29 Chapter 29 : VS Shinkyo I - The Beginning
The next day, all the Seirin players arrived at the sports complex near Tokyo Gymnasium just in time to start the tournament. It was held in a small sports complex and Furihata could count the spectators with his fingers.
'Probably because it is just the first game. No one would be too hyped to see the first-round exit team. The number will increase astronomically when we reach five or six games, and the final league would be held at Tokyo Gymnasium. Whatever. Let's get ready.'
They all started warming up for a little before they saw their opponent, with one standing tall among them.
Papa Mbaye Shiki.
Furihata could see him let out a sigh with a bored face as if this game didn't catch his interest. It irked his teammates so much, especially Kagami after he hears the tall center badmouthing the Generation of Miracles. Furihata just stares at the fumed Kagami with a weird face, his thought running wildly.
'What the hell is he doing? He keeps saying he would beat all of them, but the moment someone said the same he snapped? Did he think he was the only one who has the right to make a death threat to the Generation of Miracles? Or is this his tsundere side kicked in?'
However, his thought snapped when he saw the funniest thing that happened in front of them. Papa Mbaye Shiki, the one that everyone dubbed as 'Otou-san' due to his hard pronunciation name bumped into Kuroko accidentally, and when he looked down, he was surprised at the sight of a blue-haired boy in front of him.
Otou-san lifted up Kuroko to see him closely before he scolded, "Children are not supposed to be on the court."
Furihata has to hold back his laugh as he didn't want to attract unwanted attention from his opponent. However, he found it funny to see Kuroko, 168 cm with a baby face, getting scolded by Papa Mbaye Shiki, 205 cm who has a face that doesn't belong to a high school student. The height and the facial difference really make them fit the role of father and son here.
It was Hyuga who cleared the situation by saying, "Don't worry about him. He is our teammate."
Otou-san tilted his head in confusion, but after getting a nod as confirmation from his teammates, he let out a very deep sigh and stares at Kuroko in disappointment.
"They really allow a child like him to play? Are the basketball level in Japan really this low?"
That was when Furihata couldn't hold it anymore. He let out a low chuckle, gaining the attention of his teammates near him.
"What's so funny?" Izuki asked with a questioning gaze.
"Well, I just have a little flashback of when someone said a similar thing. Don't you remember it as well, Senpai? Someone said 'Japanese basketball is weak' to you?"
Now, not only him, almost everyone on the sideline let out a laugh while looking at Kagami who is still standing beside Kuroko. They all have a little flashback to the first day they met Kagami.
"Well, we all kinda misunderstood him as the big bad scary guy, especially with his 'I am better than you' attitude. But if you take the arrogance away from him, he is just a socially awkward and a bit angsty teenage boy."
Almost all of his teammates give him deadpanned stares while his fellow first-years laughed nervously. Only Furihata has the gut to describe Kagami like that with a straight face. If anyone else, they would run before they could say any words.
"What happened?" Hyuga who just came back from rescuing Kuroko from Otou-san asked, while both Kagami and Kuroko are also looking at them with curiosity.
"It's nothing. Just Furihata-kun and his crass comment."
"Aah.. Just the usual Furihata, I see.." Hyuga nodded in understanding, followed by his teammates who did the same. Furihata frowned a little at this.
"Oi, oi! What is this usual Furihata? I am not that bad, right?"
However, he only received deadpanned gazes as someone muttered lowly,
"Seriously?"
However, before he could say anything, Riko takes over the conversation immediately.
"Okay, everyone! The game will begin in five minutes. Let's huddle!" After she saw everyone standing in front of her, she turned to Hyuga and asked,
"Junpei, you have communicated with them earlier. What do you think?"
"They are underestimating us," Hyuga replied without hesitation. "I don't think it is as bad as the situation we face when we played against Kaijo, but the presence of Otou-san surely boosts their confidence, enough to make them forget that they were just a first-round exit team last year."
Riko nodded a little before asking a question again.
"How about Otou-san? What is his attitude toward you?"
