draw "Coffin's" attention and signal for a pass.
"You can pass right back after a steal!" Hanamichi also hurriedly shouted.
However...
At that very moment, a flicker of what seemed like excitement bloomed within Coffin's two beady eyes.
While everyone's attention was completely focused on the play, Coffin decided to secure the ball using its own method!
And so...
Coffin's sarcophagus lid opened up, stuffed the match ball directly inside, and then the lid snapped shut...
"Coffin—Coffin!" Coffin cried out with immense pride.
Yet amidst the stunned silence of the other Pokémon and humans, Takenori blew his whistle from the sidelines. "Stop! You are not allowed to stuff the match ball into your own body by any means!"
As he spoke, Takenori looked toward Amu, but the latter simply spread his hands...
Amu felt quite innocent as well; he hadn't given any commands to "Coffin."
As for the rules and regulations, while Amu wasn't entirely clear on the details, he understood that there ought to be a rule akin to this; otherwise, quite a few Pokémon could swallow the ball, and it was impossible that Coffin was the first one to think of it...