Disclaimer: 黒子のバスケ © 藤巻 忠俊
Tetsuyu glanced at the timer she had been holding in her right hand.
'Two minutes.' She noted.
The game had started off with Kiyoshi leading the flow when he had managed to grab it from the clutches of a disadvantageous Shuzo.
He started off by carefully but leisurely dribbling to cool his sudden outburst of adrenaline rush. He does not want to get too overexcited which would most probably affect the outcome of the game.
After the match against the GOM, all the more he was determined to not lose the friendly game as a result of his negligence.
Also, from his knowledge, nothing was too careful especially around a certain Kuroko Shuzo.
He was not made captain of the elite uncrowned kings just for his looks but also because of his frightening abilities. Despite his short stature he definitely can pull a hard punch. Undertaking lots of precautions was definitely a must.
'Shuzo is very dangerous, similar to Makoto.' Kiyoshi thought as he paused to take in a deep breath. 'Even though in actual fact, it is the latter whom had integrated some of the former's moves to his current threatening play style.'
This was what Kiyoshi reminded himself every single time he felt as though he had started to belittle Shuzo. He knew Shuzo was waiting for that one moment where he lets his guard down. Shuzo would then retaliate with all his power. The time when an enemy decides to underestimate the other, then it is all over. In wars and matches alike, anything can happen. Nothing is determined until the final buzzer beater is sounded.
It was nearly four minutes ever since the tip-off. Many would regard Kiyoshi who has his supreme height as a weapon to have absolute superiority, it was not the case. Ever since the start, the scores were at an equilibrium, in other words it was a stalemate. Shuzo was putting up a strong resistance that even the iron heart Kiyoshi Teppei could not overcome. Each time Kiyoshi runs for his hoop, Shuzo would pop from who knows where and succeed in preventing him from dunking the ball in the hoop.
Tetsuyu watched with immense interest as she noticed something humongous coming from her elder brother. 'His aura...' Tetsuyu had thought.
On the other hand Kiyoshi was feeling very pressurized by a sudden force. Shivers crawled up his spine and his heart started hammering.
'Shuzo,' he had eyed the said person who was also the cause and source of his worries as his sweat steadily accumulated.
"Shu-nii is really pumped up." Tetsuyu lightheartedly commented, a small knowing smile decorated her normally stoic face. Kiyoshi who had sharp ears and was coincidentally at that time bypassing Tetsuyu, headed towards his goal with Shuzo hot on his trails, overheard what she had remarked.
'If what Kuroko-chan is true,' Kiyoshi left off as he observed Shuzo before changing his mind, 'No, Shuzo is really serious.' A faint beam creep up his lips as the thought of playing against a fully powered Shuzo. His chest throbbed. 'I wonder what is this sense of excitement?' Kiyoshi had pondered. His heart was banging against his ribcage. A surge of static electricity flowed in his veins.
It was certainly the best treat he could get as Shuzo had always unconsciously or consciously held himself back against even the strongest for the uncrowned kings, they rarely get to have a taste of his initial talent. Kiyoshi was grateful for the opportunity he was bestowed with. Brought up by former basketball stars, Shuzo was not a nobody. He had the experience and tricks used by professionals. He was someone to reckon with.
Kiyoshi cursed for his lack of focus as Shuzo had quietly managed to snatch the ball from his hands during his trance otherwise known as his thinking mode. Shuzo smirked as he speedily dashed towards his own hoop and threw the ball in with abundant gracefulness. The ball grazed the net without even slightly touching the rim. It was a perfect shot. One, Kiyoshi knew in an instant that there were more of it to come very soon.
Six minutes flew by without the players actually noticing. They were snapped out of their immersion after being rudely awaken by a shrill sound.
The first quarter ended with Tetsuyu blowing into her signature black whistle. The scores was at 5-4, Kiyoshi attaining the upper hand in the aforementioned quarter. However Shuzo was not far from behind him. However, if Shuzo had decided to perform two three-pointers, he would have easily overtook Kiyoshi, but he did not do so.
'What is he planning?' Kiyoshi thought deeply while wiping his perspiration with a towel which Tetsuyu had thankfully prepared.
'Shuzo is steadily warming up.' Kiyoshi inferred grimly. He had gone all out since the very beginning but its seems as thou and it was well back up by the sweat he was producing, but in his opinion, it was Shuzo has simply took a stroll in the park.
The amount of salty droplets he had produced was incomparable to Shuzo's. His was like the aftermath of jumping into a pool while Shzuo's was like the one you accidentally spilled some water from a usual glass. The difference was that big but the points was a totally different matter. 'I have to think up of a plan. The only way to win is to have a stable course of action.' Kiyoshi decided and with that, he went racking his brains for some useful and capable strategies.
"Shu-nii," Tetsuyu called out to her brother who was apparently deep in thought. They were situated directly opposite to Kiyoshi who was in the same state of mind as her brother.
"What is it Tetsuyu?" His quivering voice betrayed the poker face he was desperately holding.
Tetsuyu sighed, she knew what her brother was feeling.
"You look like you are having fun, Nii-sama." Tetsuyu helpfully told her brother.
"Really, is your Shu-nii that obvious?" He teasingly answered while ruffling Tetsuyu's silky tresses. A grin slowly appeared on his similarly fair complexion which was a little bit tainted with pink, as result for bathing in the sun for a whole ten minutes.
"Shouldn't you go easy on Kiyoshi-senpai?" Tetsuyu suggested while casually swatting the hand on her teal head which Shuzo reacted by letting out a stream of crocodile tears.
After recovering from his acted grief he put up a gentle smile on his face contradicting to what was inside. "Its been awhile since i had this much of an entertainment and no player will like it if you go easy on them, that is a fact you know very well Tetsuyu." He playfully reprimanded and happily glanced at Tetsuyu, who was watching his every move.
"Besides, let your big brother have some fun once in a while okay?" He patted Tetsuyu once again before he proceeded to get up of his seat for the second quarter.
"Don't over do it." Tetsuyu warned with an edge in her tone as she look at his retreating back.
"I got it." He repeated a number of times before saying, "Rest assured, I won't take it too far and if that happens, you will be there for me." Shuzo pacified the girl as he gave her a short embrace as she was gradually overcame by embarrassment.
With that, the next round or the second quarter began...
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