Match 1:
Sakura High vs Kensai West
Time: 9:00 AM – 9:40 AM
Opening Match – Fast tempo, high pressure. Riku's first test.
Match 2:
Osaka Thunder High vs Kyoto West Tech
Time: 10:00 AM – 10:40 AM
Kyoto's home crowd advantage tested against Osaka's sharpshooter team.
Match 3:
Hokuto Spirit Academy vs Blue River High
Time: 11:00 AM – 11:40 AM
Both underdogs but full of wild-card players.
Match 4:
Neo Tokyo Elite vs Shizuoka Flame High
Time: 12:00 PM – 12:40 PM
Neo Tokyo's dominant squad showcases pro-level plays.
Semifinals:
Start from 2:00 PM onward with winners from Match 1–4.
Final:
Start from 5:00 PM
The crowd roared in the massive Kyoto University gym as Sakura High stepped onto the court, their white-and-blue jerseys catching the light. The energy in the air was electric—charged with nerves, dreams, and unspoken rivalries.
At the center stood Toma, the team captain, his sharp eyes scanning the opposing team from Kansai West High. He cracked his neck once and bounced the ball. Behind him, Riku, the rising star of Sakura High, tightened his wristband, exhaling deeply.
"Let's make this one count," Toma muttered.
The referee blew the whistle. The ball shot into the air.
Toma leapt high, tipping it with precision. Sakura gained possession.
Riku caught the ball mid-sprint. Without hesitation, he dribbled past one defender. Another came charging—Riku spun, lowered his stance, and passed to Kenji, who launched a clean shot. Two points.
The crowd burst into cheers. Mei, from the stands, clenched her hands. Her eyes didn't leave Riku.
Kansai countered. Their point guard was quick—light on his feet, aggressive. He broke through Toma's block and pulled up at the three-point line. Swish. Three points.
Now the pressure was on.
Sakura's play shifted—Riku and Kenji began to sync like clockwork. Toma's leadership controlled the tempo. Screens were set, rebounds were fought for. Every move, every pass, was a silent conversation between players.
Then came the moment.
Riku caught a high pass at the arc. The defender was on him. He faked left, dashed right, drove toward the rim—and leapt. The gym froze.
Dunk.
The crowd exploded. Mei gasped, her heart skipping a beat. On the side, Asahi, having just arrived, watched quietly, her eyes narrowing.
Back and forth the teams clashed—fast breaks, steals, turnovers, rebounds.
Toma roared at his team, "Defense! Hold them!"
Kansai High grew desperate. They fouled twice. Missed shots. Sloppy passes.
Sakura stayed composed.
Final possession. One point lead. Riku dribbled, clock ticking in everyone's mind though no one looked up. He wasn't playing the time—he was playing fate.
Step-back. Jump shot.
Net.
Kansai couldn't respond in time.
Sakura High 67 – Kansai West 63.
The match ended. The whistle blew.
The team ran to each other, roaring in victory. Riku looked up into the stands, straight at Mei.
She stood slowly, lips trembling with a smile.
Asahi was beside her.
Their eyes met—but Mei didn't look away this time.
As the final whistle blew and the cheers echoed through the Kyoto University gym, Mei remained seated in the stands, her eyes fixed on the court where Riku had just led Sakura High to their first victory. Her heart was still pounding—not from the game, but from the weight of Riku's earlier words, and the silent promise they carried.
A soft rustle came from beside her. Without looking, she already knew.
"Can I sit here?" a quiet voice asked.
Mei turned slightly. Asahi stood there, her expression calm but unreadable. Mei gave a small nod.
Asahi sat down, her presence subtle, yet undeniable. Their shoulders almost touched, the space between them filled with a gentle tension neither addressed.
"You came," Mei said, her voice just above a whisper.
"I did," Asahi replied, her gaze locked on the court. "I heard Sakura High made it to the tournament. I figured you'd be here… watching him."
Mei nodded slowly. She didn't need to ask who "him" was.
"He played well," Asahi continued after a pause, her tone soft.
"Yeah," Mei murmured. "He promised me he'd win."
"I see." There was a brief silence between them. Not uncomfortable, but thick with unspoken thoughts.
Then, unexpectedly, Asahi smiled—small, wistful.
