The crowd was thunder.
The lights dimmed to a single cone that burned at center court, cutting through the darkness like a spotlight in a dream. Cameras swiveled, commentators shouted over each other, and twenty thousand fans leaned forward in the same breath.
At center court, two silhouettes stood face to face, one in white and gold, one in black and silver.
Ethan Albarado rolled his shoulders once, the faint gleam of the Vorpal emblem catching on his jersey. Beside him, his team formed their starting line:
Lucas Graves, the shooting guard with calm eyes and sunshine carved into his smile.
Evan Cooper, the floor general, headband tight, gaze like an architect mapping the game before it began
Ryan Taylor, half-smirked, half-serious, a playboy with a forward's power.
Brandon Young, the quiet anchor, fingers already tracing invisible rebounds in the air.
They stood side by side, five hearts syncing to a single pulse.
