Crownless Kings: Court of Fire-Chapter 33 – "Before the Storm"

Kaizen Gym – Early Morning

Sweat dripped onto the cracked court.

Breath steamed in the cold air.

Renji dribbled alone.

Left, right, left.

Pulse step. Snap-back.

> "Faster."

He wasn't practicing moves.

He was practicing survival.

Every fake, every cut, every pull-up jumper—

etched pain into muscle memory.

---

👤 Riku Watching Silently

Across the gym, Riku stood leaning on his crutches.

He didn't shout.

Didn't correct.

Just watched.

Eyes sharp.

Eyes tired.

> "He went underground and came back louder."

"Good."

---

🧠 Souta's New Vision

Sitting in the bleachers, playbook open.

Not the old sets.

Not the old system.

New sketches.

Plays designed around chaos, trust, instinct.

No "perfect screens."

No "flawless rotations."

Just flame.

> "If the world's gonna watch us burn..."

"...we'll make sure they go blind."

---

📢 Coach Tanaka's Announcement

Morning meeting.

Coach stands at the center of the gym, clipboard under his arm.

> "Next game—Kurosei Academy."

Team murmurs.

Riku's fingers tighten on his crutch.

Renji stops dribbling mid-bounce.

Coach continues:

> "They're 3–4.

Nobody's looking at them."

He raises his eyes.

> "That's exactly why they'll fight harder than anyone we've met."

---

🔥 Drift's Entrance

Doors slam open.

Drift strolls in, hoodie down, hair messy.

He's late.

Again.

But there's something different today.

The hesitation that clung to him before?

Gone.

He walks straight up to Coach.

Drops a signed form on the bench.

> "I'm staying."

Everyone freezes.

Souta blinks.

Daiki drops his protein bar.

Renji cracks a grin.

Coach Tanaka doesn't smile.

Just nods once.

Riku?

He just whispers:

> "Welcome home."

---

🧢 Drift's New Flame

Later that night, at the outdoor courts.

Drift practices alone.

Slip Drives.

Spin cross into reverse layups.

Backward stepbacks that twist defenders out of their shoes.

Mid-drill, he mutters to himself:

> "Zavi, Barcelona...

You'll see my chaos."

Ball whips into the net again.

---

🕯️ Riku's Silent Training

Back inside Kaizen's gym.

Late.

Empty.

Only Riku left.

No running.

No jumping.

He stands at the free throw line.

Shoots.

Miss.

Shoots again.

Miss.

Tape on ankle burning.

Vision swimming.

> "One day."

"One shot."

Shoots.

Swish.

---

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🏟️ Kurosei Academy – Scene Cut

Meanwhile.

Kurosei's gym.

Their captain—

Seiji Amagata —

stood in front of his team.

Cold eyes.

Hands wrapped in black tape.

> "Kaizen thinks they're flames."

"Let's remind them what happens... when fire meets stone."

The team answered in one voice:

> "We crush it."

---

📅 Countdown

2 days until Kaizen vs. Kurosei.

2 days until Kaizen defends their crown again.

2 days until the world learns—

This fire wasn't built to shine.

It was built to survive the storm.