The SAT is a monster... I finished it this Saturday. Haha.
That was not an intentional pun by any means.
Chapter 16 - Something incredible: the 3 Kings
After their first match against Shinkyou Gakuen, their next rounds went through smoothly. The second round against Jitsuzen High was an overwhelming victory of 118-51. The third round against Kinga High was expected to be difficult,
but—
"This is... going well?" Riko said in bemusement. The 2nd years are making consecutive points... and there's nothing to say about Kagami. And Hazuki...
Through the 2nd and 3rd rounds, Hazuki had alternated with Mitobe and Koganei to play against the other teams. This had sprouted out some confusion and baffled remarks from the opposing teams who had not done their research and the audience (much to the amusement of Riko and facepalming empathy from the other Seirin members).
She's done well in these matches, Riko thought. Teppei has taught her quite well...
"This year's Seirin is amazing," a spectator remarked as he looked at the current score of 71-92 in the 4th quarter.
I can ever preserve Kuroko-kun, Riko thought. It's good—I'd like to avoid using his skills this early.
Kuroko began twitching a little as Hazuki scored. "It's nothing... I'm just a little restless."
Uwah... he looks like he really wants to play... Riko sweatdropped.
A few minutes later, the score was a magnificent win of 73-98. Seirin was headed towards the fourth round, where things would start to get significantly harder.
On the day of the fourth round, they traveled to Senshinkan's gymnasium, a place with such high-leveled facilities and size that it awed the freshmen.
"This is huge..." Furihata muttered. "Is this really a school's gymnasium?"
"It's the gym of one of the top schools of Tokyo," Riko said. Today we're going to see something incredible."
The clueless freshman looked at her with puzzlement.
"The the three schools that are chosen as Tokyo's representatives in the final league have always been the same three for the past ten years," Hyuuga explained. "The King of the East, Shuutoku. The King of the West, Senshinkan. The King of the North, Seihou. The first place winner changes every year, but those schools are so strong that they've never been in fourth place or lower."
"Today," Hyuuga said. "The team that has Midorima Shintarou of the Generation of Miracles, the King of the East, Shuutoku, will play here!"
"But didn't you and the other senpais make it to the Final League last year?" Kawahara asked bewilderedly.
But without Teppei... and the morale was low after he got to the hospital, Hazuki thought.
"We didn't stand a chance at all," Hyuuga said, looking at the other 2nd-years.
"Anyways, we have to focus on the opponent in front of our eyes right now!" Riko continued, clapping her hands. "Today's opponent—"
The Meijou team began walking into the gym
"It's the fourth round," a Meijou played commented. "We might have a harder game for once."
"Hey, hey," their captain chided. "We're against Seirin today. They were crushed in the Final League last year! They're nothing but a school that made it through sheer luck."
Kagami raised his eyebrows. "...Aren't those the guys from the street ball game back then?"
"We'll destroy them this—" The captain bumped into Kagami.
"...So. We meet again," Kagami said.
"Hello," Kuroko said, spinning his basketball impassively.
"GEHHHHHHHH!" The captain shrieked.
Hazuki poked her head out from behind Kuroko.
"GEHHHHHHHH!" Meijou screamed.
They're... going to destroy us.
"Hey, hey, Fujidana," Koganei asked. "Why are they screaming at you as if you're the coach that has given them a triple-menu workout?"
Hazuki frowned. "I'm not sure."
"Koganei-kun, come here for a minute," Riko smiled, pulling out her fan from her bag.
"GEH!"
"You asked for it Koga," Izuki muttered and sweatdropped.
"By the way," Hazuki turned to Kuroko. "Wouldn't they have already known it was us since we were wearing our basketball uniforms back then at the public court?"
"I guess we're just not that memorable," Kuroko said as he went back to the bench for his sportswear.
A fanslap and less than an hour later, the fourth round concluded with a crushing score of 108-41.
