The gym was just retly occupied by the basketball club, but now it was almost empty. Only fures remained, apparently in charge of gathering the loose balls and tidying up the pce.

  It was an easy enough task. With four pairs of hands, they should’ve fihe job a long time ago. Yet, an “act” took pce.

  Bop. Bop. Bop. A basketball jumped away, like a rabbit making its escape.

  “Oh, crap!” Larry apologized. “Sorry, my hand slipped. Hey, Meatball! y that ball too?”

  “O-Okay,” Ben answered through bored breaths. Sweat was dripping off his forehead. For how long has he been doing this? He lost track of time by now. His legs were ag. The muscles were screaming in pain.

  But, he couldn’t stop in pce. His friends asked him t the ball, so he had to ply. That’s what friends were fht? They were supposed to help each other.

  “, chop-chop,” James urged. “The ball is getting away. We don't have all day, ya know.”

  “I’m on it.” Ben collected his breath and ran after the fleeing basketball.

  Why was he running? There was no hurry, there shouldn’t have been. This was just an easy task of colleg all the balls and pg them ba the basket. That’s all they had to do here today. Ben could’ve just walked to the ball at his own pad collected it. But...

  “What’s with that speed, Meatball?” Mike demanded. “That’s what you call ‘running’? A granny walks faster than that!”

  “I-I’m sorry!” Ben choked as he tried to apologize through bored breaths. It ainful. The very act of breathi like it was choking him from the inside.

  After running bad forth tless times in a row his whole body turo lead. Every time he pushed his body forward, it felt like dragging a sack packed with bricks.

  I... I need... I o get the ball... Beed time and again in his head. If he didn’t remind himself of the importance of the task, his body would buckle ht away. They’re askio help... I o help... Yeah...

  Finally, Ben reached the ball. It rolled all the way to the edge of the gym as if trying to escape from the area. As silly as it sounded, Ben found himself sympathizing with this ball. I wish I could just roll out of here as well...

  But, Ben couldn’t do that. His friends were here, relying on his help. Therefore, he had to help. It was his punishment.

  “!” James yelled across the court with a grin. “I gonna time ya. Sprint like your life depends on it!”

  “O-Okay!” Ben shouted a reply across the court and almost tripped from the daze. His body couldn’t keep going for much longer. When will this be over? I o rest...

  But, Ben didn’t voiy of these pints. He did as he was told and dashed along with the ball. That was his job here. He was like a soldier following orders. As long as he aplished his missions, nobody will pin and nobody will hate him.

  Therefore, Ben ran to the best of his ability.

  “You call that running?” Mike criticized. “I crawl faster than this.”

  “S-Sorry!” Ben apologized as he wobbled forth. Almost there... Just a little more... Just a little...

  A few more steps and he’ll safely deliver the ball to its destination. After that, it will no longer matter what happens to his body. I just o plete this st mission and we’re done...!

  Ben pumped up what little strength he had left to propel his body forward. The goal was right in front of him, it was the basket st all the balls. Just a few more steps and he’ll safely deliver this st ball to its home.

  His body was more than ready to crash into the ground, but he endured. He firmly pnted his feet into the ground and walked on. He won’t colpse, not until he was done.

  Just a little more...! It was a walk of just a couple more meters, yet it was as exhausting as running five kilometers. His entire body screamed at him, pining about the abuse. But, it was alright. It was almost over.

  “H-Here...” Ben finally reached his destination. He pced the st ball in the basket. It was over. His mission was plete!

  At the same time he delivered the ball, all strength left his knees and he colpsed on the floor. It was a little embarrassing, but it couldn't be helped. He was drained beyond belief.

  Today’s work was harder than usual. Normally, his friends would grow bored of “colleg balls” by now. Yet, today, the busy work was dragging out. The basketball practided a long time ago, yet Mike, Larry, and James have stayed behind for quite some time now.

  Well, that didn’t matter anymore. Ben faithfully carried out his duty and delivered the final ball. He eoday’s punishment and satisfied his friends’ demands. It was over.

  Bop. Something made a sound as it jumped off the ground.

  “Eh...?” Ben slowly turned around. What was that peculiar sound?

  Bop. Bop. It was so weird. Nothing should be making that sound right now.

  Bop. Bop. The sound persisted and gradually grew fainter as if esg from Ben.

  “Whoopsie!” Larry grinned. “Damn, these balls gotta be hatin’ me or something, I’m telling ya. Hey, Meatball! you be a doll and bring it over here?”

  “Ah...” Ben trembled. At this point, he couldn't even tell whether the liquid in his eyes was tears or sweat. Whichever it was, it stung him and made him rub his eyes. But, his hand was sweaty too so it only stung him more.

  Please, just stop it. Please. Ben grit his teeth. Why are we still here? Don’t they realize they’re wasting their own time too!? Why. Why? WHY!?