"He treated us like children." Now, there is a hint of irk in his voice. "Honestly, I would like to report him for age falsify case to the official tournament. With his physical and facial appearance and how he acted toward us, he is suitable enough to be my uncle, not just a high schooler like this."
"Hmm.." Riko pondered for a moment before he turned to Furihata and asked, "Any opinion?"
Furihata sweatdropped a bit as he saw his teammates suddenly turn around their attention on him. Nonetheless, he still addressed Riko's concern.
"I don't think we need to worry about this." He replied. "I mean, of course, all of you have heard a lot of age falsify cases in Africa. But that is for professional athletes. In Otou-san's case, he is not professional yet, and he still has to finish high school first before he could sign any professional contract. Don't you think it is a bit too much hustle for him to do that just to enter the high school tournament in a foreign land? I mean, if it is indeed true that he falsifies his age, he has to repeat his high school, for God's sake! Who in their sane mind would do that?"
"Well.. When you put it like that.." Hyuga muttered, understanding the point. Everyone also nodded their head while pondering the explanation for Furihata. However, it snapped right away at the point guard's voice as he is not done with his explanation.
"Anyway!" His sudden exclamation surprised a lot of them. "Why would we need to do that? We are the better team here. I mean, Shinkyo is definitely a far worse team than Kaijo. And regarding Otou-san, don't you think Red couldn't handle him? With all the training he spent with Tsuchida-senpai?"
Now, the light in everyone's eyes that dimmed for a second suddenly brightened again, and optimism could be seen on their face. Kagami, being the most eager player there, couldn't stop bouncing on his sit while staring at Otou-san like a pray.
Seeing this, Riko gives send an appreciation look at Furihata who just shrugged nonchalantly.
"Okay, because everyone is already on fire, I wouldn't talk a lot anymore. Just remember, even though this is the beginning of your journey, it could be your end as well if you are not careful enough. Every game would be a do-or-die situation for us. Treat it seriously, got it?!"
"Yes, Coach!"
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Five minutes later, everyone is ready in their position, with Kagami and Otou-san standing head-to-head in the middle of the court for the tip-off.
Right after the referee throws the ball high, they both jumped to reach it in the air. However, even though Kagami has more explosive power, the difference in height could not make it up for him. Otou-san reached for the ball first and tapped it to his teammates who is ready to attack.
"Tch." Kagami clicked his tongue in annoyance but managed to recover fast to guard Otou-san inside the paint area.
However, Otou-san didn't move passively. Instead, he approached the point guard to set a screen for him, and when the point guard escaped from Izuki, he gives the ball to Otou-san in the free-throw area who pulled up a mid-range shoot immediately.
Kagami of course didn't let him score easily. He jumped at the same time as Otou-san released his shoot. However, he widened his eyes at how high Otou-san's release point is.
"Damn! I couldn't reach it!"
*Splash!*
0-2
The first point belongs to Shinkyo.
Now, the game restarted again with the ball in Izuki's hand. Surprisingly, Kagami was double-teamed right after the point guard grabbed the ball, and they went for a full-press court.
Even though Izuki didn't have any difficulties getting away from his guard, he still find himself in a dilemma as to whom he should go. Kagami was double-teamed and Mitobe was head-to-head with Otou-san. Their offensive is getting restricted right now, and the only choice he has is Hyuga.
After waiting for a few seconds to see if Mitobe or Kagami could have a better position, he decided to pass the ball to Hyuga. The captain took his time for a while to see the board before he pulled up a three-pointer. However, right before he released the ball, a long hand suddenly appeared in front of him, making the captain curse inwardly.
'Shit! Otou-san?! What the hell is he doing here? Is he guarding Mitobe?'
Nonetheless, he couldn't stop himself from releasing the ball, which was blocked easily by the center.
"Rebound!"
However, before anyone from Seirin could get the free ball, Otou-san reached for the ball again with his long hand and started dribbling the ball toward the basket.
