The Teiko High Basketball Team had gathered in front of the Yoyogi Gymnasium, their faces etched with determination as they prepared to face their first playoff opponent.
Assistant Coach Sanada, accompanying them, couldn't hide his regret. He knew having their freshman prodigies present would make this match more manageable. His deep sigh spoke volumes.
Nijimura, the captain, tried to uplift the team's spirits. "Don't worry, Coach Sanada. We'll win this match for them."
Sanada, still visibly perturbed, responded slowly. If you looked closely, you could see the corner of his mouth twitching nervously. "I know you're all determined to win, but..."
He trailed off, his voice uncertain as he addressed someone who had just arrived. "Tsunayoshi Kazama, what are you doing here?"
With a calm smile, Tsuna replied, "I'm here to win, of course."
The first-string players couldn't hide their surprise. Their dumbfounded expressions now focused on Tsuna.
"...Do you even understand what you're doing?"
With Assistant Coach Sanada's comment, a realization dawned on everyone.
Wasn't Tsuna supposed to be on the trip to Mount Fuji with the other first-year students?
Sekiguchi, a fellow freshman, couldn't hold back his confusion. "Um, shouldn't you be going to Mount Fuji with the others, like the rest of the freshmen?"
He had a point. Why was Tsuna here?
Tsuna replied calmly as he moved toward the gymnasium entrance, leaving the others speechless. "I decided to skip the trip. No worries though, I understand the consequences..."
He could sense their surprise, but it didn't faze him. Tsuna knew he had just one year in Japan before returning to the US, as he had promised. The penalty for participating in the trip next year didn't apply to him.
Witnessing Tsuna's nonchalant entrance, everyone followed suit but remained somewhat bewildered.
Once inside their designated changing room, Assistant Coach Sanada began to brief them on their plans. With Tsuna's unexpected presence, Sanada felt it would be a waste not to have him play in this match.
However, Tsuna's arrival surprised them, leaving Sanada to massage his forehead tiredly.
"Now that Kazama is here, we should adjust our strategies accordingly," he said, acknowledging the need to incorporate Tsuna into their plans.
Yet, recalling Tsuna's information, Sanada was reminded that Tsuna mainly played as their Small Forward (SF). This realization brought forth another headache as they had Sekiguchi in, who was pretty solid.
With a sigh, Sanada directed his question to the culprit. "How would you like to play in this match?"
"...I'll take the Point Guard position this time. Nijimura can handle the Power Forward role."
Tsuna's suggestion was met with agreement from Nijimura, who spoke up from behind.
"We need a reliable point guard, especially with Akashi absent," Nijimura added.
Although his words sounded tough, the other first-string players were accustomed to this kind of blunt talk and didn't mind it. This was the Teiko High Basketball Team's way – the strong dominated the weak, plain and simple.
Sanada, too, thought it was a good idea. He nodded in agreement. "That makes sense. Kazama, you've got the role."
"Understood."
With Tsuna's approval, Sanada stepped forward to continue their preparations.
"Alright, everyone, we're up against a formidable opponent today. But don't worry, we've got this. To ensure we secure a smooth victory, I want us to start with a slower tempo..."
"...Their style of play is unique, so we need to acclimate ourselves to their rhythm and disrupt it."
These were the instructions as the team finished suiting up in their jerseys. After scanning their faces, the coach said, "However, if the opportunity arises to dominate them right from the start, take it! Is that understood!?"
"Sir, yes, sir!" came the resounding response from the team.
After ensuring everyone was prepared, Sanada reminded everyone to heed Nijimura's calls during the game unless a timeout was requested.
Tsuna, his excitement clearly showing, couldn't help but crack a smile as they stepped onto the court. The team exchanged greetings with their opponents before returning to their designated bench.
"Hooh? He's pretty solid..."
Makoto Hanamiya, the opposing team's captain, drew Tsuna's attention.
He had a sturdy build, not what you'd expect from someone known for underhanded tactics. Tsuna observed this mischievous-looking player with a pale complexion and a somewhat arrogant smirk.
Another player, with disheveled black hair and narrowed eyes, approached Hanamiya, appearing to give him instructions.
Glancing at the player's number on his jersey, Tsuna muttered, "Number 4...Imayoshi is the captain, huh? Intriguing..."
The prospect of facing two cunning players on the same team intrigued Tsuna, and he couldn't help but wear a confident smile.
This match held a unique significance for Tsuna, marking the first time he would compete against well-known characters from the original storyline, adding to his anticipation.
Sanada reiterated the game plan on the team bench to ensure everyone understood their roles.
As they concluded the brief discussion, the referee summoned both teams to the court.
Imayoshi, standing not too far from Nijimura, struck up a conversation in a polite Kansai accent. "Hey there, Nijimura. Your team seems quite fired up, huh?"
"Yeah, be prepared to lose, Imayoshi."
Nijimura wasn't buying it, as he responded curtly.
Imayoshi's response was a sly one. "Oh? Why the aggression? You're scaring me..."
"..."
Nijimura chose not to engage further. He had a strong distaste for individuals like Imayoshi, who concealed their unpleasant personalities with a polite facade.
"It's strange. Where are the freshmen from your team?" Imayoshi's tone took a sharp turn, losing its earlier politeness. He opened his eyes halfway.
"I heard they've become Teiko's key players. It'd be a shame to face the candidate for winners without their core team," Imayoshi added, his smirk returning.
"The rest of the freshmen can't be here right now. But we do have one player from the first year. And trust me, he's more than enough..."
Nijimura met Imayoshi's change in tone with a similar expression.
Imayoshi's brow furrowed in response to Nijimura's unwavering confidence. He couldn't help but wonder if they were underestimating his team. Despite their loss last year, it had been a close match.
"You certainly seem very sure of yourselves," Imayoshi remarked, his confidence in his team matching Teiko's. The battle of wits was already underway.
Nijimura, however, shook his head. He wasn't trying to be arrogant; he was stating the facts. It was his straightforward personality at work.
Considering Tsuna's incredible abilities, Nijimura genuinely believed that having Tsuna alone would be more than enough to handle whatever challenges they faced in today's match.
"...Especially since he looks so eager for some reason," Nijimura added, glancing at Tsuna's cheerful smile.