  Even though Ben deserved punishment, this was too much. This no longer made any sense. What was the point of sending the balls rolling like that? Over and over and over. They were just wasting their own time. Didn’t they have anythier to do? Nothing at all? Really?

  At first, Mike, Larry, and James were doing something fruitful here. They were simply practig shots after the club activity was over.

  They assigned Ben as their ballboy and he had no qualms about that. As long as his as were genuinely helping his friends, he had no problem running around aing a little sweaty.

  If anything, it was great to see the trio practig basketball after-school like that. They didn’t seem too ied in the club st year, but it must’ve been slowly growing on them.

  They eve Ben shoot at the basket a few times too. His heavy body was an ill fit for pying an intense sport like basketball, but sg shots was something even he could do. It only required the right stand an accurate application of strength, so even Ben got a little better at it with enough practice.

  At first, it was genuinely fun. Even though Be bad about missing his own club activity, he didn’t mind spending that kind of time with his friends. The trio seemed han usual today, so it felt like he was really hanging out with his best friends.

  But, that was only the prelude. As time went on, their attitudes shifted. Maybe they couldn’t stand seeing Ben enjoying himself with them, or maybe they just grew bored with the activity. Either way, that’s when things started taking a turn for the worse.

  Instead of practig free shots, they started practig shots from half-court. It was unrealistic to sistently score anything from there, but it was cool to get some shots in across such a distance. So, it wasn’t toe for the trio to try it out for fun. At least, that’s what Ben told himself.

  The only ive thing about this ge in routine was how the balls started rolling farther and farther away. Ben had to run all over the gym to collect these loose balls. It taxed on his body but he endured.

  It’s fihey won’t be doing this for long. He was vinced. Shooting from half-court was just the guys messing around. They’ll get bored of it soon enough for sure.

  As, it took them over 20 mio give up on this activity. By that time, Ben was already drenched i and his muscles screamed in pain.

  Unfortunately, that wasn’t even the end of it. As Ben was about to finish colleg all the balls to call it a day, Larry “actally” let one ball slip away from his dribble. And so, Ben had to run and collect that ball as well.

  Then, the same thing happened with James’ ball. Seriously, these two should polish their dribbling skills, haha...

  Then, a third ball rolled away, yet again from Larry. So, Ben had to run across the court once more. At this point, his body was already at its limit.

  heless, he endured and delivered the ball yet again, believing it was the end of today’s punishment. But, Larry let another ball slip away. Again.

  “Whoopsie!” That’s all Larry had to say for himself, with a fake smile pstered on his face.

  Stop it. Please. Just stop it already. Be like g. In fact, perhaps he was already g and simply didn’t notice it amidst the sweat.

  He deserved punishment, he was well aware of that fact. But, was it necessary to go this far? Did his friends really have to torture him to no end? To the point his entire body ached all over and he could barely take a step? Just why...?

  “What’s wrong?” Mike demanded. “The ball is calling for you.”

  “Yeah, yeah,” James tuned in. “, get on the job, Meatball.”

  “Y-Yes...” Ben’s legs already buckled over, so he first had to push himself off the floor.

  UGHHHH! It was impossible. It felt like his body weighed twenty tons. He knew he was a little obese, but this was too much.

  Iy, weight wasn’t the problem. It’s his muscles, they ran out of juice. They screamed in pain at every twitch he did. This was way too much exercise for one day. It was impossible to go on...

  “eatball! Stand up!” Larry cheered. “Or what, you’re too heavy for it? That’s why you gotta exercise more, haha!”

  “Yep,” James agreed. “You should be thanking us, really. You’re such a zy fatass, so we’re wasting our precious time to help you lose weight. Well, that’s what friends are fht?”

  “Y-Yeah...” Ben answered weakly amidst bored breathes. It ainful. Everything ainful. He just wao be released from this hell already.

  “Get moving,” Mike kicked Ben on the back. “We don’t have all day. Get that ball so we things up.”

  “R-Right away!” Ben pushed himself from the ground again but it was to no avail. His limbs no longer had the necessary energy to stand up. He needed a rest. A good, lo.

  But, his friends won’t permit him any. They wanted him to collect the ball ASAP. There was no other option but to ply.

  I have to get the ball. Ben crawled forward. He had to move forward, no matter how miserable his form was. If he didn’t move at all, his friends will get angry again. So, if his legs refused to move, then he’ll just have to crawl.

  “Haha, me.” James ughed. “Ya look like a pig, dude.”

  “, at least stand up,” Larry urged.

  “Yeah, we don’t have all day here,” Mike added.

  “Ugh...” Ben gritted his teeth and tinued crawling forward, uo grant that wish.

  Judging by the guys’ tohey were mildly amused by the sight of Ben crawling desperately like this. Therefore, they’ll probably five him for being so slow. After all, as long as they were amused, they could turn a blio many things.

