Chapter 75: Chapter 75: Seirin High vs Too Academy
Kise laughed awkwardly and replied, "I'm not intentionally making enemies, you know."
"But it's a part of being famous, right? Haters are bound to show up," Kise sighed, somewhat narcissistically.
Ignoring Kise's words, Midorima adjusted his glasses and gave Alexandra an inquisitive look. Meanwhile, Tsuna also ignored Kise's words and chuckled, noticing Midorima's curiosity.
"She was also my teacher when I was a kid," he grinned.
Midorima's eyes widened as he shifted his gaze between Tsuna, who watched the game nonchalantly, and Alexandra, who appeared to be interested.
She observed Fukuda Sogo's dominance during the elimination phase, making her question the basketball state in Japan. Yet, her overall impression was shaken by the game unfolding before her.
Still, Alexandra scoffed when Tsuna referred to her as his teacher. She felt that she had barely taught him anything. Although she had provided training plans, Tsuna often took the initiative in figuring out what worked best for him.
In her opinion, she didn't deserve the title of Tsuna's teacher.
Yet, Tsuna recognized the value of Alexandra's extensive experience in the WNBA. He understood that he might have struggled to navigate the intricacies of advanced basketball training drills without her guidance.
"So, Kagami was your fellow student?" Midorima inquired as his attention returned to the game.
Tsuna offered a casual shrug and nodded, saying, "Yeah, you could say that..."
Midorima turned his gaze towards Kagami with a new level of scrutiny. He realized that he might have underestimated Kagami.
Clearly, Kagami was more than just an average player. The fact that he shared the same mentor as Tsuna, whom Midorima considered on par with the Generation of Miracles, piqued his interest.
Although they had the same teacher, Tsuna and Kagami hadn't really spoken much. In the past, they played basketball on different courts in the US. Tsuna was occupied with his training and business, leaving little time to meet anyone else for something casual.
As Tsuna watched the game, it was clear things weren't going well for Seirin. He turned to Alexandra and asked, "Do you want to meet Taiga after the game?"
Alexandra paused for a moment, deep in thought. She finally replied, "I want to, but it seems you're getting ready to leave..."
The rest of the players from Fukuda Sogo had already left for Kanagawa for the Interhigh playoffs, and Tsuna needed to catch up with them. Although the playoffs were still two weeks away, Tsuna saw it as a good opportunity to switch their surroundings before the tournament.
Tsuna shrugged and said, "Well, there's not much more to see here. Seirin will lose, and we need to head to Kanagawa soon."
Midorima frowned as he heard this and turned his attention back to the game. Despite Seirin being in a tough spot, considering his experience playing against them, Seirin wasn't the type to give it up.
As Tsuna got up from his seat, Midorima wondered how Tsuna could be so sure about the game's outcome.
Tsuna kept talking to Alexandra, saying, "So, wouldn't it be a good idea to go now? I think everyone's already in Kanagawa. But if you'd like to stay a bit and meet Taiga, I can arrange for someone to pick you up and take you to Kanagawa separately."
Alexandra nodded and replied, "Well, I can catch up with him later. I'll go with you this time..."
Midorima overheard their conversation and inquired, "Are you leaving soon? The game isn't even over yet."
"We don't need to watch the rest of the game."
Tsuna then turned to Kise and added, "See you on Kanagawa. Maybe we'll have a chance to play against each other..."
As Tsuna walked away with Alexandra, he left them with a parting remark, "That is, if you manage to beat Too Academy."
Midorima watched Tsuna walk away and pondered deeply.
"Midorimacchi, who was that?" Kise couldn't help but ask.
Midorima glanced at Kise before responding, "He's a former player from Teiko too..."
"What? Seriously, why haven't I heard of him before? Is any good?"
Midorima shook his head at Kise's inquiry.
Is he any good?
Midorima took a moment to think before replying, "He had to leave the country during his first year, so you wouldn't have had a chance to get to know him. But, in terms of his skills..."
"...I'd say he's on the same level as us," Midorima concluded as he adjusted his glasses.
Kise's eyes widened in disbelief, and he asked again, "Really? He's that good?"
"Have you not heard of the three powerhouses that ruled the entire region by themselves?"
Kise looked puzzled when he heard this.
Midorima sighed and clarified, "You probably know about two of them. Rakuzan High in Kyoto, Yosen High in Akita, and the third one..."
"...was Fukuda Sogo Academy from Shizuoka."
Midorima fixed his eyes on the game, which had reached a critical moment. Seirin, even with Kagami and Kuroko, couldn't prevent Aomine from taking control and securing the win for Too Academy.
Kise was still processing what he had just heard from Midorima when the latter suddenly stood up.
Midorima said, "If Kaijo manages to beat Too in the playoffs, you'll face Fukuda Sogo..."
Kise furrowed his brow in confusion. Midorima talked as if Fukuda Sogo winning their first playoff game was a certainty.
Looking at Midorima, Kise thought, "Midorimacchi seems to hold that guy from earlier in high regard..."
Kise then glanced at the disappointed Aomine on the court as his eyes flashed in excitement and added, "...We'll see how it goes."
Midorima nodded and then walked away, leaving a parting remark, "I'll be keeping an eye on the playoffs. Don't make a fool of yourself..."
"What? Are you heading to Kanagawa?"
"Shutoku has a tradition of doing our summer training in Kanagawa..."
In a week, they would be leaving for that place. Midorima strolled away from the spectator seats, suddenly recollecting something.
"Now that I think about it..." Midorima muttered. His nonchalant expression transformed into a smirk. "...the resort was called Kazama's Family Resort."
It appeared that Shutoku would soon cross paths with Fukuda Sogo again.
Unaware of Midorima's abrupt change in mood, Kise chuckled and assured, "I'll give it my all."
Meanwhile, a heavy cloud of disappointment hung over the Seirin team on the court. They had just let slip their chance to make it to the playoffs.
Glancing at the scoreboard, it became painfully clear that Seirin wasn't merely losing; they were being completely dominated. They couldn't help but stare at Aomine, who seemed more like a monster.
Kuroko, in particular, gazed upon Aomine's solitary figure with a deep sadness.
Momoi shared Kuroko's melancholy as she, too, gazed at Aomine. She then shifted her attention to a name in a file labeled "Fukuda Sogo Academy."
"Maybe this will lift his spirits a bit," Momoi whispered to herself.
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