The ball hung in the air.
Spinning.
Slow.
Too slow.
Fumi's eyes were locked on it, wide, unblinking. His body was still in the air for a split second longer, then his feet hit the ground.
Hard.
His heart pounded in his ears.
Go in.
Please.
The ball hit the rim.
Clank.
It bounced up.
No.
It rolled along the edge.
For a second, it looked like it might drop.
Then it slipped off.
Miss.
Again.
A groan spread through the court.
Fumi didn't move.
Of course.
Why would it go in?
The defender grabbed the rebound instantly.
"Run!" someone shouted.
The other team took off.
Fast break.
Again.
Fumi turned late.
Too late.
He tried to chase, but his legs didn't respond right away. By the time he started running, it was already over.
Layup.
Easy.
46 38.
The gap got bigger.
Fumi slowed to a stop.
His chest felt tight.
Like something was pressing down on him.
I can't even make one.
"Yo, what are you doing?!" his teammate snapped.
Fumi flinched.
"I'm trying…"
"Trying isn't enough!"
The words hit harder than anything else.
Fumi looked down.
Hands shaking slightly.
Sweaty.
Useless.
The ball came back into play.
They passed it around.
Not to him.
Of course not.
Why would they?
Fumi stood there, moving when he had to, but not really thinking anymore. The noise came back. Louder now. Messier.
Everything blurred together.
Until
"Fumi!"
The ball was thrown at him again.
No warning.
No time.
He caught it.
Barely.
His fingers slipped, but he forced it under control.
The defender was already there.
Right in front of him.
Close.
Too close.
"Don't mess this up," the guy muttered.
Fumi froze.
His grip tightened on the ball.
Don't mess this up.
His breathing got heavier.
His vision narrowed.
Just him.
The defender.
The rim.
Far away.
Too far.
His legs felt locked again.
Move.
Nothing.
MOVE.
Still nothing.
His chest tightened more.
I can't.
I actually can't.
The defender leaned in, reaching.
Fumi panicked.
He pushed forward.
No plan.
No control.
Just movement.
The ball bounced too far ahead.
No
The defender swiped.
Contact.
The ball slipped free.
It rolled across the floor.
Right between them.
Both of them lunged.
Fumi stretched out his hand.
Just a little more
And then