Seirin vs Kaijo (6)

Kuroko kept his eyes fixed on Kise, not daring to relax for even a moment.

Kagami stood as the second line of defense behind Kuroko, ready to step in and support him at any time.

However, in an instant, Kise suddenly accelerated, breaking through the defense of both players with ease. His speed was lightning-fast, leaving no time for anyone to react.

Under the astonished gazes of everyone, Kise executed a flawless slam dunk, scoring with ease.

Kagami's eyes widened in disbelief, his face filled with shock. Internally, he marveled, 'How is this guy still getting stronger? This is insane!'

The Seirin players weren't the only ones stunned—Kaijo's own teammates were equally awestruck by Kise's performance. Their expressions betrayed their surprise; no one had expected him to slice through the defense so effortlessly.

Now it was Seirin's turn to attack.

The team quickly coordinated, searching for the perfect offensive opportunity. Finally, Hyuga found himself in an ideal open position for a three-point shot.

Without hesitation, Hyuga jumped and released the ball.

But to everyone's shock, Kise leaped into the air like a cannonball, appearing in front of Hyuga in an instant. With an unrelenting block, he sent the ball flying out of bounds.

The crowd erupted in cheers and gasps.

Kise caught the deflected ball and immediately launched a fast break. In the blink of an eye, he soared towards the basket and slammed the ball in with a powerful dunk.

Seirin's players couldn't even react in time to defend.

The rest of the game became a showcase of Kise's dominance.

Time after time, he attacked Seirin's paint, breaking through their defenses as if they weren't there. He also disrupted most of Seirin's offensive plays with his sharp defense.

"BEEP!"

The game ended with Kaijo securing a decisive victory over Seirin, 101–87, in this practice match.

The Seirin players stared blankly at the scoreboard, unable to believe the outcome. A match they once approached with so much hope had ended in such bitter defeat.

Kagami and Kuroko, especially, were visibly dejected.

They had boldly declared their goal of becoming the best in Japan, but losing their very first game dealt a heavy blow to their spirits.

The whole Seirin team felt weighed down, as if a boulder had been placed on their chests.

"Come on, everyone, cheer up. It was just a practice game" said Riko, fighting to maintain her composure and keep from tearing up.

She understood the effort they'd poured into this match, but in the end, they still lost.

Hyuga bit his lip, his eyes filled with frustration.

"Coach…" he began, his voice trembling with emotion.

"What's wrong? Have none of you ever tasted failure before?" Riko shouted, raising her voice.

"It's just one loss! It's no big deal! When the Interhigh comes around, we'll take our revenge!"

The team nodded in unison, their eyes regaining a determined fire. The loss had hurt, but it hadn't broken them.

Instead, they resolved to channel their disappointment into motivation, training harder and striving for a better outcome next time.

Kasamatsu and Hyuga exchanged a handshake, both smiling.

Kasamatsu chuckled. "This match might be over, but things will be different next time. We'll only meet again at Interhigh"

Hyuga replied, "Yeah, we're definitely making it to Interhigh. I'd rather not have to confess my feelings completely naked!"

Kasamatsu laughed and nodded, his eyes filled with anticipation. He believed Seirin would reach Nationals.

Meanwhile, Kagami stared directly at Kise, declaring, "Kise, next time, we'll beat you!"

Kise smiled faintly and replied, "Haha, sure, I'm looking forward to our next game. But remember, the final victory will still be mine."

Hearing this, Kagami's competitive spirit burned even brighter.

He knew Kise was incredibly strong, but he was determined to challenge him nonetheless.

Kise then added, "And even if you manage to beat me, don't get too full of yourself. After all, I'm the weakest member of the Generation of Miracles. If you really want to take us all down, you've got a lot of work ahead of you."

"Don't worry, I'll defeat every single one of you" Kagami said confidently. Though he wasn't strong enough yet, he was filled with hope and determination for the future.

"All right, let's head back for extra practice!" Hyuga called out to the team.

The Seirin players responded in unison, their voices ringing with resolve. They were determined to train hard and defeat Kaijo the next time they faced them.

As Seirin's team walked off into the distance, Kaijo's players, once filled with pride, now looked at them with a newfound respect. They recognized that Seirin had earned their acknowledgment through this match.

Still, they knew that the next time they met, Seirin would be an even stronger opponent.

Determined not to fall behind, Kaijo's players resolved to keep training, improving their skills, and preparing for the challenges ahead at Nationals.

Just as Seirin disappeared from view, a familiar green-haired figure appeared in front of Kaijo's team.