CHAPTER 216: CHAPTER 203: MEETING EACH OTHER

The sun outside was blistering, but inside the Graves Residence Gym, the temperature was calm the air humming with the low, consistent buzz of fluorescent lights overhead.

A tension hung in the room, not of conflict, but of curiosity. Something was different today.

Coach Fred Mason, the once-disgraced but now-redeemed coach of Vorpal Basket, stood near the center of the court. His frame was still large, his shirt slightly tight from the summer weight, but his posture was better more commanding, more serious. He’d been changing. Evolving. Trying.

Beside him stood a tall, clean-cut man in a gray blazer, his expression unreadable. His sharp black slacks and polished shoes clashed with the scuffed court. He looked out of place yet somehow, he owned the space.

Ayumi, clipboard in hand, finally broke the silence.

"Coach... so this man is...?"

Fred nodded, folding his arms as he gave a slight grin.

"Yes. This will be our training matchup. He’s the coach of the Piedmont Spartans, from Piedmont Valley Middle School."

The man in gray stepped forward. His voice was smooth and direct, cutting the air like a whistle.

"Hi. I’m Ron. Nice to meet you all."

He extended a hand, firm and confident.

The players of Vorpal Basket stood in a slight arc, eyes measuring the man like he was a puzzle they hadn’t solved yet.

Ryan Taylor leaned toward Brandon, his voice barely a whisper.

"A suit with a gray blazer... hair looks like a shady person."

Brandon’s eyes twitched, and without turning his head, muttered back:

"Shut up."

Lucas Graves just sighed, his arms crossed. His eyes didn’t blink. He was already calculating.

Meanwhile, Ethan Albarado stepped forward calmly, brushing his hair back. He wasn’t just a player now, he was something more. And he knew it.

He reached out and shook Ron’s hand.

"Hi. My name is Ethan Albarado."

His voice was respectful, but not submissive. Solid. Present.

Ron met his grip, then looked into Ethan’s eyes with a flicker of curiosity or was it recognition?

"So you’re the one I heard about," Ron said with a faint smirk.

Ethan’s gaze narrowed slightly.

"(He’s heard of me? Then this isn’t just a training match... this is scouting. Testing.)"

From the side, Coach Fred clapped his hands.

"Alright! Let’s not just stand around. We’ll break into scrimmage squads soon — Piedmont’s arriving tomorrow, so today’s our final prep."

Ayumi scribbled something on her clipboard and whispered:

"Piedmont Spartans... I’ve seen their tape. They play smart. Controlled chaos. This won’t be easy."

Brandon cracked his knuckles.

"Good. We need something not easy."

Lucas’s yellow eyes glinted faintly under the gym lights.

"(Finally... we get to play some team.)"

And Ethan looked over his teammates these friends, rookies, wildcards, and future stars and nodded to himself.

"(Game on.)"

Louie spun the ball on his finger with a grin. "I’m gonna show my cool moves again."

Kai raised an eyebrow. "Cool moves? Or wild moves?"

Jeremy snorted as he chuckled with Coonie. "Bro, he called you out."

Louie crossed his arms. "Hmph, just you wait, bones."

Aiden burst out laughing. "Bones! Haha!"

Kai turned sharply. "What did you just say? Bones?"

Josh shook his head with a chuckle, then looked at Ethan.

Ethan just smiled, hands on his hips. "Okay, okay... let’s not start a wrestling match before the game."

The mood was light, but the air was electric a strange mix of youthful energy and something deeper. Determination. Growth.

Ron, still in his gray blazer, observed silently from the side.

"(Ethan Albarado...)," Ron thought, eyes narrowing slightly. "So you’re the one. The genius I’ve heard about. Now that I see you up close... something’s off. Not in a bad way—just... unnatural. At 14, how is he this composed? How is he this professional?)

He adjusted his collar.

"(I’ve coached for years... but this kid. There’s something different about him. Is it experience? Is it pressure? Or... is it something else?)"

Ron smiled faintly but said nothing.

The match wasn’t even starting yet and already, sparks were quietly flying.

Ethan stepped forward, his expression polite but curious. "Coach Ron... may I ask, what is your—"

Ron quickly cut in with a raised hand and a smooth chuckle. "Uh, pardon me. I’m just here to observe your training today. And don’t worry... as a coach, I’m not the type to steal your strategies or counter them with my own team."

He looked around at the players, then smiled. "If I spot a mistake or something you could improve on, I might offer a tip or two. That’s all."

The Vorpal Basket players looked at each other, a bit unsure but Ethan nodded respectfully.

"Got it. Thank you, Coach," Ethan said, though his voice held a tinge of caution.

But inside, Ron’s thoughts were very different.

(I’m here to spy on your team, Ethan Albarado.)

He watched them carefully. Every pass. Every reaction. Every player dynamic.

