[FLOW STATE: ACTIVATED]
The world didn't stop. It just... slowed down.
Every sound was drawn out; the crowd's cheering sounded like a low, deep rumble. The squeaky shoes echoed slowly… even his own heartbeat felt slow and steady, like a clock ticking down the time.
Akira saw everything.
Takeshi was leaning forward, ready to push off. His hands were down low to guard against a crossover move. He had his feet spread wide, prepared to slide sideways.
Twenty seconds became two.
Akira crossed over hard to his left. Takeshi bit, shifting his momentum to cut off the lane.
Then Akira stepped back.
His injured ankle screamed in protest as he planted on it, but the Flow State muted the pain just enough. He rose up, releasing the ball in one smooth motion.
Takeshi lunged forward, hand stretching desperately toward the ball.
Too late.
The buzzer sounded.
The ball rotated through the air, spinning perfectly, arcing high over Takeshi's outstretched fingers.
