The coordinator was nervous. Anyone would be in his position. He was a second-year who truly was now regretting ever volunteering for refree duty. He just needed to stay calm, stay calm and officiate this. They are just first years. 2 meter tall first years who look like they wanted to rip each other apart.
He stepped into the center of court, he had a black whistle hanging from his neck. He was trying to compose himself, despite the hostility radiating between the two teams.
It was such a force that it felt like you feel it with your skin
"Listen up!" His voice cracked slightly, it betrayed his anxiety. So he cleared his throat and tried again. "The standard three-on-three rules apply. This is not make-it-take-it basketball. If you score, your team retains possession. Three-pointers count as three points, two-pointers as two."
He paused to catch his breath. Team 8 who he wanted to win were looking cool and confident. They planned to massacre team 7. None of the players were even looking at him so he decided to continue.
"No dead-ball free throws," he continued, and this got everyone's attention. "Fouls result in free throws, but rebounds are live. A missed free throw WILL be contested. We want to evaluate rebounding ability." He paused again. Then he looked at both teams. "Any questions?"
None whatsoever.
No sound.
Nothing.
It was silence, just the murmur of the crowd. It was the silence before an impending competition.
The Referee then nodded. "Alright, Team eight versus Team seven. First to twenty."
Team 8 (Black Jersey)
Watanabe Shota (6'6", SF)
Ethan Carter (6'3", PG)
Arakawa Shingo (6'10", PF)
Team 7 (White Jersey)
Toru Ari (6'6", SF/PF/SG). A master of none.
Aihara Haruto (6'1", SG)
Santiago Cruz (7'2", C)
The match ups did come naturally
Team 8: Team 7:
Watanabe Shota Vs Toru Ari
Ethan Carter Vs Aihara Haruto
Arakawa Shingo Vs Santiago Cruz
Team 7 had won the coin toss. So Ari started with the basketball. He could feel it in his heart. He was the centre of attention, all because the basketball was in his hands. He bounced it once. The sound was deep, like a rumble. Everything else simply just faded away and it felt like he was deep in an infinite dark ocean. But on the outside the sound was LOUD to everyone else. So Ari bounced it again.
And yet still, it was the deep rumble. Nothing else. Just the waves from the breath of a drowning boy.
Then you begin to forget all the things that brought you to the moment.
All else that matters is the game.
So Ari looked around.
Ethan Carter had already used his size advantage against Haruto, positioning his 6'3" frame to force the shorter, heavier boy into a compromised defensive position. Now Haruto didn't have a direct line for Ari to pass to him, he just wasn't quick enough to get around Ethan.
Meanwhile, close to the rim: Arakawa Shingo, 6'10" and 250 pounds of muscle looked very upset that he appeared childlike next to Santiago. The Dominican giant's presence warped the space around him. It made everything else seem fun-sized.
Ari bounced the ball once more. RUMBLE RUMBLE. He walked slowly to the left side while the ball bounced stable in his fingers. RUMBLE RUMBLE RUMBLE.
*Take your time AriToru. I have all the time in the_
His stat profile flashed across his vision—translucent blue and orange text infected visual reality:
[TORU ARI - CURRENT STAT PROFILE]
[PHYSICAL:]
[POWER: 25/100]
[STAMINA: 40/100]
[VERTICAL: 26/100]
[SPEED: 38/100]
[BASKETBALL:]
[SHOOTING: 33/100]
[DEFENSE: 18/100]
[ATHLETICISM: 28/100]
[IQ: 72/100]
[PASSING: 31/100]
[SKILL: 28/100]
[ABILITIES: HEAVENLY SHOT {LEVEL 1}]
[SKILL POINTS AVAILABLE: 5.3]
Mediocre. Every stat was inadequate. However if team 7 would defeat three teams of three. Then the rewards the servant promised would be a fated boon.
*No pressure* Ari saw his man already guarding him. Watanabe Shota. *I just need to defeat three teams. Teams of world class athletic 16 year old basketballers after my three stint from basketball.....*
In front of him, Watanabe Shota grinned. It was a scary expression of Teeth and Malice. A superb defense stance. his knees were bent, his torso was raised. His muscular arms were everywhere. He looked like he wouldn't fall if a train bodied him.
