The clock ticked under a minute left in the quarter, and the court turned to sludge.

Jinzo, chest heaving like he'd run suicides for hours, isolated against Aiko on the wing, her stance low, eyes locked, twin tails swinging as she mirrored his every fake.

He jabbed left, crossed right, but his handle wobbled, sweat flying off his brow in droplets that caught the lights.

He was desperate, eyes wild, mouth slack, a low whine escaping as he pump-faked and leaned in too far.

Aiko blinked, her stance loosening a little as she breathed out. Her throat moved as she swallowed hard.

"Hey... you okay?" she asked softly.

Her voice was calm but a little unsure. Her hands rested on her knees, fingers twitching as she stayed low in defense.

Jinzo froze mid-dribble. The ball hit the floor twice before he caught it again. He looked surprised she would stop to talk to him in the middle of a play.

"Yeah, I'm fine," he said quickly, but his voice shook. "It's just... the pressure. Coach benched Nash, so now it's all on me... And You guys are... Uh... catching up... and if I miss again—" He stopped, his hands moving nervously. "Everyone's watching. I can't mess this up."

Aiko straightened just a bit, her sneakers squeaking on the court. Her eyes narrowed as she watched him struggle.

She wasn't trying to be nice, he'd taken Nash's spot, her rival, and she wanted him to earn it.

"Then don't mess it up," she said firmly. "You took his place. Show why you deserve it." Her words were wise, but her tone and gaze showed anything but support. "Breathe. Look forward, not down. You've got the legs. Use them right. Go clean, no panic."

Jinzo nodded weakly, his shoulders sinking. The weight of her words hit hard as he looked at her, then at the hoop.

She was worried for him? Aiko, that sweet girl paused to comfort him?

It was so unbelievable and reassuring. Maybe he had a chance after all? Maybe not everything was...

"How could they tak him out for someone who can't even play? They're stupid or what? Now it's not funny anymore..." She groaned, talking to herself, but loud enough for Jinzo to hear.

It crushed him deeper, shoulders dropping.

He accidentally let go of the ball, his eyes empty, replaced by a hollow stare.

The whistle blew seconds later on a reach-in foul, Baby-Boom ball. Kai sealed it with a pull-up jumper over Drex's flailing arms, swish.

Final buzzer: 40–42. Baby-Boom up by two.

The players walked off slowly, Blacklist looking like they had lost a battle.

The locker room door shut behind them, cutting off the cheers from the crowd.

Jinzo sat down first, dropping heavily onto the bench. He rubbed his face hard, hands shaking, breathing fast and uneven.

Steam from the showers filled the corners, mixing with the smell of sweat and old sports cream.

Victoria walked in, calm and cold, her glasses pulled low under her eyes. She looked around once, before stopping in the middle of the room.

Crossing her arms, she stared straight at Jinzo.

"You're boring me, Jinzo," she said flatly. "Sit down. You're done for the rest of the game."

Jinzo groaned but shot up anyway, voice pitching high, excuses tumbling like loose change.

"Ma'am, it wasn't... Drex was late on the screen, Mac didn't rotate fast enough, and Nia couldn't help Jaz holding the paint! I was calling plays, but they weren't—"

Mac shifted beside him, mouth opening hesitantly.

"He's right, Ma'am... it was sloppy all around. I should've communicated better on that last pick."

Drex nodded quickly, rubbing his neck, sweat beading fresh down his temple.

"Yeah, team thing. We all gassed out."

But Nia wasn't having any of this.

She snorted from her spot against the lockers, arms folded tight over her chest, jersey clinging damp to her curves.

"Team? Please, stop sucking his dick, you idiots. You were turning it over like a virgin in an orgy, Jinzo. Every call was a clusterfuck. Own it, we're down 'cause you panicked."

Jinzo's head snapped toward her. He stood, pointing an accusing finger.

"Don't act innocent, Nia! You didn't do shit either! You stood there guarding air half the time! Maybe if you helped on defense instead of posing, we wouldn't be down!"

Nia's eyes narrowed. She stepped forward, one hand on her hip, the other pointing right back at him.

"Excuse me? The plan was to rely on Nash. It was always to rely on Nash. You're the reason we couldn't do that this time! We were killing them until you decided to be the hero. Don't put that on anyone else than you!"

Jinzo opened his mouth to argue again but nothing came out. The whole room tensed. Nia leaned in closer, displaying her phenomenal ability of arching her back.

"You insisted to bench him, remember? That means you take the hit when it burns."

Mac stepped between them, both hands up.

"Alright, alright, chill. We're all tired. No one played perfect tonight. Nia missed some shots, yeah, but Jinzo... you forced way too many. We gotta work together or this whole thing's toast."

"Enough." Victoria's voice echoed, low thunder that pinned them all.

She stepped forward, heels clicking sharply on the tile.