(Let’s see what makes this team tick... and what makes you tick.)

Brandon leaned in and whispered to Lucas, "Why does that dude feel like he’s from some detective anime?"

Lucas didn’t reply, eyes still locked on Ron. His instincts didn’t trust him either.

Ethan folded his arms, sensing the subtle tension.

(So that’s how it is... a friendly observer, huh?)

(Then let’s make sure what he sees... is nothing short of chaos.)

"Alright, everyone!" Coach Fred Mason clapped his hands, breaking the silence. "Let’s get this warm-up started! Show them what Vorpal Basket’s been building!"

The gym echoed with sneakers squeaking and the first bounces of basketballs.

And from the sidelines, Ron’s smile never faded.

(Let the game begin, Ethan.)

The gym came alive with energy as the players of Vorpal Basket scattered across the court, beginning their dynamic warm-ups. Layups, three-point shots, passes, and sprints—each movement reflected how far they had come.

Coach Fred shouted, "Let’s go, let’s go! High knees! I want fire in those legs!"

Ron stood near the edge of the court, arms crossed, eyes sharp. He wasn’t just watching—he was calculating.

(So that’s Brandon. Height, strength... decent footwork. Needs polish. Evan—the point guard—fast, but too generous with the ball. Lucas Graves... now that one’s dangerous.)

Then his gaze rested on Ethan.

(And Ethan Albarado... your movements are too clean for a middle schooler. Like a trained athlete. You’re hiding something under that calm expression.)

Ethan glanced at Ron, then called out, "Brandon! Don’t rush your screen! Louie, be ready to cut!"

He turned mid-stride, smoothly dribbling the ball between his legs, then passed it behind his back to Evan, who went for a smooth jumper.

Swish.

"Nice!" Aiden called from the sideline.

Kai slapped hands with Louie. "Okay, okay, maybe that was kinda cool."

Louie grinned proudly. "Told ya."

Coach Fred, puffing slightly, walked toward Ron with a towel draped over his shoulder. "So... what do you think?"

Ron nodded, keeping his polite smile. "Impressive. Raw, but there’s chemistry. Especially with your starting five. The rest... needs polishing."

Fred sighed. "Yeah, I know. The bench guys still struggle with consistency."

Ron then said, "Ethan’s your floor general, huh?"

Fred raised an eyebrow, cautiously. "You could say that."

Ron’s eyes lingered on Ethan again, watching as the boy called out adjustments mid-play.

(He’s not just a player. He’s already thinking like a coach. A strategist. This is beyond raw talent. He’s been through something.)

Suddenly, Ethan jogged over.

"Coach Ron," he said, wiping sweat from his forehead. "May I ask... do you specialize in anything as a coach?"

Ron paused.

"Adaptability," he replied smoothly. "I focus on understanding my players and maximizing their strengths—even if that means changing the game plan mid-match."

Ethan nodded, expression unreadable. "That’s a good approach."

Ron added, "And you? What kind of player are you?"

Ethan met his eyes.

"...The kind that doesn’t like to lose."

A quiet tension passed between them.

Then Jeremy ran over with a grin. "Yo Ethan, you coming or what? Coach wants us to run full court sets."

Ethan gave Ron a respectful nod. "I’ll talk to you later."

As he jogged off, Ron watched him go.

(The kind that doesn’t like to lose, huh? I wonder what you’ll do when you’re forced to taste it.)

And from the other side of the court, Lucas glanced at Ethan, his yellow eyes sharp.

(So this is what competition feels like. I like it.)

The clash of philosophies, strategies, and talent was only beginning.

And Piedmont Spartans vs Vorpal Basket... would be a war.

Coach Fred turned his head toward the gym entrance as the echo of footsteps bounced off the court. The boy who entered jogged in with a calm demeanor, no rush, no nerves.

"I’m here, coach!!!"

The voice was clear not arrogant, not desperate just confident.

Coach Ron turned with a raised brow and a small smirk.

"You’re here, Darius."

Ethan watched curiously as the new player walked toward them.

Darius "Steady D" Coleman.

His lean build wasn’t intimidating, but something about his posture, the quiet steadiness in the way he moved, made even Lucas glance his way with interest.

Ron gestured toward him.

"This is one of my players — not flashy, but he doesn’t rattle. He’s your age, but he plays like he’s been in the game for years."

Ryan whispered to Brandon,

"He looks like one of those calm anime characters that suddenly drops 30 points without even sweating."

Brandon muttered,

"Let’s hope he doesn’t."

Darius simply nodded to everyone, eyes focused, composed.

"I’m not here to trash talk. I’m here to play clean and learn something."

Jeremy smirked, impressed.

"Okay. Respect."

Lucas crossed his arms, yellow eyes narrowing.

(Not bad...)

To be continue