Chapter 186: A Reminder!

"...Yosen High lost, huh?" Hyuga muttered.

The gymnasium fell into a momentary hush as the members of Seirin absorbed the reality of the scoreboard.

The numbers displayed spelled out absolute domination by Fukuda Sogo, a surprising turn of events given Yosen High's formidable reputation, particularly as the Shield of Aegis. 

Despite their strong contender status for the Winter Cup, Yosen High found themselves overpowered by Fukuda Sogo's might.

"I get it that Fukuda Sogo was a strong team, but that Kazama..." Kagami muttered, his hand clenched into a tight fist. His eyes blazed with a mix of excitement and admiration as he continued, "...He's on a whole different level!"

He wasn't entirely sure if he could match up with Tsuna on equal ground, but oddly, Kagami didn't recoil from the prospect.

Instead, a strange excitement began to course through his veins.

The idea of facing someone of Tsuna's caliber stirred something within him, and rather than fear, Kagami found himself looking forward to the challenge.

"...Let's go, Satsuki."

Aomine's sudden declaration jolted everyone's attention.

Though wearing a confused expression, Momoi still rose to her feet and asked, "Eh? Right now? Kaijo's playing on the other side, though. Why don't we stay for longer?"

Aomine frowned, his gaze shifting to Kaijo's ongoing match.

He replied, "...There is no way for Kise to lose."

The collective gaze of the group turned toward the court where Kaijo High was locked in their game. To their surprise, the scoreboard showed Kaijo taking a commanding lead of 26 - 8, an impressive margin even though it was only the first quarter.

Aomine shook his head with a smirk, continuing to walk. "Besides, watching these two having fun made me want to grab a basketball..."

"...Wait for me, Daiki!"

Momoi turned to glance back at the Seirin players who stayed behind, waving her arms in a playful farewell before turning her attention forward to chase after Aomine.

As both figures left, the Seirin players redirected their focus to the ongoing Kaijo match. Izuki, breaking the silence, remarked, "...Is it just me, or have all the Generation of Miracles improved since the Interhigh?"

"Of course, they've improved," Aida nodded in agreement, glancing at everyone before adding, "All of you were improving, why can't they?"

"...Well, she's right, everyone." Kiyoshi chimed in, a broad smile lighting up his face as he rose from his seat. "Everyone's making strides, but only one will stand on top. So, let's keep moving forward!"

Kiyoshi's words struck a chord with the Seirin players, igniting a flame of intense determination in their gazes.

Seirin's imminent second-round match spurred everyone into action.

With determined expressions, they rose in unison, preparing to make their way to their designated changing room.

Gone was the air of overconfidence that had briefly lingered among them, replaced now by a resolute determination.

Too Academy loomed as their most formidable challenge yet.

However, the recent match between Fukuda Sogo and Yosen High served as a wake-up call for them.

This was the Winter Cup!

It was a gathering of Japan's finest, and Too Academy was just the initial hurdle.

"Let's stay focused and push forward!"

Hyuga's declaration rang out solemnly, injecting a sense of purpose into their steps as they made their way towards their changing room.

Meanwhile...

As he was dribbling the ball, Kasamatsu took a deep breath before casting a thoughtful gaze at their opponents.

"Their defense is solid. Their formation is pretty thoughtful..."

A sense of preparedness emanated from their adversaries. The opposing team seemed to have done their homework and was ready to face Kaijo High.

"...I guess being called the best in Kagoshima wasn't just a bluff," Kasamatsu concluded, feeling the weight of the challenge presented by Yamanaka High.

Hailing from Kagoshima, Yamanaka High had earned a reputation as the overlord of the small region.

While they might not have dominated their area to the extent of powerhouses like Fukuda Sogo, Yosen High, and Rakuzan High, they held the top spot in their local competition.

However, Kasamatsu, displaying a subtle but effective feint, shifted his body slightly to the left.

Caught off guard, the defender anticipated a leftward maneuver.

In a flash, Kasamatsu's eyes sparkled with cunning as he swiftly changed direction, bursting towards the right and leaving the befuddled defender in his wake.

As the Yamanaka players adapted and one of them moved to intercept him, Kasamatsu's eyes remained sharp.

"I'll give you credit. You guys are tough!"

With a confident grin, he added, "...But, unfortunately for you, we've got a monster on our side too! So, pack up and head home Yamanaka High!"

The defender assigned to thwart Kasamatsu looked on in surprise as the ball smoothly left Kasamatsu's control, finding its way to Kise.

Holding the ball with a nonchalant expression, Kise contemplated his next move. He muttered to himself, "...It should be left, right, then rotate, no?"

The defender marking Kise gritted his teeth, interpreting Kise's demeanor as an underestimation. Fueled by determination, he exclaimed, "...I'll stop you this time, you motherfucker!"

Swiftly, he moved his hand forward, aiming to steal the ball away from Kise.

During this confrontation, Kise's eyes gleamed with a sudden change in his footwork. In a surprising sidestep to the left, he left the defender momentarily caught off guard. Gritting his teeth, the defender reacted to Kise's unexpected movement.

The sequence didn't end there.

Demonstrating his agility, Kise sharply changed his direction to the right.

However, as he executed the maneuver, he widened his eyes in surprise as he glanced at his feet.

He was feeling the intense pressure on his muscles.

Undeterred, he rotated his body in the same direction, creating a calculated distance. Harnessing newfound speed, he sprinted toward the basket with powerful stride.

The anticipation in the crowd reached its peak as Kise leaped up, the sound of the dunk echoing through the arena.

"Whoa!"

"Let's go! Kaijo!"

Cheers erupted, and the excitement cut through the court like a palpable energy.

However, amid the celebration, a different sentiment lingered within Kise.

"...Dammit! I needed to be faster," he cursed under his breath, a frown forming as he glanced down at his feet, still stinging from the intense move.

"To think it was that intense to try out his move, as expected..." Kise muttered, acknowledging the toll of the demanding play. Determined, he turned and returned to his position.

"That little monster..."

Kasamatsu couldn't help but mutter, his eyes widening in astonishment.

Goosebumps prickled across his skin as he witnessed Kise execute that move. Though imperfect and lacking the same speed and power, Kasamatsu couldn't deny the uncanny resemblance.

His face transformed into a feral grin as he muttered in awe, "...That was Fukuda Sogo's Captain's movement!"

---

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