Chapter 14 – Painted in Vermillion
World Youth Invitational – Quarterfinal Match
Kaizen vs. Équipe Vermillion (France)
Tokyo Dome – Court 2
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🏀 Enter Team Vermillion
They walked in like dancers.
Effortless. Smooth. Drenched in confidence.
Matching crimson uniforms.
No warmup gear. Just elegance.
Leading them:
Armand DeLouvre, captain and point guard.
Nicknamed "Le Poète du Court" – The Court Poet
Height: 6'0
Position: PG
Style: Flow basketball – movement so graceful, it breaks rhythm just by existing
Special: "Verse Step" – a double-fake footwork pattern that breaks ankles without contact
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🧠 Souta's Warning
> "He's not flashy. He's… beautiful. Like watching a violinist cross someone up."
Renji laughed.
> "Please. I've dealt with pretty boys before."
Souta didn't smile.
> "He's different. He makes you dance to his tempo—and you won't even know you're dancing."
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🔥 Tip-Off – First Quarter
Kaizen started hot.
Riku hit an early floater.
Keigo bullied inside.
Renji drained a three.
Then…
Armand moved.
He dribbled twice.
Paused.
Spun—but not fast.
Graceful. Silent. Fluid.
Renji stepped left—then slipped.
Verse Step. Layup. Easy.
Next play?
He didn't even dribble.
He faked with his shoulders—Riku froze.
Alley-oop.
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🎯 1st Quarter Ends: 18–12, Vermillion leads
Coach Tanaka:
> "It's ballet. But it's killing us."
Riku wiped his face.
> "We need chaos. Time to bring the street to the stage."
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⚡ Renji Unleashed – Quarter 2
Renji stopped playing by rules.
No structure.
No passes.
Just rhythm.
Behind-the-back.
Hesitation pull-up.
Baseline spin.
He created his own tempo—wild, erratic, unteachable.
Kaizen tied the game.
Then Armand smiled.
> "Ah. So this is your song."
He stepped into Renji's space—
> "Let's duet."
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🎵 Verse vs. Pulse
They clashed—one flowing like art, the other like lightning in chaos.
Renji jabbed—Armand floated.
Armand passed with a flick—Renji intercepted with grit.
Score: 31–30, Kaizen up at halftime.
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🕶️ Meanwhile – Black Fang Locker Room
Jin and Noah watched the stream in silence.
Noah:
> "That French dude's got sauce."
Jin:
> "Sauce burns. Fire consumes."
He stood.
> "Kaizen's dancing. Let's remind them why we hunt."
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💥 Second Half – Riku Takes Control
Riku let Renji cook.
But then Armand switched to him.
He didn't speak.
He just stared.
They traded moves.
Zero Step vs. Verse Step.
Phantom Slide vs. Flow Fade.
Then—Ash Release.
Riku rose—Armand jumped.
Bang. And-1.
Kaizen surged.
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⏱️ Final Play – Down to the Wire
Score: 59–57, Kaizen leads.
Vermillion ball. 12 seconds left.
Armand drove.
Verse Step—Riku bit.
But Keigo rotated—took the charge.
Whistle. Offensive foul.
Game over.
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🎤 Aftermath
Armand bowed before Riku and Renji.
> "This game… it was art."
"May we paint again—someday."
Riku extended a fist bump.
> "Next time, bring a stronger brush."
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👤 Closing Scene – Riku's Uncle
Watching from the crowd.
> "So… he's found his fire."
"Good. He'll need it for what's coming."
He opened his phone—
A message from a hidden sender.
> "Prepare him. The next team won't be here to dance."
"They're here to destroy."