"Why on earth did they look they wanted to run away?" Riko asked in bewilderment.
Kuroko, Kagami and Hazuki purposely looked away from the coach.
Suddenly, a burst of murmuring burst out from the audience.
"Hey over there... they're finally here," a spectator commented. "One of the three Kings of Tokyo... Shuutoku High!"
Shuutoku's first string members began filing into the gym.
"They're here," Izuki muttered to Hyuuga.
Kagami turned to Hyuuga. "I'm going to go for some small greetings between freshman, " he grinned.
"Sure. Wait. What!? Hey!"
Kagami walked in front of Midorima.
"Hey," Kagami said. "You're Midorima Shintarou aren't you?"
"Yes," he said. "But who are you?"
Takao snorted. You know who he is. What's with your high pride?
Kagami held out his hand.
"Handshake?" Midorima raised his eyebrow.
Kagami smiled amiably.
Midorima sighed and held out his hand reluctantly, expecting a handshake. However, Kagami took out a sharpie marker and scrawled his name and jersey number onto his hand.
Takao burst into laughter while Hazuki frowned and walked towards them.
"You look like a guy who'd claim he doesn't remember me if I introduced myself normally," Kagami said. "I have you make you remember the name of the name of the guy who will take revenge for our senpais."
"Fnn," Midorima said irritably as he adjusted his glasses. "Revenge? You're rather reckless aren't you?"
"You're from Seirin, aren't you?" Takao jumped in. "Haven't your senpais told you anything? Last year against the three Kings in the Final League, Seirin got crushed by triple the points each time you know?"
Kagami's eyes widened in shock.
"Say what you want," Midorima sighed. "But the different in our strengths is absolute—"
"You took my marker!" Hazuki exclaimed, interrupting Midorima.
The three of them stared in confusion at her.
"Kagami-kun, you should have asked. That marker is mine!"
"Who are you?" Midorima asked irritably.
Takao snorted again. It's impossible to not know who she is by the files Coach gave all of us.
"The owner of the marker," Hazuki frowned, not really paying attention to him. "Kagami-kun, that's the marker I used to draw on you and Kuroko kun's faces. If you had wanted to use one for the hands, I have another one."
"Wait, what?" Takao demanded. "What's with this interesting scenario?"
"Well you see," Hazuki pulled out her cellphone. "The other day, Kuroko and Kagami wouldn't wake up for lunch, so I drew on their faces—"
"Hey, what do you think you are showing him!?" Kagami shouted in embarrassment.
"You drew on my hand with the marker that was used to draw on your oily face!?" Midorima yelled, swiping his hands onto his pants.
"My face is not oily!" Kagami retorted.
"Bwahahaha!" Takao guffawed at the photos. "What's with these shoujo eyes drawn on his eyelids!?"
"Here's Kuroko-kun's."
"Bwahahaha!"
"What the hell Fujidana!? Even Kuroko will get mad at you!"
"I don't particularly mind," Kuroko raised his hand, appearing out of nowhere.
"GWARGH! WHAT THE HELL KUROKO!"
"...You habit of suddenly appearing hasn't changed I see," Midorima sighed.
Kuroko stared back impassively amidst Takao's cackling and Kagami's complaints to Hazuki.
"...In any case Kuroko, history will only repeat itself," Midorima said. "It's futile for Seirin to win against me."
"No it won't Midorima-kun," Kuroko said. "No one will know the result until we play."
Midorima stared at him in disapproval and slight dislike. "It seems like I just can't get along with you as usual."
"Well said!" Takao laughed putting his arm around Kuroko's shoulder amiably. "You're that guy from the same school as Shin-chan right? Don't worry about that guy! He's just a tsundere. He's actually seriously focusing on you you know?"
"Stop making things up Takao," Midorima adjusted his glasses irritably.
"So that was you," Hazuki said thoughtfully. "I saw you when we finished the game against Shinkyou Academy."
