As the game settled, Kise turned his gaze toward Taro, his smirk fading into something more measured. He walked up to the larger player, his hands resting on his hips as he stopped just short of Taro's towering frame.
"What's your name?" Kise asked, his tone calm but with a curious edge.
Taro exhaled deeply, his orange aura now completely gone. He met Kise's gaze evenly. "Taro Sugimoto."
A faint grin tugged at the corners of Kise's mouth. "Taro, huh?" He extended his hand, his golden eyes glinting with a mix of respect and lingering competitiveness. "Thanks for the game. I'm looking forward to playing against you again, Tarocchi."
Taro blinked, momentarily caught off guard by the addition to his name. "Uh... Tarocchi?" he asked, his tone tinged with confusion.
"Tarocchi," Kise repeated, his smirk widening slightly as if the nickname were the most natural thing in the world. Turning slightly, he spotted Kuroko standing quietly off to the side, his smirk softening. "I finally got to play with you, Kurokocchi," he said, his voice carrying unmistakable fondness.
Kuroko gave a small nod, his pale blue eyes steady. "It's been a while, Kise-kun."
Taking a few steps further away from the court, Kise turned to Kagami, his smirk sharpening into something more competitive. "And don't think I've forgotten about my revenge, Kagamicchi."
Kagami grinned, his fiery red eyes locking onto Kise. "Bring it anytime," he said, his voice full of unshaken confidence.
As Kise walked off the court, Taro and Kagami exchanged confused glances.
"What's with the '-cchi' thing?" Kagami asked, frowning. "Is that supposed to be a compliment or what?"
Taro shrugged, still feeling slightly flattered by the nickname. "Maybe? It kinda feels like he thinks it's some kind of reward," he admitted.
Before Taro could say more, Kuroko, walking past them with his usual calm demeanor, interjected. "Kise-kun adds '-cchi' to the names of people he acknowledges," he explained, his tone matter-of-fact. "It's his way of showing respect."
Taro froze for a moment, processing Kuroko's words. A small flicker of pride crept in as he realized he'd earned acknowledgment from someone as talented as Kise. But then his gaze shifted to Watari and Rukawa, both of whom had received no such acknowledgment, and his expression darkened.
"Wait," Taro muttered, his tone turning indignant. "So... he respects me. But not them?!"
Watari, overhearing, raised his hands in protest. "Hey, I didn't want some weird nickname anyway!"
Rukawa, however, didn't ignore the comment. He glared slightly, his sharp eyes narrowing in annoyance—not at Kise, but at himself. The moment was fleeting, but the frustration was clear: he wasn't the type to be overlooked, and the absence of acknowledgment from Kise clearly grated on him, even if he'd never admit it aloud.
As Taro turned toward Rukawa and Watari, Kuroko took a quiet step forward, his calm pale blue eyes fixed on the towering player. "Taro-kun," he began, his voice quiet but steady. "You're—"
"Kuroko!"
The shout came out of nowhere, sharp and loud, cutting through the air like a thunderclap. Before Kuroko could finish his sentence, a brunette with short, slightly messy hair burst onto the court seemingly from thin air. With surprising agility, she tackled Kuroko into a wrestling hold, pulling him into what could only be described as a mix of a headlock and a bear hug.
"You vanish for hours, and I find you playing basketball instead of heading back?! Where have you been?!" she yelled, shaking him slightly for emphasis.
Kuroko, now half-bent under Riko's grip, remained as composed as ever despite the chaos. "Riko-san, I—"
"No excuses!" she snapped, her glare narrowing as she tightened her hold. "You disappear every time we need to go, and this time I find you with them! You have a team, Kuroko!"
"Coach, maybe ease up a little," came a calm voice from behind her. The rest of the Seirin team emerged onto the court, their warm-up jackets catching the late sunlight. Hyuga, their captain, adjusted his glasses as he surveyed the scene with a mix of exasperation and amusement. "We can't have our phantom player breaking before the preliminaries."
"Yeah, Kuroko," Izuki added, his tone playful. "Disappearing's your thing, but this is a bit much, don't you think?"
Koganei leaned forward cautiously, his eyes widening as he took in Taro's towering frame. "W-whoa," he stammered, his voice cracking slightly. "Is that guy even real? Imagine having to guard him on the court… That's just terrifying!"
