I Died on the Court, Now I'm Back to Rule It-Chapter 79: And the Game Is Over

The final buzzer echoed like a gunshot through the arena.

It was over.

A hard-fought, brutal, beautiful war.

But Horizon couldn’t rest—not yet.

Tomorrow, another battlefield awaited.

...

"And Horizon comes out on top! What a spectacular fourth quarter that was!"

"The fouls, the drama, the pressure—it had everything. And Dirga? That last minute, he was on fire—literally on fire!"

"I’d argue it wasn’t just the final minute. The entire game, he was in control. His vision, his tempo... The Maestro, living up to the name."

"Absolutely. But it wasn’t just Dirga. Rikuya—the Titan—anchored the defense until that heartbreaking fifth foul. Then Taiga, throwing his whole body to hold the paint—he kept Horizon alive when things could’ve broken."

"And Captain Kaito—he pushed beyond his limits, stepping up right when the team needed him. Aizawa was slicing through defenders like a hot knife, Rei hit dagger threes, and Hiroki? He’s the unsung glue. The kind of player every great team is built on."

"And let’s not forget—Dirga is just a first-year. Are we witnessing the rise of an empire?"

"Meanwhile, Rakuzan... they played their game. They stuck to their system. They made Horizon bleed for every point. But in the end—they came up just short."

The commentators’ voices overlapped, riding the high of the final moments. The crowd had started to leave, but the tension still clung to the air.

On Rakuzan’s bench, the storm had already begun to build.

Reiji was fuming—his jaw clenched, his eyes blazing, fists balled tight at his sides like he could punch through the floor.

Tsukasa sat perfectly still, shoulders slumped, his eyes vacant. He was silent, but inside, he was replaying every mistake, every missed help, every hesitation.

Asahi, ever the composed one, stood among them, firm and unreadable. His face showed calm, but the tightness in his jaw betrayed the weight he carried—for his team, for the loss, for the path ahead.

They came close.

So close.

But not close enough.

Across the court, Horizon stood gathered, catching their breath, their expressions a mix of exhaustion, disbelief, and pride.

Dirga exhaled slowly.

Then, despite everything—despite the bruises, the uncalled elbows, the silent whistles—he crossed the court.

He walked straight to Asahi, past Reiji’s scowl, past Tsukasa’s quiet grief.

And he held out his hand.

"Nice game."

Dirga meant it.

Rakuzan had gone too far with their fouls. They had played the game on the edge—and often past it. But this wasn’t about bitterness.

This was about clarity.

This was the kind of team Dirga would face again.

The kind that plays with power, pressure, politics.

The kind that tests your will—not just your skills.

This wasn’t just a win.

It was a lesson.

And Dirga had learned it well.

Asahi stared at him, reading him like a rival general reading the battlefield.

Then, slowly, he nodded.

"Nice game."

They shook hands.

Two leaders. Two thinkers.

Two boys with visions of crowns.

The rest of the players followed.

Slowly.

Reluctantly, in some cases.

Taiga and Reiji locked eyes, and though neither said a word, the sparks between them could’ve lit a wildfire.

Still, hands were shaken.

Respect was given.

The final whistle blew—not for tip-off, but to mark the end.

Rakuzan left in silence.

Horizon left with fire in their eyes.

...

Back in the Locker Room

The door slammed open—

Chaos.

Laughter. Shouting. Shoes hitting lockers. Jerseys flying.

Water bottles popped like soda cans, spraying foam and sweat into the air.

They’d done it.

They’d survived Rakuzan.

One more game.

One more step.

To the Final

In the middle of it all, the familiar insanity began.

Taiga and Aizawa burst into another ridiculous celebratory dance.

Towels spinning, legs flailing like they’d been struck by lightning.

"WE’RE GOING TO THE SEMIIIIII!" Taiga screamed, spinning in a circle with no rhythm at all.

"Stop him before he combusts!" Hiroki shouted, laughing.

"LET THE FLAME BURN, BRO!" Rei added, raising his arms like a hype man.

The room roared.

But one figure didn’t join the fun.

Rikuya sat in silence near his locker, towel over his head, sweat dripping onto the floor. His water bottle remained unopened beside him.

Dirga spotted him.

Walked over.

Kneeling slightly to meet his eyes, Dirga said—

"Rikuya-senpai. It’s okay. We won."

For a second, no answer. Then Rikuya looked up, managing a weak smile.

"I know. I just... fouled out. Left you guys hanging."

Before Dirga could reply, Taiga and Aizawa swooped in like predators smelling emotional vulnerability.

"Hey! Buddha’s brooding again!" Taiga teased, bumping his shoulder.

"Five fouls? That’s all-in, bro. You gave it all. That’s a badge of honor," Aizawa added. fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com

Rikuya chuckled. Not loud. But real.

Dirga smiled, too.

Across the room, Kaito, Rei, and Hiroki exchanged glances. The bond had only grown stronger.

The storm passed.

They were still here.

Then—

CLAP. CLAP.

"Alright, settle down!"

Coach Tsugawa stepped in, commanding attention instantly. His voice was calm, but carried weight.

"Good game. That was a wall—a big one. But we didn’t back down. We didn’t just play harder. We played smarter. We adapted. We believed."

He looked at each player, pausing just long enough to make it personal.

"Keep that belief. We’re not done yet."

Just then, Sayaka entered with a clipboard in hand.

"TOYONAKA won their match."

A ripple ran through the room. The air shifted.

"Nice..." Dirga said, eyes narrowing. "Maybe we’ll meet them again in the final."

The team murmured, energy rising again.

They all remembered that loss.

The burn.

And now... maybe a chance to rewrite it.

"But don’t jump ahead," Sayaka cut in. "Toyonaka still has to get past Heian Gakuen."

"If they can," Taiga scoffed.

"They can’t," Sayaka replied coldly. "Heian’s still the emperor. Don’t forget that."

A pause.

Then Dirga laced up his shoes, voice low but sharp.

"Doesn’t matter. Whoever shows up—we’re ready."

Coach Tsugawa nodded, proud.

"That’s the mindset. Now reset. Hydrate. Get focused. Our next opponent comes from the Wakayama Seiryuu Institute vs. Kōbe Minami Tech matchup."

Sayaka pointed at her clipboard.

"Winner faces us in the semis. Scouting starts soon."

"Meet in the hall in thirty minutes," Tsugawa added. "Move with purpose."

"YES, COACH!" the team echoed.

And just like that, the noise returned.

But this time, it was sharpened.

Focused.

Controlled.

The war with Rakuzan was over.

But the campaign?

The dream?

Still alive.

And burning brighter than ever.

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