score maniac

Chapter 6: Overnight Fame!

Steal! Brandon Knight was a nationally renowned star guard in high school, known for his exceptional scoring ability. As a senior, he averaged 31. 8 points, 8. 7 rebounds, 5. 6 assists, and 3 steals per game. He was named Gatorade National High School Basketball Player of the Year in both 2009 and 2010 (the last two players to win this honor two years in a row were Le Bron James and Greg Oden). He made 127 three-pointers in a single season, racked up countless honors, and sank a game-winning three-pointer at the 2010 Mc Donald’s High School All-American Game… For Knight, 2010 was a year in which both his individual talent and accolades reached new heights—it marked the beginning of his promising future. But right now, at the basketball summit where Knight was about to shine, some slick-haired kid who appeared out of nowhere managed to outplay him for four consecutive possessions, which infuriated Knight. I’ll steal the ball from you—let’s see how you strut around then! “Watch out!!!” Everyone watched Gu Yu’s move: the moment he caught the ball, before he’d even had time to steady himself, his eagerness to step into his sweet spot caused his entire center of gravity to shift off-balance. Meanwhile, Knight had been biding his time, waiting patiently. His hand shot out like a bolt of lightning, snatching the ball right as Gu Yu was shifting his balance. This masterful timing on the steal proved once again why Knight was a strong contender for the title of America’s top high school player. “That guy got too cocky!” Although the fans admired Gu Yu’s straightforward nature, they couldn’t help but shake their heads at his decision. Did he think he could run wild just because he was on a roll? This was nothing but reckless nonsense! However, Gu Yu’s next move left everyone wide-eyed—a moment they would never forget for the rest of their lives. “I’m stepping in!” Just as the ball was about to be swatted away, Gu Yu—instead of backing up—stepped forward, shielding the ball with both hands as he leaped half a step forward. He planted one foot firmly on the floor, his eyes never once glancing at the basket but instead fixed intently on the positioning of Nate’s feet. “Scrape!” Lifting his left foot, he planted his right foot in the narrow gap between Nate’s feet. With a powerful push from his calf, his body snapped backward as if struck by lightning. At the same time, he swung his forearm—Nate, completely caught off guard by this move, swung and missed. Gu Yu raised the basketball with both hands, his body still leaning wildly backward, and only then did his eyes turn toward the basket. He raised the ball and released the shot…! “Whoa—!” As the ball soared through the air, everyone’s mouths dropped open wide; their heads followed the ball’s trajectory like marionettes, craning their necks to look up at the sky. Could this shot possibly…?! “…No indication of where it’s going!” Chen Mu, standing on the sidelines, was completely stunned. As the protagonist of *The All-Around Rebound Obsessive*, Chen Mu possessed a secret “rebound landing spot提示” cheat. Whenever a player took a shot, the landing spot of the ball off the backboard—if the shot missed—would instantly appear before his eyes. Yet, despite Gu Yu’s wildly reckless shot this time, no landing spot hint appeared in Chen Mu’s vision! That meant… “This shot is going in…!” Tracing a high, rainbow-like arc, the ball reached its apex before plummeting sharply, hurtling cleanly toward the net. “…Swish!” Five shots, five makes!!! “…Holy crap, this slick-haired guy is a god!!” The fans in the arena went wild. “Fifteen seconds left in the game!” Even the on-site commentator was speechless. He glanced at the clock—with fifteen seconds left, the International Team was trailing by just one point! Team USA… are they about to lose?! “Hahahaha, in-your-face!” Gu Yu, who really comes alive in the heat of the moment, fell flat on the floor after landing—looking quite disheveled—but he still couldn’t resist showing off. Before he even got back up, he pointed at Knight and unleashed a barrage of merciless taunts. Little Gu’s personality… has completely changed! From Chen Mu to Sui Ran, from the International Team players to the staff, everyone was utterly stunned by Gu Yu’s performance today. Wasn’t this unassuming shooter always timid and meek? How come today he suddenly seems to have cheated the system, taking on anyone who crosses his path?? “Full-court press!!” The U. S. team still held the lead, and with only fifteen seconds left on the clock, the International Team had only one option left to win the game: a foul strategy—unless they could steal the ball in the frontcourt. The International Team’s point guard kept a clear head. He shouted a warning to his teammates, then led by example, charging forward and declaring, “We’ll call a timeout only if the free throw goes in. If it misses, why should we give you a timeout??” The officials were nitpicking and acting all high and mighty. “You guys, you guys…” Chen Mu was about to explode with anger when he suddenly sensed that something was off. Why was the arena… so quiet? “Whoosh—!” It wasn’t until he heard the whoosh of the basketball cutting through the air that Chen Mu realized the International Team players, seeing no timeout called, had immediately opted to take a quick inbounds pass on their own. With less than a second left on the clock, Gu Yu leaped from the sweet spot—his form as textbook-perfect as ever, without a single superfluous movement. His posture was rock-solid, his eyes fixed intently on the ball, and his face, unusually, betrayed a hint of fierce determination. Little Gu…! Chen Mu’s eyes widened as he heard the electronic “beep—” and watched the red light on the rim illuminate, signaling the end of the game. The basketball began its descent. “No need for a timeout~” Gu Yu landed, narrowed his eyes as he watched the ball, and a signature smug grin curled up at the corners of his mouth. “I told you I’d hit the game-winner…!” The basketball… “Swish” In!!! It’s the start of a new book—I hope everyone will show their support! If you have votes, please cast them; if not, please click to show your support—haha!