The final buzzer echoed like thunder.

Seiryō High – 110. Easton Technical High– 109.

For a few seconds, the world stood still. The court felt suspended between silence and roar the air thick with disbelief, pride, exhaustion, and awe.

Silence — then chaos.

The stands erupted. Fans screamed. Banners waved.

And from the bench, Arisa shot up before the sound had even faded.

"They did it!" she cried, her voice cracking with joy.

Beside her, Coach Aoyama exhaled for the first time in what felt like hours. Her lips curved into the faintest smile proud, controlled, yet full of warmth.

"Go," she said softly to Arisa. "They earned that."

Cheers shook the gym walls. The echo of sneakers, the hum of the scoreboard, the sight of both teams drenched in sweat, gasping for breath, yet smiling through the fatigue created a picture that would live forever in memory.

Marcus dropped to his knees, chest heaving. His vision blurred from tears and sweat.

Yuuto stood beside him, fists clenched in triumph, the red aura that once flared behind him now dissipating like steam.

And across the court Sho, captain of Easton, stood tall. Despite the loss, his eyes carried calm. Pride. Leadership.

Arisa sprinted from the bench rhe other bench players right behind her. Water bottles fell. Towels flew.

Arisa collided into Marcus and Yuuto with a full-force hug.

"You guys did it!" she laughed, half-crying, half-shouting. "You actually did it!"

Yuuto stumbled back, catching her by instinct, laughing breathlessly. "Arisa! I can't breathe!"

Marcus grinned, sweat dripping down his jaw. "You came flying faster than my fast break!"

She smacked his arm lightly, still laughing through tears. "Don't you dare joke right now!"

Around them, the crowd chanted Seiryō's name, stomping their feet until the gym shook.

The bench players piled in, hugging, shouting, crying.

From the sidelines, Coach Aoyama finally stood, her expression calm but her eyes shining. She nodded once a silent acknowledgment. You led them well.

Kana and Ayaka were in the stands, waving their arms like maniacs.

"That's our boys!"

"Seiryō forever!"

Arisa finally stepped back, cheeks flushed, looking between Yuuto and Marcus.

Her voice trembled, soft but certain.

"That was… the most beautiful game I've ever seen."

Marcus looked down, a half-smile curving his lips. "Yeah… it really was."

The referee blew the final whistle again, signaling the end of the game officially which cut through the celebration..

"Line up! Show respect!" The referee called out.

The players lined up at center court.

The atmosphere shifted still bright, but grounded now. Both teams lined up at center court, facing each other.

"Thank you for the match!"

The unified chant echoed like an oath.

Itsuki stood across from Marcus, both drenched in sweat, both breathing hard.

When they bowed, it wasn't just ritual it was acknowledgment.

Mutual respect.

Marcus offered his hand. "You're the hardest wall I've ever faced."

Itsuki smirked faintly. "And you're the only one who broke through it."

They shook hands — firm, heavy with meaning.

Sho approached Marcus first. The crowd watched silently, cameras flashing.

Sho extended his hand, sweat dripping down his wrist.

Marcus looked at him for a moment the one player he had tried so hard to imitate… and failed.

But this time, instead of shame, there was understanding.

Sho smiled faintly. "You learned, didn't you?"

Marcus nodded slowly. "Yeah… trying to be you almost cost us the game."

Sho shook his head. "You don't have to be me, Marcus. Leadership isn't about imitation. It's about direction. When you stopped chasing my shadow… that's when your team started following your light."

Marcus froze, words caught in his throat. Sho gave his shoulder a firm pat.

"Keep walking your own path. That's what a real captain does."

On the other end of the line, Orson, Easton ace — the "Short King" — was shaking hands with Yuuto. The two of them seemed to glow in the spotlight, small in height but towering in spirit.

Yuuto grinned. "You're incredible, man. You made me wanna push harder."

Orson's smile was humble, but his eyes burned. "I'm glad. Guess short guys gotta keep proving ourselves, huh?"

"Yeah," Yuuto chuckled. "I'm gonna surpass you one day."

Orson laughed softly. "You already did. I can tell you were holding back because of that injury. Don't rush it your time's coming."

Yuuto blinked. "…Thanks."

They bumped fists before parting ways mutual respect, unspoken but deeply felt.

The coaches met next.

Coach Hikari from Seiryō approached Coach Hazama from Easton, both exchanging firm handshakes.

"That was a hell of a game," Hazama said. "Your players… they've got heart. The kind that can't be taught."

Hikari smiled faintly. "And yours have structure. I respect that. The Balance system it's terrifying. Every play, every switch, it's like watching precision clockwork."

Hazama chuckled. "And yet, your chaos broke it. Guess we both learned something tonight."

They both looked at their captains from across the gym Sho and Marcus, talking with mutual respect.

"Leadership isn't born overnight," Hikari said softly.

Hazama nodded. "No. But sometimes, it's forged in the fire of defeat."

Up in the stands, Kana, Ayaka, and the other Seiryō students were standing, still buzzing from the intensity of the game.

Kana cupped her hands around her mouth, yelling, "SHUNJIN!! YOU LEGEND!!"

Yuuto waved back sheepishly. Ayaka laughed, nudging her. "You almost screamed his ear off."

"I don't care! Did you see that aura? He looked like a red lion out there!"

Ayaka smiled faintly, her gaze soft. "Yeah… that was more than just basketball. That was his pride."

After the ceremony, an announcer's voice echoed through the gym.

"Teams, please clear the court. The next match will begin shortly!"

Players began filing off, still buzzing, still exchanging handshakes and brief words.

Yuuto, Marcus, and Daichi lagged behind a bit, heading toward the locker room together.

Daichi stretched his arms. "Man, I thought my heart was gonna explode during that last minute."

Marcus laughed quietly. "Yeah… me too."

Yuuto smiled. "But we did it."

As they walked down the tunnel, Marcus looked sideways at Yuuto. "Hey… about earlier. When you told me to stop following Sho"

Yuuto interrupted, smirking. "I meant it. You're the captain, Marcus. Not him. You lead in your own rhythm."

Marcus chuckled, shaking his head. "Guess I needed to hear that."

Halfway through the hall, Daichi pointed toward the vending machines near the exit. "I'm grabbing something cold. You two want anything?"

Yuuto shrugged. "Water's fine."

Marcus "Same."

They waited by the vending machine, the hum of the cooling fans filling the silence. Then a shadow fell over them.

A tall figure stood nearby a young man wearing a jet-black tracksuit with the emblem of another school stitched on the chest.

His presence was quiet but heavy, his eyes sharp like a predator studying prey.

He spoke calmly. "That was a good game."

Marcus turned. "Thanks. You play too?"

The stranger smiled faintly. "Yeah. You could say that."

Yuuto noticed the emblem a silver crown engraved over a winged lion.

His heart skipped a beat. "Wait… that's"

The boy raised his head. His gaze burned like molten gold.

"I'm Rikuya Kanzaki," he said. "One of the Kings of the Court."

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