Preparing for the zenith

After witnessing the match firsthand, the tension in our camp was undeniable. Our next opponent was confirmed—the newly formed powerhouse, Osaka International Zenith. A team no one had expected to go this far. But here they were, in the semifinals, after taking down one of the Four Monarchs: Naniwa Tech.

And they didn't just win—they dismantled them with controlled intensity.

"This is bad," I muttered to myself, eyes still on the now-empty court. Their team was built like a machine. Tall, physical, disciplined. And right at the heart of it all was Isaiah Dumont—a 190 cm point guard with arms like wings and a grip like claws. I'd never seen anyone strip the ball so cleanly. In just a few minutes, he'd racked up four steals against one of the most structured offenses in the tournament.

Passing against him would be a risk.

Dribbling? A gamble.

It was like trying to outmaneuver a bear trap.

My mind started racing. How do you break through someone like that? Echo didn't give me a quest for this match, which only confirmed what I feared: this was going to be the real trial.

A flash of memory hit me—an anime I watched in my past life: Kuroko no Basket. One character stood out—Kuroko himself. He wasn't flashy, but he passed like a ghost, playing in the shadows and manipulating timing.

One-touch passing. Rapid ball movement. Unpredictability.

Maybe... just maybe, that was our answer.

"Coach," I said, approaching Tsugawa with a straight face. "I have an idea."

He raised an eyebrow. "Go on."

"I want to train a new passing rhythm. One-touch passes. No holds, no dribbles—just instinct, motion, and trust."

Coach Tsugawa paused. Then he grinned.

"Risky," he said. "But I like it. Let's see what you can do."

The next few days were war.

Rei, Hiroki, and I spent every drill working on rapid passes under pressure. Hiroki hesitated at first, but once his confidence kicked in, he clicked. We used cones, defenders, even brooms to simulate Dumont's insane wingspan.

Meanwhile, Taiga worked closely with Rikuya and Aizawa to sharpen their timing and cuts. The idea was simple—beat their wall with precision before it closed in.

Zenith was no ordinary team. This wasn't just about playing harder. We had to play smarter.

…

Game Day – Semifinals

Our match would be first, followed by Toyonaka High's.

When we arrived at the arena, the difference was immediate.

There was a commentary booth. Fans packed the stands. Teachers from our school waved at us. Banners were being unfurled. It wasn't just a game anymore—it was a spectacle.

"The energy in the gym is electric today!" one of the commentators announced. "A semifinal matchup between two of this tournament's biggest surprises—Horizon High versus Osaka International Zenith!"

"Both are new teams," said another voice. "But Zenith… they've been nothing short of terrifying. Isaiah Dumont is the standout—one of the best defensive guards we've ever seen at this level."

"And on the other side, we have the chaos kings of Horizon—fast, unpredictable, and led by their floor general Kaito Nishida. Their center, Rikuya Asano—'The Titan'—has dominated the paint. And now, after the last match, people are calling Dirgantara Renji… the Maestro."

I groaned. "Seriously? 'Maestro'?"

"Maestro! Maestro!" Taiga and Aizawa echoed like annoying little kids.

"Cut it out," I muttered, but couldn't help smiling.

Rikuya just gave me a firm slap on the back. "Sounds good to me."

Despite the teasing, I couldn't help but smile. The atmosphere was light—but we all knew this would be war.

"So, what do you think we'll see today?" the second commentator asked. "Will Horizon's chaotic offense overwhelm the structure of Zenith, or will their defensive web shut everything down?"

"I'm leaning toward Zenith. Their players are physically dominant, and they play with surgical discipline."

"Well, we're about to find out."

We went to the locker room, changed into our jerseys, and gathered on the bench.

Coach Tsugawa's eyes were calm.

"This is it," he said. "We're facing a wall. A team with size, strength, and structure. But we've never played by the book."

He turned to me.

"Dirga, you're starting again."

"Understood."

"Do what we practiced. Speed, surprise, and instinct."

I nodded.

We stepped onto the court.

My breath caught for a second when I saw Zenith's center—Emir Al-Fayad. The guy was a wall. Height, size, presence. The first time I saw someone who looked like a match for Rikuya in both size and strength.

[Echo, scan their lineup.]

[Affirmative.]

PG – Isaiah Dumont (Captain)

Age: 17 (3rd Year)

Height: 190 cm

Weight: 78 kg

Attributes:

Inside Scoring: A

Shooting: B+

Playmaking: A+

Defense: S

Physical: S

Mental: A+

SG – Ryoga Tanikawa

Age: 16 (2nd Year)

Height: 178 cm

Weight: 68 kg

Attributes:

Inside Scoring: B+

Shooting: A

Playmaking: B

Defense: B

Physical: A

Mental: B+

SF – Leonard Okonkwo

Age: 17 (3rd Year)

Height: 185 cm

Weight: 76 kg

Attributes:

Inside Scoring: A

Shooting: B

Playmaking: C+

Defense: A

Physical: A+

Mental: B

PF – Hajime Sudo

Age: 16 (2nd Year)

Height: 183 cm

Weight: 80 kg

Attributes:

Inside Scoring: B

Shooting: B

Playmaking: C

Defense: A

Physical: A

Mental: A

C – Emir Al-Fayad

Age: 17 (3rd Year)

Height: 190 cm

Weight: 90 kg

Attributes:

Inside Scoring: A

Shooting: B

Playmaking: C

Defense: A+

Physical: A+

Mental: B+

 I gulped.

"This… is going to be tough," I said, voice low.

But there was no fear.

Only fire.