Halftime – Tokinaga Leads 36–32

Kaizen's trailing.

Not by points—but by confidence.

Renji sits with a towel over his face.

Updat𝓮d from freewēbnoveℓ.com.

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.