CROSS ZERO
Chapter 7: The Formula
Before the Match
Akira stood in the training area, breathing hard, sweat dripping down his face.
Kaoru dribbled the ball lazily in front of him, grinning.
"There are some tough guys here," Kaoru said. "That Garachi guy. And many others. Are you scared?"
Akira hesitated. "I don't know if I am."
Kaoru's grin faded slightly. "I saw a beast from you. If you're scared, then maybe I was wrong." He bounced the ball between his legs. "We're supposed to be fearless. And… a little bit annoying."
Akira wiped his face with his shirt. "How does your beast look?"
Kaoru's eyes lit up. "Like a monster. Sharp claws. Dark orange. It shows me how to play. It's my friend."
Akira looked down at his hands.
"I don't think I've made mine my friend yet," he said quietly. "But we'll see."
Before Kaoru could respond—
BZZZZZZZT.
The alarm blared through the facility.
A robotic voice echoed from the speakers:
"TEAM OMEGA. REPORT TO MAIN COURT. MATCH BEGINS IN FIVE MINUTES."
"REMINDER: YOU HAVE ONE LIFE REMAINING. LOSS WILL RESULT IN ELIMINATION OF ALL MEMBERS EXCEPT THE TOP PERFORMER."
"CURRENT DEBT FOR ELIMINATION: ¥1,250,000."
Akira's stomach dropped.
Hopefully Suno's formula works.
Suno stood nearby, arms crossed, staring at the wall.
He muttered to himself, almost too quiet to hear:
"My plan will for sure work."
And then he chuckled.
Akira glanced at him, unease crawling up his spine.
The Court
Team Omega walked onto the main court.
Across from them stood Team Beta.
Kurasi Toru stood at the front, adjusting his jersey with mechanical precision. His eyes were sharp, cold, calculating.
Oyon stood beside him, running a hand through his hair, grinning like he'd already won.
Behind them were three other players:
Jin Sawada — lean and quick, with sharp reflexes and darting eyes.
Haru Miyamoto — stocky and solid, built like a wall.
Reo Nakamura — tall and lanky, with long arms perfect for blocking.
Akira's eyes swept over them.
So this is Team Beta.
They also have one life left.
Which means… the losers are eliminated.
Tip-Off
Oyon stepped forward for the tip-off.
Taiga met him in the center.
The referee's voice echoed:
"BEGIN."
The ball was thrown into the air.
Taiga launched himself upward, raw power driving him higher than Oyon.
He slapped the ball backward—
—and Mitsuki caught it.
Following Suno's strategy, Mitsuki immediately lobbed it forward to Akira.
Akira grabbed it mid-stride, eyes scanning the court.
We're equating with Zero. Maybe Suno's formula will work. Maybe we can get a 1.
He flicked the ball upward.
Kaoru caught it mid-air, broke past two defenders with wild, chaotic footwork, then lobbed it high.
Suno leapt.
His vertical was insane—he rose above everyone, grabbed the ball with both hands, and slammed it through the hoop.
TEAM OMEGA: 2 | TEAM BETA: 0
TIME REMAINING: 17:50
Akira exhaled, relief flooding through him.
It's working.
Taiga clapped Suno on the back. "Good job! You brought the strategy and everything!"
Suno smirked. "Told you."
But Mitsuki stood off to the side, staring at Team Beta.
"It's like they didn't even try," he muttered.
The Counterstrike
The game resumed.
Kurasi caught the inbound pass, eyes scanning the court like a computer processing data.
He didn't hesitate.
He threw a through ball—a long, laser-precise pass that sailed past Taiga, Mitsuki, and Suno, landing perfectly in Oyon's hands at the three-point line.
Oyon caught it, planted his feet, and fired.
SWISH.
TEAM OMEGA: 2 | TEAM BETA: 3
TIME REMAINING: 17:00
Akira's eyes widened.
They got that back so fast.
Suno's jaw tightened. "Stick to the script. We'll fight fire with magma."
The Formula Continues
The game resumed.
Akira grabbed the inbound, driving forward and creating space.
Taiga cut in, using his body to bulldoze through a defender, and Akira passed to him.
Taiga immediately lobbed it to Suno.
Suno caught it at the three-point line—barely any resistance on him—lined up his shot, and fired.
SWISH.
TEAM OMEGA: 5 | TEAM BETA: 3
TIME REMAINING: 15:42
Suno landed, grinning. "See? It's working."
Akira nodded, cautiously optimistic. "It's actually working. We're cooperating."
Kaoru stood off to the side, watching with mild interest.
Then he tilted his head.
"Say," Kaoru said slowly, "your formula is always pinning you to be the one to finish. Why not any of us?"
Suno turned to glare at him. "Oi. Don't piss me off, piece of shit. Stick to the formula if you want us to survive."
Kaoru raised his hands in mock surrender, grinning. "Ai ai, dictator-san. I have heard."
But his eyes flickered with something else.
Doubt.
END OF CHAPTER 7