"Hmmmm… the fool I was… I underestimated you overthinking hooper."
"Gomenzai Hmmmm san I didn't mean to ball so hard hehe."
l had no idea where this ability came from, and it sure as h made a mess. There was dry blood all over my hands from wiping my eyes. Coach Ye walked up to us. He started giving me head pats. I purred.
"Nice job gaki. You're on the team."
How long I've been waiting to hear those words. What do you think of that Hmmmm ? This is my perfect victory… That's right ! I win !!
"Sorry I have to cut you from the team now but that was the deals Hmmmm."
"Hmmmm…"
For a moment Hmmmm seemed content with his loss. He then turned to me.
"This isn't the last you'll see of me overthinking hooper. Don't think I'll go so easy on you next time. Neither will Kenju. Later loser hmpf…"
Hmmmm put two of his fingers to his temple and disappeared in an instant.
Skitta chan and Joma began to rush down from the bleachers. Joma blitzed toward me.
"OMETEDOU HAISE SEMPAI !!"
She tackled me to the ground.
"Gyattttt dammit Joma quit cramping my style."
Skitta chan kneeled over and lent me a hand.
"Ometedou Haise kun. It seems like all of your hard work finally payed off. Cmon let's ditch this joint and celebrate. Ramens on me tonight !!"
I'll never forget the way she smiled at me in that moment. No one could take that away.
-
The three of us began walking to Ethanolol's Ramen House. Ethan sensei made the best noodles in town and was my go to guy for a piping hot bowl of ramen. Now that I think about it this was my first time going in with friends.
"It's getting pretty late do you think it'll still be open?"
"Yurp. Ethan sensei always lets me stay a little late anyways so we're good."
I've been a regular for years, it was basically my second home at this point. I reached for my phone to check the time.
Etto…
"Chotto matte I think I left my phone back at the gym. Gomen mina I'll go run back and get it. I'll be back in a tiddily wink."
"Alright we'll meet you at Ethanolos then. Cya."
Crap.
I put my arms behind my back to give me a little speed boost while running back.
swhwhwhwhw
I came to a stop.
Something was off.
The wind stopped blowing.
It got very quiet.
I couldn't hear anything.
My vision started to blur.
"pwoop"
Something struck me from behind.
I fell to the ground.
-
As my eyes slowly began opening but I was greeted to nothingness. I was surrounded by pitch black. A voice spoke from the void.
"The sleeper was awoken. Greetings overthinking hooper. You've kept us waiting for quite some time."
A single light flickered on from above a tall shadowy figure not too far from in front of me.
"Welcome to the Hooper Society."
Nani? Wth is a hooper society ?
spleep
A few more lights began to turn on from above us. They were dim, but I was able to make out that we were on a basketball court. I then noticed a few other individuals closing in on me. Their shadows made it difficult to see their faces. I tried to stand but my legs wouldn't let me.
"We are hoopers just like you Haise."
"Not just ordinary hoopers tho."
"We have gifts the others do not."
"That's why we brought you here."
"It seems it has finally awoken."
They took a few steps back, while the tall one stepped forward.
"We brought your father here when his ability first awakened as well. He was a failure to us however… we expect that you will be able to succeed where he could not."
"Ehhhh… oto san had an ability too…"
"All of us hoopers have the potential within us, but only a select few can ever awaken it. And even they may not always be worthy of having it."
"Where is he… what happened to him…"
"Heh. You'll find out in time. Now onto the reason we brought you here. I want to make a deal with you, Haise the overthinking hooper."
A deal? I don't even know what's going on rn crying face emoji. And how does he know my father.
"Anno… I don't even know who you are… or what any of this even is. Where the h e double hockey stick are we."
"So naive. Hehe. The hooper society is a special place only us hoopers can enter. It was created especially for us by muah."
What the flub was this guy on.
"Wtf are you bro."
"I am the king of all hoopers. Skittle, the sigma hooper."
"Now that's just ridonku-"
CLAP
"Now back to business. I made this same deal with your father all those years ago. If you can win the big game at the end of the season, I will grant you a position within the hooper society. This will prove to us you are worthy of your ability. Simple as that."
"Nani ?! And if I don't win ?"
Skittle's eyes widened and a devious asf grin stretched across his face.
"Then you'll end up just like him..."
The lights from above suddenly started to pop and it was getting dark again fast.
plink
plink
plank
"It's a deal then overthinking hooper."
"Matte !! I never agreed to any-"
paunk
After the last light popped I was suddenly back on the sidewalk were I passed out earlier. It seemed like not a single second had passed from when I was first knocked out.
"You've gyatt to be rizzing me. Only in Ohio man."