“So,” Kiyoshi started, a tiny smirk forming, “funny you should ask about experiments. Because, uh, we kinda have a new b rat… I mean, pyer on our team, don't we?”
Suddenly, everyone's eyeballs were locked on James. James, who’d joined like, two seconds ago. James, who was… a whole different breed. Not all loud and extra like some of us (guilty!). Didn't do the whole meme-and-joke thing. He was quiet, almost giving off mysterious loner vibes, but when he actually pyed? Dude was like a Zen master on the court. Super still, super focused. It was kinda mesmerizing, low-key.
“James?” Chandan asked, sounding intrigued. “What about James?”
“James is… different-different," Kiyoshi said, choosing his words like he was crafting the perfect tweet. "He’s got this whole other vibe when he pys. A different pybook in his brain. And I’m thinking… I’m thinking he might be the secret sauce we’ve been missing.”
A low murmur rippled through the team like a wave – 'James?', 'But James?', 'Okay, yeah, he's alright, but Motijheel-level alright? Doubtful.'
Sajid, being Sajid, just went ahead and said the quiet part out loud. “Kiyoshi, no shade to James or anything, but dude just showed up like, st week. He hasn't even pyed a official game with us yet. Throwing him into the lion’s den against Motijheel? Isn’t that kinda… asking for trouble?”
“Trouble? Maybe," Kiyoshi admitted. "But sometimes you gotta stir the pot, you know? Shake things up to see what kinda magic happens. And I got a vibe… a strong vibe… that James is holding some serious cards.”
He turned to James, locking eyes with him. “James, you’ve been observing the chaos. You’ve seen our, uh, unique ‘strategies’. What’s the tea? What are your thoughts?”
James, who’d been quiet as a ninja this whole time, finally stood up straight. Turns out, dude was actually kinda tall when he wasn't slouching. And even though he was still giving off major ‘chill vibes’, there was this quiet confidence radiating off him, like he knew something we didn't. Intriguing.
He finally spoke, and even though his voice was chill and low-key, it kinda resonated, you know? Like when a bass drop hits just right. “You guys are good. Got the vibes. But…” He paused, letting it hang. “Kinda… predictable.”
Silence. You could practically hear the crickets chirping in the Banani High basketball court. Predictable? Everyone looked around at each other, eyebrows raised. Predictable wasn't exactly the vibe we were going for. A little chaotic? Definitely. Enthusiastic? For sure. Predictable? Ouch. That kinda stung.
“Hold up, predictable?” Arshad repeated, his voice going up an octave like he'd been personally insulted. “Predictable how exactly? Like, walk us through your PowerPoint presentation on the predictability of Banani High basketball, Professor James.”
James just shrugged, like, "no biggie." “Your pys, your moves… they’re straight outta Basketball 101. Textbook stuff. Might work against, like, some teams. But Motijheel? They’ll see you coming from a mile away. They’ll have your game pn memorized before halftime.”
Ouch. Direct hit to the ego. And coming from the new guy who barely said two words? Double ouch.
Ahsan, always the strategist, narrowed his eyes, all business now. “Alright, alright, I’m listening. So, if we’re so… basic, what’s the upgrade, Mr. James Bond of Basketball? What’s your genius pn?”