"Wha-what nonsense," Midorima scoffed, shifting his glasses again.
"Speaking of which," she said. "I think the reason why they were triple-scored to begin with was because the absence of a key-player."
The 2nd-year Seirin players looked at each other in astonishment. Riko just sighed affectionately at her and the thought of their goofy Iron Heart.
Midorima raised his eyebrow. "What are you talking about?"
"Did you not watch their matches last year?" she asked.
Takao looked at Midorima curiously.
"I wouldn't have time for such frivolous things," Midorima said. "Results are results."
Hazuki shrugged, putting her cell phone back into the pocket of her jacket. "Well then, you'll see that Seirin is drastically different from what you'll expect."
Kagami gave a laugh and chopped her on the head. "That's for sure."
"Ow..."
"...Fujidana-san is right," Kuroko said. "We'll see you later Midorima-kun."
Midorima turned away. "I'll teach you how overly optimistic your thinking is, Kuroko."
A few minutes later, Shuutoku was preparing for their game in the semifinals.
"Captain," Midorima said to Otsubo. "I would like to start today."
"You want to start?" Otsubo asked. "Didn't you say that you didn't want to play because your horoscope was bad?"
"You're all fired up because you got to meet your former teammate right?" Takao laughed.
"Stop assuming things as usual Takao," Midorima said. "I just want to make sure that I haven't lost my shooting touch."
"I guess it alright," Otsubo sighed. "Since the coach asked me to forgive three of your whims each day. Any more than two more times, I'll get angry."
Midorima silently nodded his head at the dark atmosphere from his captain.
"As long as you score are you usually do, I won't complain," he said. "I won't accept any excuses that your horoscope was bad though!"
"...There's it no way I'll miss," Midorima peeled off the tape from his fingers. "Because my bad luck will be corrected thanks to today's lucky item: a teddy bear."
Hazuki looked at the court with a little apprehension. They are very good... Otsubo-san has improved greatly since 8th grade when he went against Teppei.
"How do they make it look so easy?" Kawahara demanded as Shuutoku earned another two points, becoming 30 points in the lead.
"It's because they don't make mistakes," Riko said. "Their basics are so solid that they make it look so simple."
She sighed. "And it's not only that. They have... an infallible scorer."
Otsubo caught the ball from Takao and leaped towards the hoop. Two defenders tried to block him but he still pushed through and dunked.
The unfortunate two tripped and fell backwards.
"Are you alright?" Otsubo gave a hand.
"What a crazy dunk!" Furihata exclaimed. "Is that guy really a high schooler!?"
"He's gotten even better this year," Riko frowned.
"Last year even by himself, this guy was already unstoppable," Hyuuga laughed wearily.
Last year Shuutoku's strong point was the inside area and the rest was average, Riko thought. If only that hadn't happened...
"Today's he's scored five out of five," Kagami said. "So this is a good day for Midorima?"
"... Is that so?" Kuroko asked.
"How should I know that?!" Kagami demanded. "Shouldn't you be the one that knows that?"
"I don't know... I've never seen him miss," Kuroko said. "Sorry.
Midorima sighed as he looked at the opposing team's efforts to guard Otsubo.
"That's why you guys are weak," he scoffed as he shot the ball in a towering arc over the court.
After adjusting his glasses he gestured to Takao to head back to the other end of the court. "Let's head back Takao, we're on defense."
"Hey, hey," Takao put his hands behind his head. "If you miss I'll get in trouble too."
"Don't speak of such nonsense Takao," Midorima said. "I've done what I've could on my part."
"...And I never miss."
What's with that high arc? Hyuuga thought. Nobody can tell if it'll go in or not!
Kuroko turned to Kagami almost apologetically. "As long as Midorima-kun is in good shape, he'll make 100% of his shots."
"Guh..." The members of the opposing team muttered.
