Yami no Kiba vs Suzaku

The atmosphere in the gymnasium was electric, the air thick with anticipation. After their dominant win against Seiryu, Yami no Kiba was set to face another powerhouse—Suzaku, the Crimson Phoenixes. Known for their relentless offense and high-paced play, Suzaku had built a reputation as a team that never backed down.

Kazuki tightened his shoelaces, his mind focused on the game ahead. The strategy meeting earlier had been intense. Ryouma had gone over their opponent's strengths—quick ball movement, aggressive pressing, and a star forward who could tear through defenses with ease. They weren't going to go down easy.

As the teams lined up for the tip-off, Kazuki took a deep breath. His eyes locked onto the Suzaku players, especially their captain, Renji Arata—a skilled and confident player with an almost arrogant smirk. He was going to be trouble.

The whistle blew, and the game was on.

First Half

Suzaku came out blazing. Their rapid passes and aggressive plays caught Yami no Kiba off guard. Within the first few minutes, Renji sliced through their defense and sank an easy mid-range jumper. 2-0.

Kazuki quickly adjusted, calling for a tighter defensive setup. He positioned himself carefully, reading their movements. A pass came his way, and he swiftly maneuvered past a defender before setting up Kyouya for a three-pointer. The shot was clean. 3-2, Yami no Kiba took the lead.

But Suzaku retaliated instantly.

Their fast-paced offense overwhelmed Yami no Kiba's initial defensive efforts. A few quick transitions later, Suzaku had scored three consecutive baskets. 8-3. The momentum was shifting heavily in their favor.

Ryouma called a timeout, his expression unreadable. "We need to slow them down. Their speed is killing us. Focus on cutting off their passing lanes."

The team nodded, and as they returned to the court, they tightened their defensive formations. Kazuki took charge of marking Renji, trying to anticipate his next move. The next possession saw Kazuki intercepting a pass, immediately sprinting down the court. A quick crossover left his defender stumbling, and he went for a layup. The ball kissed the glass and dropped in. 8-5.

The game turned into a back-and-forth battle. Suzaku continued their relentless attacks, but Yami no Kiba adjusted, countering with smart plays. Kyouya landed another three-pointer, and Ryouma scored a tough inside shot, keeping the score close.

With just a few minutes left in the first half, the scoreboard read **19-17**, Suzaku still in the lead.

The final possession before halftime was crucial. Kazuki received the ball near the arc, a defender closing in fast. Instead of forcing a shot, he faked a drive, drawing in the defense before kicking it out to Kyouyo, who was wide open.

Kyouyo didn't hesitate.

His three-pointer soared through the air—and swished perfectly through the net as the buzzer rang.

20-19. Yami no Kiba had taken the lead right before halftime.

The crowd erupted, and Kazuki exchanged quick high-fives with his teammates. But he knew the real battle was still ahead.

As the team walked back to the bench, Ryouma looked at them with a sharp gaze. "We adapted. Now, it's time to take control in the second half."

Kazuki glanced at the Suzaku bench. Renji was watching him, that same smirk still on his face.

The second half was going to be a war.

Second Half

As the second half began, the atmosphere in the gym shifted. Suzaku, despite trailing, still held their fiery energy, determined to turn things around. But Yami no Kiba had different plans.

Ryouma, usually composed and strategic, narrowed his eyes as he dribbled up the court. His aura changed—he was done playing conservatively. With a sudden burst of speed, he slipped past his defender with ease, faking left before cutting right and sinking a smooth floater over Suzaku's center.

"Ryouma's finally going all out," Kyouya muttered, watching their captain take control.

And once he did, Suzaku had no answer.

Kazuki, feeding off the momentum, intercepted a pass near midcourt. He sprinted ahead on the fast break, faking a layup before kicking it out to Kyouya on the wing. Without hesitation, Kyouya drilled a three-pointer, pushing their lead even further.

Suzaku's offensive rhythm fell apart. With Ryouma orchestrating both ends of the court, their attempts to score became desperate. He shut down passing lanes, forced turnovers, and dictated the pace. Even when Suzaku managed to get a shot off, Yami no Kiba's defense swarmed them.

Kazuki stole another pass, this time keeping it himself as he took on two defenders in transition. He slowed for a second, then exploded forward, finishing with a smooth euro-step layup. The crowd roared as the gap widened.

Suzaku called a timeout, but it hardly made a difference. When play resumed, Ryouma turned up the intensity even more.

He crossed up his defender so hard the poor guy nearly fell, then pulled up for a clean mid-range jumper. A few plays later, he grabbed a defensive rebound, launched a pinpoint pass to Kazuki, who lobbed it up to Kyouya for a fast-break dunk. The gym erupted as Yami no Kiba completely took over the match.

By the time the final buzzer rang, the score told the story—Yami no Kiba had crushed Suzaku with a dominant second half.

As they gathered at the center of the court, Ryouma smirked, wiping sweat from his forehead. "That's how you finish a game."

Kazuki and Kyouya bumped fists, still catching their breath. The entire team celebrated, knowing they had put on a performance that solidified their reputation as a powerhouse in the tournament.