Chapter 12: Confrontation || Provoking the Bullies
The red team continued their comeback. Xavier's teammates began passing him the ball deliberately, and he scored every time. The crowd's cheers grew louder, some students even starting to chant Xavier's name. The score reached 37-30, then 37-33.
The instructor watched in astonishment, his eyes flicking between the court and his device. He pulled up Xavier's student profile, checking for any cybernetic enhancements or modifications. But the records showed none - just Xavier's congenital condition.
'Even if he's talented, this is impossible,' the instructor thought. 'No one scores every shot without missing. Unless...'
He muttered to himself, "If this is real, then he's a prodigy among prodigies."
Then he shook his head. "What a shame he's caught Lucas Blackhood's attention."
The final minutes ticked down. The red team's momentum was unstoppable now. Xavier scored again and again, his shots perfect arcs through the air. The score reached 37-36, then 37-39.
The crowd was on their feet, screaming. Lucas's face was a mask of fury as he tried desperately to score, but the red team's defense was impenetrable now.
When the final buzzer sounded, the scoreboard showed 142-41 in favor of the red team. The gymnasium erupted in cheers. Students rushed the court, lifting Xavier onto their shoulders. The victory was unprecedented - a landslide win against the previously undefeated yellow team.
Videos of the match spread across the academy's hub like wildfire. Within minutes, it was the top trending topic. Students who had missed the game watched the highlights in awe. Xavier's name was on everyone's lips again, just like after his orientation day speech.
As he walked through the halls, students he didn't know clapped him on the back. Some even asked for selfies with the "basketball prodigy." For the first time since arriving at the academy, Xavier felt like he belonged.
But as the cheers faded and the crowds dispersed, Xavier couldn't shake the feeling that this victory had only delayed the inevitable confrontation with Lucas. The real battle was still to come.