"The time is takes for the ball to get in is unnaturally long..." Riko gritted her teeth. "It has a great psychological impact on opponents."
Hazuki felt her stomach lurch slightly when she recalled an unpleasant memory.
It was double the score. Double the score of Shoei Middle's.
A small hooded figure standing in the very back of the stadium seats stared at the digital screen, stunned.
She turned her head to the Shoei end of the court.
All of the players had their heads down.
A towering boy from the opposing team clad in light blue jerseys yawned and hulked over one of the players of the other team. He spoke a few inaudible words then waved nonchalantly as he left.
The other boy looked at the floor in shock.
He looked as if he had almost lost his soul.
Hazuki sighed. That was about three years ago. And now... it seems like many things haven't changed.
"END OF THE MATCH!" the referee blew his whistle. "153-21!"
Their outside has become a threat, not a weakness now, Riko thought. It's like they were cute last year!
Midorima gave a glance at the Seirin team as he left the court with his team.
"This is crazy..." Fukuda muttered as they left the seats.
Furihata and Kawahara nodded glumly.
Hyuuga snorted and turned to the rest of the team. "Alright! Then let's go home!"
"Yeah!" Izuki said.
"NOO!" Riko yelled and slapped him and Izuki on the back.
"WE'VE GOT ONE MORE MATCH TODAY!" She shrieked. "Are you stupid? STUPID!?"
"I was just kidding!" Hyuuga protested, rubbing his back. "I was just trying to lighten the mood."
"...Wait. Really?" Kagami asked.
"YOU REALLY ARE A BAKAGAMI!" Riko shouted at him. "Read the tournament bracket! There are two rounds for the fourth and last day of the tournament!"
"Kagami-kun, we were given these a few weeks ago..."
"Shut up Kuroko!"
"Ah... that's probably my fault... I thought that was an extra piece of paper and used it to make airplanes..."
"FUJIDANA!"
"Sorry."
"The three of you, shut up!" Riko yelled. "Our next round is at 5 PM today!"
"Two matches on the same day is reckless," Koganei groaned. "Even if we have a bit of a break, we're still tired."
"So the semifinals and the finals take place on the same day," Kagami studied the tournament sheet. "So we have another match before Shuutoku...!?"
"What's wrong Kagami?" Hyuuga asked.
"Senpai..." he said slowly. "The three kings are Shuutoku, Seihou and Senshinkan?"
"Yes... wait what!?" Hyuuga exclaimed. "Coach..."
"Did the second-years not notice either?" Riko said exasperatedly. "For the semifinals we would play Seihou and Shuutoku in the finals! We'll face the King of the West and the East in a row!"
"In a row!?" Kawahara said. "We'll die! Strong schools have many members and reserves!"
Kagami just laughed.
"It's just how I wanted this to be! Facing two strong schools in a row."
"Kagami, are you insane?" Fukuda asked.
"He's just talking tough... right Kuroko?" Kawahara asked.
Kuroko scratched his cheek.
"Sorry... I'm a bit excited as well."
"Did you catch Kagami germs!?"
"What the hell is that!?" Kagami demanded.
"I hope not," Kuroko frowned at the thought.
"What is a Kagami-germ?" Hazuki asked in confusion. "Is that a new type of illness"
"It doesn't exist!" Kagami yelled. "And the way you're denying that is pissing me off Kuroko!"
Kuroko shrugged nonchalantly. "Being in a pinch... doesn't it fire you up?"
Everyone looked at Kuroko. The second-years all grinned.
The freshman trio looked a bit doubtful but were beginning to feel better at his words.
"That sounds like a shonen manga's quote," Hazuki mused.
"I'm going to go train now," Kagami fist pumped.
"No you won't you idiot!" Riko threw her fan onto his head. "Rest before the next round bakagami!"
I'll do my best for the next chapter.
I just realized I have exactly 100 reviews for this story. Does anyone want me to write something special? Anything fluffy?