Chapter 11

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"Boom!" Ken shouted, turning away from the machine and raising his hand into the air. "It's like I said, my friend, you're not taking two out of three from me with Zangief!"

"It is coming, friend. It is coming." Quincy insisted, stepping away from the machine.

"You're the best Zangief player I've ever seen, Quincy, but Zangief still sucks." He pointed at the machine. "TK! Kari! Take it away!"

The couple stepped up to the machine, Kari sticking a quarter into the machine.

"You ever play in a tournament, Quincy?" Ken asked.

"Back in Russia, I compete in tournament." Quincy nodded. "Was fun. Placed third, won t-shirt. But it never t-shirt weather in Russia, so I never wear it." He shrugged. "Maybe I wear it now."

"I've won three tournaments at expos and conventions," Ken said. "Funny story, at one of them I won a street fighter two arcade machine, but there's no room for it in my apartment! Big shame. My dad has it in storage downtown, hopefully in a few years I wind up somewhere where I can whip it out."

"Absolutely not," TK insisted as he did a series of uppercuts with Ken to keep Kari's DeeJay at bay. "You're already way too good at this game, if you were able to play it at home without having to think about quarters, the world would end."

"It's not my fault you spam throws," Ken said. "And that you always block high on wakeup."

Ken grabbed DeeJay and kneed him in the face several times, taking the last of his life and sparking round two.

"Here's an idea," Davis piped up, standing to the left of the machine. "How about Ken plays Quincy, but Ken can't use Vega."

"I prefer to beat people when at best," Quincy said. "Is not necessary."

"Nah, we can do that."

Someone tapped Ken on the shoulder. Ken spun around to come to face with one of the staff members of the arcade.

"Excuse me, sir, these are yours," she said, handing him a basket of crinkle fries.

"Thank you," he said, taking the basket and nodding. "Anyway, Quincy, I will totally take on your Zangief with my Bison. I'm almost as good with Bison."

DeeJay unleashed a kick combo on Ken, putting him in dizzy, which DeeJay quickly capitalized on by throwing Ken into the left wall. Ken had just a touch of life left, and as soon as he got up, DeeJay did a low kick that took him out.

"Always blocks high on wakeup," Kari repeated, smirking up at TK. "Good call, Ken."

"See what I mean?" Ken snatched one of the fries out of the basket, then set the basket on the end table next to the machine. "Anyway, I'll totally play Bison."

"Boooo!" Davis cried, snatching one of the fries from the basket. "Bison and Vega are almost the same character, both are cheap as all get out. No Bison!"

"How about Ken plays with a random character against Quincy?" Yolei suggested, standing several steps behind the machine, hands in her pockets and looking around the arcade. "Just make it random."

"Ken won't do that," TK said as he launched Ken's super, finishing DeeJay off and winning the match. "He's scared. He loses one game in this arcade and his reputation goes into the toilet."

"What reputation?" Ken asked, stepping up to the machine and motioning Quincy to step up as well. "I still have to pay for soda and fries here, my reputation is not nearly what you guys think. I'll play random."

The select screen came up, and Ken went to the random generator slot as Quincy picked Zangief. Ken waited a second, then stomped on the A button. Vega came up in the character square.

"Son of a-" Davis groaned as the fight started.

"Oh my god," TK said as Vega flew up into the air and came down on Zangief's head with a slash of his claws. "Ken has mastered this game so much, he can time the random character selection to get the character he wants. I knew it, he's an alien!"

Ken grabbed Zangief and threw him, then tried to do a rolling combo that Zangief countered with a green hand slap.

"You can't time the random character selection," Ken said. "I tried it."

"Yeah, well, the fact that you tried it makes you an alien anyway," TK replied. Zangief managed to grab Vega after backing away from a roll, then stomp him into the ground. Vega got up and immediately bounced off the far wall before diving in for a slash that Zangief blocked.

TK grabbed a handful of fries and started popping them into his mouth. "What if we did Zangief against Zangief? That'd be fair."

"I don't like Zangief," Ken said quickly, backing away from Zangief's grab and landing a rolling combo that ended the round. "I only played him that one time because you were whining."

"Exactly, that's the point. Gives you a handicap, makes things balanced," TK said, pulling his jacket tighter over his chest. "God it's cold in here."

