You're Too Tired... It's Time to Rest (1)

That sound was not particularly shrill, yet it was like two heavy hammers, forcibly splitting apart the overlapping chatter and cries in the arena, carving a clear divide through the noise.

In that instant, the previously chaotic and boisterous arena seemed as if someone had pressed pause, falling into a brief silence.

Everyone's gaze involuntarily turned toward the two pitch-black player tunnels on either side of the court.

The next moment, uneven footsteps sounded from deep within the tunnels. Then, Ryonan and Toyotama High's players emerged from the entrances on their respective sides.

The instant both teams came fully into view, deafening cheers and shouts erupted from the stands.

The sound was like a rising tide, instantly flooding the entire arena. Even the lights overhead seemed to sway faintly with it. The cries divided clearly into two camps, left and right, each wave louder than the last, as though they were competing in a battle of sound.

The stands on the left side of the court were a striking sea of white, filled with Ryonan's supporters and cheer squad.

Their cheers were perfectly united, carrying no needless force, only absolute trust and anticipation, like a warm tide.

Bell!

Bell!

Bell!

Bell! Chi Tong! Chi Tong! Chi Tong! Chi Tong!

The stands on the right side of the court, meanwhile, were a vast ocean of dark blue, filled with Toyotama High's supporters and cheer squad.

A glance across the crowd revealed quite a few people dressed like working adults. Their shouts carried obvious arrogance and menace. Listening closely, they sounded more like the taunts of street punks before a brawl, heavy with the smell of gunpowder.

Feng Yu, get them!

Come on!

Crush them! Let those idiots on the other side see what we're made of!

What's with that guy's hair?