The Cursed Gift

Part 13: Basketball Team

"Searin Middle School. You should know it, its the other middle school just across this neighbourhood."

Cel seemed surprised, but not wanting to create anymore trouble, quickly nodded. He brought the three of them to a deserted corridor in the school, and told them to stay put.
He chanted silently, his lips moving but creating not much sound. A purple portal burst around them, and a powerful aura surrounded them. Cel continued chanting, and a fierce gust of wind whipped. Listar shrieked. It only lasted a few seconds, but it was quite magical.

Suddenly the group of three found themselves in an empty classroom. Desks and chairs littered around them. Slits of sunlight entered the room. Cel was no longer with them.
"We must be inside the school," Miza deduced, looking at her surroundings. " Let's quickly find who we need and get the heck out of here, before someone like a staff finds out." The other two agreed.

They quickly left the classroom, aimlessly running at the corridor of the fourth floor.

"The last time I came here, I remembered there was an indoor basketball court in a sport hall. Listar, mind helping?"

Listar's eyes clouded to a jade green, but the girl didn't have to stay that way long."Directly north," she flatly replied. Miza then nodded at Koru. He closed his eyes.

"Sports hall at fourth floor, lift at right turn. Upon reaching sports hall, cross equipment room to reach basketball court."

They jumped into the lift and made a beeline for the sports hall, swiftly running across the equipment room. Sure enough, the basketball court was right in front of them, with a large bunch of buffed up players playing basketball.

"Urm, excuse me!" Listar yelled, but none of them turned to look. They were too engrossed in the game.
"EXCUSEZ MOI!" Miza tried next at the top of her lungs, and Koru was rolling on the floor laughing his head off. Fortunately, this time they stopped playing and gocused at them.
One of them walked towards them. "Yes? I'm the leader here. Judging by your attires, I can see you're not from this school. Oh, Mirin Middle School?"
Miza nodded.

"I want to ask where this graduate, that used to be in this school and in the basketball team, went for high school."

"Who?" He enquired.

"Yosei Hajimata."

All of them froze stiff.

"Why?"The leader coldly asked.

"Old friend, want to know his whereabouts and all," she casually lied.

He smirked.

"Since you are his friend, you should know basketball. Let me challenge you to a match. If you win, I'll tell you."

Koru and Listar looked worried, but Miza shrugged.

"Fine."