*I can do this. I will do this*
Finally.. MOVEMENT.
Haruto was running, a cutting movement to create space and not get congested. Watanabe moved to block the passing lane. So now there was more space elsewhere for Ari.
AriToru attacked.
He crossed over to his left hand and he lunged to charge down the left side. The left side where the space was.... If only.
There He was again_ Watanabe Shota right in his front. The opening was CLOSED like a door slamming.
Ari's speed stat of [38] meant he wouldn't be blowing past anyone. Especially not someone as built and athletic as this buzz cut boy (Shota).
So Ari's momentum was forced to a halt. Ari needed to adjust, needed to—
Step Back For A Shot.
The moment Ari gathered himself to rise and sho_
SLAP.
*Gimme that*, Shota's hand flashed forward and SLAPPED the ball clean off Ari's palm.
[THIS IS LOCKDOWN DEFENSE]
The crowd erupted happily at the chance for a steal.
The ball bounced toward the sideline. AriToru panicked and lunged for it with long hands. So so slow he was.
Shota was already there, he snatched it wickedly. It is no contest. Watanabe Shota simply was just faster, stronger than Toru Ari.
Watanabe did not even break stride. He just grabbed the ball and went around Ari like he was a traffic cone.
"You're nothing but a spineless worm," Shota hissed just before he blew past.
Ari tried to recover and move lateral to at least get in Shotas front, but he just moved too slow and he couldn't keep his own balance.
So Ari was left behind while Shota? He charged toward the rim. Santiago had already bullied Shingo out of position and raised that giant wingspan like a trees roots over a leveled floor.
*I have to slow him down*, Haruto—after he'd seen his teammate beaten, tried to provide help defense. Abandoning his assignment of guarding Ethan to step into Shota's path.
Shota intently slowed his drive and decelerated. He was a smart player. Much smarter than the frauds. He raised the ball high and threw the pass to Ethan Carter. Straight to the chest.
*There we are* Ethan caught the ball and bounced it twice to step out beyond the three-point arc. He smiles easy and confident. He squared his shoulders then he bent his knees, rose into his shooting motion. What a beautiful sight it was.
A stable rise and graceful FLICK.
The ball left his hands and it went up to the sky. Then down to the rim.
BASKET.
(Team 8) 3 - 0 (Team 7)
Shota was already jogging back to his position. He was livid for his assist. Team 8 maintained possession after the made basket, as it would be by the rules. His smile was smug. He didn't look at Ari when he spoke. "It's going to be a long day for you, Twig Boy."
Ari wanted to wipe that grin off Shota's face. Wanted to wipe it off so bad. And he would. Oh, he absolutely would.
But maybe.....not yet.
Shota got checked again by the ref. ( The ref passed him the ball to start team 8s play ).
He didn't dribble this time. He just bounced the ball off the floor towards Ethan.
Ethan caught it without looking. And he bounced it without looking. He bounced still not looking but only raising his head over Haruto mockingly.
The height difference was obvious but not to a ridiculous degree... It was the athleticism and ball skill that was.
"I'm being guarded by a fatso," Ethan Carter sounded bored.
Then
He elevated the ball above his head. It was too high for Haruto to contest without jumping and Ari's voice cut through: "Pressure!"
But it was too late.
Haruto's attempt to contest was merely a token.
Ethan rose high into the same splendid shot form and FLICK.
Arching.....and flying off. Haruto prayed because he knew his efforts didn't affect the trajectory at all.
Under the basket, Santiago and Arakawa battled for a rebounding position. Santiago's size should have been overwhelming, but Shingo fought desperately and angrily. He refused to be dominated just because he was 4 inches shorter
But ..... He wouldn't need to.
BASKET.
(Team 8) 6 - 0 (Team 7)
The shot didn't need rebounding. Pure.
The crowd's noise was deafening now, a wall of sound celebrating the American heroes' dominance.
Santiago cursed under his breath. And Shingo, he tensed while he looked at Santiago from his side eye. His body always felt the superior power when he tried boxing him out.. He knew there was no chance he would have gotten that rebound..... *Well thank god Ethan rarely misses*
The ball came back to Shota. Again. He was the primary ball-handler despite his aggressive style.
He drove inside again, this time with more authority. Ari stepped back rather than giving him the body contact he wanted. He deduced it was much easier to not use strength. Because he'd lose that battle every time.
