After the high-octane introductions, the court transformed into a different kind of battlefield—warm-ups.
Players moved through their routines: layups, stretches, shot drills.
But for Dirga, his eyes weren’t just on the ball.
High in the bleachers, she stood with a megaphone and a handmade flag.
Leading the Horizon student section like a general commanding an army.
Their chants echoed with power, and their rhythm was perfect—like a heartbeat.
Ayaka caught Dirga looking.
Dirga smiled, lowered his head, and gave a small wave back.
But that peaceful feeling didn’t last long.
Because now—it was time.
Dirga activated his Status Skill. This wasn’t just instinct. This was precision.
He first swept over his own team—he knew most of their status from the last game.
But Hiroki and Rei... he hadn’t seen them up close before.
Hiroki Andou (SG, SF)
Inside Scoring: D+ to B
Inside Scoring: D to B+
Starting Five - Horizon:
The warm-up buzzer sounded.
Both teams retreated to their benches, then lined up for the opening tip-off.
Coach Tsugawa stood silently with arms crossed, eyes like a hawk.
Referees raised the ball.
Rikuya Asano walked to center court—The Titan of Horizon.
Across from him stood Toyonaka’s Tower, Haruto Senda.
Massive. Calm. Unshakable.
Two giants. No smiles. No words. Just breath and tension.
Dirga used one more scan—
This time on Toyonaka. And what he saw... shocked him.
Inside Scoring: C to B
Inside Scoring: B+ to A+
Inside Scoring: S+ to SSS+
Dirga stared, wide-eyed.
"SSS+ inside scoring... that’s absurd. That’s like... unstoppable."
Toyonaka’s players were defensive titans. Every one of them had at least A in defense.
This wasn’t just a match.
And still—Dirga clenched his fists.
"It doesn’t matter. We’ve come this far. We’ll find a way."
The referee raised the ball.
The ball soared into the air like a spotlight.
Rikuya vs Haruto. Titan vs Tower.
Both big men leapt—shoulders tight, arms outstretched.
Rikuya’s hand met the ball first, sending it toward Horizon’s half.
Taiga Okabe snatched it on the run.
Now it was in the maestro’s hands.
Dirga dribbled past halfcourt, eyes scanning, mind racing.
The crowd was deafening, but inside his head, everything slowed down.
His hands moved—not just to dribble—but to conduct.
A subtle finger flick. A palm wave. A nod.
His teammates responded.
The offense began to shift into rhythm.
But so did Toyonaka’s defense.
Yuto Kobayashi was glued to Dirga like a second shadow.
Fast feet. Sharp eyes.
But Dirga—didn’t panic.
Dirga exploded forward like a bullet.
Yuto blinked—and lost half a step.
Dirga got past the first line.
But now—Shunpei and Daichi collapsed in. A wall. A double team.
Two gaps. Two options : Aizawa cutting through the paint, slicing like a blade. And Kaito, wide open in the corner. Waiting. Ready.
Dirga didn’t hesitate.
The ball zipped across the court like a laser—
He caught it in rhythm.
Crowd held their breath.
Kaito backpedaled with fire in his eyes, his teammates yelling, his name echoing through the crowd.
Dirga pointed at him.
And the war had only just begun.
Inbound to Yuto Kobayashi.
He walked the ball up with icy calm, like a chess player already thinking three moves ahead.
But Horizon wasn’t waiting around.
Their defense locked in.
Face to face with the "Black Thunder."
And the moment Masaki touched the ball—
A trap would be triggered.
But the second Masaki made his move, they’d shift into a hybrid zone:
Collapse on the king.
And then—it happened.
Yuto flicked a sharp pass to Masaki near the top of the key.
But Dirga was already there.
Anticipation. Timing. Read.
He jumped the passing lane—
Shunpei sprinted in to recover—
But Taiga bulldozed through and scooped it up, leaving Masaki in the dust.
Fast break. Horizon on the charge.
Dirga was already gone, sprinting down the court.
Aizawa right beside him.
Taiga pushed the ball forward—
A wild bounce pass, flying low across the hardwood.
But Aizawa reached out—caught it clean.
No one left to stop him.
Dirga sprinted wide, drawing the defense with him.
Aizawa charged the paint—
Left... then right...
The defender flinched.
Layup. Off the glass.
The Horizon crowd roared.
Ayaka jumped from her seat, waving the banner high.
Sayaka on the sideline was already yelling at Taiga to keep his head.
He just folded his arms.
The game wasn’t over.