"This isn't a team. It's a one-man army, scraping for air in the gutter. And from now on? That man's king."

Her glare swung to Nash, like she'd handed him the crown mid-execution.

"You'll follow whatever plan he lays out. No more debates. No more excuses. Shut it down. If you oppose him one more time... Your bloodline ends with you."

The room went pin-drop, breaths held, Mac's jaw slack, Drex's eyes down, Nia exhaling slowly.

Jinzo deflated further, sinking back onto the bench, face crumpling, eyes glassy with the threat of tears.

"But... Ma'am, I can fix it. Give me the third... one more shot, I swear—"

Victoria gave him a single glance, in that moment, everyone thought she was really about to put her threat to display.

Nash anticipated and rose smoothly, unfolding from his seat, hands spreading casually on his chest—palms flat, fingers splayed like a perfect gentleman.

alright... Breathe... And improvise

Outward, he played it cool, voice even, laced with that chad drawl.

"By all means... sub him. I've been warming the pine long enough."

Jinzo's head snapped up.

"This is bullshit! I earned this spot! Practices, drills, I was killing it! You can't just—"

But the hope guttered fast, Victoria's nod to the assistant ref sealing it. No outs. Jinzo's fists clenched on his thighs, fists trembling, a choked sound escaping, half-sob, half-growl, as the reality hit.

This was it, he was done for, he had missed his last chance to have a saying in this team.

His shoulders shook once, twice, tears pricking at the corners of his eyes.

No, he couldn't, he couldn't cry, this would be the ultimate assassination.

He swiped them furiously, breath hitching.

Nash stepped up, close enough to clap a hand on his shoulder. Was it the final execution? Was Nash that cruel?

But it was a firm grip, not pity, thumb pressing into the muscle like anchoring a storm.

"Hey. Like a man, Jinzo." His voice was low. "You can't burn ten chances and whine when the eleventh ghosts you. This was your window, the spotlight, the prove-it quarter. You missed the shot clean." He paused, letting it land, eyes locking unblinking, but Jinzo wouldn't look back.

"Stop the noise. Act. Build from the dirt." He continued, softer. "Look, I don't root for anyone to rot on the bench forever. Game's too short for that grudge. Tonight, it won't be possible to make you shine, they have a too good strategy against us. But it's only the first match, you'll have more chances. Let's practice together, ok? And when your number's called again, do something. Make it stick."

Jinzo finally stared up, chest stuttering, the words sinking in slow, anger turning to something else, maybe resent, maybe hate, maybe relief.

He nodded eventually, fists unclenching, wiping his face rough, muttering a thick."Yeah... fuck," but the edge dulled, just a hair.

The room exhaled collectively, Nash said words they all needed.

Now, back to business, he turned, pivoting to Jaz slumped on the bench's edge.

Her legs were splayed wide, elbows on knees mirroring his earlier pose, chest rising in deep, labored pulls that stretched her jersey tight.

Sweat traced rivers down her collarbone, pooling in the dip of her throat; her arms trembled faintly from the grind, thighs marked red over her tanned skin.

He crouched down to her level, his voice soft, touching her knee lightly to get her attention.

"Rest now. I'll handle it from here. Just take a break," he said, keeping his eyes on hers.

Jaz slowly lifted her head. A small, real smile appeared on her face. She looked tired but proud.

"About time, Champ." She raised her fist, and he met it with his own. Their knuckles hit firmly, and her hand squeezed his for a second.

[Jaz: 89% → 96% (Admiring)]

She leaned back against the wall and let out a long breath, her body relaxing a little.

Nash stood up and looked at Alicia. She was already grinning and bouncing on her toes.

"You too," he said. "Sub in with me. Let's turn this around."

arms wrapping his neck in a quick, fierce hug, body pressing close, curves soft and warm against him, chin hooking his shoulder for a beat.

For a second, he felt the softness of her chest press against his face, her skin hot and damp from the game.

A light scent of sweat and floral perfume mixed between them.

"Hell yeah. Knew you had my number."

She pulled-back grin wide, eyes lit.

[Alicia: 59% → 85%(Motivated)]

As Victoria shouted orders, Nash looked across the room. Nia leaned against a locker, watching with a teasing look. Her jersey tugged low enough to tease the swell of her tits, one brow arched slyly.

He nodded toward the washroom door and spoke quietly.

"Nia. Come here. Need to talk."

She smirked and pushed off the wall, walking toward him with that slow, confident sway.

When she got close, he caught her scent, sweat mixed with light citrus, breath warm on his ear as she murmured.

"Talk, huh? In the washroom again? Bold, Nashy. If it's what I think... don't keep a girl waiting."

She brushed his arm lightly with her fingers, nails grazing, eyes dancing with that flirty heat as the steam rising behind her.

Then she followed him toward the door, both of them disappearing into the steam.

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