Alexandra was casually observing a streetball game that was unfolding right before her eyes. She had accompanied Tsuna back to the United States, although her assistance was rarely required by Fukuda Sogo.
As a result, she often found herself returning to her roots and spending her time here.
In the streetball court, a red-haired teenager was sweating as he skillfully dribbled the basketball.
"Come on, Taiga! You've gotten slower!" One of his teammates teased in a playful manner.
Kagami scowled, snapping back, "Shut up, Kevin!"
His face bore visible bruises, remnants of his altercation with members of the Student Union at Fukuda Sogo Academy.
After receiving a call from the vice leader, who informed him that Alexandra had returned to the US with the regular team members of Fukuda Sogo for intensive training, Kagami quickly booked a flight to the US.
He was determined to meet Alexandra and seek her guidance.
In the game, Kagami paused to take a deep breath, remembering Alexandra's advice: "Relax your form and keep an open mind. Feel your surroundings..."
He mumbled those words before refocusing, fixing his gaze on the opponent.
His expression was composed as he deftly dribbled the ball between his legs and behind his back, then made a rapid crossover to the left. This unexpected change of pace left his opponent bewildered.
Witnessing their teammate's struggle, the opponent's teammates rushed to help.
Nonetheless, Kagami remained composed, expertly breaking through their defense before soaring into the air for a powerful dunk.
As Kagami slammed the ball into the basket, the crowd cheered!
Kevin, who had playfully teased Kagami earlier, gave him a hearty pat on the shoulder and exclaimed, "That's what I'm talking about, man! Let's go!"
Kagami simply shook his head with a wry smile as the game pressed on.
On the sidelines, Alexandra nodded in approval of Kagami's progress.
"He certainly has plenty of potential left to unlock," Alexandra noted, her eyes fixed on Kagami, who had become the center of attention on the court.
With confidence in Kagami's potential, Alexandra believed he could have a better chance of winning against the Generation of Miracles if he kept up his current pace.
However, she couldn't help but think of Tsuna, and a slight doubt crept into her.
"...Still, I'm not sure if you'd be able to face such a monster, Taiga," she pondered silently.
In a contemporary gymnasium, two groups of teenagers, one in dark green-lined jerseys and the other in red and black-lined jerseys, were locked in a fierce basketball match.
The teens in red and black found themselves in a challenging situation as their opponents in dark green appeared to dominate the game.
Nash frowned as he dribbled the basketball alongside Haizaki while Ogiwara closely guarded his every move.
Breaking through their defense wasn't particularly challenging for Nash.
Still, he couldn't shake off the uneasy feeling caused by the curious and intense stares he received from the Fukuda Sogo players. It wasn't limited to just the two players before him; it seemed like the entire Fukuda Sogo team shared these peculiar gazes.
Nash silently wondered, "What kind of sorcery did he exert on them to make them act like this?"
He directed his gaze at Tsuna, who appeared the most composed among his teammates.
The Jabberwock team had been consistently winning their games against Fukuda Sogo.
However, Nash couldn't help but notice that Fukuda Sogo scored more points with each subsequent match.
Their initial score of 10 on their first day gradually increased. While the Jabberwock still maintained control of the game, it was evident that Fukuda Sogo had made remarkable progress in just a short span of time.
Nash expressed frustration with a click of his tongue as he effortlessly bypassed Haizaki and Ogiwara's defensive efforts, pushing forward toward Fukuda Sogo's defensive line.
Nijimura quickly moved to support Nash, but instead of going for a shot himself, Nash made a pass to Silver.
Silver received the ball with remarkable composure, starkly contrasting his usual behavior of taunting opponents.
Initially, Silver had been taunting the Fukuda Sogo players continuously. However, he soon grasped the futility of it. The opposing team seemed undeterred as if possessed, relentlessly challenging him despite being like ants in his presence.
Silver had always reveled in the sight of his opponents' despair, but something about these Fukuda Sogo players was different. He found their unwavering determination uninteresting.
Silver's attempt to dunk the ball was met with unexpected resistance from Tsuna, who had quickly positioned himself to block the shot.
Everyone watched as Fukuda Sogo seized the ball after Tsuna's block.
With the ball now in his hands, Tsuna wasted no time and darted forward.
Silver, determined to redeem himself, chased closely behind.
Zack and Allen, Silver's teammates, moved in to thwart Tsuna's progress. Though Tsuna managed to slip past their defense, it gave Silver enough time to catch up. His towering presence stood between Tsuna and the basket, poised to halt Tsuna's advance.
Tsuna maintained a calm smile and decided to take a step back for a shot. This surprised Silver, but he reacted swiftly, attempting to block the shot.
However, Tsuna had something else in mind. As Silver leaped into the air to block the shot, Tsuna skillfully passed the ball by bouncing it through Silver's outstretched form.
Mochizuki, fully prepared, nodded and declared, "Alright." He leaped into action, taking aim at the basket.
"...You think I'd let you do as you wish?"
However, his concentration was disrupted by a voice.
Nash had appeared before him, predicting their moves with remarkable precision. He jumped to block Mochizuki's shot.
Mochizuki remained steadfast and released the ball, much to Nash's surprise. The ball somehow managed to evade Nash's outstretched hand, leaving him baffled.
Upon seeing the ball's trajectory, Nash grasped the situation. Tsuna was swiftly closing in on the ball, leaping into the air, snatching it, and executing a slam dunk. He briefly hung from the rim before gracefully landing.
Nash shook his head in amazement and shifted his gaze to the scoreboard, which displayed their typical commanding lead of 59-21.
Nash noticed that compared to their first encounter with a score of 10-65, their performance had improved significantly.
Tsuna didn't even enter the zone anymore after their initial match, and this had Nash excited. He wanted to see Tsuna give it his all, but it was the last day of their training together.
"...Unfortunate, huh?"
Approaching Tsuna, Nash extended his hand for a handshake. "I suppose you'll be heading back to Japan tomorrow?"
Tsuna nodded and shook Nash's hand firmly. He then turned to his teammates, who appeared frustrated by the scoreboard.
Tsuna smiled, sensing their determination.
"Plus, I've accomplished my goals of returning to the US. It's time to head back..."
---
Do you want to read 15 chapters ahead of the schedule? Here's where you can find them:
p@treon.com/mythoast