Chapter 27: The Fight and the Game
The campus gym was louder than usual.
Shoes squeaked against the polished basketball court. The crowd from the academy had filled the stands, their voices echoing off the walls. Banners of the academy hung from the rails, fluttering slightly under the fans.
Kevin rolled his shoulders and bounced the basketball once.
"Relax," Ben said beside him, stretching his arms. "You look like you're about to fight a war."
Kevin smirked. "Basketball is war."
Ben snorted. "Then win it."
Across the court, the opposing team warmed up. Taller players, aggressive ones. The kind that played rough.
Kevin loved that.
The whistle blew.
The game started fast.
Kevin dribbled down the court, dodging past one defender, then another. A player tried to block him, but Kevin spun around and shot.
The ball hit the rim—
—and dropped in.
Cheers exploded from the stands.
Ben pumped his fist. "That's what I'm talking about!"
The other team wasn't weak though. They pushed back hard, scoring twice in a row. Sweat dripped down Kevin's temple as he wiped his forehead with his wristband.
"Pass!" Ben shouted.
Kevin threw the ball across the court. Ben caught it cleanly and sprinted forward.
Two defenders closed in.
Ben jumped.
The slam dunk rattled the hoop.
The entire gym erupted.
Kevin laughed breathlessly as Ben landed. "Show off."
"Always."
The final minutes were intense.
The score was tied.
Kevin stole the ball during the opponent's pass and ran straight toward the hoop. A defender tried to block him—
—but Kevin jumped higher.
The ball swished through the net just as the buzzer rang.
Game over.
Victory.
The team rushed Kevin and Ben, shouting and laughing.
But Ben checked the time and immediately grabbed his sports bag.
Kevin frowned. "Where are you going?"
Ben grinned.
"Taekwondo."
---
The Taekwondo arena was completely different from the basketball court.
Quiet.
Focused.
The mats covered the floor like a battlefield waiting for warriors.
Ben tied the belt of his dobok tightly around his waist.
Kevin sat in the front row seats, arms folded.
"Don't embarrass us," he called.
Ben rolled his eyes. "Watch and learn."
The match began.
Ben's opponent was taller and clearly confident.
They bowed.
Then the fight started.
The opponent attacked first with a fast roundhouse kick.
Ben blocked it smoothly.
Kevin leaned forward in his seat.
Ben moved like water—fast, controlled, precise.
Another kick came.
Ben ducked.
Counterattack.
His spinning kick landed cleanly on the opponent's chest guard.
Point.
The crowd clapped.
The opponent got more aggressive, throwing rapid strikes.
Ben stepped back, waited—
—and then struck.
A perfect jumping kick.
Another point.
Kevin let out a low whistle. "Damn."
The final seconds ticked down.
The opponent lunged for one last attack.
Ben pivoted.
His heel connected in a flawless turning kick.
The buzzer sounded.
Match over.
Ben won.
Kevin stood up slowly, clapping once.
When Ben walked over, slightly breathless but smiling, Kevin handed him a bottle of water.
"Not bad."
Ben raised an eyebrow. "Not bad?"
Kevin shrugged.
"Okay fine," he admitted. "That kick at the end was insane."
Ben laughed.
For the first time in days, things felt normal.
No hospital.
No panic.
No chaos.
Just the sound of victory, friendship, and the calm before whatever came next.
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