Scene 1: Royal Court Locker Room – Post-Win Buzz
Coach:"You won the opener. Congrats. But don't get gassed off one highlight reel."
AJ (grinning):"Come on coach, we were cooking!"
Mia:"Cooking? You barely touched the ball."
AJ:"Exactly. Less is more. I'm saving the spice."
The room laughs, but the mood shifts when Coach pins a photo to the wall:
BROOK ACADEMY – #2 Seed
Coach (serious):"Telvin. Power: Pyro Sync. His whole team moves like they share a heartbeat. Their captain doesn't just play the game... he conducts it."
Scene 2: National Broadcaster – "Tournament Watch" Segment
A broadcast flashes highlights across screens nationwide.
Announcer:"Royal Court is on fire — King, Mia, and the teleporting trickster, Treasure, all showed promise. But Brook Academy? Still a mystery. No footage. No statements. Just fear."
Analyst:"We know this: they don't talk. They don't pose. They just win. And Telvin? Word is, his powers don't even peak until the fourth quarter."
Scene 3: Practice Court – Private Training Session
Mia is working one-on-one with Jasmine, perfecting counter-moves in gravity-defying drills. Cadel sinks three after three from half-court, barely missing.
Nearby, Ebun finishes a lightning-fast fast break drill, then jogs past Cadel. She mutters:
Ebun:"You know, when you shoot like that, it's almost... romantic."
Cadel freezes, blushes slightly, then glares sideways.
Cadel:"Try not to fall for me, Ebun."
Ebun (smiling):"Too late."
(But neither of them admit what they're really feeling... yet.)
Scene 4: Somewhere Distant – Brook Academy Training Facility
A dark, high-tech gym. No crowd. No noise. Just a metronome ticking.
Jack is blocking holographic clones with ghost-like phasing.Pride jumps from floating crystal platforms, splashing impossible 3s.Aman runs simulations while blindfolded, calling plays with perfect timing.Rose spins gracefully, pollen-like mist drifting behind her like smoke trails.
Then… silence.
Telvin enters. Hood up. Eyes glowing with flickering embers.
Telvin:"They moved well. King's Court is real."Jack:"You think they're ready for us?"Telvin (removing hood):"I don't care."
He walks to the baseline.Lights dim. Music starts.His sneakers tap in rhythm.
Telvin:"I just want to burn the crown off his head."
Scene 5: Next Match – Royal Court vs Iron Forge High
Iron Forge is gritty, aggressive, tough in the paint. The crowd expects a grind. What they get… is a massacre.
King controls the tempo like a royal general.
Mia throws defenders around with gravity shifts mid-spin.
Treasure teleports behind defenders, then fakes teleporting again, scoring clean.
AJ shocks everyone by unleashing a brief lightning strike during a dunk — his powers are awakening.
Ebun and Cadel begin syncing, running a fastbreak play that ends with a no-look 3.
Final Score: Royal Court 88 – Iron Forge 51
As they walk off the court, a single figure in a black jacket watches from the rafters.
It's Telvin.
His teammates stand behind him, silent.
He smiles slightly.
Telvin (quietly):"Let them shine now.We'll dim the lights later."
Player Rankings – After Chapter 2 Rank Name School Power
Zane Akano Black flame Academy Voltage Slam
Mia Royal Court Academy Gravity Step
King Royal Court Academy Crown Mode
Telvin Brook Academy Pyro Sync
AJ Royal Court Academy Lightning Core (awakening)
NOTES:
Zane still hasn't played, but hype holds him at #1.
Mia rises to #2 after dominant play.
King's leadership moves him to #3.
Telvin drops to #4 due to no appearances — but that only builds fear.
AJ makes his surprise debut in the rankings after his lightning moment.