Post-Match

The match against Seiryu was over. Yami no Kiba had secured their first victory in the tournament with a dominant second half, and the moment the final buzzer rang, the court erupted into cheers.

Kazuki let out a deep breath, his body still pulsing with adrenaline as his teammates rushed towards him.

"Hell yeah!" Kyouya grinned, clapping Kazuki on the back. "That was insane, man! You were on fire in the second half."

Ryouma, ever the composed leader, crossed his arms with a smirk. "We adapted well. Seiryu had no answer once we locked down their strategy. Good work, everyone."

The team gathered in a small huddle, the energy buzzing between them. Laughter and shouts of excitement filled the air, the shared sense of victory making every ache and exhaustion from the game worth it.

As they walked off the court, Kazuki spotted his group of friends waiting for him. Daiki, Reo, Naoto, and Kyouya (who had already been with the team) all stood with knowing grins.

"Damn, Kazuki!" Reo whistled. "Didn't know you were built like that. You played like a pro out there."

Naoto adjusted his glasses. "Statistically speaking, your shooting accuracy significantly increased in the second half."

"Bro, don't turn this into a math lecture," Daiki groaned before turning to Kazuki. "You really smoked them. Seiryu didn't stand a chance."

Kazuki chuckled, shaking his head. "It wasn't just me. The whole team stepped up."

Daiki elbowed him playfully. "Still, you're the talk of the academy right now. I bet even Miyuki noticed."

At her name, Kazuki felt a faint heat creep up his neck. He coughed, quickly changing the topic. "Anyway, we should get some food. I'm starving."

The group laughed as they made their way out of the gym, the glow of victory still fresh.

The morning after their victory against Seiryu, the atmosphere in Reikou Academy was noticeably different for Kazuki. As he walked through the halls, he could hear murmurs and whispers from passing students.

"That's him, right? Kazuki from Yami no Kiba?"

"Yeah! He was insane in the second half. Totally dominated Seiryu."

Kazuki sighed, trying to ignore the growing attention. It wasn't something he was used to, but it seemed unavoidable after last night's performance.

As he reached his classroom, he was greeted by his usual group of friends, each sporting their own brand of mischief.

"Man, Kazuki, you're famous now!" Reo grinned, slapping his shoulder. "Feels good, huh?"

"Bet the next match will have even more people watching," Naoto mused, adjusting his glasses. "Especially certain people."

Kazuki shot him a look, but before he could retort, Daiki leaned in with a smirk. "Speaking of certain people..."

Kazuki followed his gaze and felt his heartbeat quicken. Miyuki was walking towards him, her movements as graceful as ever. She stopped beside his desk, offering him a soft smile.

"Good morning, Kazuki."

"Morning," he replied, hoping his voice didn't betray the sudden nervousness creeping up on him.

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, a gesture he found himself memorizing. "Yesterday's game was amazing. Congratulations on the win."

Kazuki blinked, caught off guard by her direct praise. "Oh, uh—thanks. You watched?"

"Of course. My team was playing too, remember?" she said, a hint of amusement in her voice. "But still, you didn't go easy on us at all."

He let out a short chuckle. "Well, if I did, I think Ryouma would have had my head."

Miyuki giggled softly, shaking her head. "Either way, it was fun to watch.Ill be looking forward to your next match."

She gave him one last smile before returning to her seat. Kazuki stared after her for a moment before turning back, only to be met with his friends' knowing grins.

"She really came all the way over just to talk to you," Daiki teased.

Reo nudged him. "Kazuki, my man, we need to train you on how to keep a conversation going."

Kazuki groaned. "Can you guys not?"

Naoto smirked. "Nope."

Before they could continue their teasing, their homeroom teacher, Hoshino Mei, entered the classroom, signaling the start of the day.

Later that day – Basketball Team Meeting

Kazuki and his teammates gathered in the clubroom, where Ryouma stood at the front, arms crossed, an analytical look on his face.

"We've got our next opponent," he announced, looking at the team. "Suzaku."

A ripple of murmurs ran through the room. Unlike Seiryu, Suzaku was known for their aggressive, fast-paced playstyle. They relied on relentless pressure and quick transitions to overwhelm opponents.

"They don't let up. They're constantly pushing the pace," Ryouma continued. "If we're not careful, they'll run us out of the gym."

"Sounds exhausting," Kyouya muttered.

"Which means we need to train harder," Ryouma added. "We adapted well against Seiryu, but this match will be different. We need to prepare for their speed."

Kazuki nodded, already envisioning the upcoming battle. This wasn't going to be easy, but after their dominant second half against Seiryu, he felt confident they could figure out a way to break Suzaku's relentless pressure.

One thing was for sure—this tournament was only getting more intense.