score maniac

Chapter 24: I Just Can’t Stop!

“Just you wait—by the end of the first quarter, I’ll have twice as many points as you…!” Just as Gu Yu let out that roar, as luck would have it, the crowd’s cheers and chatter had just died down a bit. Every fan in the stands heard that statement loud and clear. “Is—is that… a challenge?!” The fans were startled, their excitement growing as they sat up straighter in their seats. A bottom-of-the-class player who can only shoot is issuing a challenge to a lottery pick with insane physical abilities?? Is this slick-haired guy out of his mind?! “Sigh… Gu Yu…” In the press box, Yu Chenyi was at a loss for words, watching Gu Yu dart around the court with a defiant look on his face. She’d known all along that, given Gu Yu’s temperament, he’d surely retaliate on the spot after Wesley Johnson’s taunt. But… “The first quarter’s over, and he’s scored twice as many points as Johnson…?” A reporter flashed a mocking smile and shook his head. “There’s less than four minutes left in the first quarter, and ‘Slick Hair’ has only scored 4 points. Does he really think he can score another 6 points in four minutes? Does he think the Timberwolves’ defense is made of shit??” “It’s even more than that!” another reporter laughed. “You’re assuming Wesley Johnson won’t score again in the first quarter. What if he scores another 2 points? Then ‘Greasy Hair’ would have to score 10 points in four minutes. If Johnson scores another 4 points, ‘Greasy Hair’ would have to score 14! That’s simply impossible!” “Exactly. Wesley Johnson started out as a defender, after all—he’s a cut above ‘Greasy’ in terms of physical ability! Scoring repeatedly over him? That’s a pipe dream!” The reporters’ comments echoed exactly what the fans in the arena were thinking. No matter how you look at it, Gu Yu and Johnson aren’t rookies on the same level. You, “Greasy Hair,” got lucky at the start and scored four straight points—fine, let’s just leave it at that. But now you’re issuing a challenge, wanting to outscore a lottery pick? Have you lost your mind?? “Hmph, you’re crazy…!” Did Wesley Johnson really not know this? Another sarcastic remark, but his feet didn’t stop; on the contrary, his defense became even more aggressive, not giving an inch. Trying to show off again? Trying to use my fame to hype yourself up again? No way! With your lousy athleticism, if I defend you seriously, it’ll be like guarding an elementary school kid—and you expect to score? Pfft! “De Marcus…!” While the showdown between Gu Yu and Wesley Johnson was heating up on one end, on the other, Jeter, true to their agreement, passed the ball to Cousins in the half-court offense. “Double-team!!” The Timberwolves were getting serious now. Love rushed in to double-team him without a second thought. Before Cousins could even make a move to attack, he was completely boxed in and could barely take a step. Pass! Cousins wasn’t a fool—he’d fallen for it once, but he wouldn’t make the same mistake twice. After drawing the double-team, he immediately flicked the ball away, sending it straight to Jason Thompson. Open shot! With Love double-teaming Cousins, Thompson found himself wide open. He caught the ball and raised his hand to shoot. The Timberwolves—rotation in! “I’ve got it!” Near the corner, Hayward—who had been guarding Kasbi—immediately dropped back. Pass! Thompson passed the ball behind his back; just as Kasbi secured it, the Timberwolves’ rotating defense surged forward again. Pass again! The Kings displayed rare tactical discipline, moving the ball quickly under the Wolves’ high-pressure rotations. The basketball seemed like a leaping sprite, spinning rapidly through the hands of the Kings’ perimeter players. Hu didn’t let Gu Yu out of his sight for even a step, sticking right behind him with his arms spread wide—Gu Yu didn’t even have a chance to catch the ball. “Gu, over here!” As he reached the frontcourt, just as Gu Yu was about to run toward his sweet spot, a shout rang out in his ear. He turned to see Cousins, his eyes gleaming, setting a screen at the center circle. A screen at center circle?! The fans were baffled—who sets an off-ball screen right at the center circle? Gu Yu is a shooter, not an alien. Even if he managed to get around the screen, so what? Could he possibly take a shot from the center circle?? Of course not. With a soft “thud,” Gu Yu used the screen to cut through the middle. Jeter had already sprinted to the free-throw line at lightning speed, and the two nearly collided head-on. “Thud, thud” At the last possible moment, Jeter suddenly stepped sideways to the right, shifting the ball to his right hand. This positional shift caused Wesley Johnson and Johnny Flynn, who were frantically retreating on defense, to both rush in from the center. Because of Cousins’ towering frame, the two players running in from either side couldn’t see each other in time and collided head-on. “Whoosh—!” At that very moment, Jeter sent the pass flying. “…That sweet spot again!” Everyone held their breath, watching as Gu Yu effortlessly ran to his sweet spot. His eyes never once looked at the ball; he kept his gaze fixed on the basket, his hands at his sides, clearly placing complete trust in Jeter’s pass. Jett didn’t let Gu Yu down; his pass was precise and on target. After catching the ball, Gu Yu bounced up with the momentum, just as he was about to shoot— “Block that greasy-haired guy! Aaaaaah—!!!” Wesley Johnson rolled to his feet, burst forward in a single stride, and—incredibly—was in position in the blink of an eye. He thrust his right hand forward with all his might; Wesley Johnson was absolutely furious as he slammed his hand down hard. “Whoa…!” Gu Yu remained unfazed; frozen in that split second, he looked as beautiful as a sculpture. He flicked his right wrist just a split second too early, and as the basketball flew out, it nearly grazed Wesley Johnson’s fingertips before soaring high into the sky. “Smack!” “Beep-beep-beep-beep!! Wesley Johnson, defensive foul!!” The crisp hand-check didn’t escape the referee’s notice. Wesley Johnson let out a deep sigh, cursing himself for falling just a hair’s breadth short of blocking Gu Yu’s shot… “Swish!” Huh…? When the sound of the ball hitting the net rang out, everyone—from players to coaches, from fans to reporters— everyone froze. What was that…? What was that sound just now…?! Could it be… “Too hot, too hot~” On the court, Gu Yu had been knocked to the ground. After sitting up, he didn’t rush to his feet. Instead, he tilted his head, his eyes fixed on the basket, his right hand dangling in the air, swaying slightly. “My hand is just too hot—scoring baskets… I just can’t stop!” The referee finally snapped out of it, blew his whistle, made an exaggerated gesture signaling a valid two-point basket, and shouted, “Two—two points! One free throw! No. 2 Gu Yu of the Kings, one free throw!!!”