The players rushed to Marcia, the pink girl, in tears, who was the first by his side, lifted him like a puppy.
[Marciaaaaa!!!!!]
[Little brother...]
Everyone surrounded the young man covered in bruises. The girl, carrying her unconscious friend, turned to Moe who was watching, looking annoyed.
[Hold my friend, I'm about to break the 5th commandment!]
[Wait, calm down... You will be punished for nothing!]
[My friend is nothing? He's like that because you're all dumb enough to be blind when you can have fun on someone else's pain but become judges when YOUR limits are crossed, LET ME KILL IT!!! Come here, you bastard!!!!]
All the players held the girl, and the captain was forced to lift her to prevent her from jumping on Moe. To everyone's surprise, the referee put an end to the drama.
[Player Moe's unsportsmanlike conduct! 3 free throws for Coconut!]
Silver Space players were shocked but forced into submission. The detective looked, his eyes twinkling more and more, and jumped.
[We won.]
Everyone looked at him surprised.
[Mr. Luc, what are you saying?]
[I know everything, yes now I know everything. How we can beat them and break their strategy, thanks to Marcia we don't just have hope, we have victory! Everyone, come closer, even you coach, listen...]
They gathered around the detective who was explaining his plan to them. Throughout his explanations, the faces have changed, some doubtful, others happy, murmurs and exclamations of joy arose from time to time.
The Silver Space players watched in concern as the Coconuts let out a roar of motivation, then turned to their opponents.
[They... They're bluffing! It's a bluff!]
[Uh they seem very sure of themselves to me...]
[No I'm telling you, they're bluffing, Moe will take care of... Huh?! Oh shit, we're screwed!]
Indeed, they had just made it clear. As absurd as this match was, the refereeing rules seemed normal. Under the threat of another foul, Moe couldn't take any more risks and had to change how he played.
[To be precise, Moe could continue but something is different now. Thanks to the state Marcia is in, the referee can understand what happened even without having seen it. Moe's reputation would only back up the rest. We can now use this to our advantage.]
replied the detective, feeling the need to explain part of his plan.
[Damn... But how are you going to do it?]
[It's simple: we will first simulate a few fouls, Moe is now in the referee's sights and will play less well since he risks expulsion in the event of further unsportsmanlike behavior.]
[... My god... And what could we do to get out of this trap?]
[Well it's complicated but not impossible, so in this case...]
But his assistant violently beat him before he could spill all the fruit of his thinking.
Players heroically lifted Marcia, some of them stretching for the chance to touch this miracle.
[Carefull! He is the Messiah.]
[Somebody touched the Messiah! Don't touch the Messiah, peasants!]
[Aaaah I'm going to pass out, I breathe the same oxygen as the Messiah, it makes me louse my engrishu!]
(I died for your sins.) Could they hear, or rather imagine coming from Messiah Chanter.
They carried him high and took him outside because he needed to be replaced. The question of who would replace him was asked, but soon a volunteer stepped forward, much to the team's chagrin.
[No no no no no! You stop this now or I'm going to get mad.]
The words of his captain were addressed to his childhood friend back from the infirmary. Julian was back for his last dance.
[Hehe, it would be a shame if a lion didn't join in the hunt for its last meal.]
[What's wrong with you?! Stop it now! I'm sick of all this, you never honor your promises, you always try to sacrifice yourself to be a hero, and I'm sick of taking you to the infirmary after every game... I'm sick of it. I'm sick of you...]
The tears were starting to flow.
The calm young man put his hands on his friend's shoulders who looked at him in tears.
[I don't forget my Cithara promises, it's because I'm unable to keep them that I want to push my body to the limit to deserve it. ]
[...]
[We promised each other that one day we would go to nationals together and that day, well... It's a bit embarrassing to say it in front of everyone!]
[Doctor, shouldn't we take him back to the infirmary?]
[Wait, let him cook.] Said the doctor.