"That's not balanced. The game is balanced already, you guys just suck. I'm not playing Zangief, Honda, or Cammy. Anyone else is fine." Vega did a punch combo that Zangief blocked and countered with a grab and throw.

"Well, play someone who's not Vega," TK insisted. "Or Bison."

"Or Sagat," Davis added. "Or Ken, or Fei Long, or Ryu, or Guile, or-"

"You guys are babies!" Ken snapped. "I don't see Quincy complaining." Vega did two straight throws, ending the match. "Vega doesn't even have a fireball attack, I don't ever see you guys trying to take advantage of that."

"If you gave Vega a fireball attack the game would be completely broken!" TK exclaimed. "You may as well make that something you get when you enter a cheat code."

"Okay, compromise." TK put his hands out in front of him. "Anyone who's not Vega. Even Bison if you want."

"Alright." Suddenly, something behind TK caught Ken's eye. "Oh, hey guys, you made it!"

TK spun around, coming to face Luke, Marcus, and Derrick, standing there in heavy coats.

"Oh, you guys...what a funny coincidence!" TK said.

"Actually, I invited them. Y'know, we're a team, may as well do some team building activities!" Ken said. He then passed a wad of bills to Yolei from his pocket. "Next time she walks by, flag her down and get more food. So, you guys play street fighter?"

"I play it on a controller," Marcus said, walking up to the machine and looking at it. "I dunno man, this is nuts."

"Well, it's a little hobby of ours. I'm just about to take on Quincy, after the match we'll bring you guys into the fold a little bit."

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"He is gonna be so whiny this week," Kari said under her breath as Quincy bricked a three from the top off the side of the rim.

"Why? We're winning." Yolei motioned up to the scoreboard. Rakunan held a sixty-eight to fifty-five advantage with seven minutes to go in the fourth quarter.

"Quincy still can't hit a thing. Quincy drives TK crazy. Like, completely insane. You mention his name and TK's eye twitches." Kari smirked to herself. "He's zero-for-seven now."

"What's the big deal? I mean, we're winning, the team is playing fine." Yolei pursed her lips. "I don't get it sometimes."

"The schedule is about to get hard. Most of the games we have left are against good teams."

Izumo High got the ball onto the left block, but Ken ran down and poked the ball away from the power forward as he was making his move. He ran down the court, slowing up around half-court, seeing everyone on defense slow up, then took off past the three point line, into the paint, and laying it up before the defense could react.

"Ken knows they have to throw some new looks out there against good teams. He wants to play a smallball lineup." Kari tapped her foot on the bleachers a few times.

"What does that mean, exactly? Smallball." Yolei sucked her left cheek under her teeth.

"It's a lineup that's smaller than normal. TK plays center, Quincy plays power forward. It makes up for size with speed and shooting. You don't wanna play it all the time, but you can play it a little bit to mix things up. But it won't be worth anything if Quincy doesn't hit his shots."

Izumo's point guard dribbled into a fifteen foot jumper that went in, Ken failing to get up to contest it.

"So what does that mean?" Yolei asked.

"I dunno." Kari shrugged. "Knowing Ken, he'll just keep on plugging away. He doesn't like to panic."

Ken brought it up and got it into TK on the right low block. TK swung to his left and rose up to shoot a hook shot from eight feet away that went in.

"Well, eleven and one," Kari said, looking up at the scoreboard. "Let's just try to enjoy that."

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"What do you mean you don't want to have anything to do with basketball?" Ken asked into the transmitter at the base of his cell phone. He was walking across the well-kept lawn of the school, towards the large brown track that circled the football field. "This doesn't even really relate to basketball. I just have a teammate who could benefit from some relaxation and focus techniques that you learned in Kendo."

Ken waved at Marcus as they passed each other by.

"Yes, I know you're short. Look, I'm sure any day now you'll finally have your growth spurt and we'll look back on this and laugh. It'll be funny! Hey, Cody, remember when you were really short? Isn't that weird given that you're so tall now? It'll be like that."

Ken looked up and saw TK jogging around the track.

"Come on, it barely relates to basketball! Look, I'm sorry you're short, I'm not trying to make fun of you." Ken glanced over and saw Kari standing on the outside of the track, watching TK run. "Okay, fine. See you later." He hung up the phone and slipped it into his left pocket. "Freaking Cody."

He quickly strode across the remaining space between him and Kari.

"And he wonders why we almost never hang out any more," grumbled Ken.

