In response to Tsuna's question, Alexandra let out a scoff and retorted, "You know whose fault it is, right?"
"Don't be. He's more resilient than you might believe. If he were to buckle under this pressure, I'd genuinely be disappointed..." Tsuna reassured, a wry chuckle escaping his lips.
Although Alexandra acknowledged Kagami's resilience, an undercurrent of concern still tugged at her.
With a sigh, she conceded, "Alright, I'll put my trust in you..."
"Great," Tsuna nodded with satisfaction.
Turning to the Fukuda Sogo group, he said, "Stick to the plan. I'll make a callout if anything changes."
Yet, when they reached the court, they were surprised by the condition of Seirin's players.
"...They don't look as downcast?" Ishida pondered aloud, and the rest of the group nodded in agreement.
Mochizuki furrowed his brow, remarking, "Am I the only one who thinks they appear even more resolute?"
The players from Fukuda Sogo continued observing Seirin's team with a puzzled expression.
Despite the confusion, an unspoken admiration grew among them, acknowledging the resilience that was rare among most teams, who might have surrendered in such a situation.
Witnessing this, Alexandra felt a wave of relief, noticing Kagami's regained composure.
Nevertheless, what caught everyone off guard was Kuroko's entrance onto the court, prompting Ogiwara to break into a beaming smile.
"Just as I thought, you're as persistent as ever, Kuroko."
Ogiwara was genuinely pleased to see his childhood friend staging a comeback.
"Persistent cockroach..." Haizaki muttered, irritated, clicking his tongue as he observed Kuroko stepping onto the court.
The crowd erupted into cheers, recognizing that both teams were returning to fill up the court once more.
"...Looks like their mental state has taken a turn for the better, huh?" Midorima pondered aloud, prompting nods from those seated around him.
Aomine simply shook his head, adding, "You know they're as persistent as cockroaches..."
It was the kind of resilience that refused to stay defeated, a trait Aomine found both irritating and begrudgingly admirable.
"You've got a point..."
Kise chuckled at Aomine's analogy, finding it fitting for Seirin's unyielding mentality.
Momoi wore a light smile, her gaze unwaveringly fixed on Tsuna.
In her thoughts, she considered, "It won't really change anything anyway..."
"In fact, their stubbornness brings him excitement since it would be boring if they just gave up..." She noticed Tsuna's mouth subtly curling upward, reflecting his subtle amusement at the tenacity of Seirin.
In another section of the audience, where Rakuzan High occupied their seats, the Uncrowned Kings couldn't help but be stirred as they witnessed Seirin's apparent rebirth.
Akashi discerned their reaction and spoke up, "They may be considered weak, yet their mental state surpasses any of yours..."
"..."
A brief silence ensued, during which the Uncrowned Kings clenched their fists in response.
However, Akashi's words persisted, "Their mental fortitude may not concern us, but yours certainly does."
"I forgave your mistake once, but your continued disappointment is disheartening. Observing Seirin's resilience should give you a hint that even ants persistently strive..." His icy words sliced through the air, casting a chilling pall over the atmosphere.
"You are not ants, so be better than these ants. I will grant forgiveness to any of you who perform admirably in the final..."
The Uncrowned Kings remained silent, consumed by anger.
They were the Uncrowned Kings, and pride coursed through their veins, making any response difficult.
Akashi shook his head in response, yet his eyes sparkled with a calculated intent, "...Then, I shall harness that anger."
"Even if you don't strive for my forgiveness, at the very least, do it for your own sake..."
The Uncrowned Kings widened their eyes in surprise at these unexpected words, all turning their attention to Akashi.
However, his gaze remained frosty, sending shivers down their spines as he continued, "Look at the ones who bested all of you..."
Their focus shifted to Fukuda Sogo's players as Akashi's voice pressed on, "Do you believe you can exact revenge in your current state? Do yourselves a favor and wake up. Strive for improvement and claim your revenge..."
Akashi's final words fanned the flames of their fury, shaping it into an intense thirst for revenge. They glared at Fukuda Sogo's players intently as if they were ready to devour them alive.
A subtle curl formed on Akashi's lips, an expression of satisfaction.
On the sidelines, Mayuzumi maintained silence, shaking his head, his thoughts echoing, "What a terrible bastard..."
Back on the court, the game pressed on, with Fukuda Sogo swiftly advancing.
"Hmm?"
However, their progress halted as they were caught off guard by Seirin's unwavering concentration, a palpable intensity that sent shivers down their spines.
The sheer focus emanating from Seirin fueled a surge of determination, causing ferocious smiles to spread across their faces.
Tsuna chuckled at the scene.
As Kagami closed in, Tsuna observed the fiery determination in Kagami's eyes before he nodded in satisfaction.
"Good, Taiga. That's how you should be playing," Tsuna praised with a satisfied grin.
"Now, let's spice things up!"
With those words, Tsuna's whole demeanor shifted.
Suddenly, he was a blur, the ball becoming an extension of his swift and precise movements across the court. However, Kagami stayed on his toes, closely mirroring Tsuna's every step, his instincts in full gear.
A sly smile played on Tsuna's lips as he expertly maneuvered to the right, Kagami hot on his heels.
Just when Kagami thought he had it all figured out, Tsuna threw in a surprise move. With a quick step back from Tsuna, Kagami found himself off balance, landing unceremoniously on his backside.
Tsuna maintained a steely silence as he skillfully dribbled, leaving Kagami in his wake.
Meanwhile, Kagami powered himself off the ground with determination etched across his face as he gritted his teeth in resolve.
In that moment, Kagami owned up to his error, comprehending the gravity of his mistake.
"Seirin is counting on me," he thought to himself, silently mulling over his realization.
Swiftly pivoting, he positioned himself and then surged forward, chasing after Tsuna. His inner dialogue persisted, "Seirin depends on me, just like I depended on them!"
As Tsuna effortlessly maneuvered through Seirin's defense, he soared into the air for a dunk.
Yet, he found himself caught off guard by an abrupt presence ascending sharply to block him. Kagami's figure emerged, with red sparks streaking across his pupils, exerting a formidable pressure.
The faces of everyone on Seirin lit up witnessing their ace entering the zone. However, their joy swiftly turned to disbelief.
"He can still react?"
Even amidst the astonishment, Tsuna quickly responded. He retracted his hand, swinging his arm to send the ball in Mochizuki's direction.
A realization dawned on Kagami, prompting a subtle rotation of his body. With a swift arm movement, he intercepted the ball, delivering a powerful swat that sent it out of bounds.
A collective sigh of relief echoed through Seirin in response to Kagami's successful defense.
Tsuna touched down on the court, shifting his gaze to Kagami. Despite the intense play, Kagami's expression remained stoic as he uttered, "Not bad, Taiga..."
---
Do you want to read 15 chapters ahead of the schedule? Here's where you can find them:
p@treon.com/mythoast