Chapter 13: Ramen
"Both teams, come to the middle," Takeshi called out, stepping into the court's center like a seasoned referee.
Even with pain seeping through every muscle fiber, Dirga limped to the middle with his teammates. His legs were shaking, his calves stiff and sore, but he refused to show it. A part of him wanted to collapse, but pride wouldn't allow it.
Across from him stood Toyonaka's starting five. They were bruised but proud. The handshake line was quiet. No gloating. No bitterness.
As Dirga reached Masaki King, their hands met. For a second, the gym vanished. Only the two of them existed—two monsters in the making, staring each other down.
"Good game," Masaki said, voice calm but weighty. "I won't lose again from here on out."
"Then bring everything you've got," Dirga replied.
Their rivalry had been reborn.
In his previous life, Masaki was his teammate—a powerhouse who carried Toyonaka through thick and thin. But here and now, they stood on opposite sides of the court, bound by fate but separated by ambition.
Dirga knew exactly why Horizon had won. He'd picked apart Toyonaka's predictable defense. After all, he was once part of it. Their rigid formation, their over-reliance on man-to-man coverage, their weak help rotations—they were all exposed.
"You've got a hell of a guard," Reina said, approaching Coach Tsugawa with a firm nod.
"You've got a monster in the paint," Tsugawa answered, glancing at Masaki.