The game resumed after a momentary pause, during which they processed the fact that Nash was treating them as playthings.
Tsuna advanced with the ball, followed closely by his teammates. Nick, taking on a defensive stance, approached Tsuna.
Tsuna calmly observed the positions of his teammates as he dribbled the ball to the right, and Nick, in close pursuit, mirrored the movement, only to be outmaneuvered when Tsuna swiftly spun in the same direction.
Nick couldn't help but express his frustration with a click of his tongue as Tsuna breezed past his defense. Just as Allen rushed over to support Nick, Tsuna made a quick pass to Nijimura before Allen could react.
Nijimura received the ball and cast a curious glance at Tsuna, who seemed different today.
Their typical game plan involved Tsuna orchestrating their play, taking charge of the ball, and breaking through the opponent's formation.
"...Just what is he up to?"
But today, it felt like Tsuna was deliberately letting them confront their opponents on their own. Nijimura wondered about Tsuna's intentions.
Nijimura took control of the ball and began to dribble slowly, eyeing the imposing figure of Silver in front of him. His displeasure grew as Silver responded with nothing but a disrespectful yawn.
"This guy doesn't give me an ounce of respect," Nijimura muttered under his breath, his irritation evident.
"...What an unpleasant motherfucker."
Silver, however, seemed surprised that Nijimura suddenly spoke in English, probably the only one who seemed to understand and speak English among his other teammates beside Tsuna.
He scratched his head and looked closer at Nijimura before bursting into laughter.
"I thought you were just like the rest of these guys, but it looks like you're a talking monkey, huh?"
Silver's arrogance only deepened Nijimura's frown.
Nijimura couldn't ignore the blatant disrespect from Silver, even though he recognized Silver's undeniable skills. He was determined not to let Silver's attitude slide without some consequences.
Within a second, he made a sharp move to the side, attempting to outmaneuver Silver.
"Hmm, you've got some speed for a monkey," Silver remarked in a casual tone, unfazed by Nijimura's quick footwork.
Nijimura couldn't help but show his frustration as he clicked his tongue. He stepped back and swiftly rotated in the opposite direction, hoping to put some distance between himself and Silver.
As Nijimura executed his maneuver, a hand suddenly darted in to snatch the ball from him. He realized that taking on Silver alone wouldn't be an easy task.
Frustration flashed across his face as he watched the ball being effortlessly swiped from his grasp.
The turn of events once again took aback Fukuda Sogo players.
Nijimura, their formidable center, was no ordinary player.
His agility was exceptional, even surpassing that of Haizaki and second only to Tsuna. Yet, he had just been outplayed by Silver effortlessly.
Observing Silver's relentless dribble toward them, Fukuda Sogo's players sprang into action, swiftly organizing a defensive line to prevent him from scoring.
Silver only laughed at them as he kept advancing forward, completely disregarding their defense as if it were nothing. He dribbled the ball between his legs with lightning speed, toying with the defenders as if they were mere traffic cones.
Ogiwara, Mochizuki, and Haizaki had built a solid defensive wall, but their mounting frustration was palpable. They were, after all, the reigning champions of Japan's Interhigh tournament. Yet here, in the US, they felt like amateurs against Silver.
Silver seemed to have complete control over the ball, effortlessly performing flashy behind-the-back crossovers and no-look passes to Nick.
Despite recognizing Silver's moves, Ogiwara could only shake his head in disbelief.
With a mischievous grin, Silver sent the ball high near the basket, then soared into the air, snatching the ball mid-flight. Time seemed to slow as he slammed the ball through the hoop and hung in mid-air, his dominance on full display.
Silver maintained his taunting grin, relishing the frustration in Fukuda Sogo's players' eyes. After his impressive slam dunk, he hung on the rim for a moment, looking down at the bewildered defenders.
With a smirk, he shouted, "Step up, kiddos! You'll need more than that to stop me!"
Silver's taunts were met with a combination of laughter and applause from his fellow Jabberwock players.
The sound only fueled the growing anger among Fukuda Sogo's team.
The players from Fukuda Sogo ground their teeth in frustration, unwilling to endure the humiliation any longer.
However, as the game pressed on, they realized their helplessness. They were completely outmatched and unable to alter the course of the game.
Unbeknownst to them, their initial frustration and anger gradually morphed into something more profound...
An unsettling acceptance...
Over time, this feeling of resignation began to deepen, ultimately transforming into a profound sense of despair as their moves slowly became stiff, as if their spirit had left their bodies.
They faced a harsh reality – their situation seemed almost impossible to change. The Fukuda Sogo players glanced at Tsuna, their star player, as he dribbled the ball and successfully navigated Silver's defense.
A glimmer of hope ignited in their eyes.
But instantly, that hope was dashed as Nash swiftly closed in on Tsuna, stealing the ball from him.
It was clear that even Tsuna, their strongest player, couldn't find a way past Nash and Silver, who were constantly hounding his every move.
Nash advanced towards their defensive line, and they stood there, powerless to stop him. He effortlessly penetrated their defense, scoring yet another point.
With heavy hearts, they all shifted their gaze to the unforgiving scoreboard. Their once hopeful eyes now seemed empty and lifeless.
The desolation gripping them was akin to a deathly shroud, for it dawned upon them that they had failed to muster even a single point. Their despair was palpable, and they could only watch helplessly as the Jabberwock piled on the points.
As the game pressed on, a disheartened atmosphere hung in the air, making every second feel like an eternity. Time seemed to stretch out, slowing to a crawl in tandem with the players' expressions, contorted by despair.
When their opponents approached, an overwhelming sensation washed over them. Their limbs felt as if weighted by an invisible force, rendering them nearly immobile.
It wasn't that they physically couldn't move, but rather, a paralyzing fear held them captive.
They couldn't even gather the courage to attempt anything, recognizing the insurmountable gulf that separated them from their rivals.
The battle was lost in their hearts before it was lost on the court.
They had given up.
Amid the unfolding chaos, a flicker of realization darted among the Jabberwock players as they exchanged uneasy glances, the thought gnawing at them:
"Did we go a bit overboard?"
Yet, as their gazes shifted to Tsuna, a shiver ran down their spines, and they couldn't help but gulp nervously.
The once-familiar eyes that now bore into Fukuda Sogo were devoid of all emotion. Those eyes had turned into an abyss of emptiness, sending a shudder of unease through the Jabberwock players.
---
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