David was running late for the basketball team meeting. As he rushed into the room, he quickly tossed his bag on the bench and jogged over to join the rest of the guys, who were already deep in conversation.

Coach cleared his throat and raised his clipboard, his eyes narrowing in mock annoyance. "Good of you to join us, David. About time," he said, voice sharp but with a hint of amusement. The other guys greeted David with handshakes and fist bumps as Coach continued scribbling on his clipboard, clearly not bothered by the delay.

Standing at the front of the room, Coach straightened up and got everyone's attention. "Alright, listen up. As of today, it's not just gonna be me running the show anymore. We’re bringing in an assistant coach as we gear up for the championship finals." He paused, looking up at the team, then went back to writing on his clipboard.

One of the players, a bit confused, spoke up. "But, Coach, we're only in the semi-finals." A few other guys murmured in agreement, casting curious glances at each other.

Coach blew his whistle, loud and sharp, cutting the chatter. "Settle down, everyone," he snapped, his tone firm. "It’s just procedure. And let’s not forget—the championship? That’s where the scholarships come in. So, if we want those, we need to stay sharp. Now, get ready to warm up." He dropped the clipboard on the table with a thud, crossing his arms over his chest as he surveyed the team.

"The assistant coach will be here any minute now, so let's get moving," Coach said, his voice brimming with authority. He clapped his hands together, and the team immediately snapped into action, gathering their gear and hustling to the court.

David, still catching his breath, couldn't help but feel the excitement build. Championship finals—and maybe even scholarships? This was the real deal.