The court echoed with the haunting tick-tock of the clock, each passing second a cruel reminder of the fading hope that lingered in the air.
"...."
The once roaring cheers of the crowd had shifted into a muted murmur, the scoreboard coldly revealing the approaching loss.
In the final quarter, just a handful of minutes left, and a tough opponent pushing Kaijo High to their limits.
The vacant looks on his teammates' faces mirrored the heavy feeling in Kise's chest as he dribbled the ball.
He didn't have to wait much before the ball landed in his hands, his teammates appearing to throw in the towel.
The realization clenched his chest with frustration. Under the unforgiving court lights, their shadows painted a picture of despair hanging heavy over Kaijo High.
It felt like victory had slipped away, leaving them only the bitter aftertaste of defeat. No, from the start, they never stood a chance against Fukuda Sogo High!
As he glanced at his teammates, Kise's throat tightened, choked by the sheer frustration of it all.
Feeling Tsuna's presence drawing near, Kise shifted his pace, defensively dribbling the ball.
His thoughts were in turmoil.
This wasn't just a game; it was a struggle against the looming threat of defeat, and he couldn't bear to see his teammates plunge into the depths of hopelessness.
At this stage, winning felt like an unattainable fantasy, but that wasn't the main worry now.
"...I don't care about beating them anymore," Kise quietly voiced in his mind.
No, what he couldn't stomach was watching his teammates surrender to despair.
"I couldn't let that happen..."
Tsuna sensed something off with Kise, his eyes sharpening as he swiftly intercepted the ball.
In that very moment, as Tsuna effortlessly stole the ball from Kise once again, Kise remained lost in his thoughts.
"..."
Darting ahead with the stolen ball, Tsuna furrowed his brow, noticing Kise seemingly frozen in place. He couldn't help but shake his head, "Looks like I really went too far..."
But then...
Something flared up inside Kise, a fierce determination coursing through him like a wildfire.
The score, the clock, the odds—none of it mattered anymore to Kise.
What he cared about was pulling his teammates out of the pit of despair.
As if he'd discovered a path forward, Kise's eyes gleamed with newfound determination, a yellow spark streaking across his pupils.
Meanwhile, believing Kise had thrown in the towel, Tsuna shook his head in pity before casually leaping up to slam the ball down.
"Hmm?"
However, Tsuna's eyes widened in disbelief.
In the blink of an eye, Kise surged forward with a fresh speed, almost like a phantom by Tsuna's side. He thwarted Tsuna's dunk with a powerful block, sending the ball flying out of bounds.
The crowd, momentarily hushed by the looming defeat, erupted into a collective gasp.
Yet, Kise's face remained composed as his eyes locked onto Tsuna's surprised expression.
Kise came to a sudden understanding.
He needed to be quicker, sharper, and just plain better. Not for the sake of winning, but for the teammates battling beside him.
In the dwindling minutes of the game, he decided to become the guiding light pulling Kaijo High out of the shadows.
Observing Kise's transformation, Tsuna couldn't help but chuckle. "...Well, well, this is unexpected."
Kise entering the zone caught Tsuna off guard. He knew Kise had the potential, but he hadn't anticipated witnessing it unfold in this particular game.
"What the heck?"
Haizaki blurted out, disbelief loud in his voice. Fukuda Sogo's players mirrored the sentiment, their eyes fixed on Kise in utter shock.
Meanwhile, Kaijo High's players, who had been trudging through the darkness towards what felt like an inevitable defeat, snapped back to reality.
All eyes turned to Kise.
His usual cheeky demeanor and annoying antics seemed to have vanished, replaced by a Kise that emanated reliability. Kaijo High couldn't help but see someone so dependable that it choked them up with emotion.
The hollowness in their eyes slowly gave way to color as they couldn't help but be moved by the transformation.
Slap!
A resounding slap echoed through the air, jolting everyone in Kaijo High. All eyes turned toward the sound, finding Kasamatsu's face now a bright red from his own palm.
"Wake up!"
His shout caught everyone off guard.
"Freaking wake up, you idiots! Look at our freshman, fighting all alone! How dare you call yourselves seniors!"
Kasamatsu scolded, prompting them to lower their heads in shame. But Kasamatsu's words didn't let up.
"Stupid idiots, whether we win or lose, we can't let a freshman carry our sorry selves like this, got it!?"
His words reignited the flickering candlelight within their eyes, each of them finding a renewed determination.
Indeed, Kise had showcased enough.
He had displayed their embarrassment in the face of such a formidable opponent.
Now wasn't the moment for sinking into despair; their ace fought alone, and the least they could do was rally behind him.
"Oh? Looks like they've come to their senses..."
Nijimura remarked, a bead of sweat rolling down his face.
The expressions on Kaijo High players' faces now carried a fresh determination, a stark contrast to the gloominess just moments ago. Their eyes now held a spark of life, a far cry from the fading glint from before.
Kise's awakening had truly stirred something within them!
"...He's been pushing his Perfect Copy beyond its limits, yet he's entered the zone," Tsuna remarked, shaking his head in slight disbelief.
But he got it! Tsuna resonated with Kise's determination!
An unyielding determination to shift the odds despite physical constraints! The rush of adrenaline pulsating through the body, and a resolute gaze fixed on the intent to make a difference!
"To think I'd feel such nostalgia in this game..." Tsuna smiled.
Kise's eyes slightly widened in surprise, witnessing a smile on Tsuna's face that differed from his usual bored or professional expressions.
It was a genuine one!
As the ball found its way to Tsuna, he glanced at Kise, who rapidly closed in, exerting immense pressure. This prompted Tsuna to let out another chuckle.
Despite the chuckle, Kise didn't flinch in the slightest. He remained focused, determined to halt Tsuna's advance.
Witnessing Kise's determination, Tsuna couldn't contain himself.
His face twisted into a smirk he attempted to suppress. However, he couldn't hold back, silently screaming in ecstasy, "I hit another jackpot!"
Title: Kise's Awakening!
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