[B-but, maybe we should wait until after the game?]
[As non-representative of the officials, I allow you to confess now.] Said a random spectator.
[Yeah Fuck this game!] Shouted the commentator full of energy and alcohol.
[... Alright... I'll confess... Only if we win this game!]
[*sight* You're really a child... What do you confess if everyone knows? And don't talk about winning, I don't care about that!]
She then realized what she had just said and blushed nervously at the cheers of the audience. Both, red as warriors who have just spilled the blood of their enemies on their cheeks, looked at each other shyly and smiled.
[One last dance?]
[One last dance.]
The game resumed explosively, Cithara scored the 3 free throws and reduced the score,
85-80
The team then positioned themselves according to the detective's strategy. Kate was remotivating her troops.
[They'll focus on Moe, we'll use that against them! Moe you stay in the middle, the others advance! I assure the... What the hell is that?]
He said in amazement as an absurd event happened. To everyone's surprise, Rose was standing in front, away from her defense, but her aura was back, hotter than ever. The detective burst out laughing.
[Your first mistake was thinking my strategy would be so obvious, I've been watching you Moe and I know your weak point now: you're going to disappear! Moe, allow me to introduce your counter: a girl that hates you.]
[Hi ugly, I'm the monster now.]
[Ugh!!]
The game resumed and, as the detective announced, something had changed in Moe's game. Every time he retrieved the ball he immediately dropped it, when he ran towards the detective or Julian he was out of breath. He was no closer to the hoop at all. This intrigued the audience.
[What is going on? Is it because of this girl? But Moe is impervious to... Well, let's say outside pressure, how does she get to it?]
The detective answered, at a distance from the assistant, for fear of receiving another blow of pressure.
[That's because Moe always played against opponents who were actively afraid of him. In fact, Moe has been acting from the start! He is actually very affected by personal attacks.]
[Please sir, you talk like trash has feelings.]
[UOOOOogggrrr.....] Moe who started screaming held his chest at the Rose girl's words.
[What? Having a heart attack? At least try to die in a coffin to avoid anyone touching your stupid filthy body. Besides, we should throw away all the balls you touch, it's disgusting. Thanks for being stupid enough to drop them so I wouldn't have to touch them by the way!]
[HEY! YOU THE REFEREE! DO SOMETHING, useless fool!]
The referee looked at him and looked away.
(Say who?)
The detective continued.
[Yes, I noticed earlier that Moe is acting disgusting on purpose, given his form and especially his role: he hasn't scored a single point so far. He is there only to destabilize us, except that the only time he went out of his role was when he was insulted or the public was against him. I deduce that he is a fragile man who decided to become a monster due to a disadvantageous appearance.]
[Wait, not so disadvantageous, if he gets his picture taken he'll get a homemade Picasso!]
[Aarght!!]
As the audience laughed, the detective concluded.
[Yes and yes! What could be better for an intimidated and fragile man than a salty girl? By hurting Marcia, you have awakened the sleeping monster! It is now a duel between a predator and a superpredator.]
The game resumed once more as it neared its conclusion. Moe was at the mercy of Pinky who bullied him beyond belief, throwing the ball in his face while mocking his origins, the Julian-Cithara duo worked wonders again, scoring 3 dunks after having humiliated the opponents, while Julian was breathing even harder and the exhausted assistant could only pass. The detective in a real control tower defended and watched the game as the stadium went up in flames.
85-86
[Theey MADE IT!!! Lagiiies and GENTlessses... The Coconuters are onze again... Beyond!]
The crowd screamed, the players on the bench cried, the detective watched the players and intervened again.
[Assistant, come out for a while, we can handle the rest, try to recover. You, the substitute in the middle, please come. Only you can bring us victory now.]
[Aaah... Aaa... Zorry...]
[Why are you apologizing my friend? You are the star of this day, thanks to you we will have the victory.]
The assistant smiled weakly and left, while a face-covered replacement entered.
