Let Kaito cook.
One bounce.
Stop.
Rise.
Fade.
Bang.
69 – 68.
"KAITO AGAIN! Fadeaway fire! This is what we waited for!"
"But there's no time to celebrate—Kurotsuki's sprinting back like wolves."
…
Kurotsuki answered.
This time, Taniguchi brought it.
Low dribble. Sharp pace.
Dirga rotated to meet him—
But it was bait.
Sho slipped in behind the play, ghost-screen low.
A blur. A flick.
Taniguchi zipped it to Toshiro at the slot.
One bounce. Pull-up.
Splash.
69 – 70.
No celebration.
No raised fists.
Just silence honed into rhythm.
…
The court felt tighter now.
Like every step pressed down on a wire.
Each pass—
a thread set on fire.
Fragile.
Crackling.
Perfectly timed.
Dirga exhaled.
Maestro State pulsed faintly at the edges of his vision.
The rhythm was nearly spent.
He looked at Kaito.
Kaito wiped sweat from his brow.
Didn't smile.
Just whispered—
"Just a few more notes."
Dirga nodded once.
Quiet. Centered.
"Let's finish the song."
