Crownless Kings: Court of Fire-Chapter 34 – "The First Sparks"

Drift spins a ball on one finger, silent.

Keigo stretches in the corner like a soldier prepping for war.

Souta reads over a playbook that looks handwritten, messy, and violent.

Coach Tanaka walks in.

> "This isn't a ranked match.

This is a trap."

The team turns.

> "Kurosei plays like they've got nothing left.

Those are the teams that will break your jaw to make a point."

> "You don't respect them.

You bleed."

---

👣 Entrance – Kurosei's First Impression

Kaizen enters first.

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Muted claps.

Then Kurosei walks out.

Black jerseys.

No flair.

No smiles.

Just fists clenched.

Their captain, Seiji Amagata, leads them.

6'3", wiry, and his eyes look like he hasn't slept in a year.

Behind him —

a guy with long sleeves and headphones on.

Calm. Too calm.

> "Who's that?" Drift whispers.

> "Don't know," Souta answers.

"He wasn't on their roster before."

---

🔥 Tip-Off

Keigo vs. Amagata at center.

Ref blows the whistle.

Ball goes up.

Amagata doesn't jump.

Lets Keigo win it.

Kaizen takes possession.

Riku (watching from the sideline) narrows his eyes.

> "They're baiting us."

---

🧊 Kurosei's Defense – Stonewall Formation

First Kaizen set:

Drift drives baseline — cut off.

Renji curls off a screen — bodied hard.

Keigo tries a post-up — gets shoulder checked mid-turn.

No fouls.

No calls.

> "Ref's letting it play," Coach mutters.

Drift resets.

Steps back.

Takes the three.

Clank.

Rebound – Kurosei.

Fastbreak – seamless.

1–0.

---

🧠 Souta Notices Too Late

Second possession.

Kaizen tries a motion set.

But Kurosei's off-ball defenders...

aren't reacting.

They're reading ahead.

Renji's curl = blocked.

Drift's backdoor = intercepted.

Keigo's roll = delayed trap.

Souta mutters:

> "They're not defenders.

They're chess pieces."

---

👤 Riku's POV

From the bench, Riku studies Kurosei's spacing.

> "That new guy... headphones..."

Camera zooms in on him.

He hasn't said a word.

But he's directing everyone with micro-gestures.

Every defender is reacting to him.

Riku's eyes widen.

> "They've got a conductor."

---

🧢 1st Quarter Ends

Score: Kurosei 13 – Kaizen 6

Drift's 0 for 4.

Renji hasn't touched the paint.

Keigo's got two illegal screens.

Souta slams his clipboard.

> "We're not being outplayed.

We're being predicted."

Coach Tanaka doesn't panic.

He kneels in the huddle.

> "Then stop playing like you're supposed to win."

> "Play like you're on fire, and they're trying to smother you."