Chapter 3 – The Weight of a Jersey

Wednesday – 4:10 p.m.Kaizen High Gym

The jerseys were fresh off the machine—simple black, white stripes, and no name printed on the back.

Just the Kaizen logo.Worn by ghosts.Worn by dreamers.

"We got a practice match," Riku announced.

Renji raised an eyebrow.

"Already? We barely know each other's names."

"You'll learn them on the court."

"Against who?"

"Tosei Prep."

The room went quiet.

Tosei Prep.A local powerhouse.Not national-level, but well-respected, disciplined, and known for crushing weak teams fast.

"You setting us up to fail?" Hiro asked.

"No," Riku said, tightening his laces."I'm setting you up to wake up."

📍 Tosei Gym – That Same Evening

The court looked polished.Bleachers full, even though it was just a practice game.

Tosei wore matching warm-ups, coaches barking instructions.Meanwhile, Kaizen showed up in mixed shoes, taped fingers, and anxious eyes.

The scoreboard read:Tosei – 0 | Kaizen – 01st Quarter

⛹️ Tip-Off Chaos

Keigo won the jump.Renji caught the ball.Tried to go ISO on the wing.

Lost it.

Fastbreak.Tosei scores.

2–0.

Next play—Souta tries to call a set.Renji ignores it. Drives again.

Blocked.Hard.

4–0.

Riku didn't say a word.But the frustration was obvious.

🔥 Timeout – Clash Begins

"Yo, are we running plays or not?" Souta snapped.

"We don't have time for playbooks," Renji barked. "I'm trying to put points up."

"And failing," Hiro muttered.

"What'd you say?"

Keigo had to step between them.

Riku finally stepped in. Calm but cold.

"This isn't a street court, Renji. This is a team."

"Then act like one, Captain."

That was the first time Renji said it.The word burned like a challenge.

Riku locked eyes with him.

"Get back on the court."

🌀 2nd Quarter – The Awakening

Riku took the point.Called "Motion."

Ball zipped around.Cuts. Screens. Passes.

Daiki—despite his bandaged knees—hit a midrange jumper off a backdoor cut.

Next play—Renji caught the ball in the corner.Instead of driving, he passed to Keigo inside.

And-1.

Bench went wild.

Kaizen was playing like a team.

By halftime?Tosei – 32 | Kaizen – 29

🎤 Halftime – In the Locker Room

Breathing heavy.Shirts soaked.No one's laughing anymore.

Riku stood up.

"Now you get it.""This isn't about talent. It's about rhythm. Trust.""You're not playing for yourself anymore."

He looked at each of them.

"You put on that jersey? It means something."

They all looked down at their chests.

Kaizen.No name on the back.Just the fire in the heart.

🥶 Elsewhere…

Jin Kisaragi sat in the back of a sleek black car, arms folded, eyes half-lidded.

A livestream of the Tosei vs Kaizen game played on his phone.

He watched Riku's court control.The team chemistry building in real time.

"He's creating something real…"

He turned to his teammate—Akihiro Kanzaki, Tosei's top scorer who transferred to Black Fang a year ago.

"Next time they face us…""Don't go easy."