บท 247: Chapter 247: Throwing Off the Rhythm
"Hmm?"
Hyuga mumbled, leading Seirin through the corridor and spotting the approaching players.
It was Rakuzan High!
Akashi led the way, with the rest of Rakuzan following. However, Hyuga furrowed his eyebrows, sensing an unusual atmosphere as he observed the expressions of the Uncrowned Kings.
Kagami also sharpened his gaze at the sight of Akashi approaching.
"Congratulations on making it to the final, Akashi."
Kuroko's composed voice reached Akashi's ears, prompting him to gaze toward Kuroko with a raised eyebrow. "Tetsuya, huh? Well, this is turning out to be quite interesting."
"..."
A smile played on Akashi's lips as he spoke, prompting furrowed eyebrows from everyone in Seirin High.
Akashi continued, "I honestly didn't anticipate you reaching this point, Tetsuya. I must commend you for that..."
He conveyed sincerity, and Kuroko could sense it as he responded, "...Thank you for the kind words."
Kiyoshi observed their exchange, his eyes turning solemn as he silently thought, "Not a word from him about winning their match, even after the congratulations from Kuroko..."
Akashi's nonchalant demeanor spoke volumes about his confidence in defeating Shutoku, treating their victory as something mundane, almost expected outcome.
"Tsunayoshi probably didn't see this coming. He'll surely commend you for making it this far when he has the chance later."
"..."
The air hung in silence for a moment.
"Let's see what you can pull off against him, Tetsuya."
Without uttering anything more, Akashi continued walking, and everyone from Rakuzan High followed suit.
Kuroko remained silent, allowing Akashi's words to linger.
Akashi's words hinted at a clear preference for Fukuda Sogo to emerge victorious in the round. Despite this, Seirin's players showed no signs of being disheartened.
They maintained a casual demeanor, observing Rakuzan's figures as they strolled away.
"Well, the odds aren't exactly in our favor anyway..." Hyuga nonchalantly shrugged, prompting smiles from everyone in Seirin.
Aida's expression relaxed as she observed them, joining in the shared smiles.
Izuki's gaze lingered on the departing Rakuzan figures, and he voiced his thoughts, "Still, they won the game, but some of their players had this peculiar expression, almost as if they had lost..."
"Come to think of it, the Uncrowned Kings looked quite disheartened despite their victory," Koganei added, nodding in agreement.
Kuroko, too, sensed the peculiar atmosphere, but Akashi seemed to completely dismiss any oddities, leaving Kuroko bewildered about the situation.
"It's not like we have to worry about it anyway," Kagami muttered loudly, causing everyone to turn toward him with surprised expressions.
The collective stares made Kagami uncomfortable, and he inquired, "W-what? Why are you guys looking at me like that?"
Kiyoshi remained silent, opting instead to pat Kagami on the shoulder with a touched expression, akin to a proud father. "Kagami, you've grown up. I'm proud of you..."
"Huh?"
"I didn't expect you to say those words, Kagami. Way to go!"
Koganei chuckled, joined by the rest, prompting Kagami to become visibly flustered.
"..."
Turning to Kuroko, Kagami couldn't help but feel a bit dumbfounded witnessing Kuroko's apparent disbelief, prompting a sigh from the latter.
"...Let's just get going."
Hyuga playfully smacked Kagami on the head, laughing, "That's what I should be saying, but I'll let it slide this time, hahaha!"
The group then shifted their focus away from Rakuzan, continuing down the corridor and heading outside.
Their eyes now exuded a peculiar blend of calmness and an underlying fiery intensity, akin to a subdued tornado waiting to unleash its power.
"Whoa! It's Seirin!"
"Only two years since they formed, and they've been crushing every opponent since their Winter Cup debut!"
"That's unbelievable! You know what they call them? The miraculous new stars of Seirin High School!"
The crowd erupted into cheers, fingers pointing at the Seirin players making their way onto the court.
On the opposite side, Fukuda Sogo strolled through the corridor, encountering Shutoku High's players exiting, their expressions laden with disappointment.
"Goddammit!"
Takao, in particular, could be heard choking back tears loudly.
"..."
The members of Fukuda Sogo continued walking with a calm demeanor, not even flinching at the sight.
However, Tsuna halted his steps, prompting everyone to come to a stop.
Sensing the presence of company, Shutoku High players turned to see Fukuda Sogo looking at them without a hint of pity. Strangely, this lack of pity from Fukuda Sogo brought a sense of relief to the Shutoku players.
Tsuna observed Midorima, whose face was marked with unsightly tears. Midorima opened his mouth, questioning, "Why? Do I look pathetic?"
"..."
Not receiving a response from Tsuna, Midorima continued, his tone carrying a hint of self-deprecation, "I must have been pathetic, huh?"
Tsuna shook his head, maintaining his silence, and continued walking forward, followed by everyone from Fukuda Sogo.
After a moment, Tsuna slowly opened his mouth, "It's normal to feel frustrated after a loss, but calling yourself pathetic? That's a dangerous mindset, Shintaro."
"..."
Midorima found himself unable to respond, his frustration evident through clenched teeth.
Breaking the silence, Tsuna spoke with genuine empathy, "In fact, I was about to commend you, Shutoku High."
"You never gave up, not until the very end. While the game may not have been in your favor, you've earned my utmost respect."
Tsuna's words rippled through the group like a wave crashing against a volcano.
All eyes turned to Tsuna's figure as he continued to move forward, leaving them with a parting remark, "Shintaro, embrace this experience. Hold onto this frustration and the ache deep in your heart. Use it to fuel your growth, keep pushing forward, and get stronger."
With those parting words, Tsuna moved away from Midorima, leaving the latter with a complex emotion etched across his contorted expression. Midorima tightly gripped his fist as Shutoku resumed their journey.
After a long sigh, Midorima's features softened, and he relaxed his tightly clenched fist, "Thank y---"
"I'll win the Winter Cup. So, don't aim to defeat Seijuro. Aim to defeat me," Tsuna interjected, cutting Midorima short before he could finish his sentence.
Upon hearing what seemed like arrogant words, Midorima chuckled, shaking his head.
"I thought you changed for a second, but it seems like you're still the same as you have always been, huh?"
"...Alright, then. I'll be watching you winning the tournament," Midorima muttered, continuing to walk through the corridor alongside his team, who now bore slightly improved expressions after absorbing Tsuna's words.
"Whoa! Look over there, they're on their way!"
"That miraculous new star or whatever they were called will kneel before our King!"
Fukuda Sogo walked out and calmly moved towards the court.
The crowd erupted into even more enthusiastic cheers. Their shouts echoed, creating a lively atmosphere that filled the entire gymnasium.
---
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