24 Chapter 24 : Kagami VS Furihata I
The next day, Furihata found himself standing in front of Kagami while everyone is clearing half of the court, preparing for a small game.
"Okay everyone, let's gather first," Riko spoke, inviting her players to gather around her. "Due to the request from Kagami-kun, we will hold a scrimmage between him and Furihata-kun."
Kagami showed a wide grin as he has already waited for this. Not only him, everyone is a bit excited because both of them are the players who stood out the most during the game against Kaijo even though they both are rookies. Kagami with his monstrous strength and Furihata with his cunning mind.
"Okay, I know you are excited about this Kagami-kun. But I don't want to have any incidents in the training, so please, don't do something risky. I also said the same to Furihata earlier, so both of you wouldn't risk any injuries at this game. Understand?"
"What is the use of the game if we cannot play with our full strength?" Kagami showed his displeasure. However, he was slapped hard on his back by his captain.
"Stop complaining, you brat! Both of you are important players on this team, so it would take us in a disadvantageous position if you suffered injuries before the tournament began. We have already thought about this, so respect our decision."
"Yeah, yeah.. I know.. Just let the game begin." He grumbled while rubbing his game, didn't really hide his displeasure about that decision. However, it didn't lower his excitement level, especially when the court is cleared and the only two standing on it were him and Furihata.
"So, what is the rule?" Furihata asked, showing his bored expression. Kagami gritted his teeth in annoyance as a wild thought came to his mind.
'Is he looking down at me? Ooh.. Just wait, you bastard. I will show you who is the best and who is the bust here.'
However, no one could read his mind, so Riko and Furihata who are on the court just ignored his intimidating glare.
"The rule is simple. We will reduce the score. A normal shoot would be counted as a point, and a shoot from outside is two points. A foul would give you one free throw chance. The first to reach ten points would be the winner of this game. Any objection?"
Riko shifted her eyes from Furihata to Kagami. Seeing they both nodded without saying a word, she sighed while giving the ball to the red hair.
"Now, let's decide who will be the one who has the first possession. We can do-"
"No need." Kagami cut her explanation, throwing the ball to Furihata. "You talked a lot about how bad my defense is, right? How I can only stop Kise with a triple team? I will show you how bad it is when I crush you."
Furihata raised his eyebrow a little, unimpressed at the declaration. Then, he turned around to Riko and ask a silent question, 'Is this okay?' Seeing Riko nod, he let out a deep sigh before saying,
"Sure, let's do it, Red."
The game starts from the middle, as Kagami throws the ball to Furihata. Right after that, he narrowed his eyes while spreading his arms wide, trying to predict Furihata's next move.
However, he forgets Furihata's three-point shooting ability.
Right after Furihata received the ba;l, he didn't wait for Kagami to approach him as he pulled up a jump shoot from the middle of the court, surprising everyone. The shoot is very high that it makes a beautiful arch when it fell after reaching its highest point. However, it hit the target smoothly, as everyone could hear the beautiful sound coming from the net.
*Splash!*
2-0
Not only Kagami, everyone on the sideline also have their mouth gaped wide as they couldn't believe what they have just seen. However, when he turned around, he could see a small smirk plastered into Furihata's mouth as the point guard spoke in a provocative manner,
"What happened, Red? Cat got your tongue?"
Now, it is official. Kagami is really pissed.
----------------------------------------------------
"Wow! I cannot believe that!"
"I know, right? I know Furihata-kun's three-point ability is good. But I don't know if it was this good."
"Yeah. Do you think it could be compared to Midorima's ability?"
"Impossible, you fool. He admitted it yesterday. The Generation of Miracles are on a higher level. If we need to compare, I think it is slightly better than Hyuga-senpai's ability."
"Sssshhh!! Don't say that out loud! You don't know how would the senpai react if they hear you."
"Oops! Sorry, I guess."
Kawahara and Fukuda, Furihata's fellow first-year players, whispered among themselves on the sideline. Even though Kagami is also a first-year student, Furihata is more approachable compared to the red-hair, so of course, they would cheer on the point guard.
Hyuga is clearly close enough to them to hear what they just said. However, he didn't take any attention to them as he remember the conversation before this game.
