Episode 1

Chapter 1:

The concrete court was filled with the sound of frantic, pattering shoes, as five players rushed back to defend their basket. They had just scored a desperate point and their path to victory had opened. Despite this, the look of exhaustion on each of their faces was plain to see. 

“Come on guys! We can bring it back! Defence!” the boy yelled, as he assumed his position at the top point of the three point line. 

Wheezy breaths escaped his lungs as his face dropped downwards. His youthful look, with its sharp features and deep eyes, was now wet with sweat and drowsy with fatigue. His athletic body, usually able to bear the brunt of four full quarters, trembled slightly. His breaking point was close, that much was clear to see. 

“Ming, I can’t do this anymore. Can we please call it?” A weary voice came from the boy's right. 

“Not yet, Xiaoli, we still have to win before we can leave.” 

Ming looked up from the concrete and shot his teammate a smile. The smile was not returned. Instead it was met with a groan of depreciation as Xiaoli gripped his knees, preparing for the next wave of humiliation that would inevitably come. They had been playing for no longer than seven minutes, nothing that would be tiresome in the slightest, and yet, this game had sapped the energy out of the five players. 

Ignoring the tiredness, Ming forced his face forwards to see his opponents. 

Five figures of menacing stature ran towards Ming like a gang of rabid hyenas, hungry to devour their prey. A loud boom echoed from each bounce of the ball, as the boy that led the pack skipped ahead suddenly. 

He had purple streaks in his hair that glistened in the afternoon sun. He bounced the ball in his left arm effortlessly, whistling as he progressed up the court, as if this meant nothing to him. His right arm was placed casually in his jacket as he moved to oppose Ming. 

Pausing, he eyed Ming lazily and yawned. Anger tore through Ming’s body as he violently reached forwards, in a hasty attempt to steal the ball. With a mocking smile, the purple streaked boy pushed the ball down diagonally to his right, with his left fingers. The ball bounced quickly to his right hand, ricocheting off the palm, before bouncing on the floor between Ming’s legs. 

Before he knew it, the purple streaked boy had long past him. Ming turned to see the sight of the handler of his humiliation jump into the air, ball in two hands aimed at the basket. This was quickly followed by a tall team-mate of Ming’s who leaped towards the boy, large arms open and high in the air to block any layup attempt. This did not faze the boy. Instead he brought the ball down towards his chin, whilst his legs cupped towards his chest as he drifted by the feeble block attempt. It was a pump fake mid air. Then, once clear into space, he threw the ball up into the net and landed gracefully, without even breaking a sweat.  

10-2. 

A loud cheer erupted from the sides of the court, as the haggle of onlookers went wild at the display of skill. Clearly favouring the winning team. 

This story originates from Royal Road. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

Ming ignored all of this.

“Pass it, now!” 

The ball flew through the air into Ming’s receiving palms. Then, Ming quickly burst down the lane. He knew that there was a chance to score now. If he started a fast break before the opposing team could even recover and get back on defence, it was a free two points. He was proven correct when his eyes scanned the opposite end mid run. There were indeed no defenders as of yet. Sprinting with all his might, he made it to the three point line, adrenaline pulsing through him as he prepared to shoot. 

Suddenly, the purple streaked boy was right in front of him. His pale lips, twisted into a jeering smile, his arms flat by his side casually. How had he made it back so quickly? There was simply no way to run this fast in the few seconds that had passed since the fast break started.

Ming breathed in a deep breath and focused on his surroundings. The past few offensive possessions, he had passed it off to a teammate to start the attack. That was, until the last possession where he had taken a shot immediately. This was how they scored their first 2 points, a pull up shot from beyond the arc. 

However, he still needed a bucket on this play, or else they would never close the gap. At which point the spirits of his teammates would falter to an even lower level, making defeat certain. This, Ming swore, he would never let happen. Focus flowed through him as he eyed the boy, lazily standing between him and the basket. It was time to beat this cocky brat 1 on 1. 

Ming dropped his body low. With his head now below the shoulders of his opponent, he exerted a hard bounce down with his right hand. The ball quickly bounced back into his palms as he dipped his shoulders into a feint right. Then, he quickly crossed the ball to his left-

The ball never reached his left hand. His heart stopped at that moment. Ming felt the ball being stripped from his right palm just as he started the crossover. 

His eyes met the cruel irises of his opponent, as the boy grabbed the ball and shoved his shoulder into Ming’s chest, causing him to lose his balance and fall onto the hard floor. Shock, stunning him to the ground. 

A sigh of “oohs" and "ahhs” escaped the onlookers. Pushing past the pain, Ming quickly recovered and stretched an arm out from the ground, to try and regain his chance of winning. But much to Ming’s dismay, the ball was already thrown across the court to a gruff player with dreadlocks, whose back was facing a taller teammate of Ming’s. 

The dreadlocked player caught the ball with one hand and threw it two handed into the ground, before catching it again on the bounce back. Then, in one smooth motion he pivoted towards the basket on his left foot and jumped. Ming’s team mate could only look in despair as the dreadlocked player rose high above him, and slammed the ball into the net. 

11-2. Game set. 

The crowd erupted into a cacophony of cheers and screaming, as the dunk had ignited excitement throughout the watching rabble. To Ming, all of this had happened so quickly that he had not even comprehended the dunk, let alone his team’s defeat. He had never thought he would experience such a humiliation in his life. As the point guard who was 2nd in the starting line up for the best middle school in the province, losing on the streetball court was unthinkable. The blur in his vision was quickly interrupted by the dreadlocked player high fiving all of the winning teammates with glee. Whilst his own team, wandered aimlessly in disbelief. 

A tightness began to clutch at his chest. They had lost. It was a loss they had earned as a team and yet, all he could feel was disappointment at his own play. Ming stood in silence as guilt took him. He had promised to lead his team and they had put their trust in him; but all it had led to was defeat. He had shamed his team, he had failed to inspire victory and worst of all, he had failed as their leader. 

After a few seconds, the player with purple streaks in his hair appeared in front of Ming. Looking down, he blankly stared at his defeated opponent. A vicious sneer emerged from the corner’s of his mouth, ruining his attractive face. 

“You’re pathetic.” 

Hearing this, Ming’s eyes raised wide open, as he felt flush with anger.

“You never deserved this court to start with. Is this the kind of talent they have leading the next generation of players at Jing Xia?” 

“I-” Ming started to say, before the boy held a hand up.

The boy lowered himself next to Ming, as if observing him up and down. 

“You’re shit. I expected more from players in the school system.” 

Ming could feel his fists tighten into a strong grip as he could barely stop himself from rearing a punch at his aggressor. Noticing this, the boy jumped up and stepped back. 

“Can’t even handle a defeat huh. You really are pathetic” he laughed as he began turning towards his teammates. 

With one final look, the purple streaked boy turned back and said, 

“Oh, I’m sure you’re aware, but I’ll tell you now so we're clear-” His eyes met Ming’s once again, piercing deep. 

“-This court is ours now. Don’t ever show your face when I’m here. Because if you do…” 

Innocence paraded his mocking cheeks as he smiled,

“I’ll make sure you never play again.”