Score: 78–78. Overtime Begins.
My chest heaved like I'd just run a marathon. Every muscle in my body screamed. My vision blurred, and my legs felt like stone. The Flow had pushed me to my limit—no, past it. I collapsed into the bench, drenched in sweat, lungs dragging in air like a broken bellows.
Coach Tsugawa looked down at me, eyes searching.
"You're done?" he asked softly.
I couldn't answer right away.
But I knew... I wasn't done.
"I just need... two minutes," I gasped.
He nodded once. "Alright. Kaito."
Our captain stepped forward from the shadows of the bench. His expression was calm—but behind that was a sharp fire. He pulled off his warm-up top and tightened his shoes.
Coach laid a hand on his shoulder. "Run point until Dirga's ready."
Kaito nodded. "I'll give him two minutes of hellfire."
"You rest. Then come back and finish this together."
Horizon Lineup: Kaito, Rei, Aizawa, Taiga, Rikuya
Zenith Lineup: Isaiah, Ryoga, Leonard, Hajime, Emir
Jump ball again. Rikuya versus Emir.
This time, Emir slapped it back with more power. Zenith took the opening possession.
They didn't waste time.
Isaiah jab-stepped, drove in, drew both Taiga and Aizawa—then kicked it to Ryoga in the corner.
Kaito walked the ball up. Slow. Controlled.
He called for an isolation. Used Rikuya's off-ball screen to shake Isaiah, then drove right into the paint, jumping high, body twisting mid-air—
The next three minutes were chaos.
Zenith hit again—Leonard with a nasty mid-range fade.
Kaito answered with a dish to Taiga under the rim.
Isaiah exploded for a coast-to-coast layup.
Rei splashed a three in reply.
Every possession felt like it would break the court in two.
From the bench, I gripped my knees, breath finally returning.
I looked up at Coach.
Kaito glanced over, smiled, and gave me a thumbs-up.
"Then let's end this," I said, stepping onto the hardwood again.
PG: Dirga. SG: Kaito.
Zenith had to adjust. They couldn't double both of us.
We started slow. First play: I brought the ball up. Isaiah was back on me, claws out, eyes sharp.
But I wasn't rattled anymore.
Not after all we'd endured.
I called for a screen, baited the trap—and dished a one-touch pass behind my back to Kaito.
Catch. Pull-up jumper.
The crowd began chanting again—"Horizon! Horizon!"
Zenith tried to reply. Isaiah attacked, but Rikuya and Taiga formed a wall. Forced kick-out. Hajime's shot rimmed out.
I got the rebound and pushed.
Kaito trailed me—cut inside.
I no-look passed it behind me, and Kaito caught it in stride, going up against Emir.
"AND ONE!" Rei screamed from the sideline.
Kaito stepped to the line.
Sweat dripped down his chin. His arms trembled. But he looked at the rim like he had since day one—with calm.
But Isaiah Dumont wasn't done.
Zenith rallied. A three by Ryoga. A putback by Leonard.
Now we were trailing. Just under one minute left.
The bench was tense. Everyone stood.
Coach looked at me and Kaito.
"This is it," he said. "Either you win it now, or we go home."
Kaito patted my back. "We've got this."
We walked onto the court together.
Twenty seconds left. Our ball.
I didn't try to outrun him this time.
I faked a drive. Isaiah leaned in. I spun, then bounced the ball low, straight through his legs.
It bounced once, landed in Kaito's hands.
Zenith rushed. Isaiah barreled down the court.
He passed to Leonard. Shot from the top of the key.
Emir leapt—but Rikuya boxed him out.
I grabbed the rebound.
Final Score: Horizon 92 – Zenith 90.
We had beaten the undefeated, the physically dominant, the strategic juggernaut.
The crowd lost its mind.
Rei jumped into my arms. Taiga was crying. Aizawa roared like a beast. Coach pumped both fists in the air.
I turned to Kaito, running to him with a grin.
But he wasn't smiling.
"KAITO!" I rushed to catch him before he hit the ground.
Coach and Tsugawa sprinted over.
Kaito gasped for air, gripping my jersey weakly. "I'm fine... just—needed that win..."
"You idiot," I whispered, holding back tears.
"You played till the end."
His lips curled into a tired smile.
"Of course. I'm the captain."
The med team arrived, helping lift him gently onto a stretcher.
But even as he was rolled away, his arm raised in a fist.
The crowd responded in kind.
As I stood there watching him go, one truth settled in my chest:
We weren't just playing basketball.
We were building something legendary.
And our final war was waiting.
Next: The Finals – Horizon vs. Toyonaka High.