As the game continued, the sharp pat-pat-pat of Kayano's sneakers echoed sharply against the polished wooden floor. The basketball bounced with a dull thump-thump, each strike releasing a faint rubbery scent mixed with the warm, stale air of the crowded gym. Beads of sweat collected at the nape of Kogure's neck, trickling slowly down his spine beneath his jersey.
Kayano passed the basketball to Kogure. The ball slid through the air with a soft whoosh before landing squarely in Kogure's hands, the textured leather cool and slightly damp from previous plays. The gym smelled faintly of sweat, old sneakers, and the sharp tang of liniment from players' muscles.
As soon as Kogure caught the ball, Yukio stepped forward, the soles of his shoes scraping against the floor with a quick, gritty sound. The pressure of Yukio's gaze was palpable, forcing Kogure's muscles to tighten instinctively.
Kogure feinted to the right. The sudden shift sent a small rustle of fabric as his jersey pulled taut, and Yukio's feet scuffed as he lunged. A sharp intake of breath echoed from the crowd.
Seizing the moment, Kogure dribbled hard with his right hand, the ball bouncing low and fast, the thump reverberating through the gym. He pivoted sharply to the left, pushing off with his left foot, which scraped and slid slightly on the polished floor. His sneakers squeaked loudly in the sudden burst of speed.
With a smooth motion, Kogure pulled up for a mid-range shot. The ball arced through the air, the rubber surface spinning audibly, before slipping through the net with a satisfying swish.
"Kogure-senpai, nice shot!!" shouted some first-year Yokonan female students, their voices rising with excitement and echoing faintly off the high ceiling.
"Kobayashi-kun, you can win this, I believe in you," said a girl from the stands, her words carried on the humid air.
The ball was inbounded quickly, the sound of fingers slapping leather cutting through the tense atmosphere. On the next possession, Hayato received the basketball from Yukio. He took a quick breath, the stale gym air filling his lungs, and assumed a triple-threat position. His sneakers scraped slightly on the hardwood, and he flexed his fingers tightly around the ball.
"I have to score now. If I don't, we'll be at a disadvantage in the final minutes," he thought to himself, muscles coiled like springs.
Hayato dribbled once, twice, then leapt. The sound of his sneakers squeak-squeak as he pushed off was sharp and sudden. The ball left his fingertips and bounced off the backboard with a muted tap before dropping cleanly through the net.
On the next possession the ball was inbounded to Kayano, his breath coming fast and visible in short, sharp puffs as the gym air grew warmer with each passing minute. He dribbled between his legs, then behind his back. The ball's rubber surface slid briefly against his palm, and the squeak of his shoes was constant and rhythmic, blending with the crowd's rising murmur.
Changing pace, Kayano exploded towards the hoop, pushing off hard with a loud thud of his footfall against the floor. He passed Hayato, who stumbled slightly from the burst of speed, his sweat-slicked skin shining under the harsh gym lights.
"God dammit, I hate to admit it, but he's good. Way better than me for sure," thought Hayato to himself, his chest heaving, sweat trickling into his eyes.
Kayano rose to shoot a floater. The ball floated upward, its surface gleaming under the fluorescent lights before slipping softly through the net without disturbing the rim.
The next possession belonged to Toshigawa. Yukio dribbled with focused intensity, the sound of the ball tapping sharply against the hardwood filling the space between breaths. He drove strongly toward the hoop, the gym air thick and smelling of sweat and rubber soles.
He leapt for a layup, but Ryuu sprang up in an attempt to block. The scrape of sneakers was frantic and loud, the crowd inhaling sharply in anticipation.
In mid-air, Yukio twisted his body like a gymnast, the faint swish of his jersey accompanying his motion as he altered the ball's trajectory. His fingertips brushed the ball in a reverse layup, gently guiding it past Ryuu's outstretched hand.
The ball arced through the air, and the net rippled with a crisp swish as the ball sank through.
"That was amazing!! This game is intense," said Kanae, eyes wide and sparkling with excitement.
