The gymnasium erupted in an uproar as Shuutoku's match concluded with a resounding victory, the scoreboard reading 117 - 51.
"Crazy! This year's tournament is practically the Generation of Miracles' solo stage!"
"Can't disagree with you!"
"Whoaa! Kise and Midorima seemed so excited today!"
Murmurs and chatters filled the gymnasium as the audience processed the one-sided spectacle they had just witnessed.
However, the excitement was far from over as attention swiftly shifted to another side of the court.
"Whoa! Seirin is on fire this game, too!"
"Kagami's going crazy!"
"They're another team that the Generation of Miracles needs to be wary of!"
Seirin also dominated their match against Nakamiya South High! As the third quarter unfolded, they held a commanding lead with a massive score of 74 - 38, intensifying the buzz and anticipation in the gymnasium.
Aida watched the ongoing game, a pleased grin on her face. "They're doing really well..."
As the match unfolded today, she couldn't ignore the noticeable change in their attitude. Gone were the usual jokes and light banter. Instead, a serious determination had replaced their usual playful demeanor, as if a different spirit possessed them.
Aida chuckled to herself.
"...I guess they realized the Winter Cup has just started," she remarked, the grin still present.
Aida couldn't help but thank Fukuda Sogo and Yosen High for delivering such an intense game. That gripping match had revitalized the Seirin players, leaving them in an even better mental state.
On the court, Kagami took a deep breath before he maneuvered past two defenders who were both trying to stop him.
With a burst of energy, he leaped up and dunked the ball, sparking excitement in the crowd.
"Nice one, Kagami!" Hyuga praised as they regrouped, getting ready to defend against Nakamiya South's counterattack.
As their opponents advanced, a player made a mistake in his pass, sending the ball too low, likely failing to anticipate Kuroko's ball-stealing moves.
"Shit! I passed the ball too low!"
Realizing his error, the player cursed under his breath while Nakamiya South's captain shouted for the team to defend.
"Everyone get back!"
Suddenly, Kuroko materialized right where the ball was headed, intercepting it and swiftly passing it to Kiyoshi, who caught it with a determined expression on his face.
However, Nakamiya South's center quickly caught up, reaching Kiyoshi just as he leaped for a dunk. He arrived in the nick of time to block Kiyoshi's attempt.
Thinking he had successfully stopped Kiyoshi, the center was taken by surprise as Kiyoshi changed his move.
"Goddammit!"
Instead of going for the dunk, Kiyoshi passed the ball to Izuki, who swiftly passed it to Hyuga.
"Nice pass, Izuki!"
With intense focus in his eyes, Hyuga went into his shooting motion and released the ball, swishing it into the basket.
"Nice shot, Captain!"
As the game concluded, Seirin secured a solid victory with a score of 107 - 63! Though not as impressive as the Generation of Miracles' results, the important thing for them was that they won the second round and advanced to the third.
After the post-match ceremonies, the crowd suddenly erupted in cheers and excitement on the other side of the court, where the final game of the second round of the Winter Cup was taking place.
"Rakuzan High is walking in!"
"Whoa! Their entrance is always imposing as usual!"
"That's Akashi from the Generation of Miracles!"
The mention of Akashi, a former Captain of the renowned Generation of Miracles, further fueled the excitement. Whispers and exclamations spread like wildfire among the spectators, acknowledging the significance of his presence.
Chatters broke out again, but this time, the entire gymnasium was abuzz with murmurs and conversations. Noticing the excitement, Kogane couldn't help but ask, "Should we stick around and watch this game?"
"...I'm not sure. What do you think, Captain?" Izuki asked, making everyone turn their attention to Hyuga, who was also checking out the other court.
Looking at Aida, Hyuga nodded, and Aida sighed as she nodded too. Watching this, Seirin unknowingly got what Hyuga was getting at, and they all smiled.
"Let's stay for a while and see what's going on!"
Hyuga declared as he led Seirin off the court before heading back to the seats and catching the game.
As Seirin found some empty seats, they settled in just in time for the game to start. Taking their seats, they observed the unfolding match.
Kagami, in particular, wore a serious expression. He had crossed paths with Akashi before and considered him a formidable opponent.
"...and a dangerous person!"
He thought as he vividly recalled Akashi's decisive attack with Midorima's scissors.
"Rakuzan seems to have quite the fan base, huh?"
Izuki remarked, scanning the crowd.
Despite it being the final match and getting late, the gymnasium was still packed with people passionately watching and cheering for Rakuzan.
"It's no surprise. They held the championship for several years until Fukuda Sogo finally broke their streak a while back," Aida explained, her face showing a serious demeanor.
Everyone in Seirin was taken aback when Koganei blurted out, "They win every time? How does that even happen?"
Aida shook her head and explained, "Unlike many schools, Rakuzan is a prestigious school that doesn't struggle with budget constraints. They can afford to scout numerous talented players each year, offering them attractive deals."
"And most of these players are among the best in their respective positions..."
She concluded, and Kiyoshi's expression turned serious as he looked over at familiar faces of the Uncrowned Kings on the court.
As Seirin watched the game unfold, Rakuzan seemed oddly normal in the first quarter. Despite their opponent struggling, scoring only 5 points so far, the game lacked the expected intensity.
Koganei and the freshmen found it strange. Yet, their concerns were proven unnecessary. In the second quarter, while the pace remained steady, Rakuzan High somehow anticipated their opponent's moves. The opposing team couldn't counter Rakuzan's attacks.
Just when they thought they'd seen enough, the third quarter arrived, and Rakuzan's pace accelerated even more. The score widened at an unbelievable rate.
The shock wasn't limited to Seirin. When the game concluded with the referee's whistle, the entire gymnasium fell silent. Onlookers stared in disbelief as Rakuzan High triumphed over their opponent with an astonishing score of 123 - 7.
The Seirin players could only watch with serious expressions on their faces.
"I always knew they were strong..."
"But it's surprising that their opponent couldn't put up any resistance at all..."
What added to the unease was the fact that Akashi appeared to do very little, just smoothly passing the ball around and letting his team score.
However, Kuroko, who understood Akashi better, knew it was all Akashi's doing.
"...His opponents couldn't fight back because Akashi had read them like a book..."
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