Riko ignored her team entirely, focusing her frustration on Kuroko. "You're lucky you're useful, or I'd make you run laps until next week!"
Kuroko, still stoic despite being trapped, weakly raised a hand toward Kagami. "K-Kagami-kun, please..."
Kagami smirked, his fiery red eyes gleaming with amusement. "Huh? Did you say something?" he asked, feigning ignorance as he turned away, walking towards the rest of the team. "Nope, didn't hear anything."
"Kagami-kun!" Kuroko tried again, but Kagami just waved him off, his shoulders shaking with suppressed laughter. The rest of the Seirin team chuckled as they turned around to leave the park, some shaking their heads while others exchanged quiet comments about the scene.
Riko released Kuroko with a huff, crossing her arms as she glared at him. "You're running extra drills tomorrow," she declared before turning to the team. "Let's get going. We've got work to do!"
As the Seirin team began walking away, Kagami turned back toward Taro, his expression shifting to something more serious. "Taro, right?" he said, his tone carrying the weight of unspoken respect. "That was a good game. You're good."
Taro nodded slightly, meeting Kagami's gaze evenly. "You too. I want to play against you again."
Kagami's competitive grin widened. Instead of walking away, he stepped forward and raised his hand to dap Taro up. "Count on it."
Kagami stepped forward, with his hand raised. "I'm Kagami Taiga," he said, gripping Taro's hand firmly as their auras flared Kagami's fiery red clashing with Taro's faint orange. Both players instinctively squeezed harder, their locked eyes sparking with competitive energy.
Taro's lips curved into a faint smirk, his voice calm but carrying weight. "I guess I'll see you in the Inter-High."
Kagami's grin widened further, his own aura burning brighter for an instant. "You better be ready."
They released their grip at the same time, the charged moment dissipating as quickly as it had appeared. Kagami turned and began walking toward the Seirin team, glancing over his shoulder as he called back, "Oh, and that Kise guy? He's kind of an asshole. I'm guesing the rest of the Generation of Miracles are like him too?"
Taro smirked faintly, shrugging his shoulders slightly. "Probably."
Kagami chuckled, shaking his head as he caught up with his team. "Figures. Kuroko doesn't exactly share much about them. Guess I'll find out the hard way."
Taro watched him go for a moment, the faint smirk lingering on his face. He turned back to Rukawa and Watari. "Let's get back to practice," he said simply.
Rukawa gave a curt nod, already focused on their next steps, his sharp eyes glinting with determination.
The court fell quiet as the trio spread out. Watari dribbled near the baseline, occasionally tossing up casual shots that hit more than they missed. Rukawa positioned himself near the wing, shooting clean jumpers, though his frustration was clear in the force of his movements. Taro, stationed at the top of the key, worked on his form, each shot smooth and efficient, the ball swishing through the net more often than not.
After a few minutes of shooting, Watari broke the silence. "Man, that game was rough," he said, catching a rebound and tossing it back up for an easy bank shot. "Those guys were insane. That Kise guy could copy everything, and Kagami? He's a freaking monster."
Rukawa, catching the ball after a missed jumper, huffed in annoyance. "They weren't unbeatable. I could've taken them if—" He cut himself off, his sharp eyes darting toward Taro.
"If what?" Taro asked, his tone calm but pointed, as he caught the ball after another shot and passed it to Watari.
Rukawa's jaw tightened, his frustration bubbling under the surface. "If I had more chances," he muttered, looking away.
Watari tried to play it off, grinning as he dribbled near the free-throw line. "Come on, man, we're a team. It's not about chances, it's about working together." He passed the ball to Taro, who caught it easily, his expression unreadable.
Taro took another shot, the ball arcing high before dropping cleanly through the hoop. "He's right," Taro said as he retrieved the ball. He bounced it once before passing it back to Rukawa. "You're good, but you're not playing with us. You're playing by yourself."
Rukawa caught the ball, his sharp eyes narrowing. "And what's wrong with that?" he asked defensively. "It worked before."
Taro crossed his arms, tilting his head slightly. "Did it work today?"