"Did you get that, Airi?" she asked immediately after, voice breathless.
"Yes, I've gotten everything," said Airi, voice calm but focused. "We're all set for the video as well," added Yuri, adjusting the camera with a quiet click.
"I honestly didn't expect them to make a comeback against this school. They truly are going to represent our school well," said Kanae, smiling softly as the crowd's collective heartbeat seemed to quicken.
Keichiro sat silently at the side, muscles tense under his warm-up jacket, sweat dotting his brow. "Yukio has improved drastically since the last time we played. Will he be a threat to us this season? No, I doubt it. One man alone can't carry a team," he thought to himself, jaw clenched.
Kayano passed the basketball to Ryuu inside the post. The ball thumped heavily off Ryuu's palm, vibrations coursing up his arm.
Takahiro stepped forward to guard him, feet planted firmly, the sound of his breathing sharp and steady.
"I refuse to let this bastard stop me," Ryuu thought angrily, muscles coiling as he bounced the basketball powerfully on the floor. The thud-thud-thud echoed around the gym, each bounce sending a slight vibration up through the hardwood.
Takahiro staggered back slightly from the force, his face tight with effort, sweat dripping down his temples.
Ryuu spun off Takahiro with a sudden twist. The rustling of their jerseys mixed with the rhythmic bounce of the ball.
He released a floater, the ball sailing softly and cleanly through the air before slipping through the net with a barely audible swish.
Tetsuo took the ball on Toshigawa's next possession. The drip-drip of sweat from the overhead lights mixed with the sharp, quick thump-thump of his dribbling as he crossed into the other half. His sneakers squeaked faintly with each cut and pivot.
He was met by Kogure, who flexed his fingers, ready to contest the play.
"Show me what you're made of, Tetsuo," said Kogure, smiling slightly. The air between them seemed to tighten, thick with anticipation and the faint smell of sweat and leather.
Tetsuo crossed through his legs, the ball sliding low and fast, and easily bypassed Kogure this time. The crowd's breaths caught as the gym echoed with the sharp thump of the ball.
Kogure closed in quickly, breath shallow and rapid.
Tetsuo suddenly stopped, feet scraping against the floor, sneakers squeaking sharply.
He shot a fadeaway two-pointer. Kogure leapt to block, the stretching of his arm accompanied by the rustle of his jersey.
The ball slipped past, swishing through the net cleanly.
"You got me there. Honestly, wasn't expecting that from you," said Kogure, exhaling heavily, muscles tense.
Kayano quickly passed the basketball to Ryuu again, who positioned himself in the paint. Takahiro met him with a solid defensive stance, chest rising and falling rapidly, face flushed.
"This old-looking dude may be basic, but he has strength behind him," Ryuu thought grimly.
"Don't force it, pass the ball out," Kayano advised, his voice steady despite the pounding of his heart.
Manabu suddenly set a sharp screen for Kogure. The sound of the players' sneakers scraped loudly on the hardwood, mixing with the crowd's anxious murmurs.
"Yukio, switch!" shouted Tetsuo, eyes sharp and focused. Yukio nodded quickly, feet moving with precision.
Ryuu passed the ball to Kogure, leaving him alone in a tense one-on-one with Tetsuo.
Kogure spun with a reverse pivot, the ball feeling like an extension of his hand, and got past Tetsuo.
Tetsuo reacted swiftly, shuffling his feet, heart pounding in his chest, sweat dripping from his brow.
Kogure faked a pass to Manabu, the ball moving deftly, his jersey brushing against his opponent's arm. Tetsuo lunged but missed.
Kogure's second step was swift and precise in the opposite direction, catching Tetsuo off guard and bringing back a sharp jolt of nostalgia.
"This feels so familiar, when did this happen?" he thought, muscles tense and mind racing.
Kogure rose, the gym's bright lights catching the sweat on his face as he went up for a dunk.
"Kogure-senpai, you're so cool! Please go out with me!" yelled a girl from the crowd, voice cracking with excitement.
