The elimination crowd was electric, banners flying as Brook Academy stepped onto the hardwood. Their opponents, the Crystal Shards, were no pushover. Known for icy shooting precision and a deadly "frost-break" offensive scheme, they were determined to stop Telvin's squad.
The opening minutes looked promising for the Shards. Captain Ryo Takeda drilled three consecutive threes, silencing Brook's early momentum. The scoreboard read: Crystal Shards 18 – Brook Academy 9.
But then Telvin shifted gears.
With one cold glare at his teammates, Brook's intensity rose like a storm. Jack clamped down defensively, Aman ignited transition plays, Pride and Rose lit up the wings, and Telvin bullied his way through the lane like an unstoppable machine.
By halftime: Brook 90 – Crystal Shards 70.
The Shards tried to claw back in the second half with deep shots, but Brook's pressure defense broke them apart. Telvin had Ryo locked down, Rose and Pride punished every loose ball, and Aman flew baseline-to-baseline with relentless energy.
When the buzzer blared, the scoreboard glowed:Brook Academy 200 – Crystal Shards 150.
The gym thundered, but Brook didn't even celebrate—they walked off the court like assassins who had simply done their job.
Telvin's voice echoed quietly as he left:"Crystal Shards… shattered."
In the stands, Royal Court had been watching intently.
Treasure leaned back, folding his arms. "Brook's scary… but we've seen worse. Right?"
Jasmine chuckled and nudged him with her elbow. "That's exactly why you're my best friend—you never get rattled."
Treasure smirked. "And you never stop talking."
The two shared a laugh, their ease around each other showing just how tight their bond was.
As the laughter faded, Jasmine glanced at Ebun sitting a few seats away, then leaned closer to Treasure."Treasure… can I tell you something?"
Treasure raised a brow. "When you get that tone, it's usually trouble."
Jasmine rolled her eyes. "I'm serious. Haven't you noticed? Ebun…" She lowered her voice. "She likes you."
Treasure blinked, caught off guard. "Ebun? Me? Nah… that's fucked up you're reading it wrong."
Jasmine shook her head, smiling knowingly. "Best friend intuition, Treasure. I see the way she looks at you. Don't be dense."
Treasure rubbed the back of his neck, pretending to brush it off, but the thought lingered. He glanced toward Ebun, who was cheering as if Brook's win had inspired her. For the first time, Treasure noticed her smile linger his way.
Jasmine grinned, satisfied. "One day, you'll thank me for pointing it out."
Treasure sighed dramatically. "Or one day, I'll fucking blame you for dragging me into trouble."
Both of them laughed again, but the seed had been planted.
As Brook celebrated their ruthless win, somewhere between the roaring fans and the quiet bond of best friends, Royal Court's path toward their own destiny grew even more tangled—with feelings, secrets, and basketball fate colliding at once.