"I'm cheering for him too," she said. "But more than that… I'm cheering for you."
Mei turned to her, startled. "For me?"
Asahi's eyes didn't leave the court. "Yeah. You matter too… even if it feels like you're standing in his shadow right now."
Mei looked down at her hands, clasped tightly in her lap, then back at the court where Riku was laughing with his teammates. A quiet breath escaped her lips.
"…Thank you," she whispered.
And for a fleeting moment, in the noise of victory and the silence between them, a strange, tender understanding passed between two girls bound by the same boy—and something more.
The locker room was filled with the scent of sweat and victory. Laughter echoed off the tiled walls. Toma was joking with Kenji, while the coach gave a short debrief. But Riku had already slipped away, finding a quiet corner in the waiting room, towel draped around his neck.
He sat on the bench, head tilted back, eyes on the ceiling. His heart was still pounding—not from exhaustion, but from the rush of that final shot. The cheers, the pressure, the win.
A soft knock.
The door creaked open, and Mei stepped in.
She closed the door gently behind her, clutching a bottle of water. Her eyes met his, soft, proud.
"You were amazing out there," she whispered.
Riku stood slowly, eyes never leaving her. "You came."
Mei nodded, stepping closer. "Of course."
He reached out, taking her hand gently. Then, without a word, he leaned in—his breath brushing against her lips, eyes half-lidded, hesitating.
But Mei pressed two fingers to his mouth.
"After you win the tournament," she said softly, a teasing smile dancing on her lips. "Not just one match."
Riku's eyes flickered, a mixture of frustration and admiration. He gave a quiet laugh. "You're really going to make me earn it, huh?"
Mei's eyes sparkled. "I'm not cheering for a moment. I'm cheering for your dream."
She squeezed his hand and turned to leave.
As the door closed behind her, Riku stood there alone—but a fire burned brighter in his chest.
He wasn't just playing for the trophy now.
He was playing for her.
Second Match: Osaka Thunder High vs Kyoto West Tech
The gym buzzed with energy as the second match of the tournament was announced. Unlike the previous one, this was personal. Both teams had a reputation—Osaka Thunder High for their aggressive plays and Kyoto West Tech for their precise, tactical defense.
The announcer's voice boomed through the arena.
"Match Two: Osaka Thunder High versus Kyoto West Tech! Players, to the court!"
The crowd roared. Students from both schools were chanting, banners waving in school colors.
First Quarter
The ball was tossed high.
Osaka Thunder's captain, Daiki Morimoto, snatched the tip-off midair with an explosive jump. He dashed toward the basket, weaving past two defenders and slammed the ball through the hoop.
2-0. Just 10 seconds in.
Kyoto West Tech regrouped quickly. Their point guard, Yuuta Hayashi, slowed the pace down, calling plays with hand signals. His style was cold, calculating. They passed with surgical precision before Yuuta hit a clean three-pointer from the wing.
2-3.
The match had begun.
Second Quarter
It became a war.
Daiki kept pushing forward with raw power, spinning through defenders and dominating the paint. Osaka Thunder used their speed and aggression to take a narrow lead. But Kyoto West didn't break. Yuuta and his team tightened their defense like a net, forcing turnovers and draining mid-range shots with quiet consistency.
By halftime:
Osaka Thunder: 35
Kyoto West Tech: 33
Third Quarter
Tensions rose. Elbows flew. Sweat dripped.
Daiki got fouled twice in quick succession, tempers flaring. But instead of arguing, he grinned.
"This is what I live for," he muttered.
He made both free throws.
Yuuta responded by leading a full-court press, intercepting a pass and sinking another three. The crowd was on fire.
Fourth Quarter
Last 30 seconds.
Score: Osaka Thunder 61 - Kyoto West Tech 60
Yuuta had the ball. He faked right, drove left—but Daiki was there. A brutal block.
10 seconds.
Osaka Thunder charged. Daiki didn't pass—he went straight for the rim.
Mid-air.
He was fouled.
The whistle blew.
2 free throws.
The crowd went silent.
Daiki exhaled. First shot—swish.
Second shot—in.
Final Score:
Osaka Thunder High 63
Kyoto West Tech 60
Osaka Thunder advanced.
The gym erupted.