"He came back a lot sooner than I thought," Mibuchi remarked aloud. Despite his surprise, he couldn't help but admire Kuroko's resilience. "He's pretty tenacious, huh?"
"Tetsuya can be quite stubborn," Akashi chimed in, grabbing the attention of the Uncrowned King. He glanced at Momoi on the Too Academy bench, adding, "...But Tetsuya should understand that Satsuki is not someone to be underestimated. She might have something up her sleeve to keep him in check."
The Uncrowned Kings furrowed their brows as they found it perplexing that Kuroko returned at this moment, knowing the circumstances.
"Tetsuya doesn't make hasty moves; he must have a plan," Akashi said, his eyes reflecting curiosity.
"...Looks like he has high hopes for his old teammate," Mibuchi remarked, glancing at Akashi before returning to the game on the court.
Akashi smirked, thinking, "...Let's see what you've got, Tetsuya."
As the game pressed on, Seirin gradually advanced, Izuki dribbling the ball cautiously. However, his eyes widened when he realized the player marking him had changed.
"...Impressive of you to bounce back after Aomine disrupted your moves," Imayoshi thought, sharing a glance with Susa, who was now guarding Izuki.
Though his focus was on Izuki, Imayoshi couldn't resist a chuckle as he glanced at Kuroko, who appeared surprised. "Unfortunately, we'll have to keep a close eye on you this time..."
Confused, Izuki furrowed his brow while carefully dribbling the ball, with Susa sticking close.
Hyuga mirrored the frustration when he noticed Imayoshi effortlessly tracking Kuroko's movements. Gritting his teeth, he muttered, "Even Kuroko's misdirection is useless now, huh?"
Momoi observed the unfolding situation with a focused and calculating gaze, thinking, "Regardless of your friendship with Aomine, we need to win the game to advance to the next tournament rounds..."
Cornered and with no alternative, Izuki made the split-second decision to pass the ball to Kagami, hoping to salvage some points for Seirin.
Yet, as Kagami took possession of the ball, an immediate and palpable pressure descended upon him, a suffocating intensity that sent shivers down his spine.
Instinctively, Kagami's senses screamed at him, urging caution as he pivoted, creating distance by stepping back and then swiftly crossing to the right.
Beads of sweat formed on his temple as he observed Aomine.
Kagami couldn't help but acknowledge the gravity of the situation. "...He's playing seriously this time!"
Aomine, fully tapping into his beastly instinct, pursued Kagami with an unyielding determination.
Each movement and step became a calculated dance as Aomine shadowed Kagami's every move. The atmosphere in the stadium crackled with tension, the audience captivated by the one-on-one confrontation between these two formidable players.
The overwhelming pressure emanating from Aomine was not lost on the other players of Seirin on the court. A collective unease settled over them, beads of sweat breaking out as they, too, felt the impact of the high-level battle unfolding before their very own eyes.
However, as their battle continued, Kagami's eyes ignited with excitement, a fervor that matched the intensity of the showdown.
"But isn't this more fun!" he declared, his words a proclamation of the sheer joy he found in the thrilling exchange on the court.
In an instant, Kagami shifted his feet, altering his pace with a burst of energy that left Aomine's defense in the dust.
The sudden acceleration frustrated Too Academy's players, who scrambled to intercept Kagami, their disbelief evident in their attempts to thwart his advance.
Yet, Kagami seemed to be unstoppable as he effortlessly weaving through Too Academy's defense with a finesse that showcased his prowess.
The crowd, caught in the rapture of the moment, gasped in collective anticipation as Kagami soared toward the basket, his form mid-air a testament to the extraordinary athleticism on display.
"Not so fast!"
The spellbinding moment faced an abrupt interruption, a voice cutting through the air with a declaration that hung in the balance. A hand, appearing seemingly out of nowhere, intercepted Kagami, who was on the verge of slamming the ball into the basket.
The court, once filled with the electrifying energy of Kagami's ascent, now held its breath as the unexpected twist added a layer of suspense to the unfolding scene.
The ball, swatted with precision, found its way to Imayoshi, who wasted no time deciding what to do. And with a quick but decisive pass, the ball was propelled forward as it landed right in the hands of Aomine.
Aomine, with a seamless transition, moved forward in a fluid motion.
His agility was on full display.
Kagami also reacted with lightning speed and immediately pursued Aomine. The court seemed to stretch before them, and Aomine effortlessly sliced through Seirin's defensive formation like a hot knife through butter.
The crowd erupted in a cacophony of cheers, their excitement reaching a fever pitch as they witnessed the extraordinary display of skill and speed.
Aomine grinned as he sensed Kagami's presence trailing him.
Undeterred, he advanced toward Seirin's basket. The air crackled with anticipation as Aomine ascended for a dunk, an impressive spectacle in the making.
Having caught up with Aomine, Kagami leaped into action, determined to block Aomine's attempt at scoring.
However, the moment took an unexpected turn. Aomine, in a breathtaking display of agility and reaction speed, rotated his body mid-air, catching Kagami off guard, who widened his eyes in disbelief.
Aomine executed a double-clutch maneuver with his back facing the basket before shooting it without even looking at it with precision, effortlessly scoring more points for Too Academy.
The crowd's cheers reached a crescendo, a mix of awe and exhilaration echoing through the stadium.
In the audience seat, Kaijo players stared in disbelief at the unfolding events.
"...He's way quicker than he was in the Interhigh," one player remarked aloud, a sentiment shared by everyone.
Kasamatsu, wearing a frown, observed the unfolding situation on the court. "It's absurd to think a player of his caliber could improve so much in such a short time."
However, he looked at Kise, who remained unfazed and confident. He thought, "...Good thing our ace is stepping up, too."
Kasamatsu's expression shifted as he broke into a smile.
Kaijo's coach, wearing a serious expression, watched the game before addressing Kagetora. "Looks like your players are up against a challenge here..."
"Why? Do you think they're losing? It's just the second quarter..." Kagetora laughed, leaving Takeuchi to frown, considering Kagetora's confidence hinted at Seirin having some tricks up their sleeves.
Kagetora then shifted his gaze to Kuroko, thinking, "It's about time for you to pull out that move, kid..."
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