The question hung in the air, heavy with implication. Watari winced, glancing nervously between the two players. "Uh, maybe we should—"
Rukawa stepped closer, his glare intensifying. "I don't need anyone else. I was the star on my middle school team," he snapped, his voice rising. "Teams triple-teamed me, and I still beat them. What did you do in middle school? What team did you play for?"
Taro paused, letting the question hang in the air for a moment before responding, his voice calm but unwavering. "I didn't. I was short and fat. It's only this year that I've started playing regularly."
The words hit like a bomb. Rukawa froze mid-step, his eyes widening as if he'd been physically struck. His features contorted with disbelief, his mouth opening slightly before snapping shut again. "You're lying," he said, his voice louder now, almost trembling with incredulity. He pointed at Taro, his arm shaking slightly as though his mind couldn't reconcile the words he'd just heard. "There's no way! No one who just started can play like that!"
He took a step back, his breathing quickening as he clenched his fists. "I trained for years to get to this level. And you're telling me you just… started?!" His tone escalated, each word sharper than the last, as if voicing his disbelief might somehow make it untrue.
Taro didn't flinch, his calm gaze meeting Rukawa's fiery glare. "Believe whatever you want," he said evenly. "But it's the truth."
Rukawa's jaw tightened, but his steps faltered as he stared at Taro, his sharp eyes wide with disbelief. His frustration boiled over, but it wasn't just anger it was confusion, raw and unfiltered. He took a step forward and shoved Taro hard in the chest, his movements almost desperate.
"How…?" he growled, his voice cracking slightly.
His hands trembled as he glared up at Taro, the fire in his eyes now mingled with something closer to fear. "You don't even have the experience you just started! And yet you're better than people who've trained their whole lives! How is that even possible?!"
Rukawa's voice rose as he spoke, each word heavier with disbelief. "What are you, some kind of monster? How can someone like you be real?!"
Taro barely moved, his feet planted firmly on the court. The shove, though forceful, didn't even stagger him. Instead, he straightened slightly, his calm gaze locking onto Rukawa's fiery eyes. "Are you done?" he asked, his tone low and steady, carrying an undeniable weight.
The sheer steadiness of Taro's response sent a visible jolt through Rukawa. His fiery glare faltered, his sharp features softening as his eyes widened. It wasn't just Taro's size or strength, it was the sheer presence of someone who hadn't even flinched in the face of his frustration. Rukawa's hands dropped slightly to his sides as the realization hit him like a hammer. He stared at Taro, his breath shallow, his mind racing. How is he this unshaken? How can someone like this exist?
"Alright, alright, break it up!" Watari shouted, stepping between them with a nervous grin, his hands raised in a gesture of peace. "We're on the same side, remember? No need to kill each other before the Inter-High!"
Watari glanced between Taro's unflinching calm and Rukawa's shell-shocked expression, laughing nervously as he tried to lighten the mood. "We've got enough problems without starting a civil war, okay?"
Rukawa's sharp eyes lingered on Taro for a moment longer, his fists still clenched tightly at his sides. But as the weight of Taro's presence settled over him, his shoulders began to loosen. He exhaled sharply, crossing his arms and looking away, though the tension in his posture slowly eased. The fire in his gaze dulled, replaced by something more contemplative, even if his expression remained guarded.
Taro exhaled quietly, retrieving the ball and bouncing it once. "I don't know what to tell you," he said, his tone even but carrying a weight that silenced the court for a moment. "This is simply the reality we live in."
He passed the ball to Watari, his movements smooth and deliberate. "Let's get back to it."
Watari caught it and grinned, eager to dispel the tension. "Right, no more drama. Let's go!"
Taro paused, his gaze flicking to the basket as memories of Kagami's and Kise's dunks flashed in his mind. "I want to try something," he said, his tone calm but carrying a new spark of interest.
Without hesitation, Taro moved to the top of the key, taking a quick pass from Watari and driving toward the basket. His large frame powered through the lane, brushing past Rukawa, who stepped aside to watch. As Taro approached the hoop, he leapt, gripping the ball with both hands.
The dunk wasn't clean the ball rattled against the rim before falling through but it went in nonetheless, the sound echoing through the court.
Rukawa crossed his arms, his sharp eyes narrowing as he raised an eyebrow. A faint, small smile tugged at the corners of his lips. "That's it?" he said, his tone not as aggressive anymore. "Let me show you the real thing."