------- little flashback -------
"Furihata-kun! come here!" He shouted to the first-year point guard who frowned a bit and approached him immediately.
"What's up, Senpai?"
"You will play against Kagami-kun, right?"
"Yeah. Why?"
"Do you think you can win?"
"If I don't have the confidence, why would I accept his challenge?" Furihata tilted his head in confusion, still didn't see why his senpai called him right before the training. However, Hyuga ignored his confused face as he went straight to the point.
"That's good. Can you do me a favor?"
"What kind of favor?"
"I know you have a lot of tricks to play against Kagami, and I would have never doubted you can win the game or not. However, can you do it in the flashiest and the most dominating way?"
Now, Furihata leaned forward, showing a bit of his interest.
"Ooh.. I like where this is going." The point guard grinned, which was mirrored by his senpai. "Do you want to curb his arrogance?"
"Yeah," Hyuga replied, adjusting his glasses a little. "While I admit he is indeed a very impressive player, he is not mature enough to play the game. If he keeps that attitude, it will backfire on us sooner or later. So, can you crush him in this game?"
He didn't get the direct answer he hopes for. Instead, he saw a wide grin plastered on Furihata's face as the first year speak,
"Are you sure this is not your revenge for what he said during the halftime break against Kaijo?"
"I don't know what you mean," Hyuga replied, trying to look innocent. They both know the real reason Hyuga asks is the one that Furihata said later, so no need to speak it out loud.
At that time, they both grinned conspiratory, looking at Kagami with the eyes of the predators, preparing to hunt their prey. Hyuga knows Furihata is capable of beating Kagami, so the only thought that registered through his mind is,
'I cannot wait to see how he would do that.'
------- flashback end -------
After seeing the first place, the grin on his mouth widened as he thought inwardly,
'Out of every method I expect he would take, he chooses the dirtiest legal way, trash talk. Now, it is impossible for Kagami to maintain his temper anymore. Well played, Brat. Well played, indeed.'
Seeing the creepy smile on their captain's face, all of the Seirin players stepped back nervously, didn't want to be near him. However, their eyes turned back again to the court, where the ball is on Furihata's game again.
'Now, let's see how it would go.'
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"Are you sure you still want to do it? Your defense is worse than Kasamatsu-san, you know? I can think of ten ways to get away from your guard." Furihata keeps trash-talking while he still holding the ball, not taking any dribble yet.
"Shut up! Just play, damn it!" Furihata could hear a hint of frustration in Kagami's tone, making it harder for him to not grin.
'He is so fun to tease. I will take the most villainous way to defeat him, and I could just blame Hyuga-senpai for the aftermath.'
Then, out of a sudden, he raised the ball up to his head, ready for another three-point shoot. However, unlike the last play, Kagami is ready for the possibility, as he closed the distance between them and raised his hand high, trying to block the shoot.
"Got you, bastard!"
However, all his nerves suddenly screamed 'DANGER!' as he saw the smirk on Furihata's face.
'Why the hell is he smiling now? Wait, he hasn't dribbled the ball yet! It is a fake! He would drive!'
When Kagami is ready to jump, Furihata lowered his hand immediately and took a step to the left as if he would drive to the basket. Kagami managed to react on time, as he didn't jump like everyone thought he would. He reacted on time to follow Furihata's movement to the left side.
Unfortunately for him, that was another trick that Furihata prepared, as the point guard retreated the ball quickly to his hand at the same time when his pivotal foot comes back to its initial position. Kagami widened his eyes in surprise as he slipped into the floor.
'A Jab step? Shit! That wouldn't do!'
In the next moment, Kagami displayed to everyone his monstrous physique and reflex as he recovered from almost getting ankle breaker to getting ready to defend from another play.
However, Furihata took no mercy on him as just before he could jump again, Furihata pulled up another three-point shot from the middle of the court, and just like the first one, all people on the court could hear the beautiful sound from the net,
*Splash!*
4-0
Then, as his mouth twitch a little, he turned around to Kagami and said, "Are you sure you still want to continue this game, Mr. 'Japanese basketball is too weak'?"
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Author note:
NEXT CHAPTER: Kagami VS Furihata II!
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