Even as the team on the court laughed, bounced, and trained, the shadows of the coming storm stretched across the city. Every decision, every movement, every heartbeat in these walls was being watched, measured, and manipulated. The game had extended far beyond basketball, and the players were caught in the middle of a war where the stakes were survival, empire, and control.
And in the midst of it, Ethan knew one truth, unspoken but crystal clear. (We're not just playing for the championship. We're playing to survive the game no one else sees.)
Meanwhile, the locker room was quiet now, the chaos of practice replaced by the soft hum of fans and distant echoes of bouncing balls. Charlotte Graves leaned against the wooden bench, arms crossed, a faint smirk tugging at her lips as she watched Ayumi stretch lazily on the floor. The afternoon sun painted long streaks across the polished lockers, warming the space with a golden glow.
