Backshot Ballout

We both bolted toward the center of the court.

brzgzhzh

"Wowowoow"

I slipped and fell backward, my head slamming against the floor.

As soon as AJ got to the center he swooped down to grab the ball

"Yoink"

Dashing right past me he was gonna go for a dunk.

Laying on the ground was useless. I reached out my hand toward him as I tried getting back on my feet.

"MATTE MATTE MATTE. Get back here"

bhyrhhy

"Eh"

He hesitated for a second before trying to slam the ball into the hoop, but instead he smacked the rim. The ball shot back up in the air.

He looked back in shock

"NANI"

Gyatta act fast.

I jumped up to recover the ball as AJ fell down toward the base of the hoop.

My hoopism would make this a breeze.

As I bolted to the other side of the court I could already hear AJs foot steps manically approaching me from behind.

step left

I suddenly side stepped to the left, and AJs body flew right past me. He tried lunging at me full force to punch me in the back. But I was able to see it ahead of time thanks to my hoopism. He hit the ground instead.

shoot

I took the chance to shoot it from the three point line

SMACK

The ball slammed straight into my face, sending me to the ground

DUNNNNN

The ball flew out of bounds. How the hell did he get up so fast

"Ahhhhhh sugoi"

Skittle seemed amused

"You touched it last overthinking hooper so it's murdocks ball."

He wasn't gonna go easy on me. I can't get out mogged at a time like this.

AJ went to the side of the court. He passed the ball to me.

"Check"

I passed it back

"Mate"

As he stepped back into the court he tossed up the ball.

"Etttoooo"

As I looked up to try to grab it

BUGNGNGNGN

He punched me straight in the gut

DORRROROR

Them roundhoused me out of the way

I flew to the other side of the court.

The ball fell straight back into his hands. He ran up to dunk the ball again.

He can't keep getting away with this.

I got up as quickly as I could.

I need to get there. I WILL GET THERE GYATT DAMMIT.

With each step I took forward the world around me begin to slow, yet I seemed to move across the court faster, almost as if it was getting squeezed.

bzzrhrhr

I was suddenly right behind AJ

Two can play at this game hermph

Before he even realized I was behind him, I wrapped my arms around his waist and picked him up, turning my body to the side.

"HOW DO YOU LIKE THESE APPLES"

I slammed him into the ground.

Blood shot out of his mouth.

The ball went flying straight up again.

I can't let him get up again.

I slammed my first straight into his chest

It went straight through him

A hole right through in his body

His eyes widened

Blood spilled out everywhere

I went too far

I pulled my arm back up

"AJ… I didn't mean…"

Was it the adrenaline. How could I do such-

DUNNRNRNR

I was drop kicked from the back, sent flying across the court once again.

Laying flat on the ground I tried to look up. AJs body laid lifeless in the same spot. But another AJ stood next to him smirking.

"Murdock_240, at your service"

This must be his hoopism.

I noticed the ball was slowly rolling, right between us. I didn't have time to think

It's mine

BRZRZRZRZ

The world around me began to warp again. As I stretched out my hands the court seemed to squeeze, bringing me right toward the ball. Picking it up, everything snapped back to normal. A tear of blood ran down my cheek.

AJ was coming at me charging up a right hook. I ducked under and used all my force to shoot back up and uppercut him. His head popped right off, a stream of blood shooting out his neck.

step right

Another AJ was already lunging at me again from behind.

I moved my right foot and twisted my body around, elbowing him in the spine as he brushed past me. I was still holding the ball, so my left foot had to stay planted to the ground if I didn't want to get a penalty for traveling. We were already fighting to the death anyway but I didn't want to risk it.

up

Lifting my leg up another AJ went sliding across the floor, missing his ankle grab.

LEAN

I bent as far back as I could, barely dodging another dropkick.

I leaned too far back, and lost balance.

Slamming against the ground the ball popped out of my hands.

A horde of AJs went to grab the ball

You've gotta be rizzing me.

As soon as one grabbed it he passed it to another, and one by one they passed it down to the other side of the court.

The closest AJ to the hoop got his hands on it, and immediately tried to dunk again.

I was never gonna make a point on my own.

He would make it for me.

Bloody tears started to pool around my eyes.

Time once again began to move slower and slower, with the court twisting itself around. The hoop from AJs side of the court stretched out right in front of him. His face became panicked

BRUDMDNDN

Everything snapped back into place as AJ slammed the ball into the hoop.

WHHHHHH

Skittle blew his whistle.

"Game set. The overthinking hooper wins."

The ball went into his own basket.

pleeep plim blap

All the AJs began to pop, with splats of blood bursting out of each one.

The last remaining one fell to his knees and began to laugh.

"Gomen Haise kun. I really did consider you my tomadachi. But this was part of my mission."

"AJ…"

He turned to Skittle.

"This proves it. The time draws near. It's already too late Skittle. He'll be here soon. I just kn-"

His body jolted up. Eyes frozen.

Skittle smirked.

"Yap yap yap. We had a deal Murdock, what is it, 301 now ?"

Skittle stuck out his hand toward AJ, and it seemed as if he began to suck the soul out of him.

"AHHHH. My soul!!"

AJs body began to disappear as the ball of energy in Skittles hand began to glow brighter.

SNSNSNS

It quickly flashed, and a figure popped into Skittles hand.

"Hehe, another toy for the collection"

A toy ?

"Nani the hell just happened"

"We had a deal and he lost. Simple as that."

He snapped his fingers, and the figure disappeared.

"Oh hehe. It looks like he may have had the last piece of Boble's hoopism too. That must have been how he was able to enter your domain expansion. And cause you to miss that last shot during the finale."

"Nande… I don't get it. Who the hell is Boble"

"You'll find out soon enough hehe. "

Skittle snapped his fingers.

We were both in the center of the court.

"Well Haise kun you finally proved yourself. If you want to fully awaken that power of yours you gotta get through me. Capiche."

"MATTE MATTE MATTE"

Abi chan yelled from the benches. She got up and started climbing over everyone to get to the center of the court.

"We've got unfinished biz too Skittle."

"Two on one huh. That's hardly fair."

He snapped his finger again.

Snail tard dropped down.

"Youch!!"

"Three on one. This outta even the odds."

Snail tard began to panic.

"Matte why me"

Skittle slammed his hands together.

We were teleported to the ends of the court.

Skittle shot his fist up.

"Let the tournament of backshots resume."