The Sun and the Moon

Chapter 29

Dennis' POV

Can we have a crash course on teamwork quickly?

Our hearts sank as we watched our opponents cheer and give each other fist bumps. Obito cast a withering look at me before going towards the side lines. Jessica caught the ball and stepped out of the court with a sour face but recovered quickly.

Rin appeared by my side, her face etched with worry.

"We have to coordinate better. Anticipate each other's moves." She said in a polite, non-accusing tone.

While she referred to that little skirmish me and Obito had before Akasha scored, I could tell what was on Rin's mind too.

Back then did Obito really think he could make the shot or he just didn't want to pass to neither Rin nor me?

It could be either. Because time was sparse. But I hoped it was the former. I would rather believe in Obito's arrogance than his hostility.

Because if it wasn't, we were totally screwed.

Jessica held the ball ready in her hand, scanning the court and our positions.

Coach Fred appeared by her side.

We can do this. We can. We haven't come so far to be taken down.

Obito was near the sidelines, Tenten blocking him. Henry and Spencer seemed to be having a silent argument right there.

Sally closed in on Rin. Akasha was right in front of Jessica - trying to foil her attempts at passing to her teammates from up close.

While I was under the hawk-like gaze of Shino.

Jessica launched the ball high into the air, bouncing at the center line before rolling away. All of us charged together at it like a pack of wolves at meat.

I speeded up, feeling the rubber against my soles, my heartbeat ringing in my ears, and slowing down, lifted the ball with my hands.

The others were right behind me; Spencer standing menacingly ahead of me, eliminating any chance of me scoring in the mid or close ranges.

Shino lunged for the ball which I swiftly avoided, and passed it to Henry; finally free from Spencer hovering over his shoulder.

Henry grabbed it, before going in for the shot. It could make it. There was no one nearby.

He threw, and I prayed silently as I traced the ball's trajectory in air.

It hit against the backboard and fell away from the basket.

This elicited disappointment and groans from the crowd, the loudest being Maya's.

Shino grabbed the ball, and launched it, and it flew straight towards Akasha. Rin and I glanced at each other, and she ran towards Akasha to block her from throwing.

I too was about to join her when a tiny gust of wind blew past me and Obito joined her.

Gods. Not again.

I stepped back, choosing to block other opponents.

For the next few seconds, none of us were able to snatch the ball from our opponent team. Everyone attempted, but either we suck at teamwork or our opponents formed a tight network that we couldn't penetrate.

Or both.

The short blow of a whistle stopped us from our hopeless deadlock.

We looked up to see Coach Fred saying that our opponent's team had reached their time limit to score a basket.