Release.
Ssshhhwwiiiii—
NET.
59 – 60.
Rei dropped from his release, chest rising and falling.
Dirga was already there—
Clap. High five. Shoulder bump.
"Nice shot."
Low voice.
Calm.
Composed.
Then—
Backpedaling.
Eyes already hunting.
The fourth quarter wasn't about flash anymore.
It was a war of inches.
A suffocating chess match.
Toyonaka slowed the pace.
Yuto brought the ball up.
His movements tight, measured.
Dirga shadowed him—
Not pressing full,
but close enough to steal breath.
Shunpei came up from the wing.
A soft pass.
Then—
Click.
The give-and-go.
Yuto passed, then darted around—
Shunpei's body twisted—
Screen.
Dirga clipped.
Just enough.
He stumbled half a step—
Yuto caught the return and fired it to Masaki.
Masaki. Elbow.
Ball in hands.
He didn't hesitate.
A floater—light, arcing—
Rikuya read it and jumped—
But he was a breath late.
His hand brushed the side of Masaki's shooting arm—
Just a graze.
No whistle.
The ball hit the rim—
