As the game raged, Aomine's excitement fueled Teiko's aggressive attack. They relentlessly pressured the Genius Twins, who appeared visibly exhausted.
Recognizing the strain on their star players, the Kamata West's coach wisely decided to bench them temporarily. Injuries from overexertion could be disastrous.
Tsuna, ever the opportunist, saw this as a chance. He called for an all-out assault, knowing that the absence of the Genius Twins was their opening to dominate.
From the sidelines, Sanada noticed the shift but welcomed it. He wore a contented smile, fully supporting this change in strategy.
This abrupt shift in strategy left Kamata West in disarray. They were utterly helpless in the face of Teiko's aggressive onslaught.
The absence of the Genius Twins hurt Kamata West's defense and crippled their own attack. Murasakibara, a defensive powerhouse, made sure of that.
From the sidelines, the Genius Twins could only clench their teeth in frustration. Their burning desire to win clashed with the reality that their young bodies couldn't withstand the relentless pressure.
With the score gap widening, Kamata West seemed on the verge of giving up in the face of Teiko's relentless offense. At last, the referee blew the whistle, marking the end of the third quarter.
Seated on the bench, Sanada observed their opponents with a contemplative gaze.
"Hmm, they are unlikely to put the twins back in with their condition..."
"... just maintaining this momentum should secure our victory," he reflected quietly, studying the determined expressions on his players' faces.
Seeing their excitement and determination, Sanada nodded to himself. "I suppose there's nothing I need to alter in this current situation."
However, Tsuna had a different perspective. He spoke up, saying, "Assistant Coach, let's bring Kuroko back in."
"Hmm, we're going back to the start, huh?"
Sanada pondered for a moment, his thoughts audible. Given their current situation, he believed there was no need for any changes.
Yet, having observed Tsuna's flawless decision-making thus far, Sanada trusted his judgment.
Tsuna shook his head, offering a clarification. "Not a complete reset. We'll replace Aomine with Akashi on the bench instead."
"What!?" Aomine exclaimed. "Seriously? I was paying attention for once, and now you want to bench me?"
Aomine was baffled. He had eagerly anticipated the last stage to decide the winner of the game, so getting out of it would not be fun for him.
Akashi, on the other hand, was taken aback. He was relieved not to be benched this time, but he couldn't help but wonder why Tsuna had made this decision.
Tsuna offered a reassuring smile. "No need to fret, Aomine. It's just a temporary break for you."
Tsuna then turned to Akashi and explained, "Now, I need you to switch positions with me. I'll be taking over Aomine's role for a while."
Despite Tsuna saying he would fill Aomine's role, his style of play introduced new possibilities for Teiko. Tsuna was not only skilled at scoring but also excelled in orchestrating plays and passing the ball effectively to create scoring opportunities.
Sanada, although puzzled, agreed with Tsuna's decision. "Alright, I trust you have a good reason for this. Care to share it with us?"
Tsuna nodded and explained, "I believe the twins will be back in action this quarter."
Sanada frowned upon hearing this and cast a skeptical glance back at the twins. He had serious doubts that their condition would allow them to return to the game.
Nevertheless, Tsuna wore a confident expression, so Sanada casually shrugged his shoulders. Their momentum was strong enough; a minor setback wouldn't matter much.
Even though Tsuna noticed the doubt in Sanada's expression, he didn't pay it much attention. The referee's whistle signaled the start of the final quarter, the moment that would determine the game's winner.
As Tsuna had foreseen, the Genius Twins returned to the court, much to Sanada's surprise.
"They actually came back. How did he know that?" Sanada couldn't fathom it.
It was expected that not everyone could grasp it, but it was pretty clear for Tsuna. He recognized the twins' fiery determination, which didn't waver despite the substantial score gap.
Their unwavering determination struck a chord with him. It brought to mind his own experiences, the frustration of watching your team struggle while feeling powerless to make a difference.
Tsuna fully grasped how such circumstances could fuel one's determination. He looked at their fiery determination and couldn't help but smile, reminiscing about his own past.
Their situation was somewhat more favorable than his back then, and Tsuna's smile was tinged with nostalgia as he remembered his own struggles.
He had faced insurmountable odds with zero chances of winning in his previous life, yet he still had given his all to change the impossible.
It was pathetic if he thought about it logically. But sometimes, feelings mattered more than logic.
In comparison, the Genius Twins had a stronger position.
Fueled by their burning resolve, Kamata West returned to the game with an aggressive playstyle, and the Genius Twins showcased their exceptional skills.
After being benched for a while, the twins were confident they could get creative with their combos. This time on the sidelines allowed them to carefully watch Teiko's strategy and playing style from the outside.
Observing from the bench allowed them to spot Teiko's habits and patterns and devise tactics to either break through or counter Teiko's moves.
However, their hopes were dashed when they saw Teiko employ a new strategy as Akashi and Murasakibara took central roles in the defense this time.
Tsuna couldn't help but smile slightly at their bewildered reaction. It seemed like he had anticipated this.
It wasn't an entirely new strategy; it resembled what had been seen in earlier quarters. However, the change in players had a significant impact, causing adjustments in the game's flow.
The same applied to their offensive plays. With Tsuna taking on Aomine's role, Kamata West struggled to defend against Teiko's attacks, even with the return of the Genius Twins.
Yet, the determination in the eyes of the Genius Twins remained unwavering, even as things remained tough.
Tsuna couldn't help but acknowledge their incredible spirit, a quality he deeply respected, especially when contrasted with some of the other Kamata West players who seemed on the verge of giving up.
"Their determination is truly impressive," Tsuna remarked loudly enough for Akashi to hear. His words were a genuine compliment.
"But determination can only take you so far when your body reaches its limits..."
Akashi's eyes widened as he turned towards the twins and saw them collapse. Their bodies seemed to have given in, and they were sprawled on the ground, twitching.
"Could he have predicted this too?"
Midorima, who had overheard those words, couldn't help but shiver at the thought.
Akashi's expression grew serious as he realized he needed to pay close attention.
Tsuna seemed unfazed by the twins' condition as he signaled to Sanada to put Aomine back in.
Sanada, on the other hand, was taken aback. He had assumed Tsuna's statement about Aomine being temporarily benched was to appease him. But it appeared that Tsuna had planned this all along.
With Aomine back on the court and the twins benched, Teiko reverted to their full-throttle aggressive style of play, leaving their opponents feeling helpless.
As the referee blew the whistle to signal the end of the game, Kamata West's players looked crestfallen, their faces drained of color upon seeing the score.
The score stood at 96 - 52, a massive lead in favor of Teiko.
The Teiko players wore expressions of disbelief as they glanced at the scoreboard. Their eyes then shifted towards Tsuna, the mastermind behind this overwhelming victory.
Tsuna responded with a nonchalant nod, as though the score was a mere formality. He muttered, "Well, that was expected. Anyway, I've got more training to do this afternoon..."
---
Hey there, folks! I'm thinking about a big update coming up next week. But lately, I've been pretty swamped. So, I can't promise you this. I'll try my best, though.
Still waiting to hear back from the company I interviewed with last time, so I might need to give that another shot. I'll keep you posted on the mass update plans as the week progresses.
Cheers! 🚀
Do you wanna read 15 chapters ahead of the schedule? Here's where you can find them:
p@treon.com/mythoast