"What's the matter?" Kari asked.

"It's Cody. I asked him to try to help Quincy with his focus issues, and he gets all upset because he thinks I'm making fun of his height because I'm asking him to help with basketball." Ken scowled. "Kid needs to freaking grow already."

"I don't know if it's gonna happen." Kari looked down at her watch. "I think he's gonna be short forever."

"I don't want him running so much by the way," Ken commented as TK rounded the corner on the far side. "It'll zap his legs for the games."

"Don't worry, he doesn't run very often. He's fine, we know what we're doing." Kari bit her lower lip as a girl attempted to say something to TK as he came around the last corner, but TK ignored her and kept on running. "Although I'd prefer a private track sometimes."

"Oh, this is only the beginning," Ken said warningly. "So how's he doing?"

"Whiny," Kari responded quickly. "Y'know. Always finding something to be negative about. Not that I blame him. It might be time to stick a fork in this Quincy thing before it hurts us."

"If I bury Quincy, we'll be lucky to win half of the rest of our games. Vanilla offenses don't work long if that's all you run." Ken crossed his arms over his chest. "If this Quincy thing doesn't work out, then we were screwed either way. But if it does...don't tell TK, but there's no reason why we can't win the district tournament. It's the only option. We have to get him going."

"Yeah, well, tell that to TK."

At that moment, TK slowed to a halt in front of the two. "Hello. Here to tell me how I was so very much right and you were ridiculously wrong?"

"No," Ken said flatly. "Stay the course."

"Oh, so Quincy's getting the green light next week? Against Roka?" TK scoffed. "Well, we can forget about that one."

"Your lack of faith is disturbing." Ken walked onto the track and smacked TK on the back. "It'll work."

"It's never going to work!" TK hissed. "He can't handle the pressure, that's just how he is! You being his friend for a couple weeks is not going to undo the fourteen years that caused him to become someone who chokes under the spotlight."

"Don't worry, I talked with Coach Stewart already. He agrees that we need to give Quincy a long leash, and he'll let him keep playing until he comes around." Ken nodded.

"That's not what I meant!" TK frowned. "I mean that your leash can be long enough to reach the moon, and it's just not going to happen. And now it's going to cost us games."

"Let me worry about shot distribution," Ken insisted. "You just worry about getting the ball in the low post and rebounding. Now, I actually came here to tell you that there's a party at my place tonight. Be there."

"Who's coming?" TK wiped some sweat off his forehead.

"Everyone. Whole team. Team-building!" Ken called out.

"In your apartment? You're gonna fit ten basketball players into your apartment?" TK put his hands out at his sides. "That's crazy, what are you gonna do, cram someone in the closet?"

"The guy who lives next to me said we can use his place too," Ken explained. "He likes the team, doesn't mind."

"Well, what are we gonna do? Stand around talk to each other?"

"Yeah, what's wrong with that? Get to know your teammates, find common ground. What's wrong with that?" Ken shrugged. "Be there."

"Oh, of course I'll be there. I might be able to give Quincy food poisoning," TK said dryly.

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"I don't really like parties," TK said uneasily, standing in front of the elevator with Kari. "You know that. I mean, I like friends, I like hanging out with people, but...a party with a bunch of people, you just stand around and smile at people while secretly hoping everyone you don't really know goes home."

The elevator gave a soft ding and the doors slid open. The two stepped into the large chamber.

"I know. But it's not the worst thing in the world for you to stretch your boundaries a little. Besides, these are your teammates. You should get to know them. I'm glad Ken is doing this stuff." Kari pushed the button for the fourth floor on the panel, causing the doors to close.

"I dunno, I don't see myself fitting in." TK felt the elevator start to move upwards.

"TK. There are only a handful of basketball players in Japan who play at the level that you do. These guys love you, you're the meal ticket. Suddenly, all of them are getting attention and being a part of a winning team, and it's because of you." Kari leaned against the left wall of the elevator and crossed her right leg over her left.

"I don't...I don't fit in, I don't think. Yeah, I produce, but I'm not a typical basketball guy. I just happen to be tall and skilled." TK shrugged. "Not really my thing."

"That's not true anymore. All kinds of people play basketball. Come on, you know this. Don't fall into those stereotypes. Maybe Steve is into...ballroom dancing, or maybe Derrick likes men's fashion." The elevator stopped and the steel doors slid open.