"Oh my word, nice dunk, bro!" shouted a student, voices bouncing off the walls.
"Rings a bell yet, Tetsuo?" Kogure smirked, sweat glistening on his forehead. "You taught me that technique when we were kids. It's called the Euro step, a move your father taught you when he came back from America."
"I don't remember teaching you that," Tetsuo said bluntly, sweat dampening his brow.
"I see. It can't be helped," said Kogure, wiping sweat from his eyes. "I'll just have to beat you. Maybe then I'll jog your memory," he said, sprinting back on defense, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
On the next possession, Hayato dribbled up court, the pat-pat-pat of his shoes resonating with each step. He tried to cross over Kayano, whose quick hands reached out, the faint snap of a steal breaking the tense silence.
Kayano dribbled swiftly to the other side of the court, his breath coming in sharp bursts, and scored a layup. The sound of the ball hitting the backboard and the net's swish echoed powerfully.
"Nice one, Kayano!" said Coach Arimoto, voice steady but encouraging.
"Dammit, that mistake could cost us this game," Hayato thought, chest tight and heart pounding.
Yukio patted Hayato on the back, the brief contact warm and grounding. "Don't worry, we'll get it back," he said, voice calm.
Yukio set a screen for Takahiro, the scrape of their shoes loud as Takahiro cut sharply to the hoop. Hayato passed the basketball with a crisp snap of fingers, and Takahiro scored a floater, the ball gliding softly through the air and swishing in.
Kayano received the ball from Manabu, shifting into a triple-threat stance. He faked a shot; Tetsuo's feet left the ground with a sharp squeak, but he was fooled.
"A fake? He got me," Tetsuo thought, exhaling sharply.
Manabu shot a two-pointer that slipped cleanly through the net.
Takahiro went up for a layup, but Kogure's hands met the ball with a solid thump, blocking the shot.
Kogure drove quickly to the other hoop, muscles rippling under his jersey, breath coming fast.
"When this scores, they can kiss their chances of winning goodbye," said Coach Arimoto with a smile, eyes gleaming.
"Slam dunk that ball, Kogure!" shouted a girl in the stands, voice filled with excitement.
Aoi watched from the sidelines, noting the fanfare.
"Looks like Kogure has a large fan base. I'd be careful if I were you," a girl from the swim team remarked, voice teasing.
"Haha, very funny," Aoi laughed, breath warm in the cool gym air. "I trust him, and I've known him for years now, even before we started going out with each other."
Kogure reached the hoop and jumped, muscles tensing visibly as his feet left the floor. Just as he went up for a dunk, Tetsuo appeared beside him, jumping with equal force.
The sound of their sneakers scraping mid-air was almost silent but filled with tension.
Tetsuo's hands met the ball, blocking the shot with a solid, muffled thud.
"When did you get here, Tetsuo?" Kogure said, surprised, breath ragged.
"No way, that kid! He was able to block Kogure. The difference between their heights and wingspans alone should have made it impossible for him to compete with Kogure in the air," Keichiro said, standing up abruptly, heart pounding.
"He's definitely no ordinary player. For this whole game, he has done nothing but impress me. He's truly an extraordinary specimen," Coach Arimoto thought silently, eyes narrowed.
Tetsuo dribbled up court again, the ball bouncing steadily beneath his fingertips.
Kogure chased after him, sweat dripping into his eyes.
Tetsuo signaled Yukio, who readied himself quickly.
Tetsuo threw a lob, the ball spinning swiftly and high.
Yukio jumped, the gym air thick around him, and caught the ball mid-air.
He slammed it down with a thunderous dunk, the gym erupting with cheers.
"Whoa, an alley-oop!! Toshigawa is a crazy team," said a male student, voice spiked with excitement.
"They're full of surprises, despite being a small team," a Yokonan student murmured, impressed.
"In all honesty, this game isn't about defense anymore. It's about who can score the most. Give it your all, Yukio," Nanaho shouted, voice full of urgency.
"Defense!! Defense!! Defense!!!" Haruko screamed, fists pounding in rhythm.
