The final quarter was about to start. Blacklist was about to step back onto the court when Jaz suddenly cleared her throat.

"Uh… wait."

Everyone turned.

Jaz stood up slowly, rolling her shoulders, testing her legs, a little doubtful at first, then sharpening.

"I… I think I can go back. I feel better now."

There was a small pause. Dahlia opened her mouth like she wanted to say something, but her gaze flicked straight to Nash, remembering the last time she spoke up.

Nash didn't even hesitate.

"Alright. Mac, you're sitting."

Mac froze mid–water sip.

"H-Huh? What? Why me?"

"Because. Bench," Nash repeated.

Mac's face fell like someone had hit him. He dropped back onto the bench, shoulders low, head almost touching his chest.

His hands pressed hard on his knees, fists tight. You could see how angry and upset he was.

"Great... the harem team for the last quarter, as always," he complained, jaw moving side to side, breathing rough like he was holding back a shout.

Nash didn't care and just shook his head.

"You know the rules. Drex stays because he's not falling for Hina's tricks anymore. Do better next time."

Mac stared at the floor without a word, silent and frustrated. The others gave him small pats on the back. Drex muttered, "Poor excuse," but arguing was pointless.

Blacklist had already thrown away an easy lead earlier by ignoring Nash's direction. Now the game only proved he was right.

The crowd noticed the change right away. When Jaz stepped up, the noise grew fast.

"Wait... Jaz is back?" someone shouted. Phones came up, people started pointing, and the whole energy of the arena shifted toward Blacklist, like the win was already decided.

The commentators reacted instantly.

Razz leaned in.

"Jaz is back on the court! Blacklist just got bigger, taller and meaner!"

Vex laughed.

"And with Rei completely thrown off all quarter, Nia basically living in her head, this game might turn ugly for Baby-Boom real quick."

The crowd grew even louder as Jaz joined the formation. Blacklist fans cheered hard, while Baby-Boom supporters groaned and sank back in their seats.

Nash glanced at Baby-Boom's bench. The girls huddled close, eyes wide and worried, shoulders tense under their jerseys, whispers flying fast between them like they saw the end coming.

Monique sat calmly behind them, fan moving slowly, like she wasn't concerned at all.

Yeah, they too understood it was over.

He pulled Nia in close for a second.

"Ease up on Rei, no overkill. She's had enough."

Nia rolled her eyes playfully, then grinned wide, too wide.

"What? But I like rubbing my thighs on the crotch of a freaking lesbian, knowing the wetness on her legs isn't just freaking sweat," she said, voice sugary sweet. "Ugh, such a fun-killer… I'll definitely miss that," she stuck her tongue out, then put her hands behind her back and twirled playfully while Nash raised an eyebrow at her.

"But I played my part," she said, placing one hand on her hip and slowly rolling her fingers along it, "but it won't save you from pounding the oven later."

Nash smirked.

"Wouldn't miss that for anything."

Then he straightened and faced the team.

He made sure he could see their faces one by one, particularly the girls involved in the quest.

"Listen up," Nash said, voice low but strong. "We've got the lead. We've got the legs. But this isn't about the score anymore."

They leaned in.

"This quarter? We OWN it. All of it. Every second. Play loose. Fast. Together. Make them chase sweat. Alicia, try more shoots, don't be afraid of failing. Nia, make them sweat, twist them, drag them where we want. Jaz, dominate. Make them think twice before touching you. Drex, spot up, no doubt, shoot like the rim owes you money."

He moved as he spoke, hand squeezing Nia's arm, tapping Alicia's shoulder, knocking fists with Jaz, grounding each one.

"Run because you love it. We've got this. It's not Nash's game anymore, I need every single one of you for this. This is OUR night. We're not just winning, we're making them REMEMBER who runs Breakball."

The huddle pulled in closer, everyone leaning forward, breathing the same hot air. Their shoulders touched. Their foreheads almost bumped. For a moment, nobody said a word.

One long second passed.

Then, boom, they burst into action. Hands slapping together, voices rising, bodies bumping with energy. They jogged out faster than before, looking like an actual team, not just five players.

