James Lock

Chapter 6: The Calm Before the Storm

His body moved on autopilot as he threw on his practice gear and stepped outside. His heart was racing—not with excitement, but with pressure. Today was the day they would face Team B, and failure wasn't an option. Hiroshi's absence hung over him like a shadow, but now wasn't the time to let it weigh him down.

As he crossed the courtyard to the practice courts, Kenzo noticed a figure already on the other side. Tatsuo. The sight of him immediately brought a knot to Kenzo's stomach. Tatsuo was working through some intricate footwork drills, his movements sharp, his expression harder. Kenzo could feel the tension between them, simmering under the surface.

But it was more than tension. It was something darker. Tatsuo was a wildcard, and that worried Kenzo more than anything.

Kenzo approached, forcing himself to remain calm, though his fists were already clenched at his sides. He wasn't in the mood for games, but there was no escaping this.

"Nice moves, Tatsuo," Kenzo said, trying to sound neutral, but even he could hear the edge in his voice. "Hope you're ready to work with the team today."

Tatsuo stopped, bouncing the ball casually as he looked over at Kenzo with a smirk that didn't reach his eyes. "Yamada," he greeted, using the nickname he'd adopted with an annoying sense of superiority. "I'm always ready. Just hope you can keep up."

Kenzo's jaw tightened. He hated that name, hated the way Tatsuo looked at him—like he was a nuisance, someone who was only there to be surpassed. "What's your deal, Tatsuo? Why are you always playing dirty? This isn't just about you."

Tatsuo's expression hardened. He dropped the ball, letting it bounce lazily between them. "You don't get it, do you? This place isn't about friendships or teamwork. It's about surviving. If you want to keep up, you have to be ruthless."

Kenzo stepped closer, his voice rising. "Ruthless? This is a team. You can't win this alone."

Tatsuo snorted, folding his arms. "Team? You think any of these guys care about you when push comes to shove? This is about making it to the top, and I'll do whatever it takes to stay there. You're just another obstacle."

Kenzo's frustration boiled over. "You don't even get it, do you? You're so focused on yourself that you're missing the point. The moment you start thinking you can do it all alone, you've already lost."

Tatsuo took a step toward Kenzo, their faces inches apart. "We'll see who's lost when the final whistle blows, Yamada."

The tension between them was thick, almost suffocating, and for a moment, it seemed like a physical confrontation might break out. But just then, Sora and Yuki arrived, both sensing the hostility in the air.

"Hey, hey, chill out," Sora said, stepping between them, his hands up in a placating gesture. "We've got bigger things to worry about today than fighting each other."

Yuki nodded, her calm voice cutting through the tension. "Tatsuo, we need to work together if we're going to beat Team B. This isn't the time for egos."

Tatsuo glared at them, but after a beat, he backed off, though the tension in his shoulders remained. "You all keep preaching teamwork. Let's see how well it holds up when we're under pressure."

He turned, walking away, leaving Kenzo standing there, his heart still pounding. He hated that Tatsuo had gotten under his skin, but he couldn't let it rattle him now. They had a game to win.

As Kenzo returned to his shooting drills, he noticed Akira watching from the sidelines, his usual cool, calculating demeanor in place. Akira didn't say much, but he always seemed to be observing, analyzing every move on the court and off.

Kenzo wiped the sweat from his brow and jogged over to Akira, needing to clear his head. "What do you think about Tatsuo?" he asked, trying to keep his voice casual.

Akira paused, dribbling the ball slowly between his hands as he considered the question. "Tatsuo's dangerous," he said after a moment. "Not because he's better than us, but because he's unpredictable. He's not thinking about the game; he's thinking about himself."

Kenzo nodded. "I get that. But how do we deal with it? He's going to drag the whole team down if we can't rely on him."

Akira looked at Kenzo, his sharp eyes unreadable. "We don't have to rely on him. We have to make him realize that if he doesn't work with us, he loses too."

Kenzo frowned, not quite following. "And how do we do that?"

Akira's gaze didn't waver. "By showing him that when we work together, we're unstoppable. You saw how he reacted today. He's scared, Kenzo. Scared that if he doesn't control everything, he'll lose. We just have to be better. Let him fall in line on his own."

Kenzo let out a long breath, feeling some of the tension ease. Akira was right—Tatsuo would either come around or he wouldn't, but they couldn't focus on that. They had a bigger fight ahead.

The gym slowly filled as the rest of Team C arrived, each player showing signs of their own nervous energy. Kenzo spotted Riku at the far end of the court, stretching. Riku was built like a wall, a force in the paint, and Kenzo was glad to have him on their side.

Sora, with his boundless energy, ran through quick sprints across the court, his feet almost a blur as he worked to release the tension. Yuki was focused, dribbling with purpose, her eyes scanning the court like she was already in-game mode. Even Akira, who was usually calm and collected, had a quiet intensity about him today.

Kenzo felt a surge of pride. They were all different—different strengths, different styles—but together, they formed something strong. Something real. They weren't perfect, not yet, but they had heart.

As they gathered for a quick huddle, Kenzo looked around at each of them, feeling the weight of the day ahead settle over them all. "We've got one shot today," Kenzo began, his voice low but strong. "We know what we're up against. Team B is no joke. But neither are we."

Sora grinned, his enthusiasm infectious. "We've got this. We've practiced, we've prepped. They won't know what hit them."

Akira's eyes flicked to Tatsuo, who stood a little apart from the group, his expression distant. "We stick to the plan. Quick passes, fast breaks. If we control the tempo, we can throw them off."

Yuki nodded, her quiet confidence steadying them. "And we'll support each other. We can handle whatever Team B throws at us if we stay connected."

Kenzo looked to Tatsuo, his voice firm but measured. "Tatsuo, I know we've had our issues, but we need you today. This isn't about you or me. It's about winning."

Tatsuo met Kenzo's gaze, something unreadable passing through his eyes. After a tense moment, he nodded, though he didn't say anything. It wasn't perfect, but it was something.

As Team C finished their preparations, the door to the gym swung open, and Team B walked in. The energy in the room shifted instantly.

Kei Aoki, the leader of Team B, strode in first—tall, lean, with an almost predatory grace. His eyes scanned the gym, sizing up Team C like they were prey. Behind him, Maya Ishikawa followed, her gaze cold and calculating, her fingers twirling the basketball like it was an extension of her body. And then there was Daisuke Yamamoto, towering over the rest, his broad shoulders and powerful build giving off the impression of a tank on legs.

Kenzo felt his heart pound harder. These were the players they had to beat. The best of the academy. But as he looked around at his team, he knew they had something Team B didn't. They had each other.

"Let's show them what we've got," Kenzo said, his voice steady, his team behind him. The game was about to begin, and Team C was ready to prove themselves. Together.