Fine, I’ll do it myself. Mike decided to opeack by himself. But first, he had to drive the ball beyond the three-pointer li was a hassle but it was better than passing the ball to one of his useless teammates.

  Larry and James are messing up too much right now. Mike scoffed. The boys were probably still shaken by Lars’s ued performahey weren’t pying their best.

  Then again, could anybody bme them? The score was already a whopping 0-6 and it was against these “scrubby” oppos. This turn of events was bound to faze Larry and James.

  Worst of all, they haven’t scored a single goal yet. That was the most devastating fact. It created the false impression that Mike’s team couldn’t do shit against these guys.

  Therefore, he had to take matters into his own two hands a something started. He’ll score the first goal and instill some fiden these weak-willed doofuses. That’ll get the game rolling for real. From there, they’ll make a eba no time.

  And so, instead of opening the offeh a pass, Mike sprioward the outskirts while driving the ball. The enemy was busy keeping tabs on his teammates, so he gonna catch them off-guard with this stunt!

  As, the enemy was quick to adapt. A wild beast rushed right at Mike, fully intending to steal the ball. It was Lars!

  “Damn.” Mike clicked his tohe enemy captured him before he even crossed the three-pointer line. Lars was blog his path like an impassable wall.

  The guy sure knows how to apply pressure, I’ll give him that. Mike tensed up a little. The enemy in front of him was like a wild beast with superior strength, ready to overwhelm Mike at any moment.

  Mike was fident in his 1v1 skills, he had plenty of experience destroying weaklings. And, after tag many oppos of different levels, Mike developed sharp instincts oter.

  That’s why he could tell beyond a shadow of a doubt: Lars was strong. That oppressive defeance left no openings. Mike wouldn’t be able to break through so easily, if at all.

  You gotta be shitting me. Mike ranted internally. Not only he shoots 3-pointers from literally anywhere on the court, but he’s als on the defehat’s freakin’ cheating.

  heless, Mike had to front this challenge head-on. Nothing will get started until his team scores at least one goal. And, as the leader in charge of this gang, Mike had to be the oo pull them forward.

  “!” Mike roared. “Stop me if you !”

  “You’re on!” Lars grinned in response, fident that he’ll snatch the ball without any trouble.

  Try to keep up with me if you ! Mike dribbled the ball from side to side at lightning speed. WHAM. WHAM. WHAM. The ball was on one side, then immediately oher.

  Unfortunately, as cool as it looked, this wasn’t the most practical of techs. The real purpose was to apply pressure on the defeo make them sed-guess themselves as they were trying to read this speedy pattern. And, while the defender was distracted, Mike will break through!

  But, the trick didn’t work as intended against Lars. The guy was like an overexcited dog who chased the ball from side to side without rest. It seemed he had no trouble following the quients with his eyes and responding to them in a timely manner.

  Every time Mike sidered breaking through the right fnk, the right fnk was blocked. Likewise, when he sidered breaking through the left side, the left side was blocked.

  Is he reading me like a book? Mike wondered. No, I don’t thihat smart. It’s his nerdy pal who got a head on his shoulders. Oher hand, Lars looks like a regur doofus to me. But, if he’s not predig my movements, thehat mean he...

  It ure rea speed. Lars wasn’t thinking too deeply about what Mike was trying to achieve. This guy was simply reag to the stimuli in front of him, like a wild beast with sharpened instinct.

  I’ve met some pyers like that before. Mike frowned. ’t say I like them. It always feels like they’re showing off their rea speed on the court. I ’t stand that shit.

  This roblem. But, it wasn’t all bad. While it was definitely difficult to drive the ball past pyers like this via sheer speed, it was usually easier to trick them with a good feint.

  Pyers who relied on their beastly instinct often jumped at the first opportunity they saw. That was an impressive ability under most circumstances, but sometimes it led to their downfall.

  “Hey, Larry!” Mike grabbed the ball with both hands and turned in Larry’s dire. “Catch!”

  “Not gonna happen, yo!” Lars jumped to block the pass route. The rea was instantaneous. If Mike really tried to pass the ball right now, Lars would’ve certainly blocked it. But...

  “You fell for it, sucker!” Mike sneered. He turned around and drove the ball toward the exit. While Lars was still rest his form after perf the “block”, Mike successfully made it past the three-pointer line!

  Finally, their offense became legal. This is where things will start going their way! Mike will definitely score a goal here ahings rolling. But, that was easier said than done.

