The Bayview locker room was chaos — the good kind. Players jumped around, shouting, grabbing each other, jerseys half-off, towels flying. Darius and Malik held each other, yelling over the noise, their foreheads pressed together like they'd just survived a war. Eli was spinning in circles with two teammates, reenacting Khalil's block and laughing like it didn't matter anymore. Daren was bouncing in place, slapping lockers, screaming lines from the final play.
Then the Hustle System pinged beside Darius. The screen lit up, clean and sharp.
GAME COMPLETED
Effort: Tier A+ Defense: Tier A Stamina: Tier A Clutch Rating: Tier S Playmaking: Tier A+ Zone Recognition: Unlocked Overall Grade: A+ (97%) – XP Gained: +850 LEVEL UP: DARIUS COLE → LEVEL 16
Darius sat down, the screen fading beside him. He looked around the room — Malik still yelling, Eli laughing, Daren reenacting the final pass with a towel. And he felt it. That old feeling. The one he hadn't felt since before everything changed. Celebrating with a team. Winning together. Overcoming someone who genuinely challenged him. It wasn't just joy. It was relief. It was belonging.
Daren jumped in front of him, eyes wide, voice cracking with excitement. "You are something else, kid! We did it! We did it!" He grabbed Darius's face with both hands, then pulled him into a hug.
Even Eli joined in, slapping Darius's shoulder. "Come on, man. Get up. You gotta celebrate with us!"
Darius stood, pulled into the circle. For five minutes, the room was nothing but celebration — players reenacting plays, shouting names, bumping chests, laughing like they'd never stop.
Then Coach Anderson raised his voice. "Okay, that was one hurdle we overcame as a team, and I'm proud of you guys for doing so." The room quieted. "But this celebration stays here. Because as soon as we leave this locker room, we're back to the drawing board. We focus on our next opponent."
Everyone nodded. The tone shifted, but the smiles stayed. Players kept talking — about the final shot, about Khalil's blocks, about Tyrese's shooting. The room buzzed with pride, but the edge of discipline was back.
Across the hallway, the Titans' locker room was silent. Their coach spoke, voice steady, trying to pull the team back together. But Khalil wasn't listening. He sat with his elbows on his knees, hands covering his face. His mind was stuck on the final play.
I wasn't fast enough. I wasn't strong enough.
He saw it again — the ball floating toward Darius, the space he had, the shot rising, and Khalil lunging with everything he had. Too late.
"All that for nothing," he whispered, voice barely audible.
Tyrese, sitting beside him, heard it. He wanted to say something — Nah, we did our best. None of it was for nothing. But he didn't. Because he knew it would be a lie. He felt the same. He'd given everything. And they still lost.
The coach finished his speech. The team clapped, but it was hollow. One by one, they started leaving the room. Khalil walked silently, Tyrese beside him.
Outside, the Bayview players spilled out of their locker room, still caught up in each other — laughing, talking, replaying moments. They didn't notice the Titans. Khalil's eyes locked on Eli, who was talking to a teammate, smiling. Khalil stared.
I beat you. So why are you smiling?
He kept walking.
Darius came out last, Malik behind him. Eli turned and saw them. His smile faded. His jaw tightened. That feeling hit — sharp, bitter.
You. You're the reason for this.
Tyrese saw the look Khalil gave Darius, who didn't even glance back. He leaned toward Khalil.
"You know… you were right."
Khalil looked at him, confused.
"Before the game, you said you had a bad feeling about that guy. And I didn't believe you. He ended up making the shot that got us out of the competition. So… I just wanted to say I'm sorry for doubting your intuition. Again."
Khalil nodded. "It's fine. It already happened. There's nothing we can do about it."
Tyrese nodded too, but he didn't understand. Khalil never let things go. Ever. Maybe he's changing, Tyrese thought, sarcastic. He shrugged it off.
The hallway stayed quiet behind them. But the sound of Bayview's celebration still echoed ahead.