Chapter 13 – Rhythm vs. Reflection
Score: 22–21, Kaizen leads
Start of the 3rd Quarter – Tokyo Dome
The crowd buzzed.
The energy was different now.
Everyone had seen Leon's smooth, silent game.
But now?
He smiled.
> "Playtime's over."
---
🧊 Leon Activates: Phantom Mirror
First possession—he dribbled once.
Twice.
Then froze.
Kaizen's defense hesitated.
Then—copy.
He mimicked Riku's Ghost Step.
Perfectly.
Renji blinked.
> "Wait—he just—?"
Drive. Float. Score.
Next play—Renji tried to press.
Leon mirrored his exact motion.
Stepback. Jumper. Swish.
> "He's copying our styles in real time."
Souta was stunned.
> "That's the Phantom Mirror.
He doesn't just reflect your moves—he perfects them."
---
🔥 Riku's Response: The Flow State
Coach Tanaka:
> "Let him mirror. Mirrors break under pressure."
Riku nodded.
He began running the court without the ball—no patterns.
Chaos. Fakes. Slips.
Screens into screens.
Leon couldn't copy what didn't make sense.
Kaizen found rhythm again.
Renji started hitting from deep.
Souta started throwing skip passes across the court.
Crowd roared.
Score: 38–36, Kaizen up.
---
⚔️ Renji's Evolution
Leon tried to lock Renji.
But Renji started humming.
Out loud.
Riku:
> "You seriously humming?"
Renji smirked.
> "Beethoven, baby. Rhythm's mine now."
He created a new move—"Pulse Step"—a staggered rhythm dribble that threw Leon off sync.
> Cross. Bounce. Pause.
Rise. Fadeaway. Bang.
Renji: "Try copying soul, mirror boy."
---
🧢 Final Minutes – Court of Legacy
Riku locked eyes with Leon.
> "This ain't about technique anymore."
Leon:
> "It never was. It's about who defines the rhythm."
The two danced—Ghost Step vs. Phantom Mirror.
Back and forth.
Pure art.
But then—Riku switched.
He didn't shoot.
He passed.
To Renji.
Corner three.
Splash.
Buzzer.
Kaizen wins: 61–58.
---
🎤 Post-Game – Eyes on Kaizen
International scouts started whispering.
The crowd chanted Kaizen's name.
Renji lifted Riku's hand.
> "They thought you were the fire."
"But we're all the blaze."
---
👤 Backstage – Riku and His Uncle
The man in the black coat waited.
> "That move you used? Your father created it."
"You're not just carrying a dream, Riku. You're carrying a legacy your blood ran from."
> "And now?" Riku asked.
> "Now… you get to decide if you'll chase the fire, or become it."