The game started again after the timeout. The crowd got louder as the players took their places. Nash leaned on his knees, eyes closed, breathing steady.

Focus. I am the game, he told himself. Ten players, one winner. I don't play to win, I play to crush.

His heart slowed, his mind sharp. He could feel every sound on the court. Slowly, be entered in the zone state, but just then, he heard a squeak in front of him, taking him out of his thoughts.

Sneakers. He raised an eyebrow and opened his eyes.

Aiko stood there, her twin-tails bouncing as she moved, her eyes sharp and brighter.

Sweat glowed on her skin, she looked serious, but also excited. There was no trace of the worries she showed during the whole quarter.

"So, we meet again, my rival" she said. "I won't lose to you this time."

[Aiko – 68% (Motivated)]

Nash blinked, then smiled a little. This quest might have been the weirdest experience he ever lived. He wasn't aware of Monique's influence on the girls, so from his pov, they went from normal, to desperate and suddenly happy.

Anyway, it all played in his favor.

"Rival, huh?" he said. "Didn't know you cared that much."

Aiko's cheeks turned pink, but she brushed it off.

"J—just play. It won't be as easy this time. "

The game started. Nash didn't even have the ball, but Aiko stayed close, following his every move, almost glued to him. He stopped and turned slightly toward her.

"So... you want a piece of me or what?" he said with a teasing grin.

Her eyes widened, her face flushing bright red.

"I—I'm not! Don't think I'm easy like Hina!"

Nash laughed softly, leaning closer with a smirk.

"Oh? As a matter of fact, I wasn't talking about that, but I like the way you think."

Her blush deepened as she looked away, but this single second backfired.

The ball came to them and Nash intercepted it.

Nash started dribbling faster now. The ball bounced speeding between his hands and legs. Aiko moved with him, trying to match his pace, but it was a lost battle.

Her eyes darted from his hands to the floor, her steps unsure.

He pushed harder, crossing fast, the ball flashing between his legs. She nearly lost her balance, her shoes sliding a bit.

He could've passed her easily, but then the System blinked in his head.

[Aiko – 53% (Tense)]

He flinched. She looked stiff again, losing focus. He stopped for half a second, bouncing the ball slower to let her breathe.

Aiko blinked and tried to refocus, dropping her stance again. From the crowd's point of view, it looked like she had stopped him.

For a moment, the arena froze. Then it exploded. People jumped from their seats, hands waving, voices overlapping in shock. No one could believe it.

"No way, he's stopped! Aiko stopped Blaze!" someone yelled. Others shouted, cheering her name like it was a miracle.

The scoreboard blinked, the cameras zoomed in, and a chant started rising from Baby-Boom fans.

"Aiko! Aiko! Aiko!"

Even the other Baby-Boom girls stood wide-eyed. Kai's jaw dropped, Miko froze mid-step, and Hina clapped without realizing it. Rei blinked once before laughing softly in disbelief.

For a second, the impossible happened: Nash Blaze, the destructive force, had been stopped by Aiko.

The concerned, herself was surprised, but the change of the situation and the people cheering for her forced a grin on her lips and a blush over her nose.

Her stat flickered again.

[Aiko – 72% (Motivated)]

Nash looked at her for a moment and grinned. I see... It looks like I really have to lose to fulfill this quest. Hmph... if that's the case, then I'll just give it up. No way I'm losing this... but.... maybe I could try that instead...

He slowed down his speed just enough to make her think she was winning. Each time she reached out, he let her touch the ball for a second before taking it back. The crowd loved it.

Aiko managed a good steal with Kai's help, passing to Miko, who threw a clean shot. Swish. Their teamwork worked perfectly, and their stats improved.

But seconds later, Nash was back on her. He caught the next inbound, stepping forward until Aiko was once again right in front of him, breathing fast, twin-tails swaying as the crowd screamed for more.

Their shoulders brushed. The air between them felt charged. When he suddenly crossed over and sped past, she chased him with all she had.

He could've left her behind easily, but he slowed down a bit, letting her catch up. When she finally reached him, he dribbled through her legs and caught the ball again behind her back.

"Still keeping up?" he teased.

"Shut up!" she yelled, red-faced but smiling now.

She was still behind, but from her point of view, it was the perfect situation. She had improved, she was definitely better than the past quarters, and she was the only one able to drive him that far.

It made her feel special, and turned this match into a duel, soon crushed by her teammates.

Kai came running in, calling out.

"I got him!" She jumped high, arms out, but Nash ducked low, spinning under her.

