Chapter 10 – The Fire That Remains
3 Days After the Finals
Kaizen High
The courtyard was packed.
Banners. Reporters. Students screaming their names.
Posters of "The Crownless Kings."
Kaizen High, once forgotten, was now champion territory.
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🎤 Post-Game Interview – Riku Aoyama
> "You shocked the world, Riku. How does it feel?"
Riku adjusted his jersey one last time.
> "It feels loud. But the court still feels the same."
> "What's next for Kaizen?"
Riku looked at his teammates—bruised, smiling, laughing like kids again.
> "We're not done. That was just the prologue."
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📞 Riku Gets a Call
Late that night, his phone buzzed.
> JYBF Elite Scout:
"We saw the game. We want to talk next season. College prep. Pro system."
He paused.
> "I'm honored. But I'm not leaving this team. Not yet."
> "Why?"
> "Because fire spreads best when it's shared."
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🏀 Jin's Path
Somewhere across town, Jin walked alone through a court where he and Riku once trained.
No cameras. No fans. Just silence.
He looked up at the rim.
Smiled.
> "Time to rebuild. One step at a time."
He pulled out a clipboard.
Black Fang. New System. New fire.
---
🎓 Back at Kaizen – The New Normal
Souta joined the school paper.
Daiki finally got cleared for real rehab.
Keigo? Now coaching the junior team.
Renji started mentoring first-years, calling them "rookie buckets."
And Riku?
Still the first to arrive.
Still the last to leave.
---
✨ Final Scene – Sunset Gym Session
The gym was quiet.
Just one ball bouncing.
Riku at the free throw line. Alone again.
Then—doors opened.
Renji walked in.
> "Yo. Can't let the captain hog all the shots."
Then Souta.
Keigo.
Daiki.
Coach Tanaka.
The full team showed up, one by one.
Riku smiled.
> "Alright then. One more game."
They didn't need jerseys.
They didn't need a crowd.
Just the court.
The ball.
And each other.