"Game time, guys." Mercury said as he walked with his team towards the stadium. They all wore white jerseys with black trimming and dark shorts, with the exception of Mercury who wore track pants. Mercury had the number 11 on his jersey. "All right, everyone remember the plan?" Mercury asked.
"Yeah," Cardin, who wore the number 00 jersey said, "though you never told us what to do after the first few minutes of the game."
"If you stack a plan to much they tend to fall apart." Mercury said. "It's best to only plan for smaller events that work towards the big finale, rather than the end itself."
The team made their way into the stadium taking their places on their bench. Across from them was Coco's team, who wore brown jerseys with yellow trimming.
"I got to say." Coco said walking over to them. She wore the number 01 jersey. "I honestly didn't expect you to put an entire team togeather."
"Hey, I challenged you." Mercury smirked. "I'm not about to whimp out before the game even starts."
"Admirable, but you'll be rethinking that when my team knocks you down a peg."
"I look forward to it." Mercury said, his face not betraying his emotions. Coco stared at him for a bit before turning away to return to her team.
Both teams began their warmups and it was soon time for the game to begin.
"It's time to start the match between the Caffine Cafés and the Olympus Epics!" Oobleck's voice rang. The crowd cheered as the teams lined up.
Scarlet, number 7, held his arm awkwardly as he watched the others interact. Mercury calmly shook hands with the opponents, wincing as Yatsuhashi, number 22 gripped his hand tightly. Cardin and Sky, number 14, laughed to each other as Jaune, number 44, stared them down, while Russel, 69, was watching Velvet, 13, turn almost completely pale at the packed stadium. Finally, Ozpin walked between the two teams, a coffee mug in on hand and a ball in the other.
"I want a clean match." Ozpin said. "Each of you have been given an aura supression bracket that will greatly restrict the power you have as huntsmen in training. Semblances will be allowed, so long as they aren't used to hurt or cripple another. Are both teams ready?" A nod from Yatsuhashi and Mercury as they both crouched to prepare for the tip off.
"Do not think me to be just muscle." Yatsuhashi warned.
"And don't think me for just some guy." Mercury said.
Q1
Epics Time Café
000 10:00 000
Ozpin tossed the ball into the air, and the moment it hit the apex, Mercury and Yatsuhashi leapt. Yatsuhashi widened his eyes as Mercury launched from the ground, far faster than he anticipated, reaching the ball with ease and tipping it to his team.
"Epics win the tip off!" Port exclaimed
"Get to our hoop!" Yatsuhashi shouted as the ball flew into Russel's hands. As the Cafés turned to the defensive, Mercury held up his hands in a T. M
"Time out called by the Epics!" Oobleck shouted. "It seems they are substituting Mercury immediately after the tip off."
"Running already?" Coco asked as she watched Mercury walk toward his bench. Mercury flashed her a smile before silently joining his team.
The night before...
"Sage, you will be our main center, but I'll be starting first." Mercury said.
"Huh?" Sage leaned forward on Russel's bed. "Why?"
"I don't doubt your skill, but if I'm doing the tip off I can guarrentee we'll get the ball first."
"Aren't you confident." Sky said, scowling.
"I am." Mercury said. "That said, I don't want to show off everything I can do unless needed. However..." Mercury pointed in the air. "... I do want us to gain an early lead. If we can lead by six-nothing right out the gate, then we'll have the pace of the quarter in our favor, not to mention to moral blow it'll deal on the opponent. So Sage, you'll be taking over primarily for defense while we'll leave the scoring of the points to..."
"The game is back in motion as the Epics enter the game. Sage has taken Mercury's place on the court as the Epics' Center."
Sage held the ball in his hands just out of bounds as he scanned the court, looking for and open player. "Sky!" Sage tossed the ball inbounds to the spearman who was immediately put under the defensive pressure of Velvet.
"I won't let you score!" She shouted as Sky smirked.
"I'm not intending to shoot!"
"Lark passes to Winchester!" Port announced. "He is immediately met by Adele, who does not seem to keen on letting him make the first points!"
"Better back down, Winchester!" Coco growled as she swiped at the ball, only for it to be brought out of her reach.
"It should be you who backs down, or else!" Cardin's eyes flared and Coco suddenly found her body become rigid as Cardin dashed past her, dunking the ball before anyone else had a chance to stop him.
"There is Cardin applying his semblance to his advantage!" Oobleck said. "Cardin's capable of 'intimidation.' He can pressurize his killing intent, directing it at a single persons for maximum effect, which can cause temporary paralysis or over a wide area too affect everyone to a lesser degree."
"Coco..." Fox put a hand on her shoulder.
"I'm fine..." Coco said breathing heavily. "It's just more intense than I'd thought it would be. I can see why Velvet never said anything about him before... It's almost painful how scared he's capable of making you..."
Fox nodded. "For now, let's return the favor."
"Yes... Yatsu!" Coco caught the ball her teammate threw inbound, making her way down court coming to a stop in front of Cardin.
"You won't make this next basket, you know..." Cardin smirked.
"Really? You got lucky with that little shot. It won't work on me twice." Coco growled. "Fox!" Coco passed the ball to her blind companion, who managed to easily bypass Russel and leapt towards the hoop. Once more, Cardin activated his semblance this time in a widened area, forcing Fox to draw his shot slightly in caution, giving Sage enough time to leap up and smack the ball out of Fox's grip, into Russel's for the rebound.
Everyone sprinted back to the other hoop in chase, Velvet beating Russel to the paint. Fox muttered apologies under his breath as Russel passed the behind him into Cardinal's grip, who went up to take three point shot.
"I won't let you!" Coco shouted as she leapt up to block.
"Idiot..." Cardin said with a smirk as he lowered his arms, dribbling past her.
"Cardin passes Coco with an expertly timed fake, but finds Yatsuhashi waiting for him beneath the hoop!" Oobleck shouted.
"I won't let you score!" Yatsuhashi said calmly, a bead of sweat running down his head.
"You don't have a choice." Cardin said as his semblance hit Yatsuhashi full blast, forcing him to back down as Cardin tossed the ball into the basket from the freethrow line.
"Damn..." Coco said, breathing heavily before glancing at the scoreboard.
Q1
Epics Time Café
004 9:39 000
"They're controlling the pace..." Coco said to one of her teammates. "... I thought you were overreacting..."
"I told you. Cardin's semblance is intense when you first experience it." They said.
"But can you stop it?" Coco asked.
"Yes... After all, he's the reason I joined the team." They growled.
"Okay... I'll leave him to you then. We can't let them control the game like this! Stop their next shot!"
"The ball is tossed in to Fox," Port commentated, "Who makes his way down court, meeting Russel at the three point line. Fox passes to Jaune and he dribbles past Scarlet! Sage is running late to the block as Jaune goes up for the dunk."
"Sorry Jauney boy not on my watch!" Cardin laughed as he released his semblance, the other members of the Cafés relenting.
"I've been in fear of you since the beginning of the the year." Jaune said as he neared the hoop. "I'm not afraid..." Jaune slammed the ball through the hoop.
"...of you anymore!"
Q1
Epics Time Café
004 9:20 002
