The bus rumbled to life at exactly 09:00 AM, rolling forward with a low growl as the Horizon High team began their long journey to Tokyo.
A seven to eight-hour ride.
Destination: the legendary Yoyogi National Gymnasium in Shibuya. Capacity: 13,000 roaring fans. Stage: the Week of Madness—where legends are born and dreams are broken.
But before the first tip-off, there was one ritual every team had to face:
The National Group Draw.
A random lottery to determine the bracket placement. Chaos, tension, and whispers of rigged luck.
And for Horizon, two representatives would face that wheel of fate:
Dirga and Kaito.
Dirga sat by the window, his head leaning slightly against the cool glass, watching the highway blur into gray ribbons. A mix of nerves and excitement swirled in his chest.
In his mind, one name kept repeating.
Masaki And Yuto
His old teammate. His rival.
Would Toyonaka win the wild card slot?
Would fate let them meet again on this national stage?