  Tch, already here? Mike clicked his tongue. Wheurned around to face the basket, the pesky defender was already there, blog all lines of attack.

  Even if I throw him off, he rebounds right away. Hate pyers like that. Well then, guess I’ll try the same trick again.

  “Hey, Larry!” Mike called out and turned in Larry’s dire. “This time for sure! Catch!”

  As, this time, Lars didn’t budge. He kept his defense firmly rooted.

  “What’s wrong?” Lars smiled meaningfully. “You ain't passing?”

  “Tch.” Mike lowered the ball and tinued dribbling.

  Well, that was to be expected. Lars seemed like a dumb guy, but he wasn’t dumb enough to fall for the same trick twi a row. With all said and done, he clearly had some experien basketball. It won’t be that easy to crack this one.

  Do I try to break through this time? Mike wondered. It’ll be bad if he grabs the ball. Not only they’ll scain, but it’ll also make me look bad. Larry and James will lose all motivation if they see me lose a 1v1. I ’t give these zy bums an excuse to throw the game.

  sidering all that, it was best to pass the ball to somebody else and pray they won’t mess things up again.

  Who do I pass to? Mike checked both sides.

  On the right, Ben was marking Larry. Of course, Ben beihat fat Meatball wasn’t much of a threat. Still, he stuck pretty closely to his mark and that seemed to irritate Larry. Despite being a fatass, there were a feects of basketball in which Ben didn’t pletely suck. Marking targets was one of them.

  Then, what about the other side? That’s where that nerdy guy was supposed to be marking James.

  Pft. What’s with that marking? Mike sneered. It was questionable whether one could even call that “marking” at all.

  Yuel positioned himself a few good steps away from James. It seemed he was more ed about not letting James approach the three-pointer lihan intercepting passes. By standing all the way over there, it’s like he was telling his ehat passing to James was free real estate.

  Amateur. Mike made his mind. “Hey, Larry! The third time is the charm! Catch again!”

  Mike shouted that, but he sent the ball flying in the opposite dire - toward James!

  “Oh!” Lars thought this one was a feint as well so he didn’t rea time. He stretched his arm toward the ball but failed to even graze it.

  “James!” Mike already started running toward the basket. “Get the ball to me right away! Don’t even try to dribble, you hear me!?”

  “Aye aye, cap!” James casually jogged to catch the pass. However, right before the ball nded in his hands, something got in the way. “You again!?”

  Yuel successfully intercepted the pass.

  “Wha the-!?” Mike excimed. What the fuck!? I know I’m not a pro at passing, but I’m pretty damn sure I sent this oraight at James! How did that guy get there in time to intercept!?

  It didn’t make any sehe whole reason Mike chose to pass to James was because of how loose the marking was. This was supposed to be an easy pass that had zero ces of being intercepted!

  A, Yuel intercepted it. How? Actually, it was elementary.

  I’m gd you passed over here. Yuel o himself in satisfa. It was bait all along. He positioned himself far enough from James to make the marking seem loose.

  Once Mike gnced in their dire, this misleading picture successfully pself in his head. It gave birth to the idea of passing the ball to James. That’s whearted moving toward intercepting the ball.

  After Mike firmed that James was free, he spent a couple more seds dribbling in pd feinting a pass in Larry’s dire. That brief window of time was more than enough for Yuel to mark James properly and intercept the pass.

  “Shit!” Mike hit the brakes and ran baark Lars. That bastard was the most dangerous shooter on the eeam so the ball wasn’t allowed to reach him, no matter what. “Hey James, make sure you grab that ball! We ’t lose this offense!”

  “On it!” James leaped at Yuel. I’m tired of your shit, dude! Gimme the damn ball!

  Fortunately, his target was wide open. Yuel grabbed the ball with both hands and spent time examining the court, probably cheg whether he’ll be able to get a pass across. As such, he wasn’t paying any attention to James at all. The ball was pletely defenseless!

  Mine! James eled all his frustration into his muscles and dashed forward. I gonna smack the ball right out of this nerd’s hands!

  Here it es. Yuel could tell by the aggressive footsteps. He was anticipating this kind of aggression.

  But, if that’s the case, why didn’t he bother driving the ball away to safety? Why was he holding it out in the open, inviting the eo strike?

  I’m not skilled enough for that. Yuel khat better than anybody. If I try to pete against any of them with standard basketball moves, they’ll eat me alive.

