The moment the basketball left her hands, with years of experience, Tomoka knew it was going in.
But before she could even smile, the next scene utterly stunned her.
Just shooting a long shot like that, wasn't she taking his nearly 1.9-meter height too lightly?
Liu Ming didn't even think, directly ran two steps forward, and lightly jumped.
His whole body was like a bird taking flight, his right hand extended, and with a single hand, he caught the basketball still flying in the air.
After all, the two of them didn't have any deep grudge. Of course, Liu Ming couldn't just directly block her shot.
That would be too humiliating.
Moreover, if he really did that, Miyu would be caught in the middle and it wouldn't be good for her. If it caused a rift between her and her friends, it would be even worse.
Liu Ming looked at the dumbfounded Tomoka and softly asked, "Do you still want to play?"
This was originally a comforting remark, but to Tomoka's ears, it sounded like a provocation.
As if saying, "See? I let you shoot freely, but you couldn't even make a shot. Is there still any need to compete?"
"Again," Tomoka said stubbornly.
"Tomoka." Maho and the others couldn't help but worry, each looking at Tomoka.
Now, even she wasn't cheering them on anymore. Even as a novice, she could see it.
Tomoka and Liu Ming, the difference in their strength was truly too great; it was completely one-sided.
Liu Ming looked at Tomoka and asked again to confirm, "You really want to go again?"
"Again. I don't believe I can't even score a single basket," Tomoka said.
Liu Ming helplessly tossed the basketball back to her and then signaled with his eyes that she could attack.
This time, Tomoka learned her lesson.
In the face of an absolute height difference, she no longer dared to take long shots, because there was simply no hope.
She planned to use her exceptional skills to get past Liu Ming and then make a layup.
Being small, she would use the advantage of her size; agile footwork and swift speed were her weapons.
With a rapid change of direction, she first feigned going past Liu Ming's left side, then changed direction to the right, and ran past him from that side.
Liu Ming didn't move, letting her run behind him.
Unfortunately, Tomoka wasn't aware of this. She still thought Liu Ming was too bulky and not agile enough, and therefore couldn't keep up with her speed.
Seeing the basket close at hand, she couldn't help but show an excited expression.
This time, she didn't believe she still couldn't score.
"Go, go!" Maho and the others, seeing this, immediately cheered loudly and continuously.
However, Liu Ming's next move once again dragged them all into despair.
Tomoka arrived at the basket, quickly shot the ball, preparing for a bank shot.
But just as the basketball was about to approach the backboard, a large hand appeared there, forcefully pressing the basketball against the backboard, and then directly grabbing the basketball down.
Tomoka, as the person involved, might not have been clear, but Miyu and the others, from the outside, saw it clearly.
In just a blink of an eye, Liu Ming went from extreme stillness to extreme motion.
He instantly kept up with Tomoka's footwork and grabbed the basketball out of the air.
The entire movement was fluid and aesthetically pleasing.
There was no way to compete; the gap between the two was simply too great.
It was like an adult and a child. Well, they really were an adult and a child.
Liu Ming held the basketball in one hand and continued to ask softly, "Do you still want to play?"
Tomoka bit her lip unwillingly but didn't speak.
"Seriously, Xiao Ming-ge is too much! He didn't hold back at all, and his opponent is an elementary schooler!"
Miyu ran over. She didn't intend to let this match continue, because there was no need for it anymore.
Maho and the others also rushed out, comforting Tomoka with a flurry of words.
Hinata's action, however, left Liu Ming speechless; she actually took out a tissue and handed it to Tomoka.
Tomoka was only a little unwilling, she wasn't crying.
Looking at Miyu, who was still nagging him, Liu Ming gave her a chop on the head in exasperation.
"Ah~ That's too much! Xiao Ming-ge, when he can't win an argument, he resorts to violence! What if I get hit stupid?" Miyu cried out in pain, complaining.
"Don't worry, you've never been smart," Liu Ming said with an indifferent expression.
Their playful bickering eased the atmosphere at the scene a little.
Tomoka wasn't really angry; she took a deep breath, then came in front of Liu Ming and said with a slightly downcast voice, "I lost."
Liu Ming reached out and ruffled her hair, saying grumpily, "Did you really want to win? That would make me look bad."
Tomoka blinked, then scratched the back of her head sheepishly.
Seeing that the two hadn't fallen out because of the match, the other girls secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Especially Miyu, who had her respected Uncle on one side, and her new good friend on the other.
"Big Brother Liu Ming, you're really amazing! Can you teach us?" Maho looked at Liu Ming with shining eyes.
She even mimicked Liu Ming's earlier move, striking a cool pose of jumping and catching the ball.
This made the girls laugh heartily.
Miyu's eyes, however, lit up. This was a great idea.
She quickly pulled Liu Ming's hand and said coquettishly, "That's right, Xiao Ming, you're so good at basketball, can you teach us? We're all beginners."
"Oh, Big Brother, come be our teacher!" Hinata said happily.
"I agree too, we really need a coach." Saki also nodded in agreement.
"If it's Big Brother, I have no objections." Tomoka also didn't object. In fact, after that last round of competition, she was even more hopeful that Liu Ming would be the coach.
"Yo-ho, let's celebrate having a coach! Let's cheer!" Maho proposed loudly, then raised her hands.
"Hooray!"
"Hooray!" Hinata followed, raising her hands.
"Hooray!" Even though Aili was a little shy, she still followed suit, shouting softly.
...
Liu Ming looked speechlessly at the joyful girls, thinking to himself, when did he agree?
"Hey, you guys—" Liu Ming wanted to object.
Miyu, who understood Liu Ming's lazy personality best, seemed to know he wouldn't agree. She spoke first, "Now, may we please hear from our new coach? Everyone, applause!"
"Clap, clap ~"
Tomoka and the others immediately quieted down, all looking at Liu Ming with anticipation.