“His uniform is so small and adorable; it’s totally cheating…”
The girls in the bleachers squealed with excitement as the boy holding a teddy bear waved in their direction.
“How boring.” The boy wearing the Number 1 jersey had a sweet, innocent smile on his face, but his tone was anything but soft. “It’d be nice if someone as interesting as that person would show up.”
That person…
She looked completely harmless, but anyone who had seen her play basketball would never forget it.
Do you know what it’s like to encounter someone who embodies both light and darkness?
In that moment, he had sensed those two contradictory, yet perfectly blended, auras within her.
She was beautiful but dangerous.
Like a black mandrake flower, dark and seductive, exuding a never-ending, intoxicating aroma.
Too bad someone like her… chose to go to Eastwest instead.
He turned his head slightly and immediately saw the boy lying on the bench nearby.
Dressed in a high-quality white shirt that highlighted his delicate, porcelain-like skin, the boy appeared serene. The evening sunlight slipped through the windows, glinting off his black hair, and silver-framed glasses rested on his flawless face, giving him the appearance of a refined and scholarly student council president.
His pitch-black eyes, under the caress of the sunlight, seemed to hold tiny, scattered stardust, stunningly beautiful.
His graceful fingers looked more suited to playing the piano than gripping a basketball.
At the moment, those long, pale fingers were playing absentmindedly with a black lace ribbon tied around his wrist.
As if something had just occurred to him, Mike’s tea-colored eyes flickered with a hint of mischief. A smile spread across his lips. “Hey, Thiago, is that ribbon important to you?”
“Mm.”
The boy’s voice was clear and serene, like the echo of a mountain spring, enchanting.
“It belongs to the girl I like.”
The simple, weightless sentence sent ripples through the gymnasium, spreading out in transparent waves.
Mike was momentarily stunned but soon smiled. “Oh? A girl you like?”
He had never thought that Theo would fall for anyone.
Typically, he wouldn’t remember a girl he’d met even once. He refused to accept gifts, dumped love letters straight into the trash, and openly declared he had no interest in relationships.
And yet, here he was, holding onto something that belonged to a girl, even admitting that he liked her?
It was clear that this girl held an extraordinary place in his heart.
“Mm… She’s an idiot who challenges me even when she knows she’ll lose.”
A gentle smile spread across Theo’s lips, as pure and beautiful as a snow lotus blooming in the polar ice.
That unguarded smile stole the breath of many girls who had been silently admiring him.
“But I really, really love that unyielding pride she has,” he said.
“There are plenty of girls who’ve confessed to you and didn’t give up after being rejected multiple times. Why don’t you like one of them?” Mike Steel teased, his childish voice full of playful humor.
“Unfortunately, none of them are her.”
Theo’s elegant smile deepened. Behind his thin glasses, his black eyes seemed to twinkle with countless stars.
There could never be another You in this world.
His one and only You.
“I’m here.”
A red-haired boy walked in from the doorway.
He casually tossed his uniform jacket over his shoulder, leaving the top two buttons of his shirt undone and his tie loose and disheveled.
His crimson eyes gleamed brighter than any jewel, and even with his fierce aura, he remained a strikingly handsome figure.
“Thiago, do you show up late to practice every day just so you can run an extra ten or twenty laps?”
Mike Stell turned his head, his smile seemingly harmless.
But anyone listening closely could hear the underlying threat in his words, as well as the palpable sense of pressure that spread out for a split second.
“…I get it,” Thiago mumbled reluctantly, turning his face away in defeat. But then he suddenly remembered something. “Oh, by the way, I went to see Avira Nassy today.”
“Oh?” Mike raised an eyebrow.
“She’s really strong!” Thiago grabbed a basketball, feeling the texture of its surface under his palm. “Eastwest’s new basketball club member, Avira Nassy—she’s genuinely strong!”
*In our territory, we follow our own rules…*
*I… really enjoy making people cry.*
*If you like dunks… let me show you a proper one.*
She acted so cocky, so utterly indifferent, and her small stature, along with her red lips and white teeth, made her look as delicate as a girl. Yet… there was something about playing against her, the way she exuded an undeniable, commanding aura that made his heart race wildly with excitement.
That was the kind of game he loved.
Basketball should always be that thrilling…
He wanted so badly to play against her again. He wanted to beat her.
For the first time, Thiago had this kind of desire.
“Indeed.” Mike Steel played with the stuffed teddy bear in his hands, his lips curving into a mysterious smile.
His long eyelashes lowered slightly, partially veiling his eyes, which seemed to shimmer with a deep, unfathomable mist.
“This year, Eastwest will be our greatest rival,” he murmured.
Beside him, Theo remained silent. He was still toying with the ribbon tied around his wrist, lost in thought.
Since yesterday, he couldn’t get her out of his mind…
The person who had even made Mike feel a sense of urgency…
She might indeed be a fascinating opponent.
Avira. Nas. ssy.
—
Orson’s sudden decision to join the Eastwest basketball club had sent the entire school into a frenzy.
His declaration that he would stay in the club and hoped for everyone’s support had instantly boosted the club’s visibility by 200 percent!
However, after dropping this bombshell, Orson disappeared for the entire afternoon, leaving everyone wondering just how good the person who had caused all this buzz actually was.
—
The next day at noon.
The campus radio played a lively tune, and the afternoon breeze was cool and refreshing. Avira and Ashton walked into the gymnasium together after lunch.
Inside, Orson and George were practicing, and the bleachers on either side were packed with girls who had hearts practically floating in their eyes.
This gym, which had been so deserted just days ago that it was practically growing cobwebs and wild mushrooms, now buzzed with life, like a world-class fashion show.
Orson was driving toward the hoop with the ball, but George’s defense was impeccable.
George quickly positioned himself in front of Orson, ready to block his advance.
“I’ve already seen through your moves,” George stated calmly.
Orson abruptly halted, then leaped back with a grin that sparkled in the sunlight, like a mischievous fox successfully dodging a trap. With a playful gleam in his eyes, he leaned back and shot the ball from his hands.
Swish— The basketball brushed through the net smoothly and bounced back to the ground.
“Ahhh, Orson is so handsome…”
“His brilliance is blinding! I’m going to faint—catch me!”
“Orson, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you!”
“Just look at me, please, even half a glance would be enough!”
Thunderous cheers erupted all around, like a tidal wave of adoring fans sweeping through the gym.
Orson saluted the crowd with a charming, American-style gesture, his flawless face lighting up with a bewitching smile. His blue-green eyes gleamed like scattered neon lights under a night sky.
Even this simple action incited a more intense wave of screaming and excitement.
That was Orson—wherever he went, he was a natural beacon, a magnetic presence that drew everyone’s gaze.
While the girls chattered excitedly, Avira ignored the noise and walked straight into the gym.
“Nassy,” Orson called, immediately bounding over and wrapping her in a hug. “Did you see that? I won.”
“Mm…” Avira replied lazily. She casually grabbed a clean towel nearby and handed it to George.
George took the towel without a word, his blue-black eyes meeting hers briefly before he wiped the sweat from his face. His expression was as calm and serene as ever, but his gaze lingered on her just a little too long.
The energy in the gym continued to buzz, and the air felt charged with anticipation.
