32 Chapter 32: Conquering the Group Stage

Teiko High performed impressively in the group stage, winning match after match. While the games were not exactly a walk in the park, they weren't overly challenging either.

However, just when things started to feel a bit boring, Tsuna received a paper filled with information about their upcoming opponent, Hibiya High.

"Shoichi Imayoshi and Makoto Hanamiya, huh?"

Tsuna mused quietly as he reviewed the details provided by Momoi. A small smile crept onto his face. Tsuna sensed that the next match would be their toughest yet, and that anticipation excited him.

Makoto Hanamiya, the future coach and captain of Kirisaki Daiichi High, stood out.

As far as he remembered. He had a reputation for using unsportsmanlike tactics and was responsible for Kiyoshi's knee injury in the canon. In simple terms, he was sly and crafty.

To make matters more challenging, Hanamiya was one of the future Uncrowned Kings.

The Uncrowned Kings referred to a group of five players who were almost as talented as the Generation of Miracles. If circumstances had been different, they might have been hailed as Miracles themselves. Unfortunately, their skills were somewhat eclipsed by the collective prowess of Teiko High's star-studded lineup. It wasn't their fault, just a twist of fate.

Their affiliation with different teams set them apart from the Generation of Miracles.

Shoichi Imayoshi, for instance, served as the third-year point guard and captain for Too. He was a pretty skilled player, often considered at the national level. But beyond that, he was known for his sharp intellect and cunning on the court.

Tsuna pondered about the kind of combination their next opponents had formed. The air in the room was thick with anticipation.

Assistant Coach Sanada's voice resonated, breaking the silence. He acknowledged that their upcoming opponent, Hibiya High, was formidable. While they had faced and triumphed over them before, it had been an exhausting physical and mental match.

Sanada paused, deep in thought. Then, he dropped a surprising piece of news.

"It would be much easier if the first-years could join this match. Unfortunately, they won't be able to participate due to a prior commitment on that day."

"What? Why not?"

Aomine's reaction was immediate and loud. He couldn't believe what he had just heard.

Akashi's expression furrowed as he explained, "Well, Teiko has a tradition of visiting Mount Fuji. It's somewhat like a school trip, but unique."

Aomine, clearly caught off guard, blurted out, "Why didn't anyone tell me about this?"

Kuroko, usually in the know about such matters, appeared equally bewildered. Meanwhile, Momoi shot Aomine a glare, her expression deadpan.

As for Murasakibara...

...typically carefree, muttered, "Uh-oh."

Midorima, holding a roll of toilet paper, inquired while adjusting his glasses, "Can't we skip it and just join the match?"

Midorima, knowing he was slated to be a starter in the group stage, was eager to play in their first playoff.

Assistant Coach Sanada's voice held a tone of regret as he delivered the unfortunate news. "I'm afraid there's no way around it. It's a school rule. Even if you're part of the team competing in a tournament, you must participate in this event."

"Why don't we simply skip it this year and do it next year instead?"

Kuroko brought up a suggestion. 

Aomine, ever quick to find an easier way, chimed in enthusiastically.  "Yeah, why not? We could totally do that!"

But Assistant Coach Sanada shook his head in response. "I'm afraid that's not an option. Our Head Coach made it clear..."

"Besides, the tournament has a set schedule each year, just like our tradition of visiting Mt. Fuji. What should we do next year? Skip again? Eventually, we'd have to participate in the tradition one way or another."

Tsuna couldn't help but shake his head slightly. He appreciated Japanese traditions, but sometimes they could be a bit inflexible, causing inconveniences like this.

Nijimura, stepping into his role as Captain, decided to lighten the mood and boost morale. He confidently declared, "Indeed, even with this event, if we've defeated them before, we can certainly do it again. And with Momoi's insights, our chances of winning will only improve."

"Seems like there's no way around it, huh?" Akashi expressed his disappointment, his voice tinged with regret at missing out on facing their toughest opponent yet.

"Repeating it next year..."

Tsuna murmured to himself. A glint flashed in his eyes as he thought of something.

Assistant Coach Sanada broke the moment with a clap of his hands, rallying their spirits. "Alright, let's begin our training for today!"

He gave Nijimura some training instructions before taking his leave, likely to attend to other responsibilities.

During their training, the group had given up on finding a way to play their next game, accepting the school's tradition. Aomine continued his complaints throughout the session, a familiar annoyance to everyone that led to the usual banter.

After the training concluded, Aomine challenged Tsuna to their customary 1v1 match, which Tsuna won as usual.

Saying their goodbyes, Tsuna headed home as Sebas had informed him of his arrival at the school gate to pick him up.

---

The day for Teiko's tradition of visiting Mount Fuji arrived. Aomine reluctantly climbed aboard the school's chartered bus for the trip.

As the Teiko Basketball team members settled in, they paid Aomine no mind, accustomed to his grumbling. However, the other students on the bus cast curious glances his way.

Midorima, holding a thick book in his bandaged hand, expressed his thoughts aloud, "Well, this is unfortunate."

Sensing the potentially long journey ahead, Akashi suggested, "Why not pass the time with a game, Shintaro?"

Akashi pulled out a Shogi board from his bag.

Midorima adjusted his glasses as he saw the board, his competitive spirit evident as he replied, "Very well, let's do it."

Momoi, doing her best to ignore Aomine's complaints, suddenly noticed something amiss.

"Hey, guys? Did anyone see Tsuna? I haven't spotted him on the bus..."

Midorima, deep in thought, replied, "Now that you mention it, I didn't see Tsuna in class either."

A sense of realization dawned on them, and their eyes widened as they exchanged concerned glances. It seemed they were all thinking the same thing about Tsuna's whereabouts.

Aomine mumbled absentmindedly, "Nah, it can't be, right?"