CHAPTER 126: THE BOWL OF CHAMPION

Then came the final roar.

"Anddddd now—our champions!"

The announcer’s voice surged like a crashing wave.

"The rising titans from Osaka—Horizon High School!

Led by their first-year maestro, Dirgantara Renji!

Their general on the floor, Captain Kaito Nishida!

And their only third year and the anchor in the paint, Rikuya Asano!

This team of first and second-years may very well be... the next emperors!"

The crowd exploded. Reporters leaned in. Scouts took notes.

History was in motion.

Kaito led the team, the black-gold-red of Horizon’s uniforms almost glowing under the lights.

Dirga walked beside him.

His steps were slow, measured.

The exhaustion still lingered—evident in the stiffness of his legs, the subtle wince in his eyes.

But he walked.

Head high.

Fire in his chest, even if his body burned.

The players lined up.

First—Kaito. His hand extended, his bow deep, receiving his medal from Yuta Tabuse and Mr. Toshimitsu Kawachi.

Next—Rikuya. Towering, composed. A slight nod, and he returned to his place.

Then—Dirga.

The crowd leaned in. Cameras clicked faster.

Yuta Tabuse looked at the boy in front of him.

The first Japanese NBA player... staring into the eyes of a future written in real time.

"I hope you go to the NBA," Yuta said, voice calm, weighty.

Dirga didn’t flinch.

"Of course I will," he said—like a vow.

Mr. Kawachi stepped in, voice low, but clear enough to pierce through the noise.

"I expect more from you in the future."

Dirga met his eyes.

"Then keep them on me."

He bowed. Took the medal. Stepped back.

And one by one, Horizon’s warriors received theirs—Aizawa, Taiga, Rei, Hiroki, Haruto—until they all stood, medals gleaming under the arena lights.

Takeshi-sensei walked next.

Sayaka, proud and a little teary, behind him.

And finally—Coach Tsugawa.

When he stepped forward, Yuta Tabuse bowed.

A bow not of formality—but of legacy.

He hugged him—like a junior greeting his mentor.

Kawachi followed. Their handshake turned into a firm, respectful embrace.

"Still shaping monsters, Tsugawa?" Kawachi asked with a smirk.

"Only the ones worth shaping," the coach replied, eyes flicking toward Dirga.

Then came the final piece.

The trophy.

Polished. Heavy. Shining like a crown of war.

Kawachi took it gently in both hands, then offered it forward—to Kaito.

Kaito grasped it. But didn’t raise it yet.

He looked to his right.

Dirga stepped forward.

Together—Captain and Ace—they lifted the trophy high above their heads.

And in that moment—

The arena erupted.

Cheers like thunder.

Camera flashes like lightning.

Voices, laughter, weeping, pride—everything collided into one sound:

Victory.

And as the confetti fell, as the cheers rolled across the gym like crashing waves—

Horizon stood tall.

The fire had awakened.

And the Maestro had played his first movement.

Now, the national stage awaited.

But before that—

Another battlefield.

The desk.

The exam.

The war of papers, not hardwood.

After the ceremony, the two giants gathered again.

Horizon and Toyonaka.

Not on opposite ends of the court this time—

But shoulder to shoulder.

Sweat dried, medals gleaming, souls still buzzing from the match that had just ended.

Yuto broke the silence, hands casually tucked into his jacket pockets.

"So... how about exams?"

A direct hit.

Aizawa and Taiga stiffened instantly.

Neither of them even turned toward Yuto.

They just... stared forward, continuing their own conversation—pretending they didn’t hear him.

Dirga sighed, rubbing his temple.

"And those are two we need to straighten up fast," he muttered, deadpan.

Kaito chuckled.

"How about your side?"

Yuto shrugged.

"I’m good. Passed all the mock tests."

Masaki and Haruto stood nearby.

Masaki’s face twisted into the expression of someone who’d just been punched in the gut by algebra.

Haruto looked like he wanted to melt into the ground.

Kaito raised an eyebrow.

"...That bad, huh?"

Masaki didn’t even answer.

Yuto clicked his tongue.

"Yeah, I’ll handle these two. I’ll drag them through study drills if I have to. We’ll be there at nationals."

Dirga smirked.

And in that moment, with the moon overhead and the court behind them...

The handshake wasn’t just for respect.

It was for something more.

Brotherhood.

Born from battle.

Enemies on the scoreboard.

But in spirit—

Comrades.

Dirga turned to Masaki. Their eyes locked.

"Let’s meet again—on the national stage."

Masaki didn’t blink.

"Yeah. Let’s finish what we started."

The two titans nodded.

The rest followed suit.

They didn’t know what waited in the next bracket.

They didn’t know how long the journey would last.

But they knew one thing:

Tomorrow wouldn’t be on the court.

It would be at a desk.

Another kind of war.

But just as important.

To fight on the court...

You first have to win at the table.

And the countdown to nationals had already begun.

Inside the Horizon team bus, the engine hummed quietly as the city lights slid past the windows. The players were tired—but not asleep. Still running on adrenaline, memories, and the weight of medals around their necks.

Then—Coach Tsugawa stood up.

His presence alone made everyone snap to attention.

"There’s one more week before the exams," he said, voice calm but commanding. "So, from tomorrow until the exam week is over—no training."

Gasps. Murmurs.

No drills. No morning suicides. No practice runs.

"But I expect you to rest properly, stay active, and above all—pass."

Some of the younger players sighed with relief. Others looked terrified, as if the word "exam" hit harder than a full-court press.

Then Coach Tsugawa added the real bomb.

"And one more thing. I was planning to take you all out for ramen tonight—"

Eyes widened. Mouths opened.

"—but I’ll hold it off."

A beat of silence. Tension filled the bus.

"I’ll buy ramen only for those who pass their exams."

Gasoline.

He had just poured gasoline on the fire.

That wasn’t just any ramen.

It was Coach Tsugawa’s ramen.

The most legendary post-win feast in Horizon’s history. Made in a small local place. Secret broth. Pork so soft it melts. That spice oil. The egg. The soul.

Aizawa, who had been quietly dozing off, sat up like a lightning bolt hit him.

Taiga turned slowly toward Dirga, eyes wide like a man seeing the holy grail.

"We’re passing," Aizawa whispered.

"No. We’re ascending," Taiga replied, his fists trembling.

The bus lit up with laughs and cheers as the rest of the team grinned, their exhaustion forgotten.

Coach Tsugawa crossed his arms, smiling just a little.

"Of course—Takeshi-sensei, Sayaka, even Ayaka—you can all come too. It’s on me."

Sayaka, sitting at the front, pumped her fist with a grin.

Ayaka just smirked.

"I’m definitely passing," she whispered to Dirga.

Dirga chuckled, leaning back in his seat, arms sore but heart warm.

Ramen had become a prize.

A symbol.

The bowl of champions.

And for the warriors of Horizon—

The next match...

Was in the classroom.

Ramen awaited.