Both teams quickly began their warm-up routines, creating a tense vibe on the court after Kuroko's declaration. Surprisingly, the players from both sides appeared relaxed, as if the charged atmosphere had no effect on them.
"Hey there, haha,"
While Fukuda Sogo warmed up, they all turned towards Alexandra, who had just walked in.
She casually dropped her jacket on the bench, indicating her recent arrival at the gymnasium.
Tsuna gave a slight shake of his head, a nonchalant response to the situation, as he continued his warm-up, setting the pace for the rest of the team.
Alexandra felt a wave of relief, grateful that she hadn't incurred any scolding.
Taking a seat, she removed her glasses, mumbling with a serious tone, "Alright, let's check out what they've got..."
"Whoa, they've really stepped up their game since the last time I checked..." Turning her attention towards Seirin, who was in the midst of their warm-up, she raised her eyebrows in surprise.
Alexandra could understand why they had made it this far – their strength undeniably supported their progress through the rounds.
Turning her attention to Kuroko, she tilted her head in confusion, mumbling, "...I still can't see anything with him, huh?"
Shaking her head, she continued her gaze, eventually stopping at Kagami's figure.
"What happened to him? His aura has deepened a lot..." Her eyes widened, and a droplet of sweat trickled down her face.
"That's fantastic, Taiga!"
Alexandra then slid her glasses back on, redirecting her focus to Fukuda Sogo.
Her gaze stopped at Tsuna's figure. She could vividly feel his overflowing aura, prompting her to let out a wry smile
"..."
While Tsuna's aura had previously been akin to an abyss, he typically carried himself with restraint. However, something seemed to have changed, and the pressure was keenly felt even through Alexandra's glasses.
"You're facing a formidable opponent, Taiga. He's determined to secure a victory right off the start this time..."
She mumbled, observing as both teams finished their warm-up.
The crowd erupted into another round of enthusiastic cheers, marking the commencement of the game as both teams took their positions on the court.
"...The game is about to begin," mumbled Aomine, his typically bored expression absent as he focused on the unfolding match.
Kise nodded in agreement, his attention fixed on the court as well.
The referee's whistle pierced the air, and with a swift motion, the ball was tossed into the air.
Kagami's eyes focused as he leaped up with a powerful jump, surpassing Nijimura, and pushed the ball toward Kuroko. The Seirin team quickly moved forward in sync.
Nijimura clicked his tongue in annoyance as he saw Kuroko adjust his footing. Kuroko smoothly rotated his body with the ball in hand, sending it flying towards the board.
"Whoaa!"
"What a pass!"
The crowd cheered for Seirin's aggressive play.
Kiyoshi caught it with a smile, saying, "Good pass as always, Kuroko!"
Ogiwara trailed behind Kuroko, observing the determination etched on Kuroko's face. A complicated expression lingered on Ogiwara's face as Kuroko slipped from his sight.
"..."
Not a hint of surprise crossed Ogiwara's features. He calmly repositioned himself, preparing for what would come next.
Having secured the ball, Kiyoshi leaped towards the basket. Haizaki swiftly shouted and moved to block him. "Not so easy!"
"Of course, I know that..."
Kiyoshi smiled, prompting a frown from Haizaki. Without hesitation, Kiyoshi retracted his hand and passed the ball to Izuki.
Tsuna swiftly closed the distance, and Izuki couldn't help but feel the tension building as he bore the pressure from Tsuna.
"He's too fast!" Izuki thought, breaking into a wry smile.
However, a subtle change flickered in his eyes as he activated his Eagle Eye.
Stepping back, he passed the ball toward an empty space.
Like a ghost materializing, Kuroko suddenly appeared to catch the pass. He seamlessly adjusted his form, holding the ball in front of his chest in a peculiar shooting position.
His eyes gleamed with determination as he locked his gaze with the basket.
"There you are, Kuroko!"
A figure materialized as Ogiwara leaped to block the shot. However, Kuroko remained unwavering, seemingly unaffected by Ogiwara's attempt to block, and released the ball from his hand.
The ball found its way into Ogiwara's blocking hand before slipping through it like a phantom. It continued its trajectory, gracefully making its way into the basket with a swish.
"Seirin got the first score!"
"What the hell was that shot!"
"Whoaa, as expected of the Phantom Sixth!"
The crowd erupted with excitement, witnessing Seirin's impressive display in their spirited competition against Fukuda Sogo.
Kagami observed the audience's response, tilting his head in confusion. However, he quickly shook off his bewilderment, refocusing on the game.
As the match progressed, Fukuda Sogo tapped into their primal instincts, evading Kuroko's aggressive attempts to steal the ball.
Seirin noticed their opponents altering their passes midway as if sensing Kuroko's presence.
Hyuga couldn't help but curse, "Shit, they're really sharp!"
Fortunately, Seirin managed to maintain their balance, executing their plan effectively.
Hyuga strategically positioned himself as the ball zipped through the court. Kuroko unleashed his Ignite Pass, and Hyuga caught it with a smile, exclaiming, "Nice pass, Kuroko!"
Without a moment's hesitation, Hyuga executed a smooth slide backward, deftly creating an unexpected gap between himself and Mochizuki.
Capitalizing on this newfound space, Hyuga propelled himself into a leap for a shot.
Reacting swiftly, Mochizuki moved to block the attempt. Yet, he proved too slow, and the ball glided seamlessly into the basket, punctuating the successful shot with a satisfying swish.
"It seems our aggressive play took them by surprise," Aida commented with a smile, her eyes fixed on the unfolding events from the bench.
Her expression shifted to contemplative as she muttered to herself, "Now that we've leveled the playing field, we need to find a way on how to seize control..."
"Damn, that pass? What was it called again?"
"That's the Ignite Pass! I heard even Aomine had a hard time stopping that!"
"Huh? You're wrong. The one Aomine struggled with was the one with the Kai!"
Kiyoshi caught snippets of the crowd's murmurs, sensing something amiss. Nevertheless, he dismissed it, focusing on Kuroko and commenting, "You seem to be quite popular, Kuroko."
Kuroko simply responded with a smile, both teams regrouping and positioning themselves for the next phase.
Dribbling the ball with deliberate slowness, Tsuna locked eyes with Kuroko.
But it wasn't just Tsuna. The entirety of Fukuda Sogo, who had previously relied solely on their sharp instincts to sense Kuroko, now directed their intense gazes towards Kuroko's figure like a predator eyeing his prey.
Observing this unfolding scene, Aida leaped to her feet in disbelief, a cold sweat breaking out as she appeared to grasp something.
Unable to contain her astonishment, she exclaimed, "What in the world?"
---
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