In stark contrast to the lively atmosphere surrounding Fukuda Sogo, Kaijo High's mood took a downturn as they made their way through the corridor.
The pathway stretched ahead, dimly lit and solemn, guiding the defeated Kaijo High team away from the jubilant cheers of the crowd, leaving only the lingering echoes of their recent loss to Fukuda Sogo.
"..."
Silence enveloped them.
The once-anticipatory air now hung thick with frustration and sadness, each player trudging forward, burdened by the weight of disappointment.
Their expressions contorted in mixed emotions, a struggle to mask the disappointment and despair etched on their faces.
Tears welled up in Kasamatsu's eyes, unable to be contained even after he had maintained a professional demeanor while congratulating Tsuna earlier.
The impact of the defeat hit Kaijo High harder than they had anticipated, the weight of it settling heavily in the hallowed corridors.
They had been so close to securing a ticket to the semi-finals!
Still, they remained incapable! They were just too feeble!
The atmosphere shifted abruptly, a somber mood replacing the once jubilant cheers that had echoed through the arena moments ago.
A dense silence settled in, a striking contrast to the excitement behind them.
With each step through the corridor, the echoes seemed to magnify the team's collective disappointment.
In a choked voice, he uttered, "I want to win. I want to win so bad..."
"...with everyone!"
His words lingered in the air, cutting through the heavy silence.
The vulnerability in Kise's voice resonated with every member of the team. His voice echoed through the silent corridor, making their chests feel stuffy.
Kasamatsu opened his mouth, but after a moment of hesitation, he gritted his teeth and closed it again.
He could only look at Kise sobbing bitterly...
...and frustratedly.
"..."
Silence enveloped the corridor, each player absorbing the weight of unspoken sentiments. A prolonged sigh resonated as Takeuchi silently observed his team, feeling the weight of failure as their coach.
Back in the gymnasium, the arena buzzed with jubilation, yet Seirin High sat amid the cheering crowd with their expressions grim.
The defeat of Kaijo High against Fukuda Sogo cast a shadow over their impending semi-final match.
"...."
The awareness that Fukuda Sogo would be their opponent in a few days lingered heavily in the air.
Hyuga sighed, shattering the oppressive silence.
"Let's get out of here..." he muttered, weariness evident in his voice.
Even with more games scheduled after Fukuda Sogo vs. Kaijo High, no one argued about leaving early.
Whether it was Shutoku High's game or Rakuzan High's, it didn't hold much significance as their own opponent had already been determined.
In unison, they rose from their seats, quietly filing out of the arena.
The memories of Fukuda Sogo's formidable performance lingered in their minds like a haunting refrain.
Especially Tsuna's surprising prowess that he briefly showcased a while back played on a loop in their thoughts.
They were well aware of King of Kings being a formidable team from the start, evident by their Interhigh triumph this year.
Despite recognizing the strength of their opponent, Seirin High was confident in their own improvement to confront them.
They even perceived Fukuda Sogo as their most significant challenge yet.
However, the revelation that Tsuna surpassed even the Generation of Miracles left them shaken.
As they moved in silence, the impending challenge weighed heavily on their minds.
The thought of confronting the King of Kings in the semi-finals was daunting, and almost unconsciously, they found themselves arriving at a building.
The group had been walking for nearly half an hour, and an unspoken tension lingered with each step.
As they looked up at the towering building of apartment, the reality of their upcoming battle weighed heavily on their minds.
Breaking the silence, Izuki suddenly mumbled, "Fukuda Sogo, huh? We're up against the King of Kings in a few days..."
His words hung in the air, mirroring the collective apprehension felt by the team.
Amidst the heavy atmosphere, Kagami couldn't help but feel a twitch at his lips.
Pointing at his teammates, he couldn't contain his exasperation, "Why are we coming to my place!?"
The unexpected outburst briefly disrupted the solemn mood, eliciting a few chuckles from the weary Seirin High players.
"Well, we sort of ended up at your place without thinking too much. It's just the closest spot we know."
Kiyoshi scratched his head awkwardly.
"I suppose that can't be hel—"
Kagami closed his eyes and sighed, understanding the situation. His words hung in the air as his eyes shot open. Veins pulsed on his temples, frustration clear in his voice as he erupted, "Why are you guys barging in already? Show some respect! Wait for the owner to let you in, you reckless bunch!"
Kagami shook his head in disbelief.
The audacity of everyone, acting like they owned the place, caught him off guard. They were already streaming in as if it were a free-for-all.
