"Hey, little Shidou, how is it? Can you copy it?" Nash walked over and patted his shoulder.
"I need to see it one more time…" Shidou cracked his neck, eyes blazing with fighting spirit.
Nash blinked. "What?"
Shidou shook his head. Even he found it weird. Aiden had just tossed the ball casually—so how did it spin like that and drop in?
Nash brought the ball up and saw Jason Cibor calling for it. Tylon's block had clearly pissed him off.
Backboard Breakers' defense collapsed instantly. Jason Hawk slid over to cut the passing lane. "You wanna pass? Not happening."
Nash smirked. "Really?"
He faked left, then behind-the-back tapped the ball with his elbow—
The ball flew in a crazy arc into the paint.
"Elbow pass?!" the crowd shouted.
Jason Cibor caught it clean and went straight up to dunk. Tylon met him mid-air—
Bang!
Their bodies collided like trucks. Jason's muscles exploded with power and he forced the dunk through anyway.
The arena roared. Jason pounded his chest like a beast.
Tylon just walked to inbound like nothing happened.
That calmness… it made Jason feel like he punched cotton.
Backboard Breakers attacked. Jason passed to Charles.
Two steps outside the arc—Swish.
21–17.
Nick cursed under his breath.
Next possession, Shidou noticed his defender changed. Kline—the "Iron Cross."
Nash signaled: slow it down.
Nick shot. Missed.
Rebound bounced long—
Shidou flew in like lightning.
"It's mine!"
Kline jumped too, but Shidou snatched it first, twisting mid-air.
"A bit slow, old man~"
Kline's face darkened.
Shidou exploded right, Kline blocked, spin move, crossover, hesitation—
Kline still stayed in front.
Nash watched, surprised. "This guy's defense is legit…"
Then Shidou changed rhythm completely.
Left, right, between-the-legs, behind-the-back—
Sudden burst.
Kline got shaken.
Shidou shot-put style floater—
Banked in.
The arena gasped.
"What happened? Didn't stop me," Shidou grinned.
Kline stared at him seriously. "Next time… I will."
Backboard Breakers attacked again.
Jason tried to pass—Nash stole it.
"Fast break!"
Nash and Jason Cibor ran 2-on-1.
Alley-oop in the air—
But a shadow rose behind them.
Bang!!
Tylon erased the dunk.
The whole gym froze.
"I told you," Tylon said quietly, "the paint is mine."
Nash's eyes narrowed. Timeout.
---
Benches gathered. Sweat dripping. Hearts racing.
Shidou wiped his face and looked at Tylon again.
"Man… this guy's fun."
Nash sighed. "Fun? He's a nightmare."
Shidou just smiled wider.
"Same thing."