I Died on the Court, Now I'm Back to Rule It

The Horizon bench gathered like a weathered army regrouping before the final charge.

Sweat dripped.

Hearts pounded.

Legs ached like rusted metal.

Sayaka, ever reliable, moved between them like a medic in the trenches—

Handing out bottles, slinging towels over shoulders, her voice soft but steady.

"Here. Water. Breathe, okay? You’re not machines."

But they were damn close to becoming one.

Coach Tsugawa’s voice cut through the fog.

"You need to slow down. Stop letting them bait you."

The players raised their heads—exhausted, wired, blood still pumping too fast.