Nash stayed behind, eyes half‑closed, smirking to himself. He didn't need to shout or brag. He had already moved all the pieces exactly where he wanted them.

[Dahlia: 52% → 88% (Impressed)]

[Nia: 89% → 99% (Locked In)]

[Alicia: 97% → 99% (Ready to Explode)]

[Jaz: 94% → 99% (Hungry)]

Nash grinned to himself.

This day could be perfect.

The whistle hung in the air as the ref raised his hand, ready to start the tip.

Players took their spots at center court. Their bodies were tense but ready, sweat still running down their necks and soaking their jerseys.

Nash held the ball under his arm, bouncing it lightly while he looked around. Baby-Boom stood across from him.

Aiko was right in front of him, eyes focused on the ball. She kept clenching and unclenching her fists, bouncing on her toes as she tried to calm her nerves.

Like the others, she understood that Jaz's entrance was a death sentence for them, and what was coming would be ugly.

Nash glanced at her and smirked. Here, too, he had one last job to do.

He leaned in a little, speaking with a warm, casual tone, loud enough for her team to hear, but still feeling personal.

"You played a great match, Aiko. You girls pushed us really hard."

Aiko froze mid-bounce, eyes going wide. She stared at him, caught off guard, cheeks turning red again. She thought he was only saying that because he believed they had no chance left.

"It's… not over," she said, voice shaking as she tried to sound tough.

Nash's smirk softened. His eyes stayed on hers, friendly and calm.

"Hope not. I haven't had this much fun in a long time. Good rivals like you? I'm glad I met you all."

His words hit harder than she expected. Aiko's breath caught. The rest of Baby-Boom heard it too, Hina's eyes went wide, Kai leaned forward, Miko pushed up her glasses in surprise, and even Rei shifted slightly.

Nash kept speaking to all of them.

"Give everything you have for the rest of the match. Let's put on a show they'll remember. You deserve that. Win or lose, it doesn't matter. And maybe... let's celebrate again, like yesterday. I want to spend more time with you."

He gave a small smirk as he bounced the ball once.

Aiko's cheeks burned hotter, her body reacting before she could think.

He's praising us? He wants more time with us? After all this?

The girls exchanged quick looks, big eyes wide as hell, like they'd been drowning and someone had thrown a rope.

But this time, it wasn't just excitement.

It was hope. Real hope.

More time with him meant a real shot at pulling him over, convincing him to join Baby-Boom, saving them all from Monique's threats, from ending up in the bordello on their backs getting fucked raw by strangers day after day.

No more doom hanging like a knife; it was a miracle at the last minute. Her breath came short and excited, tits rising fast under her jersey as she stared at Nash, stunned and freaking happy, mouth opening a little like she couldn't believe it.

Hina's hands flew to her mouth, covering a squeal as her thighs rubbed together, eager. Kai's arms dropped loose at her sides, her usual tough stance cracking as she leaned forward, mouth open wide in shock, before a grin broke out.

"Holy shit, yes!" she blurted too loudly, fists pumping once like she couldn't hold it in.

Miko pushed her glasses up slowly, eyes blinking fast behind the lenses.

"He... Is it really happening?" she muttered softly, stunned and confused.

Rei's eyes opened a little wider, and her mouth parted like she forgot how to breathe for a second. Her chest rose slowly, not from anger, but from something softer she didn't understand.

She looked down, then looked back up like she needed to check the moment was real.

What had happened to that man? He was a monster half an hour ago. What changed him so much? Or perhaps it was just a trap? To make her hope and crush her further.

Her fingers curled at her sides, shaking a little. She couldn't find an answer, or rather, she refused to admit there was a little hope, but she couldn't help it.

For once, she didn't look like a cold wall; she looked like someone who wanted to believe something good was finally happening.

The rest of the team almost looked too eager. They were shocked, happy, and confused all at once, but here it was.

Why him? Why now? It didn't matter. This was a real chance to escape the nightmare Monique held over their heads. An opportunity to avoid the bordello and everything that came with it. A chance to be free.

Their energy skyrocketed, fear turning into something warm and bright.

The whistle blew again, and the ball went up.

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