The gym was a storm.
Crowds screamed until their voices cracked, banners waved like ocean waves, and the echo of sneakers was drowned beneath the pulse of hundreds of hearts beating in sync. The scoreboard glared bright across the court Easton 84, Seiryō 81 and the tension was a living thing, clawing at every breath.
Marcus wiped sweat from his chin. His body ached, but his eyes burned with resolve.
Three points. That was all that separated them. Three points between collapse and resurrection.
Coach Aoyama called from the sideline, voice sharp as a whip.
"Stay focused! Trust your reads!"
Yuuto dribbled across half-court, his movements measured, each bounce a heartbeat. Itsuki Takashima's golden eyes tracked him like a hawk, analyzing every twitch, every faint shift of weight. He had already intercepted three passes this quarter alone his prediction ability sharper than ever.
He's reading everything, Marcus thought grimly. Every angle, every hesitation.
