Yami no Kiba vs Raijin Showdown - II

The halftime break felt shorter than it should have. The air in the gym was thick with anticipation, students from all Houses murmuring about the game.

Raijin had the lead, but just barely.

Kazuki sat on the bench, gripping his water bottle, his gaze fixed ahead. Sweat dripped from his temple, but his mind was calm. Focused.

They had clawed their way back in the final minutes of the first half, but now was the real challenge—turning the game around completely.

Across the court, Daiki was stretching, laughing with Renji. Confident. Smug.

Kazuki clicked his tongue. "Tch. He's enjoying this too much."

"You know how he is," Kyouya muttered beside him, adjusting his wristband. "The only way to shut him up is to win."

Kazuki smirked. "Exactly."

Ryouma, Yami no Kiba's captain, clapped his hands, bringing the team into a huddle. His presence was commanding—tall, composed, and sharp-eyed.

"We're shifting our approach," he said, voice steady. "They like fast, aggressive plays. Let's slow them down. Full-court press, tighter rotations on defense. We wear them out, then punish them on the break."

Kazuki nodded. "We make them work for every single point."

A whistle blew.

The second half was about to begin.

Raijin started with possession.

Renji dribbled up the court, his movements fluid as he scanned for an opening. Yami no Kiba's defense was already in position, pressing hard.

Kazuki shadowed Daiki, forcing him off the ball. Ryouma locked onto Renji, reading his movements.

Raijin's offense hesitated for a second—enough time for Kyouya to swipe in for a steal.

The gym erupted as he sprinted down the court, taking it all the way—layup, clean.

27 - 27.

"Nice one, Kyouya!" Kazuki called.

Raijin pushed forward again, but Yami no Kiba's defensive shift was working. Ryouma was a wall, denying Renji any space to drive in. Daiki managed to squeeze through a screen, but his shot was contested hard by Kazuki.

Clang. Miss.

Kazuki grabbed the rebound and instantly turned up the court.

Fast-break.

He weaved through defenders, drawing attention—then passed at the last second to Ryouma.

Dunk.

29 - 27.

The crowd roared.

Daiki clicked his tongue, wiping his sweat. "You guys aren't making this easy, huh?"

Kazuki smirked. "Were we supposed to?"

Daiki exhaled. "Guess I'll just have to turn it up."

And he did.

The next play, Daiki shook off Kazuki's defense with a sharp crossover, leaving just enough space to pull up from deep—

Swish.

29 - 30.

Kazuki clenched his jaw. "Tch. Bastard."

The game turned into a grueling back-and-forth battle.

Ryouma took charge inside, muscling his way into the paint for strong finishes.

Renji answered with quick mid-range buckets.

Kazuki orchestrated plays, slipping past defenders to find Kyouya open.

Daiki hit another three, then turned to Kazuki with a grin. "Better step up, bro."

Kazuki exhaled sharply. "Alright, you wanna play like that?"

He caught the inbound, wasted no time, and drove straight at Daiki.

A blur of movement—Daiki stayed in front of him, cutting off his path.

But Kazuki saw it—a split-second gap.

He spun, breaking free just enough to pull up—mid-range jumper.

Swish.

33 - 33.

The gym exploded with cheers.

The intensity only escalated from there.

Bodies collided. Sweat dripped. Every possession felt like a battlefield.

Neither team was backing down.

Time blurred.

The scoreboard ticked up.

39 - 39.

41 - 41.

44 - 44.

With only one minute left, the tension was suffocating.

Kazuki stood at the top of the key, bouncing the ball, surveying the defense.

Daiki was right in front of him.

"You're not getting past me," Daiki muttered.

Kazuki smirked. "I don't need to."

A sharp crossover.

Daiki anticipated it—he shifted slightly—

And Kazuki exploited it.

He exploded forward, slipping through the tiniest gap, drawing in the defense—then whipped a pass to Kyouya.

Wide open.

Three-pointer—bang.

47 - 44.

The gym erupted.

But Raijin wasn't done.

Daiki wasted no time, sprinting down the court, weaving through defenders, before pulling up for a floater.

Swish.

47 - 46.

30 seconds left.

Kazuki slowed the game down.

One possession. One play.

Daiki and Renji swarmed him as he dribbled past half-court.

Kazuki's grip on the ball tightened.

His mind was clear.

His heart pounded.

Then—a burst of speed.

He spun past Renji.

Daiki lunged—Kazuki sidestepped.

Solo drive.

The clock ticked down.

10 seconds.

He reached the arc.

9 seconds.

He stopped.

8 seconds.

Turned—three-point attempt.

7 seconds.

The gym held its breath.

6 seconds.

The ball left his fingertips.

The world froze.