  As such, trickery was the only tool he had to bat these physically superior oppos. Therefore, instead of challenging the aggressor, it was best to turn their aggression against themselves!

  Just before the enemy’s attack arrived, Yuel loosened his grip on the ball. He wasn’t going to put up on aance whatsoever.

  Mine! Mine! James roared internally as he swung his arm like a whip. I’m tired of your bullshit, man! I’ll be taking this ball!

  James thrust his hand with all his strength, fully io overpower the enemy’s grip. BAM! He smmed the ball real hard!

  In fact, he might’ve struck the ball a little TOO hard. It felt like there was ance whatsoever. all. Nada.

  The ball crashed into the floor, then jumped right back up... toward James’ face!

  “GAH!” The ball rammed into his face like a truck! The impact almost knocked him off his feet. The world around him became a blur.

  Thank you for your cooperation. Yuel grabbed the dangerous culprit that just finished assaulting a fellow human. The ball carried out its assassination mission fwlessly, eveer than Yuel expected.

  It was quite the assault. James was staggering for a while with tears in his eyes. “Shit! This hurts, dammit!”

  “Haha!” Larry ughed in the distahe heck are you doing?”

  “Stop messing around,” Mike criticized. “Get the ball back!”

  “IT HURTS THO!” James massaged his reddish nose. He was in no dition to pursue Yuel at the moment.

  It was a gamble but it turned out well. Yuel o himself and started dribbling the ball toward the three-pointer line.

  Now, that his mark disappeared, he was free to do whatever he wanted. In fact, he could dash straight toward the basket and score a goal! At least, that’s the possibility his enemies should be afraid ht now.

  “Damn!” Mike charged at Yuel like a mad bull. Do I have to do everything myself here!? You’re not getting this shot!

  Don’t worry. Yuel turned around and lifted the ball. I wasn’t pnning to shoot in the first pce.

  “Wha-!?” Mike almost stumbled in the middle of the dash. What the hell is he...!?

  Instead of aiming at the basket, Yuel turned around and threw the ball in Mike’s general dire. But, of course, his target wasn’t Mike. No, it was the unmarked pyer Mike left behind!

  “Shit!” Mike hit the brakes and turned around but it was too te. The pass snuck by him and reached its destination beyond the three-pointer line.

  In truth, the ball didn’t actually reach the spot Yuel was aiming for. His poor coordination struck again as usual.

  heless, the e was the same. Yet again, the ball was in Lars’s possession and he was beyond the three-pointer line.

  No, you don’t! Mike charged at the distant oppo even though he already knew what’ll happen. It was far too te. Lars has already assumed a shooting stance.

  WHISH! The ball flew beautifully through the air and pierced right through the ter of the basket.

  “Two points!” Vi annouhe score was now 8-0.

  You gotta be shitting me. Mike gritted his teeth. His ched fists trembled.

  He and Co. were part of the basketball club, yet these amateurs were mopping the floor with them! How was that even possible!? How could some nerds be so good!?

  No, that’s not the right question. Mike realized something once he sorted out his thoughts. I’m starting to think it’s only this doofus who py. So far, he’s the only one sg shit.

  The score was a crushing 8-0 but it was actually caused by only 4 shots. And, all of them were scored by her than Lars. Ben didn’t get any opportuo do shit, and as for Yuel...

  He got the ball a few times. Mike thought. But, he never shoots. He only passes. Even this time, he was right uhe basket, but he opted to pass.

  It was odd. Yuel was pletely unmarked back then thanks to James making a fool out of himself. The guy got so close to the basket, to a distance from whiy scrub could easily score. That’s the reason Mike disregarded everything and charged at Yuel like a mad dog, believing the guy will shoot for sure.

  A, Yuel opted to pass. Why? Just because he wao score 2 points? That seemed like an unnecessary risk.

  When you have a great opportunity to score, you gotta score. You shouldn’t be thinking about stuff like sg three-pointers, not in situations like this.

  Then, why did Yuel pass the ball to Lars back there? He seemed like a guy with a head on his shoulder, so that was surely a calcuted move like the rest of his pys.

  Hmph. Let’s think about it the other way around. Mike reasoned. Maybe he COULDN’T shoot from there. And, if my guess is right...

  Mike analyzed Yuel from head to toe. A skinny guy who didn’t look athleti the slightest, yet fooled everybody into thinking he could py the game.

  So, that’s how it is.

  With that realization, the tides of this match were about to turn in a big way...

  DarkestCymore