The Royal Court locker room was still buzzing from the sound of sneakers squeaking and cheers echoing in their heads. They had just survived their first elimination match, and the adrenaline still clung to their skin like sweat.
King leaned back against his locker, wiping his face with a towel, his heart still pounding. We did it… but that wasn't easy. His eyes drifted toward his teammates—Treasure joking loudly, Jasmine tying her hair back, and Cadel sitting quietly, lost in thought.
Coach tunde walked in with his usual stern face, but even he couldn't hide the small smile curling at the corner of his lips."Good work today," he said, voice carrying that deep authority that always silenced the room. "But don't let this win fool you. This was just the first step. The teams ahead of us? They're not just strong—they're monsters. If you think today was tough, you haven't seen anything yet."
The room grew quiet. Everyone knew he was right.
Ebun looked down at her shoes, her fists clenched. The words of Cadel and Jasmine's confession still haunted her, making her chest heavy. She wanted to focus on basketball, but the thought of them together burned like fire.
"Coach," King spoke up, trying to lighten the mood. "We'll be ready. Right, everyone?"
Treasure smirked and punched the air. "Of course. Let the monsters come—I'll dunk on all of them."
The room burst into laughter. Even Coach cracked a grin."That confidence better match your performance, Treasure," he warned, but there was warmth in his voice.
After the team broke, everyone headed back to the bus. The city lights glowed outside the windows as they drove through, and for the first time in weeks, the players could breathe without pressure.
Mia leaned her head on King's shoulder, whispering softly so no one else could hear, "You were amazing out there."
King chuckled, his hand brushing against hers. "You too. You kept us steady when things got rough."
Behind them, AJ sat quietly by the window. But his mind wasn't on the game anymore—it was on Kiisi. The image of her graceful movements on the court earlier still lingered in his head. He shook his head quickly, hoping no one noticed the faint smile tugging at his lips.
Meanwhile, Cadel stared at Jasmine. She laughed at something Treasure said, her eyes sparkling, and he felt a small surge of warmth in his chest. But then he caught Ebun glancing at him from across the aisle, her expression unreadable. He swallowed hard, guilt mixing with the relief of finally admitting his feelings.
The bus rolled on, the team's chatter slowly fading as exhaustion took over. For tonight, at least, they could rest. But in their hearts, each of them knew—the real battles were only just beginning.