  With that said, the possibility of further punishment wasn’t pletely off the table. They might be ughing now, but their mood was a fickle thing. They might criticize him further once he returns.

  I’ll worry about that o happens. Ben resolved himself. For now, his task was to get the ball bao matter what it took.

  The ball was still maers away. Crawling toward it was so painfully slow. Be like he uood what it meant to live like a snail. He prayed that, in his life, he won’t be reborn as one.

  The ball was about five meters away. He was getting there. Slowly but surely, he was making progress. He’ll retrieve this ball and put ao this nightmare!

  But, will it really end there? Even if Ben obediently delivers the ball, there was no telling what his friends will demand him to do . They clearly didn’t care he was exhausted to the bohey’ll make him run, jump, or crawl, anything that’ll provide them with fleetiertai.

  And, Ben had no choice but to obey, for this was his neverending punishment. He deserved all of this, every st bit. At least, that’s what his friends insisted.

  But, was it really the case? Did Ben really deserve all this torture? Wasn’t it enough already?

  For how long will they tinue punishing him for his crime? Until the end of middle school? Or, will they keep doing this in high school, too? And, maybe even beyond that?

  At this rate, Ben will tinue suffering like this forever. His friends will tio torment him at every turn, to remind him of his betrayal. They’ll make him regret joining the Cssmancers club until the end of his life.

  Was it really worth it? Ben couldn’t help but ask. He wao get into the Cssmancers club so much, yet this was the payoff. Was it worth it?

  At first, Ben was vinced he did the right thing. No matter how much his friends resented him for it, joining the Cssmancers club wasn’t a mistake. Surely, with time, they would five Ben for his as.

  But, they didn’t. They started harassing him as punishment and the offenses grew worse by the day. So, at this point, Ben could no longer cim with fidehat he did the right thing.

  Maybe I shouldn’t have joihe club after all. He hung his head. If I didn’t try so hard to get in, we could still be friends like before. I wouldn’t have to crawl on the court like this, chasing these loose balls. Maybe I should just quit…

  The thought crossed his mind numerous times by now. Sometimes, he just couldn’t bear it anymore. It was too much.

  They even made me miss this year’s first scrimmage. Ben shuddered. I bet everybody in the club is furious with me. And, I ’t even promise that I’ll make it to the scrimmage… Yeah, I should just quit.

  There was no point enduring this anymore. It was ohing when his friends were punishing him alone, but now their as were also ively impag the rest of the club. Yuel eveioned he had pns to sub Ben into matches depending on the circumstances, but Ben disappeared at the most critical moment. This was uable.

  Yeah, quitting sounds best. Ben cluded. Maybe that’ll appease his friends. It might finally put ao all this malice.

  But first, the ball. Ben shook his head and focused oarget in front of him again.

  The ball was a few meters away. It’d be a short walk by foot but his legs were like dead meat. Thus, he had no choice but to crawl there. With this snail pace, the distance felt painfully long.

  heless, Ben braved through it. He was determio put ao all this torture. To that end, he had to pump out as much strength as possible.

  And so, he crawled against the cold floor. No matter how miserable or pitiful he looked, he had to aplish the task his friends set for him.

  He crawled, crawled, and crawled some more. With each passing sed, he aplished less and less. Eventually, his body halted altogether. It refused to budge anymore.

  The ball was just there. He would reach it if he could take just a couple more steps forward. But, at the very end of the struggle, his muscles gave in. They refused to move as he anded.

  Not good. I o get it or they’ll be mad. Ben pleaded with his own body, begging it to ighe engine o time. But, it refused to listen. His own flesh and bones were no longer under his and. They gave in to exhaust. After all that running for the past hour, Ben was pletely out of gas.

  They’re going to be mad. Ben knew for sure. His friends won’t show him any mercy. He failed to aplish his task, so he’ll be punished accly.

  Getting the ball was already punishment in its ht, but that didn’t matter. They’ll punish him extra for failing the punishment, as they were the ones writing the rules of the game here.

  Please, just get the ball... Ben pitifully stretched his arm. If he could at least reach the ball, then this operation won’t look like a total failure. It might appease his friends just a little, just a tiny bit.

  As, no matter how hard Ben stretched his hand, he couldn’t reach the ball. It was so close, yet so far. And so, he failed the task. It was over for him.

  What sort of punishment will they hammer him with ? Ben shuddered at the mere thought. It’ll probably be even worse than what he was doioday. It might even be something dangerous, something that’d injure him for real.

  All of this because of otle basketball. This round, faceless creature, that only knew how to hop away like a rabbit. It never bothered to stop and think of the trouble it was causing Ben.

  I’m too tired. My brai even make sense anymore. Please, just e over here. Ben pleaded to this indifferent creature. As expected, it was a fool’s errand.

