The morning sun crept across the cracked asphalt of the Vorpal Basket gym courtyard.
Dust danced in the faint light streaming through the windows.
The air carried the smell of sweat, rubber, and quiet determination, the kind that settles before a storm.
Inside, the entire Vorpal Basket team was gathered.
Some were stretching, others silent, but all eyes eventually turned toward Ethan Albarado, standing in front of the old TV setup, remote in hand, the screen showing flickers of blue and gold uniforms.
On the grainy tape, the words appeared:
EASTGATE COLLEGE — WILDCATS
Boston, Massachusetts.
Ethan clicked play.
The footage started fast.
Crossovers, sharp passes, smooth transitions.
Three names dominated the screen.
Miho Park. Davis Conner. Armi Hassuf.
The Wildcats' holy trinity.
Miho Park, the captain, calm, unreadable, yet burning with cold pride.
A Korean prodigy who played like he was solving equations mid-dribble.