"That's the way, Takahashi! Cheer them on!" Haruko urged, energy crackling.
On the next possession, Kogure scored a layup, muscles flexing and sweat trickling down his temple.
Takahiro set a sharp screen for Tetsuo, who cut to the rim and scored a layup, the ball slipping softly through the net.
Kayano passed the basketball to Ryuu, who thundered through the paint and dunked, the net snapping crisply.
Tetsuo crossed over, body low, and got by Kogure. He drove hard toward the rim, muscles straining, but Kogure caught up swiftly.
Tetsuo made a sudden stop, sneakers squeaking, and shot a bank shot that hits the backboard before swishing.
Ryuu set a screen for Kogure, who cut sharply to the rim.
Kayano passed the basketball to Kogure, who finished with a reverse dunk, the crowd roaring.
On the next play, Takahiro set a screen for Hayato, who drove and shot a floater that glided softly through the air and swished.
On Yokonan's next possession, Kayano crossed over Hayato and stepped back, shooting a two-pointer that swished cleanly.
"This is bad, there is only one minute and thirty seconds remaining, and we are down by four. We can't seem to close the gap," Nanaho thought, heart pounding, sweat dripping down her back.
Tetsuo drove strong to the rim, breath ragged, muscles burning.
He went up for a layup, but Kogure jumped, hands stretched high.
Tetsuo sensed this and changed the ball's position mid-air, performing a double clutch that scored cleanly.
"Whoa!!! You've got to admire number eleven's mad skills!" shouted a student, voice nearly drowned by the crowd's roar.
"The game is down to a two-point difference!! We need to stop them on this play, everyone. Play hard and don't stop until you hear the whistle!!" Yukio shouted, voice fierce and commanding.
"This is it. If we score here, it will be the end of the game," said Coach Arimoto, voice calm but intense.
"Do your best, everyone!!! We can win this!!!" shouted Shino, clapping and stomping.
Kayano passed the basketball to Ryuu, and Takahiro put pressure on him, sweat dripping down his face.
"I will defend our basket. You will not score anymore," said Takahiro, eyes burning with determination.
"God dammit," Ryuu muttered, fingers gripping the ball tight as he passed to a teammate.
The teammate caught it, then passed quickly to Kogure.
Kogure tried to shake off Yukio with nimble dribbling, the ball skimming lightly over his fingertips, but Yukio stood firm, body low, playing solid defense.
"You won't budge, huh?" Kogure said, breath coming fast.
"Fine, then," he muttered as he passed the basketball to Manabu.
Tetsuo stepped up to guard Manabu, who hesitated, sweat dripping from his brow.
"What's wrong? Are you too scared to challenge me?" asked Tetsuo, voice low and taunting.
"Why you... I'm better than you!" Manabu snapped, pushing off for a three-pointer.
"Manabu, don't!" Kayano shouted from the sideline, voice urgent.
Tetsuo jumped, sneakers squeaking sharply, and blocked Manabu's shot.
"No, he stopped me," Manabu muttered, breath shaky.
The ball rolled toward the sideline, nearly going out of bounds, but Noboru sprinted after it. His sneakers pounded hard on the floor, echoing the thudding of his heartbeat.
"If it goes out, it will be all over. We'll lose," he thought, lunging.
He struck the ball with a solid thwack, knocking it out of Ryuu's reach and causing it to go out of bounds instead.
"Out of bounds, black ball," the ref called clearly, whistle sharp and piercing.
"Damn, you bastard!" Ryuu yelled, face red with frustration and sweat.
Noboru rose off the floor, chest heaving. He smirked at Ryuu and said, "Whose trash now?"
"Nice one, Noboru! Great work!" said Takahiro, relief audible in his voice.
"Good one, Noboru!" Yukio added, letting out a deep sigh.
"They did it, they stopped Yokonan," Haruko said quietly, happiness shining in her eyes.
"Give me a timeout!" shouted Nanaho, voice cracking.
"Timeout, Toshigawa Academy," said the ref, whistle sharp once more.