Chapter 184 - The Last Season Begins (2/2)

The first-year whistled in awe after hearing that Teiko had over one hundred members in their club. The first-year was about to ask another question when he heard two people beside him talking. He heard one of the people say.

Person-A: ”So, Teiko and Tokiwadai are going to go to Nationals this year.”

The first-year noticed that the tone used by the person was not the tone used when making a prediction, but the tone used by a person when they were stating a fact. The first-year heard the other person reply.

Person-B: ”I heard that Tokiwadai played a lot of practice games with other schools, and won every single one of the games.”

The first-year turned his head towards the chatting duo and saw the first person furrowing his brows and speaking.

Person-A: ”So, they are on a different level. No way, they are going to lose.”

Person-B glanced towards his companion and revealed the full story of the practice games.

Person-B: ”I know that, but what you don't know is that apparently, Kageyama Shun didn't participate in any of those practice games. Even without that monster, Tokiwadai is plenty strong to be a top-level team.”

The first person was surprised hearing that, but when he digested the information, a sigh escaped him. He looked at his friend a spoke in a self-mocking tone plaguing his voice and words.

Person-A: ”This is going our last year. Why did we have to be born the same year as those guys? It is just unfair.”

His friend patted his shoulder and comforted him.

Person-B: ”Now-now, don't be down in the dumps. Let's play our best till we meet Tokiwadai. Even if we can't beat them, we can still beat others. Let's set our goal as meeting Tokiwadai and not get eliminated by anyone but them.”

The two laughed and walked away after ending their little chat about how their final tournament was going to end.

The first-year listening on their conversation thought about how strong was Tokiwadai as he had never played against them. He had asked his seniors, and the only reply he got was that they were too strong.

He was lost in his thoughts when he heard his senior call out to him. It was time time to head to their assigned court. He discarded his line of thought and turned to follow his team to the first official game of his middle school days.

The young, first-year, like any young gun, wasn't convinced with Tokiwadai's strength and wouldn't be convinced without seeing them play. What he didn't know was that the two people's conversation he listened on, well, they were no random players. They were starting members of Shoei Middle School, and a fun fact about Shoei Middle School was that they were one of two Tokyo representative of last year. [1]

A school that had been to Nationals last year had such thoughts about how the tournament will go showed how depressing the state of Tokyo's middle school basketball scene had become.

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[A/N: Shoei Middle School is Kiyoshi's Middle School. And, as we know he is graduated and gone to Seirin High School. The boy grew up.]