"Great. I don't like ballroom dancing or men's fashion," TK deadpanned.

"The point is, you have no idea what these guys like." Kari grabbed TK's left hand and led him out of the elevator. "So don't assume anything."

TK and Kari walked down the hall in silence, finally arriving at two doors next to each other that had been left open. People were talking in both rooms. TK and Kari went into the right room, and were immediately greeted by Ken.

"Evening!" Ken called out. "Let's have some fun tonight, guys. Let's not forget, we are the eleven-and-one Rakunan Wildcats. At least until the principal checks his suggestion box and changes the name of the team to the Rakunan Sephiroths."

"If the team changes names to the Sephiroths, I'm quitting," TK said quickly. "Like, right then and there. I will quit the team and leave you guys to fight it out."

"Whatever. Anyway, try to be cool. These guys love you, they look up to you. Put a little bit of effort into it and it'll be your team."

TK shook his head. "Man it's your team. Y'know, maybe I score the most, but you're the leader. You are. And I'm fine with that."

"And I'm fine that you're fine with that. But as the star player, you should at least make yourself open and appear friendly to everyone. These guys already like you. It's not even going to be hard." Ken looked around. "Just make yourself open."

"Hey guys! Torres just scored!" Davis called out from across the living room, pointing at the television.

"You're kidding me!" Vincent said, coming out the hallway to look at the screen.

"Aw man," TK said, walking into the living room. "I was enjoying making fun of him."

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"So you used to be short? Crazy man. I mean, we're all short at some point, but still." Derrick shook his head, sitting on the left edge of the couch.

TK was seated on the right edge, holding a plastic red cup in his left hand. "Yeah. Like, short for my age. I don't know how it happened, but...here I am. Six feet tall." He shrugged. "Crazy, you're right."

"Luiz just got the red card!" Davis yelled out, seated on the right armrest of the couch. "He's mad!"

"Stop yelling," TK said. "If people want to know what's going on in the game they'll watch the game."

"So, you...you into this too?" Vincent asked, leaning against the left wall, pointing at the TV.

"I watch it a little bit. Y'know, I grew up in a soccer culture, so of course I'm into it a little bit. But I don't play. Not really built for it." He pointed at Davis. "Now this guy, this guy and Ken, they're insane. They're on the school soccer team too. As soon as the national tournament ends, soccer starts. They don't even get a week off. And then, soccer wraps up and they're gonna roll right into basketball next year!"

"I like to keep active," Davis said. "I'm competitive. I'm constantly competing. Always wanna win."

"Ken is a prodigy too, you guys are gonna like him. That stuff that makes him so good at basketball, it's the same thing. He plays soccer the same way. It's amazing." TK took a sip out of his cup. "Frenetic, fast pace of play, people can't keep up."

"Man, you guys are just gonna completely flip the script on Rakunan athletics aren't you?" Derrick said.

"You better believe it." TK smirked. "But trust me, seriously, you guys are going to forget I exist after you see Ken on the soccer field."

"Hey! I'm sitting right here," Davis hissed.

"Yeah, and this Davis guy-" TK pointed at Davis "-he plays like my girlfriend's brother. If my girlfriend's brother was drunk."

"I hate you guys," Davis sulked.

"Hey, Tai's really good! That's actually kind of a compliment!" TK leaned back against the couch backrest. "Tai would still probably be good when he's drunk."

"Eh heh heh heh...seriously. I hate you guys." Davis shook his head.

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"Alright Ken. I socialized, I was open, I got to know my teammates, and I kept my mouth shut around Quincy," TK said, looking into the mirror. The two were standing in the school bathroom, changed into their game attire. "I hope, for your sake, it pays off in twenty minutes here."

"This isn't a bank. You can't make deposits of good behavior and withdraw good karma or something," Ken replied. "I'm taking a calculated and sensible risk to help improve the team. No guarantees it happens immediately. I just need you to keep faith in me."

"He had three games to show us something, and we got nothing." TK turned around to look at Ken. "He was...what, one for fourteen from three when the game was actually in question? This is like going into battle with a gun that has gotten jammed every time you've tried to use it in the past. Isn't that an insane idea? That's what you're asking us to do!"

"Like I said. It's a risk. A calculated risk. You just score and rebound. This is a quality team we're playing today. If we don't mix things up a little today we're gonna lose." Ken walked over to TK and smacked him on the back. "Let's roll."