Still, they seemed to ignore him as Kagami massaged his temple exhaustedly, and he found himself sitting on the floor as the others occupied the sofa in his living room.
Aida chuckled, attempting to ease Kagami's tension. "Ahaha, don't worry about it, Kagami..."
But Kagami's displeasure lingered, leaving Aida to scratch her head awkwardly. She stood up, determination lighting up her expression. "Well, to make up for it, I'll cook you guys some dinner!"
The announcement startled everyone in Seirin. Kagami immediately swallowing his displeasure and quickly approached Aida.
"Coach, please don't. You already put in so much effort for us," Kagami urged, gesturing for Aida to stay seated.
"I'll take care of the cooking. It's the least I can do as a good host."
Aida blinked in surprise.
"Eh? Are you sure?"
She scratched her head, turning to Kagami for confirmation. The others chimed in enthusiastically, offering their support.
"Of course, Coach! Kagami's taught us a thing or two in the kitchen. He's practically an expert!"
"Yeah, trust him. We've got this covered!"
"Absolutely, just relax and let Kagami handle it."
"Yeah, Coach, I've got this. Please, sit down and wait patiently."
Kagami felt his lips twitching, hearing these guys encourage him to cook even after they crashed into his place without his permission was making him feel like smacking them in the head.
However, it was for his survival! He couldn't let Aida cook at all costs!
"Well, alright then..." Aida grumpily settled back into her seat.
Little did she admit, she was secretly excited about indulging in Kagami's cooking. After all, he had proven to be a better chef than her.
Without much waiting time, the meal Kagami had cooked was finally ready. Everyone couldn't help but gulp their saliva upon seeing the delicious spread on the table.
"...Dive in."
Kagami grumbled as everyone immediately started filling their plates and stuffing their mouths with the tasty food.
He sighed at the scene, grabbed a plate, and got some food on the table before stuffing it into his mouth. However, he immediately frowned, sensing that something was amiss, before excusing himself to go to the toilet.
However, as he finished his business, his head started spinning, prompting him to wobbly find himself back in the dining room. The lights were dim, and everyone had passed out, which made him pale.
"...What in the world?"
"Huh? Is everyone asleep already?"
A soft voice, making him shiver, was heard. Kagami turned toward Aida, who was holding a lot of supplements in her hands, innocently sprinkling some on the food.
In Kagami's point of view, her innocent act looked like the devil's work.
He felt his sight darkening as he mumbled, "...Fucking witch!"
Thud! Kagami collapsed onto the floor and slipped into unconsciousness.
"Oh? Kagami's out too? I was hoping for someone to chat with. Tough luck..."
---
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The Yoyogi Gymnasium echoed with the rowdy cheers of the crowd as Shutoku High faced off against Iwai High.
The smooth swish of the ball through the net harmonized with the cheers as they witnessed Midorima's trademark high-arc three-pointer.
Shutoku was barely winning against them, yet Midorima's mind seemed to have taken a detour amidst the game.
Takao approached Midorima and nudged his shoulder with a friendly, "Nice shot, Shin!"
"..."
Midorima's response, however, remained silent.
His gaze, usually sharp and focused, now seemed distant.
The memories of the last game played on a loop in his mind, a reel of images that demanded his attention even amid victory.
Takao furrowed his brow, studying Midorima more closely.
The lack of response from the usually prideful shooter felt odd, leaving an unspoken tension in the air.
The rest of the Shutoku team, though successful in the current game, shared a similar state of distraction.
The memory of Tsunayoshi Kazama's true prowess in the previous game lingered like a shadow over their triumph.
Nakatani let out a sigh, signaling for a timeout.
"Huh? A timeout from Shutoku?"
"But they're in the lead, aren't they?"
"That's odd..."
Whispers spread through the crowd as they caught on to who had called the timeout. The Iwai High players, equally perplexed, quietly watched the Shutoku High players making their way to the bench.
Nakatani rubbed his temples, scrutinizing his team before letting out a sigh, "Alright, listen up, everyone. I know that last game was something else. We all saw it. But we're not here to be spectators but to play. Get your heads back in the game!"
As they exchanged glances, the team collectively realized they needed to shake off the distraction and refocus.
"But, Coach, did you see that dunk? I mean, who pulls off something like that?" Takao chimed in, his face twisted into a comically terrified expression.
"...."
A hushed silence fell over everyone after Takao's words hung in the air.
