Nash blinked at the glowing text in front of him. For a moment, he thought he was seeing things. The noise from the crowd faded to a soft buzz as he read the words over and over.

Hidden Quest: Alpha Male. Impress 10 women. Raise their satisfaction until each is fully content.

He let out a slow breath.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" he whispered.

Nia, sitting a few seats away, turned to him.

"You say something?"

He forced a small grin.

"Nah. Just thinking about the next move."

She gave him a look, then turned away. Nash leaned forward, elbows on his knees, still staring at the glowing panel. His heart started to beat faster.

Ten women? Satisfied?

He went through the names in his head.

Aiko... sure, that fits. But the others? And what's this about Nia? She's jealous? Why? And Alicia, too? What's going on here?

He rubbed his face, groaning softly. The almighty's system at its finest again, and what's more, it asked him the impossible.

Let's see... I could manage with the girls in the team, but Baby-Boom... Hina is scared of me. How am I supposed to please her? Then there's Miko and Kai... I barely know them. And at this point, what the fuck am I supposed to do with Rei? How is this even possible? And what's with Dahlia and Victoria being on the list? They're not even playing!

He dragged a hand through his hair.

So I have to make ten women happy before the match ends. Most of them hate my guts. Great.

He glanced at Jaz laughing with Drex and Nia, her face glowing from the game. She looked alive. That had to count for something.

Alright... Think... The system is weird, but it's never wrong. Maybe it's not about flirting... It asked me to befriend Aiko; maybe it's related.

He thought back to that quest about Aiko. It was simple: get close, earn trust, and become her friend. Maybe this one was the same, just a stopover. His eyes narrowed.

There must be a way through this without drama... and fucking.

Then his eyes widened.

Wait. I could use the match itself. He sat up straighter. Yeah... that's it. Nia and Alicia... they're jealous of Jaz. It's our chemistry.

He glanced toward the bench. Alicia was sitting forward, elbows on her thighs, looking annoyed, her eyes following Jaz. Nash smirked faintly.

Got it. That's my way in.

He looked at the scoreboard. The crowd was still cheering their names. His team was on fire.

He let out a quiet laugh. It would be hard, really hard, but not impossible; at least he had to believe there was a way.

Victoria clapped her hands once.

"Enough noise. You played well... for now. But don't get comfortable. An injured cat is still alive... and I don't like alive things. I want them silent. I want them broken." She slid her glasses down just enough to look over the rim, her azure eyes glinting. "Make them wish they never walked onto my court."

A heavy silence fell. Nia gulped, quickly reaching for her water bottle. She took a long drink, wiping her mouth with the back of her hand, trying not to meet Victoria's stare.

Jaz glanced sideways at her, eyebrows raised, then gave a nervous laugh that died fast. Alicia swallowed hard, shifting on her feet, her fingers curling against her thighs. No one dared to answer.

Victoria's lips curved into a faint, cruel smile.

"Good. You understand."

They looked at each other, on the bright side, no way they would fail here, the difference was too crushing. But just when everything was perfect...

"Wait a minute." Jinzo stood up. "Nash's plan was to sub me in the second quarter, right? We have the lead, a huge one. So, let's do it."

Nash gave him the dirtiest side eye in existence. What was this guy saying?

For his plan to function, he needed to be on the court. He absolutely needed to interact with every girl on the list.

He kept his cool, smiling casually.

"Lead's solid, yeah... But we can push it further. No need to rush the sub, we can switch when we'll have... Let's say a hundred points of difference?"

Jinzo crossed his arms, determined as ever.

"The fuck? You said if it goes according to plan, sub me in right on the second quarter. It's going perfect, exactly as you said, your own words. Or are you backing out now? Want to do some shit since you're not in the spotlight today?"

The others looked worriedly between them, the air tensing again. Nia shifted uneasily, Alicia's eyes darting, Jaz frowning.

Nash noticed, biting his tongue.

He couldn't push it too hard in front of the team. Yeah, he had said that, he couldn't show them now that he was a liar.

He agreed with a nod, playing it like the nice guy.

"You're right, Jinzo... Let's stick to the plan. You deserve the shot, go out there, show 'em what you've got. Lead the charge; prove you're the fire we need. Team's behind you, and me too. Make it count."

The girls' eyes softened, the boys grinned with satisfaction flickering.

Nia smiling faintly, Alicia nodding.

The things he had to do just to increase his chances...

Then, Nash suggested.

"And let Jaz rest too, she's earned it after that quarter. Put Alicia in, let's reduce their chances of seducing anyone. You'll shake 'em up, Alicia, I believe in you."

Alicia reacted with a bright grin, fist-bumping Nash's shoulder.

"Hell yeah! I've been itching to get in, thanks for seeing it, Nash. I'll make 'em regret underestimating me."

She pumped her fist, greatly motivated, her hangover forgotten in the rush.

In a match like that, with a huge lead, everyone wanted a piece of the cake.

It was obviously a chance she wouldn't miss.

But Jinzo resurrected again.

"Wait, no way. You're removing the point-maker to break the rhythm? Jaz's carrying us, if we sub her, we'll sinl. This... This is you sabotaging me so I look bad!"

Seriously, why was this guy still around? If he wasn't in the team it would have been so easy for Nash

He forced a smile, trying to convince him.

"She's exhausted... look at her panting. We need fresh legs to hold the lead. Alicia's ready; it'll keep the pressure on."

Jinzo shook his head, pertinent and backed by Mac and Drex, who nodded fierce. "Bullshit. It's not you carrying, it's Jaz. She's the one dunking, rebounding, breaking 'em. Keep her in; we focus on that. You're just scared I'll outshine you."

Outshine? As he wasn't even the 8th most dangerous player on the court.

Nash was mainly concerned because Jaz was breathing dangerously hard and it was only the first quarter.

And it wouldn't get better.

Alicia jumped in.

"Let me play! I can handle it, Nash sees the big picture!"

Nia defended Nash's judgment.

"His calls got us the lead; trust him!"

But on the opposite, Mac and Drex backed Jinzo.

"Jaz stays, don't fix what's not broken." Mac said.

"Yeah, Nash's ego talking." Drex added.

The tension was at its peak, then Daliah clapped her hands.

"Jinzo's got a point. We were dominated early; losing Nash and Jaz risks everything. We better have her on the court. I suggest keeping Jaz at center, less movement, more recovery. Focus the game on Jinzo, Drex, and Mac for the push."

Victoria considered, then nodded.

"Daliah's right. Jaz to center and reduce her effort, at least depending on how it will go."

Nash looked at her with big eyes, everyone was making the situation so bad... and the worst was that he played a big role in that by putting the substitution rule.

Worse, the team seemed to agree to keep Jaz on the field, and the second quest needed him to have better stats than her.

How would he walk his way out of this?

Gracefully, he faked.

"Sounds good to me... Crush 'em, team."

For now, it was all he could do.

It was time for the second quarter to begin.

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