"Tch." Shota's expression became sour. He'd force the contact anyway. POST UP Ari. And Shota adjusted to BACK and BACK Ari down. All using his large traps and legs.
*What the_hell is this guy made of_!", Ari tried pushing. And yes the Pale One did very well to hold his position.
He was the same height and had longer arms. Watanabe Shota couldn't just bulldoze through him.
*Grrrr* Frustrated, Shota spun back suddenly and rose for a fadeaway jumper—
Ari jumped with him, and extended his long arms. They reached—
SLAP!
AriTorus gnarled calw-hands BLOCKED AND SENT the ball back away. High up.
The spectators GASPED IN UNISON!! But on Shota's second jump—BOOM—he launched himself and caught his own blocked shot mid-air.
*God, I wish I could jump like that*, Ari thought bitterly.
"Ya little—!" Shota couldn't finish the sentence, his face contorted with disbelief that he'd been blocked at all. And by the fraudest frauds of all people.
"Shota!" Now Ethan was running along the lines of the three-point arc, Haruto trailed behind sadly, his heavy body was not built for a quick pace. Ethan's hands thrust outward, "Ball."
Shota grimaced. He wanted to destroy Ari personally, wanted to dunk on him, humiliate him. But the moment demanded learned serious basketball.
He extended his arms and fired the pass to Ethan.
Ethan collected it easily with both hands high. How fluid. His hands came back down slowly while in that split second Ethan turned his head to see Haruto's position. He got his look then—ZIP—with both hands SWUNG the ball back downwards in the same direction he came. The move was so quick, so unexpected that Haruto's momentum carried him past the play entirely it led him to fall on his bum.
The Spectating Yoshimura students SURGED in their sudden ridicule and cheered Ethan on.
Ari abandoned Shota and switched to guard ethan. But Ethan just smiled. His hands dangerously bounced the ball once... before DOM DOM, two rapid between the legs.
*How does someone's hands even move that fast* sent Ari's balance into chaos. Now he had no idea what Ethan was about to do and he already felt very vulnerable, playing at the pace the American wanted. Totally confused Ari was.
Ethan moved backwards. It was a retreat AriToru followed.
Ethan immediately reversed course, and CHARGED forward with explosive acceleration. Left Ari reaching and gasping at air.
Santiago saw it developing and stepped up, his massive frame creating a wall. If a 7'2 giant was coming at you, you would abort the drive, you'd abort whatever brought you there.
But Ethan Carter was Ethan Carter.
He rose into the air to shoot, and Santiago's enormous hands came to TAKE. Such large extremities that his arms caused an all encompassing shadow of denial.
Nay, mid flight, Ethan switched hands. He went so easily from shoot to pass. Ethan's body strained but he still threw the ball out, far in his own descent. The basketball went high and fast to the left side of the rim.
CLAP
AND
CAUGHT.
Shingo caught it at the rim with both hands, a predators instinct activated. "Ah, shit," Santiago muttered.
BOOM.
Shingo slammed the ball through the rim with violent authority. DUNKED with his whole strength.
(Team 8) 8 - 0 (Team 7)
The crowd went absolutely feral. Students were on their feet, chanting: "SHINGO! SHINGO! SHINGO!"
Arakawa hung on the rim for a long time. A technical violation that the referee took great pride in ignoring. He was letting the school enjoy the show. HE was enjoying the show. Then Arakawa Shingo dropped down, roaring like a gladiator and beating his chest twice, Shingo was indeed intense.
But AriToru was not watching Shingo. The Void-black eyes were locked on Ethan Carter, who was casually wiping sweat from his face with his jersey. He was completely enjoying himself.
Ethan was the problem. He was clearly the best player even though he was the shortest. *What a guy. And he's destroying us*
Ari walked over to Haruto, who was still on the ground. Haruto looked devastated. AriToru extended his hands.
"I'm sorry," Haruto said immediately with a tight voice. "That was my fault. I couldn't stay in front of him. I'm too slow, too—"
"You're way too kind." Ari pulled him up, and his smile was perfect. Wide, showing off those exotic gap teeth.
Like they weren't trailing by 8 points in a game to 20. Then he said with such sure-footedness, "They won't score the next possession."