The following day, teams advancing to the third round geared up, focusing on achieving the optimal mental state and physical condition.
Most opted for lighter exercises, deviating from the intensity of their usual training drills, aiming to keep their muscles sharp without overexertion.
However...
Amidst the sprawling training facility, the rhythmic thud of running shoes echoed. A group of teenagers, clad in black jerseys with red accents, circled the area in a heavy panting symphony.
"....I thought...huh... we're not training... hard today...?" Mochizuki gasped between breaths.
"...Two additional laps for speaking nonsense."
Tsuna's cold voice sliced through the air, causing Mochizuki's face to pale, resembling a sheet of paper as his soul seemingly fled his body. The air turned tense as the consequences of his words settled in.
The others sported strained expressions, their faces contorting as they desperately suppressed the urge to mock and tease Mochizuki. They were all too aware that any expression of amusement would warrant them additional laps as well.
"Two more laps for blatantly holding back your laughs, Shigehiro."
Tsuna's stern command came after he caught Ogiwara's lips twitching in an attempt to stifle laughter. Ogiwara, now twitching his lips even more fervently, responded with a resounding, "Yes, Sir!"
"...Why did I feel like he was enjoying more laps?"
Ishida muttered under his breath.
"...."
Well-acquainted with Ogiwara's personality, Haizaki remained silent, knowing that Ogiwara was indeed relishing the situation.
Nijimura sighed in resignation, keeping pace with their captain as they navigated the additional laps together.
Though the third round was just around the corner, Fukuda Sogo was still consistently following their gruesome training regime.
When the team questioned their captain, Tsuna, about the rationale behind such rigorous training...
"Training to the point of risking it all is about transcending your limits. If you're aiming for more, don't just exist! Thrive!"
Tsuna delivered his words with a calm demeanor, and his response left them utterly astounded...
...however, the following sentence from Tsuna left them utterly speechless, "...If you don't want to, then just be a damn worm!"
"....."
The weight of his words hung in the air, and they found themselves resigned to their fate.
Yet, the prospect of the upcoming ice bath and full-body massage, courtesy of Tsuna, sparked a renewed determination in their eyes. The realization that such privileges awaited them heightened their desire to push through their limits, knowing that recovery would be swift with these amenities at their disposal.
On the flip side of Tokyo, two players deeply immersed themselves in their training, their jerseys drenched with sweat clearly indicating the intensity of their effort.
The tall teenager with distinctive green hair smoothly executed his shooting motion, a ball conspicuously absent from his grip. The shorter, black-haired companion's eyes lit up, attentively observing the green-haired player's form as he deftly dribbled the ball.
In a burst of excitement, he exclaimed, "This is it!"
At the precise moment, the black-haired teenager delivered a precise pass to the green-haired player, who effortlessly launched a beautifully arcing shot toward the basket.
The ball swished through the net, prompting an exclamation of satisfaction.
"....Whoa! Finally!"
Adjusting his glasses, the green-haired player nodded in contentment.
Suddenly, the gymnasium door swung open, and a tall teenager with black hair entered, his expression furrowing upon seeing the two still engaged.
"...Midorima, Takao, you both pushed yourselves too hard. We can't afford our key players having sore muscles for the third round tomorrow!"
"...Ah, Captain! Don't be too rigid, haha."
Takao approached Otsubo, attempting to ease the tension with a light-hearted comment. However, Otsubo's irritation persisted as he sternly stated, "End your training this instant, though I admire both of your enthusiasm. We need to secure our ticket to the semi-final tomorrow!"
Perceiving Otsubo's genuine anger, Midorima let out a resigned sigh while Takao could only awkwardly scratch his head.
"...Well, we're done with our training anyway. So, we'll get going, Captain!"
Takao nervously laughed as he ushered Midorima out, leaving the gym in haste.
Observing their departure, Otsubo shook his head lightly before casting a thoughtful glance at the basketball still bouncing on the court.
"They've got a new trick, huh? Interesting..."
In another corner of Tokyo, a team was deeply engrossed in their training drills. However, they maintained a lighter intensity, refraining from pushing themselves too hard to ensure they were in peak condition for the challenges awaiting them tomorrow.
Their collective gaze remained unwavering, each player fully immersed and focused on their training.
This dedication was particularly evident in one player, a blonde-haired individual who drew in a deep breath.
"...Focus up!!"
Kasamatsu's authoritative shout reverberated, met with a resounding affirmation from the team as they diligently continued their training. Before long, their drills reached a conclusion, and the players took a well-deserved break on the benches lining the side of the court.
Kaijo's coach nodded approvingly at the disciplined effort of his team.
"...Great job, everyone! We've got a significant match ahead. No extra training on your own today; we can't afford any of you having sore muscles tomorrow!"
"Noted, Coach!"
Loud affirmations echoed as the players took a moment to rehydrate, some drinking water while others wiped away their sweat with towels provided by the assistant.
However, Kaijo's coach's satisfaction turned into a frown as he noticed their ace still on the court, seemingly lost in thought while gazing at the basketball in his hands. He exchanged a concerned glance with Kasamatsu, who nodded in response, signaling his intention to approach Kise.
"...Captain?"
As Kasamatsu approached, Kise seemed to register his presence.
Observing Kise's demeanor, Kasamatsu couldn't help but frown, restraining the impulse to give Kise a light tap with a punch or kick. Shaking his head, he asked, "What's wrong with you?"
Kise, typically the lively one, bore a different expression. His face held an unusual calm and solemnity.
"...I don't know..."
"What?"
"No, I mean, I don't know what to feel..."
Kasamatsu's frown deepened as he inquired, "What do you mean?"
Sighing, Kise released the ball in his hand, presenting Kasamatsu with his trembling hands as he spoke, "We'll be playing against someone that even Aominecchi couldn't defeat..."
The memories of Aomine defeating him during the Interhigh still haunted Kise. Now, he was on the verge of facing someone who had defeated Aomine, the one who had bested him.
"I've played a few times against him in his place, and he was really a monster..."
"...That bad?"
Nodding in response to Kasamatsu's question, Kise admitted, "...If Aominecchi was a tiger cub, Kazamacchi was a dragon..."
"...How is that even a fair comparison?" Kasamatsu retorted, twitching his mouth at Kise's nonsensical analogy.
"...I'm not sure if I'm afraid, not sure if I'm excited either..." Kise continued, his gaze fixated on his trembling hands, indifferent to Kasamatsu's reaction.
In response to Kise's contemplative state, Kasamatsu sighed heavily. Suddenly, annoyance flashed across his face, and he swiftly kicked Kise on the butt, sending him crashing to the ground.
Shocked, Kise quickly regained his composure, standing up with a hint of anger.
"Again? Why do you always keep doing these things!" he exclaimed indignantly.
Unfazed by Kise's burst of anger, Kasamatsu shook his head, returning to where the others were resting.
"...Fucking stupid, why can't you just be both?"
"Huh?"
Kasamatsu's words hung in the air, prompting Kise to widen his eyes in disbelief. He looked down at his hand, which had stopped trembling.
"...Right, why can't I be both excited and afraid at the same time?" he mumbled to himself.
A sudden chuckle erupted from Kise in the middle of the court, drawing puzzled looks from everyone on Kaijo, who regarded him with a mix of pity and concern as if questioning his sanity.
Meanwhile, Kasamatsu wore a satisfied smile, observing Kise's reaction. He addressed the others, "Let's go, just leave him alone for now..."
Glances were exchanged among the team members as they nodded at each other and departed from the court.
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