"Kuh!!... Again with that speed!?" Kai shouted.

Nash took a quick step back before shooting. Swish. The ball went clean through.

The crowd roared. Baby-Boom girls regrouped. Aiko bent down, hands on her knees, laughing softly.

"You're not bad."

"You too," Nash said, wiping his forehead. "But remember, you called me your rival. I'm expecting more from you."

She stood tall again, cheeks red, but smiling.

"Oh, you will be surprised."

The whistle blew again, and Nash barely caught his breath before the ball came back to.

He was the center of everything now. Every time he moved, the world seemed to spin around him.

Kai and Aiko rushed to double-team him, he grinned and passed fast to Alicia, who swung it to Nia.

The crowd cheered as they broke through, but Rei was waiting. She blocked clean, sending the ball flying back.

Baby-Boom's defense tightened again, running smooth like a single body.

Nash pushed forward, taking both Kai and Aiko at once. He faked right, dribbled left, spun between them, and slipped the ball to Alicia behind his back.

Nia caught it in motion, slicing through for a layup, but Rei jumped, blocking her midair. The sound of her slap echoed loud.

Miko watched from her spot at the top, breathing fast but smiling. Her glasses slid down her nose as she tracked every move.

She loved seeing her team burn this hot, fight so hard. It wasn't one-sided anymore, it was a delight for the eye, and everyone wanted a piece of the play.

Aiko's drive, Kai's grit, Rei's power, it all made her pulse faster. Maybe, she thought, maybe getting Nash to join them wouldn't be so impossible after all, he looked so into Aiko... She just needed a little touch.

She pushed her glasses back up.

"Hina! Come here for a sec!"

Hina blinked, confused, jogging toward Miko.

"What's up?" she asked.

Miko gave her a small, sly smile.

"I need you to mark Nash. Like you usually do."

Hina froze, then panicked.

"Wh-what!? No way! I'm not dealing with the butt thief again!"

Miko sighed, trying to calm her down.

"Hina, listen. It's part of the plan. We need to keep him interested, give him reasons to join us. Think of it as... strategy."

"Strategy?" Hina said, crossing her arms, still shaking her head. "Sounds more like suicide. Butt suicide."

Miko pushed her glasses up, what the hell was she saying?

"Look, remember what Madame said? If we can make him join us, we won't be under her threat anymore. In fact... it'd be better if we lost but get him. So I want to show him what he could get if he joined us."

Hina's jaw dropped.

"Wait... you seriously want me to seduce him!?"

Miko gave her a wink.

"Exactly. Tease him, distract him, keep him off balance. Even if it doesn't work, just keep going. I'll help you too."

She patted her own chest.

"I'm not used to that kind of strategy, but men are simple creatures. Just a little skin contact should drive him crazy."

Hina stared, unsure if she should laugh or cry.

"... Are you even his type?"

Miko frowned, offended, her glasses flashing.

"He's a man, Hina. And men love women. That's enough."

Hina groaned but nodded slowly.

The next few plays were wild. Nash cut between Aiko and Kai again, but this time, when he tried to push through, Hina threw herself in front of him.

She bumped into him chest-first, almost tripping. Miko rushed in too, bumping his side and trying to steal. It looked awkward how both tried so hard, almost funny.

"Ok, what now?" Nash muttered, raising an eyebrow.

He could tell something was off, they weren't just defending, they were acting weird.

[Aiko – 87% (Excited)]

[Kai – 73% (Driven)]

[Hina – 65% (Nervous)]

[Miko – 70% (Focused)]

[Rei – 58% (Serious)]

Nash blinked, thinking. Maybe he shouldn't question it. If they were all fired up, it worked for him.

He played along, they were definitely trying the seduction strategy, so he pretended it was working, slowing his tempo and using his team more.

He passed to Alicia, who caught it mid-run and swung to Nia. They cut through fast, the crowd roaring louder with every move.

Alicia sprinted toward the ring, Nia and Rei the only ones left in front. Rei braced herself, reading the field, expecting a pass to Nia and planting her feet.

Then she flinched.

Alicia jumped, slipping past her. The ball kissed the rim and dropped through. The crowd erupted as the scoreboard flashed 74–70.

Rei froze, eyes wide. Nia slowly stepped back, her hands up, a faint smirk on her lips.

Rei was blinking, confused and for the first time, something looking like a flush shone on her face.

Nia grinned, whispering with a playful tone.

"Wow... so it's really working."

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