Crownless Kings: Court of Fire-Chapter 20 โ Fire vs. Silence
Chapter 20 - 20 โ Fire vs. Silence
Kaizen vs. Kirisaki Elite
National League โ Game 1
Tip-off. Full arena. National broadcast. Everyone's watching.
---
๐ 1st Quarter โ The Lockdown Begins
Kirisaki didn't just play defense.
They became it.
No press.
No traps.
Just... silence.
They ran what Souta called the "No-Read System."
No fixed positions
Every player read their matchup
Constant micro-switching
No emotions. No reactions.
Kaizen's first 6 possessions?
Turnover. Block. Steal. Miss. Steal. Shot-clock violation.
Score: 10โ0, Kirisaki
---
๐ง Drift's Chaos Sparks
Coach Tanaka was about to subโbut Drift waved him off.
Next playโhe dribbled backwards from the top of the key.
Confused defender followed.
Drift grinned, fumbled the ball on purpose, let it bounce out, snatched it on the spinโ
Slip Drive. Reverse layup.
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Bucket.
Commentator:
> "Was that a mistake or a miracle?!"
Next possessionโhe no-look lobs it to Keigo.
Slam.
---
๐ฅ Renji Reignites
He stopped forcing tempo.
Insteadโhe waited.
Drift drew eyes.
Souta spaced.
Renji ghosted in.
Midrange pull-up. Bang.
He whispered to himself:
> "You can't read what doesn't speak."
Kaizen ends the quarter down 16โ13.
---
๐ง Kirisaki's Secret Weapon Arrives
Start of 2nd quarter, they sub in a new player:
Name: Rei Takasawa
Position: SG
Specialty: "Silent Sync" โ moves completely in sync with his matchup's heartbeat.
Goal: Lock Renji. Personally.
First possession?
He mirrored Renji's dribble rhythm perfectly.
Ripped him clean.
Fastbreak layup.
No celebration.
Next play?
Renji tries a Pulse StepโRei steps in sync and shoulder bumps him mid-shot.
Brick.
> "He's not reacting to movement," Souta said.
"He's reacting to the intention."
---
๐ฑ Riku Steps In
From the bench, Riku texts Souta mid-timeout:
> "Look in your locker. Bottom page of my notes."
Souta runs.
Opens the file.
A play labeled: "Ember Flow โ Variant 3."
He runs back.
> "We've got one answer.
But it's risky as hell."
Renji wipes blood from his lip.
> "Then it's ours."
