Halftime – Tokinaga Leads 36–32
Kaizen's trailing.
Not by points—but by confidence.
Renji sits with a towel over his face.
Souta's hands won't stop shaking.
Drift is chewing his wrist tape, eyes glazed.
Coach Tanaka looks to Riku on the bench.
> "What would you say right now?"
Riku doesn't hesitate.
> "I'd remind them who the hell we are."
---
🔥 Riku Gets Up
Crutches. One step. Another.
He walks into the center of the locker room.
Takes off his sweatband. Throws it on the floor.
> "Ayame's not stronger.
She's just louder in the silence."
He locks eyes with Renji.
> "You're not angry enough?
Then stop playing like you're trying to impress her—
And start playing like she took everything from you."
Renji stands.
Silent.
Eyes burning.
---
🕛 3rd Quarter – Return to the Court
Ayame watches Kaizen walk back in.
Her face stays unreadable—
But her fingers tap the ball with a new rhythm.
> "Now… maybe we'll dance for real."
---
💥 Renji Unleashed
First possession.
He doesn't run a play.
Doesn't pass.
He pulls up from five feet beyond the arc.
Swish.
Next play—drives through two defenders.
And-one.
No celebration.
Just eyes locked on Ayame.
> "I'm not angry.
I'm alive."
---
🧠 Souta Goes Genius Mode
He starts reading Ayame's chain pattern.
> "Every time she does a skip pass early, she fakes left on the next rotation."
He whispers calls mid-play.
Intercepts.
Steals.
Assists Drift in transition.
Ayame finally stumbles.
---
🔥 Drift's Resurgence
Drift gets the ball top of the key.
Ayame switches onto him for the first time.
She tries to mirror his movement.
But Drift fakes a trip—then rolls under her arm.
Slip Drive. Reverse finish.
> "You play with flow," he tells her.
"But I am chaos."
---
🥶 Ayame's First Crack
She calls a set.
But her teammates hesitate.
One fumbles a cut.
She resets.
But for the first time—
she looks unsure.
---
🕯️ Final Play of the 3rd – Kaizen Up 52–50
Riku calls for Ember Flow Variant 4 from the bench.
Drift signals it.
Renji stands still
Souta and Daiki run X-screens
Keigo ghost cuts
Drift walks toward the half court—
Then suddenly flings a no-look to Renji
who was already moving before the ball left his hand.
Corner three.
Splash.