'Shit! A 205 cm center who can go coast-to-coast in high school basketball? Is this a bully?' Hyuga complained inwardly, trying to slow his opponent down. And it worked, as Kagami was able to chase them to the basket, ready for the defense right before Otou-san could drive forward to the paint area.
However, Otou-san didn't bulge even for a second and continued to drive forward. When he is already in front of Kagami, he raised the ball with his two hands and jumped, attempting to dunk. Kagami did the same, using his explosive jump to try to block the shoot. However, the height difference really matters this time as Kagami couldn't even reach the ball.
*BAM!*
A hammer dunk! Papa Mbaye Shiki posterized Kagami!
"Let's go!!"
"Nice one, Shiki-san!"
"Let's do this again!"
Everyone on Shinkyo's side showed their excitement. A few spectators from Shinkyo even recorded the last play, pissing Kagami off. If Kise caught wind about him getting posterized, he would definitely hear no end to this shit.
"Senpai, the ball!"
Remembering how difficult it was for him to pass to Kagami in the last attempt, Izuki decided to give the ball straight away from the start. And right after Kagami gets the ball, the double team arrived once again to annoy him.
"Tch. Get off of me!" He drives at full speed, trying to get rid of his guards.
When he finally breaks into the free throw area, he feels the pressure decrease from his guards, so he decided to pull up a mid-range shoot.
However, he forgets about the presence of the biggest threat here, Papa Mbaye Shiki A.K.A Otou-san.
Right before he released the shoot, his eyes suddenly caught the presence of Otou-san. He widened his eyes in surprise, and couldn't help but curse, 'Fuck!' as he finally remembers the person who carries Shinkyo on his back.
However, it was too late, as Otou-san made a tip to his shoot, deviating its direction slightly as it went to the board right now.
"Rebound!"
Mitobe, the ever-silent center, managed to secure a box out under the rim, and when he feels no one could stop him, he jumped for a rebound, trying to attempt a quick putback layup. However, just like a pest, Otou-san's hand keeps appearing again and again in the Seirin players' sight, pressuring them to take a bad shoot.
Even though Otou-san was not on time to block the shoot, his pressure was enough for Mitobe to miss the shoot.
"Again!"
Kagami tries to grab the ball in the air for a putback dunk. However, Otou-san is faster than him. He reached the ball first and without hesitation, launched the ball forward where one of his teammates is waiting in a wide-open position.
"Fast break! Crap!"
All of Seirin's players trying to go back to cover the defense. However, they were too late as Shinkyo #1 scored an easy layup to their basket.
"FUCK!" Kagami cursed out loud to vent his frustration, making the referee frown at him. Fortunately, Hyuga bowed quickly to the refs and takes over the situation by saying,
"I am sorry for his language; he will not do it again."
He slapped Kagami's back to make him do the same, which the red-hair did awkwardly.
"I will let this slide for now. But please, hold back your language. This is a high school competition, not just a street ball where you can curse anywhere you like. Do you understand?"
"Yes, Sensei!"
Hyuga let out a relieved sigh as the situation is de-escalated without any foul for them. However, when he hears what the Shinkyo players said next, Izuki and him had to restrain Kagami from hitting someone in anger.
"Why is he angry? Does he think he can stop Shiki-san?"
"Well, I heard they beat Kaijo in a friendly game. Maybe they are overconfident?"
"Maybe. But it is not like Kaijo is that strong either. We can win and beat them too with Shiki-san here."
Not only mocking Kagami, but they also looked down on Kaijo who they had to fight tooth and nail just to have one point win. That was enough to make Kagami snap in a heartbeat.
Fortunately for them, before Kagami could do anything, they all could hear the buzzer ring loudly, as the referee said,
"Seirin Basketball Team, timeout!"
And that was the hint for Kagami to go back to the bench to calm himself down. He knew he is about to get scolded for not controlling his emotion, so he let out a deep sigh before he went back to the bench.
However, he didn't get the scold he expected his coach would give. Instead, it is Furihata who finally speaks, breaking the silence.
"What the fuck are you doing there?"
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Author note:
NEXT CHAPTER: VS Shinkyo II - Counter Attack!
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