š„ Scene 1: Cracks in the Frame
"Kudo, sit down! You're bleeding!"
Ayako pressed a towel to my nose as I hunched on the bench, head spinning.
My limbs felt like lead. My mind still saw the court in X-ray visionābut it was hurting me to use it.
Ayako whispered, "You're overheating. Literally."
I chuckled. "That's a new one."
But her eyes stayed sharp. "What are you hiding, Kudo?"
Before I could answer, Coach Anzai cut in.
"Rest. That's an order."
I noddedā¦ but deep down, I knew this wasn't over.
š Scene 2: The Rise of the Redhead
Without me, it was Sakuragi's time.
Rukawa passed him the ball.
Sakuragi blinked. "You're passing to me?!"
Rukawa: "Don't waste it."
Sakuragi roared down the lane, spun, faked once, thenāPOWER DUNK.
Crowd: "SAKURAGI!! SAKURAGI!!"
He turned to the bench, grinning.
"Kudo, are you watching?! I'M A STAR!"
Haruko clapped. Ayako smiled.
Even I had to admitā¦ he was carrying the team now.
Then it was Rukawa's turn.
Cold. Sharp. Fast.
Layup. Steal. Fadeaway.
It was beautiful.
Shohoku was back in the lead.
š„ Scene 3: The Monster Unleashed
But Reiji Odaā¦ wasn't done.
With 3 minutes left, something changed.
He stopped calling plays.
Stopped listening to Minami.
He took over.
"If you won't face me again, Hirataā¦
Then I'll BREAK your team."
He blocked Sakuragiāhard.
Tricked Miyagi into a turnover.
Put Rukawa on the floor with a spin step.
Score tied.
Timeout.
Everyone looked at Coach.
Coach looked at me.
"Can you go?"
I stood. My head pounded.
But my voice was clear:
"I have to."
š„ Scene 4: The Final Clash
Back on court.
1 minute 10 seconds.
Reiji vs. Me.
He grinned. "Didn't learn the first time?"
I didn't reply. Just dribbled.
1ā¦ 2ā¦ Ghost Step.
He shadowed it.
OverclockāLevel 2.
I blinked past him.
Slid the ball to Rukawa, backdoor cutāscore.
Then Reiji came down. Hit a 3. Crowd screamed.
30 seconds.
Our ball.
I called the play.
Everyone movedālike clockwork.
Rukawa fake. Sakuragi screen.
I spun. Jumped.
Saw Reiji flying to block me.
MidairāI dumped the ball behind my back.
Sakuragi caught it.
One-handed slam.
Buzzer.
š Scene 5: The Aftermath
Shohoku: 79 ā Fukuda: 78
The gym was madness.
Reiji stood frozen.
Then, walked past me.
"You're still weakā¦
ā¦but you're no fake."
He left.
I nearly collapsed.
Ayako caught me.
"You need to rest. But after thatā¦
you tell me everything."
Haruko approached, worried.
"Are you okay?"
I smiled.
"I've never been better."
But deep insideā¦
The cost is coming.