The scoreboard showed: Blacklist 38 – Baby-Boom 12.

Jaz and Nash worked together like a machine, breaking every defense Baby-Boom tried to build.

Jaz pushed through two players at once, grabbed rebounds, and slammed them in. Nash's passes cut through the air like quick flashes. The crowd shouted her name louder each time.

Nash and Jaz moved as one; he read the game, she finished the job.

Miko called for more defense. She, Hina, and Rei closed in on Jaz near the basket. For a moment, they thought they had her.

Jaz turned her head and saw the three behind her. She bit her lip, stepped back, and pushed hard.

Her shoes squeaked on the floor as she forced them back. Their feet slid; their faces tightened. Sweat ran down Rei's chin. Hina grunted. Miko's breath came fast. None of them could hold her.

Kai watched from the side, stunned.

"... How can a girl be that strong?" she whispered.

Then she saw Nash move at the edge of her vision. Too late.

He fired a pass like a laser above everyone's heads. The ball curved toward the rim.

Jaz spun, broke free, and jumped. The three girls jumped too, but Miko and Hina fell behind fast; only Rei stayed close. For one short second, they rose together.

Jaz caught the ball in midair. Rei grabbed it too. They froze, both pushing.

But soon, the rules of nature kicked in. Jaz's strength grew, making Rei's arms shake. Her shoulders were in pain as Jaz forced her back in the air.

No… I can't lose again, Rei thought, but her power was useless.

Jaz shouted and slammed the ball through the hoop.

The three defenders crashed to the floor. Jaz landed hard, her shoes thudding as she stood over Rei, one foot on each side.

Rei looked up, wide-eyed, breathing fast. The crowd went wild.

"For... fucking sake," she whispered.

Jaz raised a fist, shouting as the crowd roared louder. Even Baby-Boom's bench was silent.

She then looked down at Rei, breathing hard. She reached out to help her up, but Rei grit her teeth and slapped her hand away.

Her team rushed over to lift her. She stood, shaking, humiliated. The camera caught her face, sweat, anger, disbelief.

Jaz stayed still, focused. No taunting, no smile. She wasn't actively trying to humiliate her. In fact, she was just living her best life; for her, who had always been reduced to defending, this new experience was dazzling.

The buzzer rang, marking the end of the first quarter.

The score changed again: Blacklist 40 – Baby-Boom 12.

The team rushed toward Jaz, Mac clapped her on the back, Drex raised both hands for a high five, and Nia threw herself around her shoulders.

She was drenched in sweat, chest rising fast, still grinning as the crowd kept cheering. She inhaled deeply, her smile wide, then nodded toward the others, giving a quick laugh.

"Nice one, Jaz!" Drex yelled, still shocked. "Didn't know you had that in you!"

Mac grinned widely.

"You've been hiding this side of you? Damn, that was brutal!"

Nia laughed, half-teasing, half-proud.

"You trying to show off in front of me now? Don't make me look bad out there!"

Jaz only answered with a grin and a strong exhale, then wiped her forehead. As the players headed toward the bench, she saw Nash walking toward her.

They met near midcourt, both slowing down. They didn't need words; their eyes met, and both smiled before bumping fists.

On the bench, Jinzo sat rigid, jaw tight, eyes burning as he watched them. Victoria leaned forward, half-smiling.

"Didn't expect that combo to work so well," she said.

Dahlia nodded beside her.

"Nash and Jaz… that's interesting."

Alicia grinned faintly.

"They make it look easy… kinda wish I was out there too."

The team gathered closer to the bench, still talking over each other with excitement. Jaz sat down, breathing hard, while Nash walked past them toward his spot. As he moved, a sharp tone echoed in his head.

[System Notification]

Special Quest Unlocked: Game Breaker

Goal: Finish with the best stats on the court.

Stats: Points | Assists | Rebounds | Steals | Blocks | Dribbles | Turnovers | Efficiency

Hidden Quest: Alpha Male

Goal: Impress 10 women on and off the court before the end of the match; raise their satisfaction until each is fully content.

Progress:

Jaz – 87% (Inspired)

Aiko – 73% (Motivated)

Nia – 45% (Jealous)

Miko – 41% (Annoyed)

Hina – 18% (Shaken)

Kai – 30% (Losing Hope)

Rei – 20% (Frustrated)

Alicia – 40% (Jealous)

Dahlia – 38% (Worried)

Victoria – 75% (Relieved)

Nash blinked at the glowing text in front of him. For a moment, he thought he was seeing things. The noise from the crowd faded to a soft chorus of murmurs as he read the words over and over.

Hidden Quest: Alpha Male. Impress 10 women. Raise their satisfaction until each is fully content.

He let out a slow breath.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he whispered.

Nia, sitting a few seats away, turned to him.

"You say something?"

He forced a small grin.

"Nah. Just thinking about the next move."

She gave him a look, then turned away. Nash leaned forward, elbows on his knees, still staring at the glowing panel. His heart started to beat faster.

There were two quests, but one seemed so complicated that it erased the other in his mind.

Ten women? Satisfied?

He went through the names in his head.

Aiko... sure, that fits. But the others? And what's this about Nia? She's jealous? Why? And Alicia, too? What's going on here?

He rubbed his face, groaning softly. The almighty's system at its finest again, and what's more, it asked him the impossible.

Let's see... I could manage with the girls in the team, but Baby-Boom... Hina is scared of me. How am I supposed to please her? Then there's Miko and Kai... I barely know them. And at this point, what the fuck am I supposed to do with Rei? How is this even possible? And what's with Dahlia and Victoria being on the list? They're not even playing!

He dragged a hand through his hair.

So I have to make ten women happy before the match ends. Most of them hate my guts. Great.

He glanced at Jaz laughing with Drex and Nia, her face glowing from the game. She looked alive. That had to count for something.

Alright... Think... The system is weird, but it's never wrong. Maybe it's not about flirting... It asked me to befriend Aiko; maybe it's related.

He thought back to that quest about Aiko. It was simple: get close, earn trust, and become her friend. Maybe this one was the same, just a stopover. His eyes narrowed.

There must be a way through this without drama... and fucking.

Then his eyes widened.

Wait. I could use the match itself. He sat up straighter. Yeah... that's it. Nia and Alicia... they're jealous of Jaz. It's our chemistry.

He glanced toward the bench. Alicia was sitting forward, elbows on her thighs, looking annoyed, her eyes following Jaz. Nash smirked faintly.

Got it. That's my way in.

He looked at the scoreboard. The crowd was still cheering their names. His team was on fire.

He let out a quiet laugh. It would be hard, really hard, but not impossible; at least he had to believe there was a way.

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