Pride? Bragging rights? Camaraderie?
Those were the stakes hanging heavy in the air like a storm about to break.
The gym smelled of sweat and polished wood. The heat from the afternoon sun streamed weakly through high windows, mixing with the sharp tang of exertion and anticipation. Sweat still clung to their skin, cooling slowly in the stagnant air as the teams gathered midcourt. The tension was palpable, thick enough to taste — a blend of nerves, excitement, and unspoken challenges.
Heartbeats thundered in chests. Eyes glinted like sharpened blades, burning with focus. Coach Tsugawa stood at the center, the whistle around his neck swinging lightly like a battle emblem. His gaze swept across the gathered players, calm yet commanding, as if silently measuring the weight of what was to come.
Coach Reina and Takeshi-sensei leaned casually nearby, their presence steady and reassuring amidst the crackling energy.
