WebNovels

Chapter 23 - Winning The Championship

On the court of Seiyo versus Meizawa.

The air seemed to freeze.

Time stretched endlessly.

Only 34 seconds remained on the clock.

The entire stadium held its breath.

Every pair of eyes was locked on the center of the court.

Meizawa had possession, but at this moment, they looked like prey cornered by a predator.

And on the other side—

Sendoh and Ake stood shoulder to shoulder, their eyes sharp and unwavering, their presence radiating an overwhelming aura.

Sendoh didn't ask why Ake chose to pass at that crucial moment.

Ake didn't bother to explain.

There was no need for words between them.

A single glance said everything.

Their gazes met, and both silently locked onto Sawakita Eiji, standing across from them.

Their eyes burned with fighting spirit.

They knew one thing.

If they could stop this next play, victory would be theirs.

Hold out for thirty-four more seconds— and they could finally breathe.

At that moment, Ake and Sendoh stood like two immovable walls between Meizawa and victory.

Their aura, their stances, even their breathing— all radiated dominance.

It was as if their sheer presence alone suppressed Meizawa's will to attack.

Meanwhile, Kirihara Hayato, Kobayashi Koichi, and Yamamoto Ryu stood quietly at the back, completely overshadowed.

Ignored. Forgotten.

It wasn't because Ake or Sendoh looked down on them.

It was because, in this final, decisive moment— the game was beyond their reach.

Ake and Sendoh were now playing on a level ordinary players couldn't touch.

Every glance, every step, every movement felt like a silent dialogue between two geniuses.

And the others? They could only watch—outsiders to the battlefield before them.

If they tried to interfere, they would only get in the way.

The ball naturally found its way into Sawakita Eiji's hands.

No surprise there.

Everyone knew— in this situation, Meizawa had only one weapon left: Sawakita himself.

He was their last hope.

Their only chance to turn the tide.

And so, the match entered its final, decisive chapter.

Sawakita stood just past the half-court line, his eyes like blades, his energy surging like a volcano ready to erupt.

He began to dribble.

Each bounce of the ball echoed through the arena like a war drum, shaking the air itself.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

Ake and Sendoh exchanged glances— no words, no gestures— just understanding.

The instant Sawakita made his move, they followed.

Two Meizawa players rushed up to screen for him, attempting to stall Seiyo's twin aces.

But this time, Sawakita wasn't facing a single opponent.

He was facing Ake and Sendoh—a duo who had begun to radiate the aura of kings.

Ake's feet moved like the wind, breaking through the first screen with explosive speed.

Sendoh slipped past the second with fluid, almost ghostly footwork.

The two moved in perfect sync— mirror images of each other.

Then, like twin lightning bolts, they closed in on Sawakita.

Sawakita instantly sensed the danger.

His pupils shrank. His muscles tensed.

But instead of fear, a wild smile formed on his lips.

"Perfect timing," he whispered, excitement sparking in his tone.

This was the fight he craved.

Bang. Bang. Bang.

The basketball spun between his hands like a living creature, each motion sharp and precise, every bounce filled with ferocity.

Sendoh's eyes narrowed.

He lunged from the flank, stretching his arm out to intercept.

But in that very instant, Sawakita's speed exploded— a blur of motion as he slipped right past Sendoh's fingertips like a leopard lunging from the shadows.

Sendoh froze. He was faster—faster than before.

Even so, Sendoh's quick reaction wasn't for nothing.

That split-second attempt forced Sawakita into a slight hesitation.

And that tiny pause was all Ake needed.

Ake slid sideways— a red wall appearing before Sawakita's path.

Bang!

Sawakita changed direction, dribbling sharply, cutting to Ake's left.

But then—

Ake's heterochromatic eyes glowed faintly red-gold.

The Emperor's Eye activated.

In Ake's mind, countless overlapping images flashed in rapid succession— each one showing Sawakita's next move, his path, his every twitch and feint.

Until finally—

Ake saw it.

The route Sawakita would take.

Without hesitation, Ake moved to intercept.

He would block Sawakita's path completely.

But then— crack.

The image shattered.

The prediction—his vision of the future—fractured before his eyes like a broken mirror.

For the first time, Ake's expression faltered.

Shock flickered across his face.

Something had gone wrong.

And yet, Sawakita was in no better state.

Ake's sudden movement forced Sawakita to abruptly shift direction mid-stride.

His balance wavered.

His center of gravity twisted unnaturally.

"Again…?" Sawakita thought, his mind racing, frustration and disbelief swirling inside him.

He keeps reading my every move.

He barely managed to push through, breaking past Ake— but the brief flash of fear stayed with him.

He'd escaped… or so he thought.

Meizawa's bench erupted with excitement.

Their ace had broken through!

But none of them noticed the faint smirk tugging at the corner of Ake's lips.

A cold, knowing smile.

Because the moment Sawakita sighed in relief— a hand came slashing from the side like a phantom.

SLAP!

The ball was knocked clean away.

Sawakita froze, eyes wide in shock.

The sound of the steal cracked through the air like thunder.

He turned— and saw Sendoh, emerging from behind Ake like a shadow.

The realization hit him like lightning.

That brief hesitation from Ake wasn't a mistake. 

It was bait.

A trap.

Everything—the false opening, the broken rhythm, the misdirection— had been part of Ake's plan.

To draw him in and expose him.

"Could it be… all of that was intentional?" The thought sent a chill down Sawakita's spine.

Before he could react, Sendoh had already passed the ball.

"Ake!"

Ake caught it and burst forward like a charging bull.

Sawakita spun and sprinted after him with everything he had.

His teammates followed, hearts pounding.

If they could just catch up— if they could just stop him— there was still hope.

But then Sawakita felt a chill run down his back.

A cold, sinking realization.

He looked around.

No one was marking Sendoh.

His heart dropped.

He turned his head sharply— just in time to see a flash light.

Sendoh.

He caught Ake's perfect pass as if it had been fated. 

The ball landed softly in his palm— and at that instant, he looked like he was holding destiny itself.

Meizawa's defense collapsed.

No one stood before him.

Sendoh took off— his jump clean and effortless.

The ball left his fingertips.

Swish.

The net rippled with that beautiful, crisp sound.

And at the same moment—

BEEP.

The final whistle blew.

Seiyo 83 – 80 Meizawa.

Seiyo Middle School— The champions.

In an instant, Seiyo's players stormed the court, surrounding Ake and Sendoh, shouting, laughing, crying.

The gym erupted in cheers.

Ake and Sendo shared a look—a silent acknowledgment of trust and victory.

Meanwhile, Meizawa's players stood frozen.

Empty. Hollow.

They stared blankly, unable to accept what had just happened.

They had lost.

Sawakita Eiji remained still, his gaze distant.

He looked down at his hands, his chest heaving, his thoughts in turmoil.

He had fought with everything he had.

And yet—he lost.

Ake's precision. Sendoh's timing.

Their unity had trapped him completely.

He looked up one last time at the two figures celebrating under the lights.

Especially Ake— the young man whose eyes seemed to see fate itself.

The one who had made him feel powerless for the first time.

"Next time…"

Sawakita muttered softly, his voice trembling with resolve.

"I won't lose."

Then, without another glance, he turned and walked off the court.

And just like that, Seiyo Middle School claimed the championship.

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