Akira tightened her laces, eyes focused on the gleaming court. The hum of the crowd beyond the locker room doors buzzed in her ears, making her pulse quicken. She was playing with Rod Wave Elite, the top girls' basketball team in the area, and the game tonight was against their long-time rivals. Akira's coach, Coach Roberts, had drilled the team hard during practice, and she was determined to bring her best game.
As they lined up on the court, she could feel the energy—high-intensity competition was something she lived for. But tonight, something felt different. Across the court, near the bleachers, a group of tall, athletic guys in matching warm-ups entered, laughing and chatting with ease. It was the boys' Rod Wave Elite team, here to support them. Akira's heart skipped a beat when her gaze landed on one of them.
Nelson Neumann.
She'd seen him around, knew he was one of the best players on the boys' team. Tall and confident, he had a presence that demanded attention. With his curly hair and sharp gaze, he looked like someone who knew how to take charge. And from what Akira had heard, he did. She forced herself to focus on the game, but as the whistle blew and they started playing, her eyes kept straying to where he sat.
"Akira!" her teammate Jess hissed as they walked to the bench for a timeout. "Eyes on the court. We're only up by three!"
Akira blushed, nodding. She forced herself to concentrate, pushing away the thought of him. But her efforts were wasted when the boys' coach, Coach Harris, strolled over to chat with her team's coach during the break. Akira found herself only a few feet away from Nelson as he gave her a nod, a little smirk tugging at the corners of his mouth.
"Good luck out there," he said, his voice low but clear.
"You too," she replied, her voice sounding more confident than she felt.
By the second half, her team was up by ten points, and she was back in her groove. But after every layup and defensive play, she couldn't resist glancing at Nelson, who was now watching her intently. His gaze was intense, his lips pressed into a smile whenever she made a shot. And the more he watched, the more determined she became.
After the game, Akira felt the thrill of victory as they shook hands with the opposing team. But just as she walked toward the bench to grab her water bottle, she felt a hand on her shoulder. She turned and found herself face-to-face with Nelson.
"You're a beast out there," he said, grinning.
"Thanks," she replied, surprised at the warmth in his voice. "Not too bad yourself," she added, hoping her voice came across as casual.
Nelson chuckled. "Maybe we should practice together sometime. You know, share a few tips."
Akira's cheeks flushed. "Yeah, maybe."
From that moment, something had changed. The chemistry between them was undeniable, and as he walked away to join his team, he gave her one last look. She could already feel the start of something new, something that would pull them together both on and off the court.
