Kuti draped an arm over his brother’s shoulder, his lips curving into a bold, devilish smile. His gaze settled on Avira, half-lidded and full of mischief.
“We’re just here to observe Eastwest’s basketball team. And, while we’re at it, to apologize to you.”
“…Apologize?”
Avira blinked, the confusion in her hazy eyes reflecting like ripples on water.
“Yes.”
Kuti’s faint smile deepened.
“Last time, Vince mistook you for a stalker. We wanted to apologize for that.”
“Stalker…?”
Avira looked even more confused, furrowing her brows in thought for a long moment before finally shaking her head.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about…”
“It seems you’ve forgotten about it… That’s fine.”
Vince raised his hand, casually tossing the basketball into the air.
As it came back down, it spun rapidly on his fingertip for a few moments before landing neatly in his palm. His lips curved into a confident, almost haughty smile, his presence exuding the fleeting, intoxicating beauty of a poppy in full bloom.
“Let’s play one-on-one, Avira.”
“Huh?!”
The surrounding girls erupted into a chorus of gasps and squeals.
“Vince is challenging Avira?!”
“Even in the national league, you can only see Sandfield’s ace players during the finals! And Avira plays so amazingly! This is like hitting the jackpot today!”
Indeed, even in critical national league games, the ace players of Sandfield rarely appeared during the elimination rounds. To witness someone like Vince or Kuti play usually required waiting for the grand finals. By then, when Sandfield’s crown jewels—Theo and Mike—took the stage, the event transformed from a competition into a spectacular celebrity showcase, wholly dominated by Sandfield’s brilliance.
But now, one of Sandfield’s legendary five, a player as exalted as Vince, had personally offered to play a one-on-one match with Avira. The sheer audacity of it made the onlookers marvel at how extraordinary Avira must be.
“So? Play against me,” Vince said, his confident, devilish smile never wavering.
His brown eyes sparkled with a self-assured gleam.
For basketball enthusiasts across the nation, Sandfield was the academy to aspire to. But its rigorous admission requirements meant that for most, it remained a distant dream.
Vince had already guessed what Avira’s response would be.
Turning down an invitation from Thiago for a one-on-one match was understandable—Thiago was a freshman who had just joined Sandfield’s ace lineup this year. But refusing him? That was unthinkable.
This was a free opportunity to gauge the strength of a formidable opponent. She should be thanking him for such an offer!
Avira blinked slowly, then shook her head.
“No, I’m too hungry. I don’t want to get all sweaty…”
“…”
Being hungry and not wanting to sweat… Those are two completely unrelated things!
Kuti’s gaze faltered briefly but recovered just as quickly. The smile on his lips deepened, its devilish charm hidden beneath an angelic façade.
Vince’s eyes narrowed slightly in disbelief. “You’re refusing me?”
“Mm-hmm.”
“…”
She didn’t even hesitate to answer!
“Don’t you sweat when you train?”
Avira blinked at him innocently.
“I came here to sleep.”
“…”
Vince was momentarily at a loss for words, entirely stumped by her straightforward response.
“Ah Orson… I told you not to keep hugging me. Even though you’re brainless, you’re still heavy…”
Tilting her face up to look at Orson’s sharp jawline, Avira’s lazy, soft voice carried an unabashed tone of disdain.
“…”
Orson froze briefly, but in the next instant, a dazzling smile bloomed on his face, as if entirely unfazed by her bluntness.
“What are you saying, Avira?”
Leaning closer to her, Orson’s golden hair fell in soft strands, nearly brushing against her face. His blue-green eyes shimmered with the brilliance of gemstones in the evening sunlight.
“Haven’t you noticed how full of love I am for you?”
When the person you like is right in front of you, of course you’d want to touch them. Isn’t that perfectly natural?
So no, this is something I won’t stop doing.
This affectionate gesture instantly sent the surrounding girls into a frenzy of uncontrollable shrieks.
“Orson and Avira aren’t together?! They’re so perfect for each other!”
“They look so good together, it’s unreal!”
“Quick, take pictures and post them on the BBS!”
In no time, the sound of cameras clicking and flashes lighting up filled the air as the girls eagerly snapped away.
Avira stared blankly at Orson for a moment before reaching out and pinching his cheeks hard, pulling them wide.
