Bab 161: Chapter 161: Fukuda Sogo vs Yosen High!
The next day arrived at the Yoyogi National Gymnasium, the heart of the Winter Cup, with unmatched excitement. The arena pulsed with energy, the air thick with anticipation as fans eagerly awaited the upcoming clash.
"Fukuda Sogo's playing against Yosen today!"
"Can't wait to see them in action!"
As the news of Fukuda Sogo facing off against Yosen circulated through the crowd, a wave of enthusiasm swept over the spectators.
Conversations hummed through the spaces between footsteps, creating a lively buzz that echoed throughout the gymnasium.
In this sea of eager fans, there was a collective feeling of impatience and excitement, everyone looking forward to witnessing the showdown between these two behemoths.
"Damn, can't wait to see them!"
Excitement and buzz filled the entire gymnasium.
Three standout teams were making waves in their regions this year.
One of them was the formidable Emperor of Creation, Rakuzan High.
The real thrill, however, came from the anticipation of the clash between the other two powerhouse teams in their respective regions in today's tournament's second round – the renowned King of Kings, Fukuda Sogo Academy, and the formidable Shield of Aegis, Yosen High!
Both teams had crushed it in the opening round.
Fukuda Sogo, with a resounding win against Fukuoka Daichi. And Yosen High shutting down Kachiyama High without letting them score.
"Seems like everyone's hyped for their match," Kiyoshi remarked, strolling with his Seirin teammates toward the gymnasium.
They were gearing up for their own second-round faceoff against Nakamiya South High today.
The anticipation was building.
Facing Nakamiya South High, Seirin felt a wave of self-assuredness, especially after taking down Too Academy in the previous match.
Curiosity struck Hyuga, prompting him to inquire, "Kuroko, have you ever witnessed a match between Murasakibara and Kazama?"
However, Kuroko dashed their hopes by shaking his head.
"I haven't seen them play against each other during our time at Teiko," he replied.
"But I think even Kazama will have a tough time scoring against Murasakibara," Kuroko said, his face reflecting deep contemplation.
"Murasakibara is that formidable?" Kagami inquired, showing genuine interest.
Shaking his head in response to Kagami's question, Kiyoshi added, "He's not just good; Murasakibara is likely the best center in Japan right now."
"Eh? Even better than you, Kiyoshi?" Koganei asked, his head tilted in curiosity.
Kiyoshi shook his head, appreciating Koganei's confidence. However, the reality was different.
"I played against him in middle school, and Murasakibara outclassed me in every way possible," Kiyoshi explained.
The revelation surprised everyone. While they knew the Generation of Miracles were exceptionally talented, hearing Kiyoshi speak so highly of Murasakibara caught them off guard.
"Murasakibara is a definitely one of the main reason for their success this year, but don't sleep on the other players. They've got three tall guys, making their defense rock solid, earning them the nickname Shield of Aegis," Aida explained, shedding light on Yosen High's strengths.
Recalling some stats, she added, "They've only lost to Rakuzan High this year. In their other games, the opponents couldn't even score a single point due to their impenetrable defense."
"What? Zero points in every game they won?" Izuki exclaimed, his face expressing disbelief.
Hyuga expressed disbelief, muttering, "...Can that really happen?"
"It's tough to believe, but it's true..." Aida sighed, acknowledging their reactions.
Kuroko frowned, his mind on Fukuda Sogo, as he said, "So, this match is essentially a clash between the most powerful offense and the most impenetrable defense?"
Aida nodded with seriousness.
It was precisely why she wanted them to catch this game early—it was a chance to analyze potential opponents and strategize for the future.
Meanwhile, in Yosen High's changing room, all eyes were on Murasakibara, who devoured his snacks with astonishing speed as if he couldn't get enough.
"Why's everyone staring?"
Murasakibara grumbled, clearly annoyed by the collective gaze fixated on him.
Their Point Guard, Kensui Fukui, shook his head, perplexed by Murasakibara's odd behaviour that had been going on since the previous day.
"...Did he just inhale those snacks?"
Okamura marvelled at the mountain of snacks disappearing at an almost supernatural speed on Murasakibara's side.
Wei Liu, Yosen High's small forward and an exchange student from China, shook his head, commenting, "It's not about how fast he eats, but why he needs to eat so much in the first place."
"Atsushi must have a reason to do so, right?"
Himuro chuckled softly.
Murasakibara, still munching away, nodded in agreement, "Yeah, we're up against Tsunachin, so I need the extra snacks."
"So, you mean, the more snacks you eat, the more stamina you have?"
Fukui couldn't help but roll his eyes in disbelief at Murasakibara's seemingly absurd claim about snacks and stamina.
The notion sounded utterly ridiculous to him.
However, Okamura burst into hearty laughter as he found Murasakibara's statement amusing. The rest of the team shook their heads, sporting smiles at the light-hearted banter.
Amid Okamura's laughter, he managed to convey a more serious undertone as he addressed the team, "Murasakibara's got a point. We're facing a formidable opponent this time, so we better fuel up! Hahahaha!"
His laughter echoed in the room, but beneath the humor, a glint of seriousness shone in his eyes.
"Alright, enough of the jokes!"
The stern voice of their coach brought an instant hush to the room, and all eyes turned toward her.
She held a Japanese wooden stick, a clear sign that she meant business. Even Murasakibara, usually unfazed, paused his snacking.
Their coach, Araki, cast a glance at Murasakibara, who then continued munching without a care. She sighed as she decided to let him be, thinking, "If Murasakibara is this focused, our upcoming opponent must be a serious challenge..."
With everyone's attention on her, Araki nodded in satisfaction and began, "As you all know, our next opponents were the Interhigh champions! They have a powerful offensive game, and from what I observed in their first-round match, it's clear why they're considered the best in offense!"
Nods of agreement swept through the room; the team was familiar with the reputation of their upcoming rivals.
"However, our strength lies in defense! So, let's remind them why we're known as the Shield of Aegis this time around!"
Araki's declaration sparked excitement, and the team erupted in cheers, their spirits soaring as they eagerly anticipated the match against Fukuda Sogo!
Murasakibara's eyes briefly lit up, a hint of anticipation flickering before he resumed munching on his snack.
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