CHAPTER 102: THE DAY BEFORE EVERYTHING

The Day Past

Monday.

Tuesday.

Wednesday.

Thursday.

Friday.

Every day, we trained.

Stretching.

Running plays.

Drilling tactics.

Polishing our defense.

Attacking the paint.

Sharpening every detail.

And in between all of that—we studied.

There was no room for weakness. Not in our bodies. Not in our minds.

Every day blurred into the next.

Until finally... it was Saturday.

...

We gathered early at school, bags packed, minds focused. The final was tomorrow, and this afternoon, we’d head to the stadium to check into our rooms and prepare.

Coach Tsugawa stood in front of us, his voice fiery, eyes burning with pride.

"This is it," he said. "You all know what’s at stake tomorrow. Win or lose, we might still qualify—but do any of you want to qualify that way?"

Everyone shook their heads.

"This is our second match against Toyonaka. They’re not just our rivals... they’re brothers-in-arms."

A brief pause.

"But in the end, there will only be one winner—"

His voice rose.

"—and that winner is us!"

Cheers erupted across the gym.

Dirga had done everything he could to prepare. He’d watched every single recording of Masaki’s play style, memorized his patterns, analyzed his strengths... and still, he knew.

Masaki would be stronger tomorrow.

He was a generational talent—the kind of player who grew with every game. No matter how much you studied him, he’d always show you something new. Something dangerous.

That’s what made this challenge so real.

So exciting.

So worth it.

Nearby, Sayaka zipped up her bag and turned to the team.

"Everyone ready?" she asked.

"Yes, ma’am!" we answered in perfect unison.

The bus pulled up just outside the gym.

But today, it wasn’t just the Horizon players climbing aboard.

The student council had sent support too. Among them was Ayaka—proud, serious, and as fired-up as we were.

Just before stepping out, Dirga paused at the gym doors.

There, fluttering proudly in the wind, was a massive banner hanging across the front gate:

"Soar High. Beat Everything in the Path."

Beneath it, a hand-written line in smaller letters:

"We’re cheering for our basketball club in the Regional Final."

Dirga couldn’t help but smile.

He wasn’t the only one.

Kaito.

Rikuya.

Even the usually calm Hiroki and Rei—everyone was moved.

They didn’t say anything.

They didn’t need to.

They felt it.

The weight. The pride. The responsibility.

"You like that?" Ayaka’s voice came from beside him.

Dirga turned.

"It was hard to get approved," she added with a sheepish smile. "But I knew you’d all like it."

Dirga nodded. "Thank you."

She nodded back. "Just win."

Ayaka introduced the other three student council members who’d be joining them on the trip. They each gave polite bows—some more enthusiastic than others.

And with that, we boarded the bus.

Bags underneath. Hearts on fire.

The door closed.

The engine rumbled.

We were ready.

...

The bus ride to the hotel should’ve felt long.

But with the Horizon team onboard—full of laughter, loud jokes, and unfiltered excitement—it passed in a flash.

Except for Dirga.

From the moment he stepped on the bus, he froze like a block of ice.

Because—of all the empty seats—Ayaka chose the one right next to him.

They’d gone on a few dates, sure.

But sitting this close, in front of everyone, on the way to the biggest game of the season?

Too much.

Dirga turned stiff as a statue, trying not to breathe too loud or move too fast.

His face? Bright red.

Maybe everyone noticed.

Maybe they didn’t.

But no one said anything.

Yet.

Ayaka, sitting beside him with her usual calm, looked amused.

"So," she asked casually, "think you’ll win tomorrow?"

Dirga’s voice came out flat and robotic.

"...We will."

She raised an eyebrow, fighting a grin.

"What do you think Toyonaka’s biggest strength is?"

Dirga blinked like a broken machine.

"Overall... a good team. Exceptional defense. And Masaki on offense."

Ayaka laughed softly. That calm, warm laugh.

This man... he was so strong on the court, so sharp with his mind—and yet here, beside her, he was flustered like a kid.

Dirga, hearing her laugh, glanced at her.

It was like watching the sun set behind a goddess.

He didn’t say anything.

He couldn’t.

The ride lasted just under an hour—around 55 minutes. The bus pulled up to a familiar hotel, the same one they’d used during earlier rounds.

Room assignments were called out:

"I’m with Taiga!" Aizawa shouted, grabbing his partner before anyone else could.

Kaito was paired with Hiroki.

Rei bunked with Rikuya.

Which meant—

Dirga shared a room with Coach Tsugawa.

Meanwhile, Ayaka was assigned a room with Sayaka, and the rest of the student council split between the two remaining rooms.

As night fell, the student council held a quick meeting to finalize support plans for tomorrow.

Meanwhile, the entire basketball team gathered in Dirga and Coach Tsugawa’s room for a final strategy session. They sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by notebooks, whiteboards, and a quiet buzz of tension.

Coach Tsugawa stood before them, hands behind his back, eyes serious.

"Alright. This is it," he said. "We’ve trained. We’ve prepared. We’ve studied every angle."

He looked at each of them.

"There’s nothing left but the game."

A pause.

"I want you all to rest early tonight. Tomorrow, we give everything."

"Yes, Coach!" they replied in unison.

The meeting ended. The players shuffled back to their rooms.

Tomorrow was the final.

The night was still.

But in every room...

Hearts were pounding.

...

05:00 AM.

Dirga’s eyes blinked open.

Sleep hadn’t been deep—just enough to rest his body. But his mind had never truly stopped.

He glanced at the clock on the wall.

Still early.

Carefully, so he didn’t wake Coach Tsugawa, Dirga slipped out of bed.

A hoodie, sweatpants, and his sneakers.

Just a short walk, he told himself.

The city was still asleep.

The streets near the hotel were quiet, the kind of quiet that only comes before something big.

Dirga wandered toward the park nearby. It was empty, bathed in the soft blue light of dawn.

Cool air brushed against his skin.

Even the birds weren’t up yet.

For thirty minutes, he walked.

No music. No distractions. Just the sound of his own footsteps and his steady breathing.

The weight of the day ahead slowly lifted from his shoulders.

But as he turned to head back—

"...What are you doing out here?"

Dirga jumped slightly.

From behind the old vending machine by the park’s edge... stepped Ayaka.

"W-What?" Dirga asked, caught off guard.

Ayaka casually pointed upward.

"My room’s right there. I saw you leaving."

Dirga looked up.

Yeah—definitely visible from the window. His cover was blown.

"Come on. Let’s sit," Ayaka said, already walking over to a nearby bench.

Before joining her, Dirga stopped at the vending machine.

He picked two drinks—one for him, one for her.

"Here," he said, handing her a can.

"Thanks," she replied with a soft smile, cracking it open.

They sat in silence for a moment. Just sipping. Watching the sky turn lighter, minute by minute.

"How do you feel?" she asked.

Dirga didn’t hesitate.

"Good," he said, his voice firm. "I’m in the best form of my life."

Ayaka took a sip, nodding.

"That’s what I wanted to hear."

She stood up, brushing the dust from her skirt.

Then, suddenly, she leaned in—

—and kissed Dirga on the cheek.

His whole body froze.

Time stopped.

The sunrise? Forgotten.

The game? Forgotten.

Even gravity seemed to hesitate.

Ayaka smiled.

"Well... I already did what I came for."

She turned and began walking away.

"Don’t stand there frozen too long, okay?" she called over her shoulder.

"Go win it."

And just like that, she was gone.

Leaving Dirga standing alone in the quiet park.

Hand on his cheek.

Heart louder than ever.