The first couple of minutes of the game went smoothly for us. We managed to score two easy points, then eight more in a blur of transition plays. Ten points. But that wasn't enough to win.
By the time we had hit double digits, time—and stamina—had run out. Remi and Luna could barely move and were forced to hang back on defence. Sora's shots, usually so precise, started hitting the front of the rim as it became increasingly difficult for him to jump.
Yu, meanwhile, was constantly marked by at least two people, making it nearly impossible to pass to him unless I was perfectly precise—which I wasn't.
As for me, my strength lies in finishing around the basket. They figured that out after our seventh point. From then on, they packed the paint with two defenders and kept one on me, forcing me to shoot from the perimeter.
I was making maybe thirty percent of my shots. That would've been fine—if they weren't making nearly every shot. With only three of us actually capable of moving, they would simply pass the ball to whoever was open and collect an easy point.
It didn't matter if I never got tired; it was a team game.
Our lead didn't just dwindle—it vanished. 10 to 20. Game point. We hadn't scored in five minutes.
Kevin let out a long, slightly disappointed sigh. "Looks like the game is already over. It was fun though, right?"
He wasn't being provocative or anything. He genuinely seemed disheartened—almost pitiful—that it had to end this way.
Maybe he was trying to comfort me, but that pity made it even worse. I bit down hard on the inside of my mouth, the pain muffled by a burning, seething rage that threatened to leak through my skin.
Am I… going to lose again?
My fists tightened.
I… don't want to lose.
I don't want to lose! I don't wanna lose! I DON'T WANNA LOSE!
I–
…
Am sick and tired of losing.
"Yu," I said, my voice coming out colder than I meant it to. "Pass me the ball."
It was a mistake. I wasn't supposed to talk this way to my friends. But at this point… I didn't care. I just wanted to win.
Yu flinched slightly at the sudden intensity, but he didn't argue. He gave me a supportive, tired smile. "Yeah… you go get 'em. Sorry I can't be of much help."
There was no need for him to apologize. I didn't blame any of them. Everyone has their limits. Still, it was my fault that he felt this way.
I swallowed the bitterness and forced a smile, one that he was all too familiar with. "Nah, it's fine. The game isn't over yet. I just need to score eleven points in a row."
Yu blinked at me incredulously before shaking his head with a laugh. "You always say the most ridiculous things…"
I scoffed. "What else would I have if not the audacity? I think that's my charm."
Yu chuckled as he passed me the ball. For a second, time slowed. The ball floated in the air, blocking my view before settling into my hands and revealing Yu's face again.
"I trust you, Hoshino."
Time resumed. I didn't answer. I turned and exploded toward the rim. Two defenders stepped up—but I blew past them. When the next two stepped up, I threaded the ball between their legs—a move I'd stolen from Julie—and caught it on the other side. Kevin was the last one in front of me.
Before I even reached him, I tossed up a high floater. It arced above his outstretched arm and finally dropped cleanly through the net.
That's one.
Kevin grabbed the ball and stepped out of bounds. Three of his teammates were already sprinting downcourt. Only one stayed back. I pretended to jog back to our side, watching the fourth player carefully. His eyes widened.
I spun around, dashed toward him, and intercepted the pass. Before he or Kevin had any time to react, I was already at the rim for an easy layup.
That's two.
Kevin let out a low whistle. "Wow. Are you still playing your heart out? Are you crazy?"
I shook my head, walking back to my side of the court. "Nah. I just want to win."
Kevin inbounded to the man who stayed back, starting the next possession. The ball came right back to Kevin. He drove down the court, but he couldn't get past me. Realizing that, he gave up and passed to the person Remi was guarding.
She tried to stay on him, but staggered mid-step, allowing him to blow past her. Luckily, she forced him outward—toward me. I abandoned Kevin and rotated over. The instant he saw me, he passed back. But Sora appeared out of nowhere and tipped the pass away, sending it out of bounds.
It was still their ball, but it bought us a breath. Only for a second, though.
They inbounded again—this time to someone wide open under the rim. He jumped. Just as the ball left his fingertips, Yu soared into the air and swatted it away. The ball slammed into the pole and bounced high into the air.
For a moment, it just hung there. Waiting. Deciding. As if Luck itself was deciding who to crown. The ball dropped, and the one graced by Luck—was Kevin.
Of course it was.
The instant it touched his hands, I was on him. He took a panicked step back, his footing uneven, and flung the ball up blindly. It was a terrible shot. No aim. No balance. He couldn't even see the rim.
I stared at the ball as it travelled in the air.
It was a bad shot. In no world should a shot like that ever go in, yet—that's the world we live in. Just because something is bad—doesn't make it impossible.
The ball slowly descended.
On the contrary, no matter how good something is, it doesn't make it perfect.
It approached the rim.
No matter how hard you try, there's no guarantee that things will go your way. I've always known that. And yet, today, I decided to try anyway. What a mistake.
The strength seemed to leave my body. In the very next heartbeat, my muscles went limp—as if shutting down.
This is why—
*Swish*
…
I don't care.