Takao's attempt to refocus the team in his comical way left him perplexed, scratching his head awkwardly. He mumbled, "...Guess I shouldn't have said that."
"Forget it; they're not our main concern right now," Nakatani said, recovering from the surprise of Takao's comment.
Maintaining a stern expression, Nakatani redirected everyone's attention. "Instead of dwelling on them, we need to focus on Rakuzan High at the moment..."
Rakuzan High would likely be awaiting them in the semi-finals, provided they secured the ticket to the next round later.
Fukuda Sogo shouldn't be their current priority right now.
The current and the next game, the semi-finals, should be their primary focus.
Midorima sighed in agreement. Their coach had a point.
"...I can't allow myself to be distracted if I want to win against Akashi," he mumbled as he took a deep breath.
As high as his confidence was, it had wavered in the face of Tsuna's true level that he showcased briefly a while back.
However, Tsuna was not someone he should be wary of in his current circumstances. His primary concern should be defeating Akashi before strategizing on how to overcome Tsuna.
After realizing this fact, Midorima's eyes regained their usual focus, prompting Nakatani, who observed the change, to nod in satisfaction.
Everyone in Shutoku High appeared to have realized this, trying to refocus. Miyaji loudly slapped himself in the face, Otsubo took a deep breath, wearing a serious expression, and Kimura lightly pinched himself to snap out of it.
Takao smiled on the side; however, Miyaji and Kimura suddenly turned to him, making him widen his eyes, quite taken aback.
"...What?"
"Why aren't you doing anything, Takao?"
Kimura spoke before Miyaji nodded as he stood up, "Don't worry, I'll punch you in the face to wake you up..."
"Wait, wait, Senior, wait. I'm all focused...."
Takao paled as he saw that Miyaji was serious before turning to Midorima for help with his gaze.
However, Midorima just lightly adjusted his glasses, ignoring him completely.
"Enough!"
Fortunately, Nakatani's voice was heard, which stopped Miyaji in his tracks and made Takao sigh in relief.
"Now that all of you have woken up, let's go out there and show them what Shutoku is made of. Execute our plays, trust each other, and leave everything on the court. We're not here to watch but to play our hearts out and win!"
Nakatani's words resonated, prompting a nod from the team.
As they returned to the court, the lingering effects of the previous game began to dissipate, replaced by a renewed sense of purpose and focus.
Iwai High players noticed the change in Shutoku's demeanor as they were making their way back onto the court.
"...What's going on?"
"Looks like they've shifted. What's happening?"
They couldn't help but voice their thoughts, sensing an intense focus emanating from the Shutoku players.
Despite currently trailing, they held the confidence to reverse the situation, given that the margin was narrow.
It was within reach!
However, as the game persisted and the Shutoku players displayed a newfound determination, Iwai High found themselves overpowered.
With the referee's whistle signaling the end of the fourth quarter, the Iwai High players could only gaze in disbelief at the scoreboard, displaying a score of 104 - 74.
Frustration and tears welled up in the eyes of some, unable to conceal their emotions.
"...We're on the verge of the semi-finals."
"And still, we ended up losing..."
Murmurs of disbelief reverberated through the team as they lined up for the post-game ceremonies, their gazes distant and unfocused.
Midorima observed this, calmly adjusting his glasses as he walked off the court with the rest of the team. As they proceeded down the corridor, they unexpectedly crossed paths with another team, prompting their gazes to sharpen, including Takao's.
"...Looks like we'll be facing off in the semi-finals, Shintaro."
Akashi's voice rang out, yet neither team faltered as Rakuzan High confidently entered the court for their upcoming game.
Shutoku, too, pressed forward without hesitation. Midorima spoke up, "Confident as always, huh? Very well, we'll defeat you in the semi-finals, Akashi..."
Midorima's declaration carried a renewed sense of determination. Witnessing Akashi's unwavering confidence, especially even after seeing Tsuna's true level, stirred a mix of shame and wounded pride within him.
"...'We'? That's intriguing," Akashi mumbled quietly upon hearing Midorima's words.
A subtle shake of his head conveyed his thoughts, "You've changed, Shintaro..."
As Rakuzan proceeded to exit, the cheers of the audience enveloped them, creating an atmosphere of anticipation.
Simultaneously, Shutoku pressed forward, their determined gazes cutting through the background of raucous applause.
---
Do you want to read 15 chapters ahead of the schedule? Here's where you can find them:
p@treon.com/mythoast
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