The referee tossed the ball high into the air, and the game began.
Romeo King and Dong Chen leaped simultaneously for the tip-off, their builds and heights strikingly similar.
It was a clean jump, but Romeo's fingers grazed the ball first, tipping it toward Julian. The USA team had possession, and the crowd roared with anticipation.
Meanwhile, Grandma Bingbing had brought out her amulets, murmuring what seemed like spells under her breath.
"What are you doing, Grandma?" Aiden asked, his mouth filled with the second hotdog bun.
She closed her eyes and continued muttering nonsense under her breath.
"How are you going to watch the game with your eyes closed?" he asked, finding it amusing.
Kai, standing at the half-court line, took a deep breath. His heart pounded as he scanned the court.
He felt like he was back in the Interhigh Nationals. However, this time, it was much more intense. A hundred times so.