  Ben didn’t have telekinesis or anything of the sort, so he couldn’t make the ball move on its own. And, of course, the ball didn’t have a will of its owher. There was no way it’d budge from its current spot.

  heless, something happened. BUMP. It was a brief motion. Ben could barely make it out through his hazy vision. The p sweat from his forehead was stabbing his eyes, but he did his best to open them wide ahe blurry figure in front of him.

  It looked like a hand, reag toward the ball as if from the heavens. By applying a couple of brief motions, the hand made the ball jump upwards. It looked like aed puppy greeting its owner.

  “Who...?” Ben directed his hazy eyes upwards. A boy was standing there, t over Ben like a being of a higher existence. Was this the God of Basketball? Did he desd from the heavens to help Ben pick up this ball?

  “Yo, what’s up, dude?” The boy fshed his teeth as he pyed around with the ball. It moved around smoothly as if it was aension of the boy’s own body. This cold-hearted object, which had been t Ben for hours now, looked like an obedie in the boy’s masterful hands.

  “Why...?” Ben barely squeezed that one word out of his mouth. He couldn’t uand why this was happening. The two different worlds he was living in were about to collide and explode in front of his very face.

  The fun times he spent at the club with everybody and the difficult times he endured with his friends. These two separate realities were about to make tact with each other. That wasn’t allowed to happen! They’ll crash into each other!

  I don’t want that. Ben bit his lip.

  The rest of the club shouldn’t get involved in the uglier side of his daily life. They might get hurt if they step into this territory. In fact, it already happeo Kai before. So, they should know better than that.

  Then why? Why was Lars here, standing tall as if it was the most natural thing in the world!?

  Don’t e. Please. Ben pleaded silently. Don’t get involved in this. They won’t go easy on you. You better run away while you . I ’t run away, but you .

  As, nobody listeo his silent prayers. On the trary, the situation oed for the worse because it turned out Lars didn’t e here alone.

  “Are you alright!?” Vi hurried to Ben’s side and offered a hand. “Here, I’ll help you out.”

  “Ah...” Ben raised his trembling arm. Was it trembling from exhaust? Or, from fear? Either way, he instinctively reached out to the offered hand even though he k was a mistake.

  No, I ’t. Ben stopped himself midway. If I accept their help, they’ll get involved in this mess. They don’t deserve this. It’s my problem. My alone.

  This robably a sign. Ben was just thinking about quitting the club food to not trouble anyone anymore. And, right as he reached that clusion, his clubmates arrived just in time to receive the news.

  “Don’t worry,” Vi whispered. “We’ll save you.”

  “Eh...?” Ben blinked. He could swear his ears were pying tricks on him. Save? Who?

  The ones who needed saving right now were the people in front of him. There was no ce Mike and Co. will let any intruders walk away unscratched.

  I have to stop this before something bad happens. In the end, Ben accepted Vi’s hand in order to stand up. He had to get his strength back as fast as possible in order to stop the club from getting involved in this mess. And, along with that, he’ll also notify them about his pns to leave the club.

  I o tell them. It’ll be my fault if something happens to them. Ben’s krembled, either from tiredness or fear. In fact, it robably both.

  I have to tell them to go away. Hurry...! Ben couldn’t bring himself to speak up. Why!? At such a critical time...!

  “You better take a break, dude.” Lars fshed a fident grin. “I gonna exge a word or two with yo pals over there. You don’t mind, right?”

  “N-No, that’s...” Ben had to stop this disaster. His two worlds were about to crash into each ht in front of his eyes and it’ll all be his fault. He had to prevent this! As, Lars was already moving ahead at lightning speed.

  “Okay, I’mma be ba a jiffy.” Lars saluted and headed toward the other side of the court with fident strides, dribbling the basketball along the way.

  “N-No! That’s not good...” Beed with everything he could but his voice was too weak. His throat was dry as a desert.

  “Here.” Someone offered Ben a bottle of water. Turned out there was a third entity foolish enough to ihis dangerous territory. It was Yuel.

  “Ah...” Ben’s shoulders slumped. It was over.

  If it were just Lars and Vi, it’d still be possible to chase them aretend like nothing happened. But, with Yuel here too, the number of intruders jumped up to three. That was too much. They matched Mike’s team in numbers at this point. There was no way Mike will overlook this.

  “Thanks...” Ben accepted the bottle of water and quenched his unbearable thirst. With all that nonstop running around, he didn’t have any free time to drink. His entire body was drenched i, he was clearly losing fluids by the moment. Yet, only now he was finally allowed to replenish himself.

  I want to thank them for ing, I really do. But... Ben hung his head. He had nht to thank them. He could only apologize for causing them so much trouble. They were about to suffer terrible sequences fetting involved in this and all of it will be Ben’s fault...

  DarkestCymore