Bab 124: Chapter 124: Terror-stricken reaction
On the opposite side of the audience, the players from Too Academy watched the game unfold with a mix of shock and awe.
"Can you believe it? Midorima was in the zone, just like Aomine," Wakamatsu muttered, his surprise evident.
His teammates from Too Academy nodded in agreement.
Imayoshi, with a sharp gaze, observed Kagami closely.
"Kagami using beast instinct just like Aomine," he thought aloud, a sense of unease creeping up on him.
"Could he also enter the zone?"
Imayoshi's expression shifted back to his usual polite smile, his eyes closing as he nodded. "Well, it doesn't really matter. Aomine is getting better now."
"Let's head back," Imayoshi said, signaling the others to follow him.
Sakurai tilted his head, looking thoughtful.
"Should we wait for Momoi?"
"Hmm," Imayoshi pondered for a moment.
"We'll probably catch her in the corridor. Let's head out."
He glanced toward a certain audience section where he spotted Momoi conversing with Tsuna, Kise, and Nijimura as they made their way out of the stadium.
The players from Too Academy strolled toward the exit gate, passing through the corridor. They spotted a group of players in green jerseys coming their way.
Imayoshi recognized the face at the forefront. He thought, "Kirisaki Daiichi, huh?"
The guy leading the Kirisaki Daiichi players seemed to sense something and turned toward Imayoshi.
His bored expression twisted into a sly smile as he greeted, "Hey there, Imayoshi. Long time, huh?"
"Hanamiya, huh? You're as unique as ever with your style of play." Imayoshi's expression shifted slightly as he acknowledged.
He adjusted his glasses and offered his usual polite smile, but there was some hint of wariness in his gaze.
"Your sharp tongue hasn't dulled," Hanamiya chuckled in response to Imayoshi's sarcasm.
Imayoshi remained silent as Hanamiya bid farewell, and his teammates followed him. As they left, Imayoshi narrowed his gaze and mused, "Hanamiya seems to have found the perfect team for his style of play, doesn't he?"
Wakamatsu couldn't resist his curiosity and asked, "Captain, do you know him?"
"You could say that." Imayoshi squinted slightly and replied.
Sakurai, joining the conversation, inquired, "They're Seirin's next opponent, right? Are they any good? I mean, Seirin's been on fire lately, and I wonder if Kirisaki Daiichi can keep up."
He was clearly interested in the upcoming match and whether it would be a tough one for Seirin.
As Hanamiya walked away, Imayoshi began to speak, "...Are you all familiar with the Uncrowned Kings?"
Everyone in Too nodded in recognition of the term, as they had just watched one of them, Kiyoshi Teppei, play for Seirin, known as the Iron Heart.
"...That guy was also one of them. He's known as the Cowardly Bad Boy for his sneaky tactics and foul play."
This revelation took aback the Too players as they recognized Hanamiya's infamous nickname.
"...So, he was the only Uncrowned King who stayed away from the Generation of Miracles?" Wakamatsu remarked, his tone carrying a hint of disdain.
Imayoshi understood why they might look down on Hanamiya. He knew that Hanamiya had avoided Teiko Junior High, and his status as one of the Uncrowned Kings had been a subject of debate.
"Well, despite all that, his skills are undeniable..." Imayoshi said, his expression serious as he addressed his team.
He continued, "...His title as an Uncrowned King shouldn't be underestimated."
"...And it's not like I don't understand his reason for avoiding Teiko all the time," Imayoshi muttered quietly, recalling a disturbing image of Hanamiya in a particular restroom.
The players from Too Academy nodded in agreement, though it didn't entirely change their perspective.
Imayoshi could only shake his head.
Imayoshi was about to continue his stroll down the corridor when his eyes caught a striking change in Hanamiya's countenance.
Hanamiya, known for his confident and audacious demeanor, had turned ashen, a stark contrast to his usual self.
The sight bewildered the Kirisaki Daiichi players, leaving them utterly perplexed by this uncharacteristic shift. They shared the perplexity that hung in the air, instinctively parted to create a passage for two approaching figures from opposite directions.
Imayoshi's widened in disbelief as he observed Hanamiya tumbling to the floor, ending up sitting on his rear in a hasty, panicked manner.
With one hand, he clutched the wall beside him as if seeking solace and support from the cold surface while the other instinctively shielded his face.
Kirisaki Daiichi's players just as astounded as Imayoshi, converged around their enigmatic captain.
They looked down at Hanamiya, who seemed to have lost control and was now cowering against the wall. Fear and uncertainty clung to the atmosphere, and the entire scene unfolded with an eerie sense of foreboding, leaving everyone perplexed and deeply concerned for their captain.
Imayoshi's eyes narrowed, a suspicious squint hinting at a revelation as he observed Momoi's hesitancy and focused on the perplexed Kirisaki Daiichi players.
His eyes darted from Momoi to the approaching figure of Tsunayoshi Kazama. His lips parted in a silent acknowledgment.
"...Tsunayoshi Kazama! Just as I suspected, he was the cause of Hanamiya's accident a few years ago," He adjusted his glasses, his gaze fixated on the enigmatic figure of Tsuna.
"Hey, Hanamiya! What happened!"
One of the Kirisaki Daiichi players shook Hanamiya's body vigorously, desperately trying to rouse him from his state of shock.
However, Hanamiya remained paralyzed by fear.
As they followed Hanamiya's terrified gaze, they beheld the legendary captain from Fukuda Sogo, the winner of the Interhigh, Tsuna.
He passed them with an air of indifference as though they were utterly invisible to him.
The Kirisaki Daiichi players could sense an undeniable aura of authority and strength radiating from Tsuna. It made them slightly uneasy, but not to the extent that Hanamiya was experiencing.
After all, they knew their captain's reputation for bullying others on the basketball court.
Why did someone like Tsuna trigger such a strong reaction in Hanamiya?
The contrast between Hanamiya's usually brazen demeanor and his current state of fear was both puzzling and disconcerting.
Looking at the confusing scene before her, Momoi turned to Tsuna as she asked, "...Tsuna, Tsuna, what happened to him? Should we lend a hand and help out?"
"Satsuki, they're just having a little fun. Let's keep moving," Tsuna offered a gentle smile, his hand tenderly patting Momoi's head to ease her concerns.
He then shifted his gaze towards Hanamiya. And Hanamiya's pupils dilated in a clear display of fear as they locked eyes.
Tsuna maintained a gentle smile and said, "...We wouldn't want to spoil their fun, right?"
Blushing slightly, Momoi agreed with Tsuna, even though she wasn't entirely sure about the situation.
The two of them continued walking toward Too Academy's players.
As they approached, Momoi intended to inform the players that she was heading to Tsuna's residence.
The idea for the day's outing had come from Kise, and Tsuna had agreed to it.
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