Furious, Kate took the ball and rushed the detective.
[Fuck this game, fuck this team, fuck everyone, and especially FUCK YOUUUUU!!!!]
He passed the detective who fell behind him very easily, but it wasn't an ankle breaker this time. The detective fell on Kate, shaking him roughly while making animal noises.
[Hoo hoo haah haaaah!!!]
[RAAAAAAGHHHT I'M TIRED OF YOU AND YOUR HABITS OF MONKEY!!!]
But when Kate turned to the detective, it wasn't him but a young black man standing before him, his face sad.
[...... What is? Wait... No... It's not you I... I'm not a racist!]
The referee looked at him shocked and whistled.
[Player Kate! Inhuman conduct, 5 minutes away and 1 free throw for the Cocos!]
[But there are only a few seconds left! Nooooooooooooo!!!!!]
The satisfied detective congratulated his teammate.
[Good job Nzonzi, now you can go out. Assistant, come back.]
[Eh?]
[Eh?]
85-86
Less than 10 seconds to play. All the players were around the basket for the grand finale of this game. Julian was going to throw it, officially just because. Alone facing his destiny, for his last point, he remembered the past. His matches with Cithara and their journey. He smiled and shouted.
[Good, everyone! You wanted it? You'll have it! But if you want to say goodbye to this old folk, let's send him off as he had lived: screw the ease, let's be crazy!]
He tossed the ball hard into the hoop, it rebounded and was picked up by the detective
who quickly tossed it to the breathless assistant
[Do your magic girl!]
This one took the pose of a 3-point throw but made a pass to the pink girl.
[I withdraw everything good I said about you! You Rosy, avenge your friend!]
The pink girl picked up the ball and released her aura, knocking opponents away.
[My name is Optima Puella!!!] She then threw the ball high over the hoop, facing unnecessary adversaries while Kate cried outside.
[Why... Aren't you... Moving!?]
[We... want to see what they're gonna do...]
The floating ball was recovered in the air by Julian and Cithara who prepared to dunk at the same time.
[It's been a long ride, partner.]
[And the longest journey begins today, partner.]
They dunked, sealing the result at the end of the match.
85-88
[Aaaaaaaaaaaast ITZ OVEREEER!!!! LADDDDIES AND GIEEEEENTLEMEEEEN, THE WINNER OF THIS FINAL IS.... COCOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO..... *inspire* NUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUT!!!!!!!!]
The audience exploded, people cried, reconciled, this day will go down in history forever. The players were hugging each other, all rushing at Cithara and Julian who couldn't stand on their own anymore. Silver's players were overwhelmed on the floor and the coaches wondered if they should be feeling something. Puella rushed to the infirmary to find Marcia there.
The audience was singing not only for the Coconuts but for one of the heroes who had fought his last battle.
[JULIAN! JULIAN! JULIAN!]
On the field, in tears, Cithara laughed.
[Well, you didn't want to stand out.]
[It's only because you don't want to shine alone... I don't know if I'll miss it hehe... But it's your turn now.]
[Ha... No, that'll be enough for me.]
[Oi you 2, aren't you forgetting something?]
The public and the players encouraged them to keep their promise so long awaited by all as they blushed. The assistant, satisfied with this conclusion, joined the detective.
[Well, maybe sometimes your wacky ideas aren't so bad... I haven't had so much fun since... Mister Luc?]
The intrigue of the young girl came from the innocuous behavior of this detective whom she knew too well. This one kept a tense face in spite of the victory and moved without answering her. He joined Julian and Cithara to congratulate them.
[You 2 are really something! I can't believe people do this every week. For everything that happened today and all the lessons I learned, thank you very much.]
The two were smiling, too tired to answer, as Julian breathed harder and harder. They answered him with a soft smile in this wonderful moment, soon cooled by a declaration.
[Only... I'm sincerely sorry but... Julian... You're an MC aren't you?]