Taking the ball, Rukawa stepped back to the top of the key, his movements smooth and deliberate. With a quick dribble, he exploded toward the basket, his speed and athleticism on full display. As he approached the hoop, he leapt gracefully, spinning the ball through a powerful windmill dunk that slammed cleanly through the net.
Rukawa landed lightly, his rare, faint smile tugging at his lips as he turned back to Taro. "That's how it's done."
Taro tilted his head, his measured gaze lingering on Rukawa. "Huh," he said thoughtfully. "Don't know if I can do that yet… but do you think you can try my Sombor Shuffle?"
Watari and Rukawa both froze, their postures tensing as their imaginations ran wild. "Sombor Shuffle?" Watari echoed, his grin fading slightly as he leaned forward. "Is this, like, your secret move or something?"
Rukawa's sharp eyes narrowed further, clearly expecting some crazy, signature technique. "Let's see it."
Here's the revised description with a more detailed explanation of the "Sombor Shuffle":
Taro caught the ball, moved to the free-throw line, and began with a single, deliberate dribble. Shifting his weight, he stepped sideways on his right leg, planting it firmly as he leaned slightly into the motion. With the ball held high over his head, he floated backward in an awkward half step-back, half fadeaway motion. Despite the odd form, his body remained perfectly straight on the release, his hand flicking the ball upward in a high, rainbow-like arc.
The shot seemed almost improbable, but the ball soared gracefully before sinking cleanly through the net.
Watari and Rukawa froze as the ball swished cleanly through the net. For a moment, there was silence then their faces dropped in perfect unison, exaggerated expressions of disbelief and disappointment plastered across their features.
Watari's jaw dropped. "No way… it wasn't luck?"
Rukawa's expression darkened slightly, his disbelief palpable. "That shot again? How does something that ugly actually work?"
Taro retrieved the ball, his expression calm. "It just does."
Watari groaned, covering his face with his hands. "Man, this guy's unreal. I hate that it went in."
Rukawa crossed his arms, huffing as he looked away. "It's still ugly."
The trio continued their practice, with Watari and Rukawa alternating between frustration and disbelief while Taro's unshaken demeanor carried through, the flicker of satisfaction in his eyes hinting at his confidence in the unconventional move.
After another round of drills, Watari caught the ball and leaned against the post, wiping sweat from his brow. "Alright, I'm calling it. If we keep this up, I'm gonna collapse before the Inter-High even begins."
Rukawa, dribbling at the wing, raised an eyebrow. "Maybe if you weren't so slow, you'd keep up."
Watari scoffed, tossing the ball toward Taro. "Says the guy who got blocked by Kagami and Kise in the same game."
Rukawa crossed his arms, his sharp eyes narrowing with playful defiance. "At least people noticed me out there," he said, his tone carrying just enough bite to keep things competitive but lighthearted.
"Enough," Taro cut in, catching the ball with a firm hand and silencing the exchange. "We've made progress. Let's leave it there."
Watari and Rukawa both grumbled but didn't argue. As they gathered their things, Watari broke the silence with a teasing grin. "Hey, Taro, that shuffle thing of yours are you seriously gonna try pulling that off in a game?"
Taro shrugged, his expression as calm as ever. "If it works, why not?"
Watari rolled his eyes dramatically. "You're insane. I don't know if I should laugh or cry every time you do it."
Rukawa stood near the sideline, arms crossed, his sharp eyes flicking toward Taro. "It's still ugly," he said, his tone carrying a rare but unmistakable teasing edge, the kind that could only come from someone confident in their own skill.
Taro paused, the ball spinning lazily in his hands as his gaze met Rukawa's. His voice was calm, yet it carried an undeniable challenge. "Then stop it."
Rukawa's eyes widened for a split second before narrowing again, a flicker of surprise melting into a sharp grin. "What did you just say?!" His voice rose, brimming with a mix of indignation and amusement, though the faint twitch at the corner of his mouth betrayed the fire reigniting within him.
"You heard me," Taro replied, his tone even as he turned toward the gate, his calm stride almost daring Rukawa to chase him.
Rukawa took a quick step forward, his competitive energy flaring to life. "Don't think you're walking away from that! Next practice, you're mine!"