As simple as the shot looked, a lot of people were still shocked. It must be because they were young that it appeared like they were flying off the court.
The veterans on the bench sat frozen. Japan's bench was the sa.
Jaw-Long's wide grin vanished, replaced by an expression of disbelief. Caleb leaned forward, arms on his knees, his mouth slightly open. Dong blinked rapidly, needing to confirm what he'd just witnessed.
"Did that just…work?" Muyang muttered, his voice suddenly hoarse.
"It did," Jaw-Long replied, his tone caught sowhere between awe and confusion.
Coach Xu Wei didn't even hide his surprise.
His brows lifted slightly as he crossed his arms, a faint, disbelieving smile tugging at his lips.
He had expected Kai to bring in the energy—everyone did. But this speed and precision felt like a wildfire spreading across the court.
"What the hell did they co up with now?" Caleb mumbled under his breath.
The crowd, too, was hyped up.
"Kai Guo is actually good?"
"I an, we can't say for sure. It's only one shot. He must have been lucky."
"It doesn't look that way, though. They appear very confident right now!"
On the court, Kai and Max exchanged a knowing look.
Nothing needed to be said. They had seen this outco coming.
anwhile, Zheng, Jian, and Jimmy were still trying to wrap their heads around what had just happened.
The plan, their seemingly last-minute approach, had actually worked.
Zheng let out a short laugh, breathless, as he glanced at Jian. "I don't believe it. It's actually working."
Jian grinned back, wiping sweat from his brow. "It looks like those two weren't lying," he said, glancing at Max and Kai.
Their minds flashed back to the night before.
***
It was late, the hotel room dimly lit by the glow of Kai's phone screen.
"The screen is too freaking small," Jimmy complained, squinting his eyes. "Don't you have a laptop or sothing?"
Kai clicked his tongue. "Will you buy one?" he deadpanned.
Jimmy sighed and focused his gaze back on the screen.
anwhile, Kai leaned forward, eyes fixed on the screen as he watched footage of the Japanese team's matches against Australia and Spain.
Max, sitting beside him, frowned deeply as the Japanese players moved across the court—every play disciplined.
Kai rewound the footage, watching as he replayed a particular sequence.
"Don't interrupt the play," Zheng sighed while pinching his ear. However, Kai didn't pay him any attention. Instead, he tilted his head to the side before glancing at Max.
"Doesn't this remind you of soone?"
Max's brows furrowed as he watched, but recognition dawned on him quickly.
His frown deepened. "Zedong."
Kai pointed at him, smirking. "Zedong," he confird.
The room went quiet for a mont as the na sank in.
"Who the heck is that?" Jimmy asked.
Zheng scratched the back of his head. "I think I t him before."
"No idea who that is," Jian muttered.
Still, Max and Kai shared the sa sentint.
Zedong—the captain of the Xing Stars, a powerhouse team known for their near-military level of discipline and structure. Their playstyle was precise, by the book, with little room for error.
Zheng tilted his head. "What does he have to do with this?"
"Zedong is the captain of the Xing Stars," Max said. "Well, was."
Jian pursed his lips. "Still have no idea who that is."
Kai didn't hesitate.
He grabbed his phone, scrolling quickly through his contacts before tapping a na and putting the phone to his ear.
"Kai?" Zheng asked, glancing at Max with a confused shrug.
Jimmy looked just as clueless. "Who's he calling?"
Max grinned slightly. "Who else? The guy we're talking about."
On the other end of the line, the phone rang twice before a deep, irritated voice answered.
"Kai?" he replied, surprised. "This is the first ti you've called…and it's so late into the night."
Kai chuckled softly. "Zedong. I need your help."
There was so silence, followed by a sigh. "For what?"
Kai grinned. "Basketball, of course."
"Of course," Zedong muttered. "Why else would you be calling at this hour? Go ahead."
Kai put it on the loudspeaker before placing it on the bed for everyone to hear. "Tell sothing. Did you take inspiration from the Japanese National team?"
This ti, Zedong's voice held genuine surprise. "How did you know that?"
Kai's smirk widened. "Because you play exactly like them."
Zedong hesitated before letting out a small huff of acknowledgnt.
"You're not wrong. The Japanese team is one of the most underrated in the international scene. Their discipline is unmatched. We studied them carefully—every movent, every weakness. I'm surprised you recognized it. We've been gatekeeping it for so long."
Kai smiled. "Then you already know their ups and downs. You know the corners of their playstyle."
Zedong was silent for a mont before he finally muttered, "Yes…I do."
Max, standing beside Kai, took the opportunity to lean into the phone. "Then help us."
"What?" Zedong snapped. "Max?"
Kai chuckled. "The rest of the Elite Five are here, too."
Zedong groaned audibly. "You're all hopeless. Aren't so of you guys still in the Interhighs? Do you realize how this looks? I'm practically helping the enemy win. Coach would kill if I tell you our secrets."
"Co on, Zedong," Max urged, his voice firm but lighthearted. "It's for the country. Don't think of it as helping us. Think of it as helping China."
"Unbelievable. You're even bringing the country into this?" Zedong muttered, though his resolve was breaking.
Kai couldn't help but smirk. "We need the details, Zedong. You've played their style. You know how to beat it."
Zedong sighed heavily as if this was the last thing he wanted to do. "You guys are idiots, you know that? Fine. But listen carefully. I'm only going to explain this once."
Kai and Max exchanged a victorious glance as they leaned closer to the phone, the other three crowding around, suddenly more invested than ever.
Zedong's voice grew sharper, all trace of reluctance fading as he began. "You already know the basics. You've beaten us before."
"They're disciplined, but that also makes them predictable. Here's what you can do…"
Back in the gym, Kai's smirk remained as the whistle echoed through the court. The ball was passed back into play, and Japan prepared its response. But Kai wasn't worried.
Well, it was because they knew them like the back of their hands now.
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