135 Chapter 135: Seirin High vs Too Academy!

"What a way to start the tournament!" 

The resounding cheers and gasps echoed in the stadium, creating a palpable buzz reverberating through the crowd.

"As expected of the King of Kings!"

The acknowledgment rippled through the audience, a recognition of the undeniable prowess displayed by Fukuda Sogo. 

"This is simply a massacre!"

The atmosphere was charged with a mix of shock and amazement as the magnitude of Fukuda Sogo's domination became starkly evident.

The crowd's cheers soared despite the chatter, filling the entire stadium.

Their collective gaze was fixed on the imposing scoreboard, which declared a staggering 127-7 unapologetically. The numbers alone told a tale of utter dominance, and the crowd couldn't help but be captivated by the sheer spectacle unfolding before them.

Fukuda Sogo's performance had turned the game into a one-sided affair, leaving Fukuoka Daichi players and supporters alike in a state of disbelief.

Tsuna observed his teammates' expressions, and a smirk formed on his face. Assessing each one, he noted their hunger for more.

He mused, "Good, keep that hunger. Beating a small fry shouldn't satisfy your appetite..."

Nijimura, though content with their first-round victory, wasn't particularly enthusiastic. The win felt so-so, given the lackluster quality of their opponent.

"It's not cutting it, huh?" He sensed a similar sentiment among his teammates.

Shaking his head, Nijimura turned his thoughts to the impending face-off against the other Generation of Miracles. Excitement welled up in him as he clenched his fist. The real challenge lay ahead, with the current opponents serving more as a warm-up for the team's true strength.

A somber atmosphere enveloped the arena as both teams lined up in the customary post-game formation.

The air seemed heavy with the palpable weight of defeat, and the crowd could sense that Fukuoka Daichi was grappling with the harsh reality of their loss. The defeated players, heads hung low and eyes devoid of their usual spark, exuded an unmistakable aura of disbelief.

Fukuda Sogo's players showed no hint of empathy as they glanced at the defeated Fukuoka Daichi players whose eyes lacked any spark of life. The audience, witnessing this, collectively shook their heads in regret.

"...Those poor guys, meeting Fukuda Sogo in the first round," remarked a teenager with a mole under his right eye.

His slick, black hair and a longer side-swept fringe covering his left eye complemented his white jacket with a touch of purple, bearing the label "Yosen High."

He turned to a purple-haired teenager munching on snacks beside him, asking, "Atsushi, do you think we stand a chance against Fukuda Sogo?"

A furrow formed on Murasakibara's forehead, and a faint frown etched across his face at the question.

"Murochin, I don't like the question..." he finally muttered, his displeasure evident in his tone.

Himuro was undeterred as he let out a light chuckle at Murasakibara's response.

"Why? Are you afraid?" Himuro's question carried a playful undertone, prompting Murasakibara to turn toward him with a hint of annoyance.

"I'm not afraid of anyone!"

Still grumbling, Murasakibara shifted his gaze toward Tsuna, his expression softening just a fraction as he continued, "...besides, it was Tsunachin who taught me something."

The mention of Tsuna injected a surprising note of reverence into Murasakibara's usually nonchalant demeanor.

"He taught you something?" Himuro's genuine surprise was palpable, breaking through the casual banter. 

"Hmm, yeah." Murasakibara nodded, reminiscing about their hanging out at Tsuna's place before the Interhigh final. He casually munched on his snacks, then adopted a serious tone. "...He taught me that I hate losing more than anyone, so I'm not afraid of him because I don't want to lose against him either!"

Murasakibara harbored a unique fear reserved solely for Akashi. Despite the resemblance between Akashi and Tsuna, Murasakibara found Tsuna more approachable.

And the crucial factor for him was...

...that Tsuna could provide him with various rare snacks that were otherwise hard to come by.

Himura raised his eyebrows, his eyes showing curiosity as he turned to look at Tsuna, a name he had often heard. "...So, Tsunayoshi Kazama is not only popular in LA but also in the Japanese basketball scene, huh?"

"I'm really excited about facing you on the court, Tsunayoshi Kazama," he added with a smile, genuinely looking forward to playing against such a renowned player.

As Fukuda Sogo and Fukuoka Daichi left the court, after a quick cleaning on the courts, the crowd started to get agitated once again as the next game was between Seirin High and Too Academy.

The anticipation in the air was palpable as the announcement of the match between Seirin High and Too Academy reverberated through the stadium.

"Finally! We have a strong team facing each other!"

The exclamation echoed the collective sentiment, a shared appreciation for the prospect of witnessing two formidable teams go head-to-head.

"You idiot, every single team in the Winter Cup was strong; it's just that a team with the Generation of Miracles and that newly crowned King of Kings were just on a different level!"

A counterpoint emerged, injecting a note of realism into the fervor.

The acknowledgment of the Winter Cup's overall strength didn't dampen the excitement but rather added a layer of perspective. The mention of the Generation of Miracles and the King of Kings hinted at the star power that elevated certain teams to a league of their own.

"Huh? Are you implying this would be one-sided as well? Too Academy has the Ace of the Generation of Miracles, you know!"

"...Well, I'm not sure about that, but I have zero doubt Too Academy would win this! They've beaten Seirin before; they'd do it again this time!"

Chatter buzzed through every corner of the stadium, with fans speculating on the outcome of the match between Seirin High and Too Academy. Given their history, many seemed to favor Too Academy.

As the Seirin players made their way through the entrance gate to the court, the crowd erupted into cheers, surprising the players.

"Whoa! Are they cheering for us?"

"It looks that way. We've become quite a famous team..."

Kiyoshi chuckled at the freshmen's remarks, shaking his head. "Sorry to break it to you, but most of them are probably here to see our opponents."

As soon as Kiyoshi spoke, the crowd's cheers erupted even louder as Too Academy made their entrance.

"Whoa, they're finally here!"

"Look, it's Aomine! The Ace of the Generation of Miracles!"

Excitement rippled through the crowd as Too Academy stepped onto the court.

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