1 on 1

After the fireworks festival was over, Abi and I spent everyday after school practicing our game. I still haven't been able to make a single shot though.
"Screw this shit I'm gonna go watch anime"
"Baka baka baka. What about our promise. At this rate you'll never become the king of hoopers. Plus tryouts are already tomorrow"
"Which is why I came up with a super secret plan. Don't worry I've gyatttt this."
There was no super secret plan.

-

Abi chan and Joma came with me to watch the tryouts. I gave it my all but I kept on flubbing it. Then Coach Ye called me over to the side. He wasn't impressed.

"Ummmm what the Ohio"
"Gomen Overthinking Hooper but there's only one spot left on the team and you're not that guy pal. You're not that guy. You haven't even been able to make a shot yet. Ganbatte next year gaki"

"But I am working hard. I am. Somebody please. Somebody please be nice to me. I've fought so much. I'm doing the best I can. Can't you treat me better. Can't you be nice to me ! Why can't you be nice to me !!"

I got on my knees and started to tug on Coach Ye's shirt.
"Onegai onegai onegai. Isn't there anything a boy can do"
I batted my big beautiful eyelashes at him.
The gyms doors suddenly bursted open.
"Hmmmm"
Ohhhh crap. I knew that voice from anywhere
"If you can beat me in a game of 21 the spot is all yours bay bee"
It was him. Hmmmm.
Coach Ye scratched his chinny chin chin.
"If you say so Hmmmm. Well gaki the courts all yours."

"Gambare Gambare Senpai!"
I looked over to the stands.
"Quiet Joma."
Abi chan stood up and pumped her fist.
"You've gyatt this Haister. Fight on !!"
I scratched the back of my head and smiled nervously.
"Ehehehe. Arigato Abi chan"

-

"Check"
"Mate"
Hmmmm grabbed the ball and suddenly brushed past my right.
*plunk*
1-0
"Hmmmm >:)"
Hmmmm was a 2nd year who had just transferred here from TTMSHS. He was the star player back at his old school so Coach Ye didn't even ask him to come to tryouts. The spot was already his.
"Check"
"Mate"
*swoop*
Hmmmm snatched the ball from my hands and ran past me. He went for a half court shot.

*swish*
3-0
He was just showing off.
"Che-"
"Mate"
*swoop* *swish*
5-0
"Bucketsssss"
6-0, 7-0, 8-0… 18-0

I looked out in the stands at Abi chan. Seeing her gave me a bit of hope. I've been letting everyone down for so long. But I found one person that could believe in me. The one person who would be there no matter wha-
*swoop* *swish*
"Hmmmm… ka ka"
19-0

Then something just snapped, something inside of me.
"No! No more! That's it! I don't care !!"
I didn't care anymore. I didn't care about being better than Hmmmm. I didn't care about being an average thinking hooper. I didn't care if I lived. I didn't care about anything!
And then...it happened. Yes, that's how it happened... That's how I became the overthinking hooper. The sleeper has awakened. I am Haise the Overthinking Hooper.

Everything around me went dark. The only things I could see were the court, the hoop, and Hmmmm. I saw exactly how it was gonna play out. After passing the ball back to me he was gonna step to my left and immediately swipe the ball from me. He would then run past me to my right and go for the half court shot to win the game. He would make it. At least that's what was supposed to happen.
"Mate"
I side stepped to the right, completely dodging Hmmmm. Wouldn't it be funny if he tripped.
Hmmmm tripped.
Wouldn't it be funny if I made this shot.
*swish*
19-1
I made my first shot. Everything around me turned normal again. I tear of blood ran down my face.
"Kyaaaaa!! Sugoi Haise kun !!"
Abi chan and Joma were cheering me on.
"Hmmmm… you got lucky overthinking hooper. Let's see you try that again. Check"
"Mate"
Everything went dark again. Going for a dunk I see. Show off. Too bad he left such a big opening. A half court shot would get the crowd going.
"Yoink"
*swoop* *swish*
19-3
"KYAAAAAAA"

I wiped my face. There was blood smeared on my fingers. My eyes were a little irritated.
"This is gonna be easy peesy lemon squeezy."
"Hmmmm…"
19-4, 19-5, 19-6… 19-19

"Nani… This isn't right… I was supposed to be the star player dammit. I won't loose to the pathetic overthinking hooper. Check"
I could hardly see. All of the blood made my eyes extremely irritated and my vision was beyond blurry.
"Mate"
He charged right past me and slammed the ball in the hoop.
"Hmmmm…"

I wasn't gonna get another chance and I didn't know if I could use that ability again. But I needed this. One last shot. Onegai kami.
"Check"
"Mate"
A shot in the dark. At half court too. It was all I could hope for. If Hmmmm got his hands on the ball again I would be finished. It was this or nothing.
*swoosh*
20-21
Checkmate.

END OF PART I. THE OVERTHINKING HOOPER.