Part- 392:
As they he edge of the park, Mili let out a gentle sigh. “I guess… it’s just o look baetimes. To remember where we started.”
James nodded, a soft smile on his lips. “Yeah, it is. Thanks for sharing all that with me, Mili. I didn’t realize how much I’d fotten… or how much it mattered.”
She looked up at him, her eyes filled with gratitude. “Thank you for listening. I don’t know… I guess I just wanted you to know.”
As they had been discussing a particurly inteudy topic when they passed by a neighborhood basketball court, where a few kids were deeply immersed in a casual game. Laughter and the rhythmic thud of basketballs filled the air, creating an easygoing atmosphere.
In the midst of their versation, James barely noticed the sudden trajectory of a basketball that had escaped the court. The ball bounced across the street and headed straight for them, its path uable and fast. Just as Mili’s eyes widened, James reacted without thinking—his arm shot up, fingers spyed, and with a single, fluid motion, he caught the ball before it could reach her.
The catch was graceful and precise, as if the ball had been magized to his hand. James looked down at the ball in surprise, vaguely aware that his King’s Palm skill had triggered instinctively. It was remarkable how effortless it felt, like a reflex he hadn’t realized he possessed.
Mili looked at him with raised eyebrows. "Whoa, since when did you bee a reflex master?" Her surprise was mixed with admiration, as if she'd seen a glimpse of some hidden side of him.
James chuckled, slightly embarrassed. "Guess I just got lucky."
Before he could eborate, a young boy from the court ran over, looking slightly sheepish. “Uh, sorry about that! Didn’t mean to send it your way.” He held out his hands, waiting for James to return the ball.
James nodded politely, but instead of simply handing the ball back, a whimsical impulse struck him. He turned his gaze toward the hoop, standing at least twenty feet away. He had never really pyed basketball before. In fact, he had only ever seen it in anime, where characters would pull off insane moves that seemed like pure magic. He didn’t know the physics behind basketball throw, nor did he ever care to learn them, and he rarely pyed games with younger kids. The most he knew was that you o throw the ball through the hoop—a task easier said than done, he imagined.
The boy, notig James’ i look toward the hoop, paused. “Are you…gonna shoot?” he asked, his tone a mix of curiosity and doubt.
Mili grinned, crossing her arms as she stepped back, giving him space. “Alright, hotshot, let’s see what you’ve got.”
Taking in a deep breath, James decided to give it a go. He adjusted his grip on the ball, feeling its textured surface for the first time. The weight was heavier than he expected, but he took a stance, squinting as he aimed for the hoop. His instincts took over; he focused, and with a smooth movement, he lifted the ball, releasing it with a gentle flick of his wrist.
In that moment, he activated Bullseye.
