The players of Fukuda Sogo stood still, like they were caught in a world of despair.
Their faces, once full of determination, now carried expressions of complete hopelessness.
It was as if their dreams and ambitions had been drained away, leaving them adrift in the abyss of defeat, struggling to grasp the immense power of the Jabberwock.
Ogiwara, lost in his thoughts, felt a haunting familiarity with this feeling. It was the same despair he had experienced during the final match against the Generation of Miracles in middle school.
He held his chest, feeling his heart still pounding, and a sense of helplessness washed over him.
"...I can't change any of this. From the very beginning, I've been nothing more than a powerless ant," Ogiwara thought, his gaze empty as he looked up.
The same sense of defeat weighed heavily on the hearts of the other Fukuda Sogo players.
Haizaki, typically known for his aggressiveness, remained eerily silent.
The overwhelming sense of powerlessness he felt now eclipsed any frustration he'd ever experienced, even when facing Akashi, who had crushed his basketball career in middle school.
He could only lower his head in utter defeat, his thoughts echoing, "...I thought I was something when we won the Interhigh. Turns out, it was all just a fleeting illusion."
"...Ultimately, we couldn't do a thing. We're just dragging Tsuna down."
Nijimura, despite his prior acquaintance with the Jabberwock during his time in the United States, was now facing them on the court for the first time. The sheer strength they displayed left him feeling entirely powerless.
But as despair settled over the team like a heavy shroud, the rhythmic bounce of a basketball pierced through the oppressive silence.
Their eyes, which had been glazed with hopelessness, snapped toward the source.
They spotted Tsuna, who appeared unfazed by their predicament, dribbling the ball with a stoic expression.
Speechless and overwhelmed by disbelief, the team couldn't manage a single word.
Nijimura glanced at Tsuna, his own thoughts in turmoil.
"You should be feeling the weight of this more than anyone," he silently remarked, surprised by Tsuna's composure.
He'd never seen Tsuna lose before.
It was like witnessing something completely new. He couldn't remember a single time when Tsuna's side was losing.
But now, Tsuna stood there, his face blank and unemotional despite the overwhelming odds against him.
It just didn't make sense.
How could Tsuna, who should blame them for being such a heavyweight, not be affected?
They could only watch in astonishment as Tsuna strode past them, his gaze fixed on the Jabberwock expressionlessly, as though they didn't exist, and advanced forward, facing the formidable opposition alone.
As they gazed at Tsuna's lonely figure, their mouths fell agape in sheer disbelief.
Yet, their voices seemed held captive, as though an invisible hand had constricted their throats.
It wasn't just their vocal cords that were paralyzed; their breath felt constricted.
The sight of Tsuna confronting those monstrous players alone left an indelible mark on their souls, suffocating them with a sense of dread and helplessness that made it hard for them to breathe.
Nash's expression turned serious for the first time, mirroring the other Jabberwock players.
They regarded Tsuna with newfound respect. In the face of this situation, most people would have given up, just like the players on Fukuda Sogo.
"However," Nash declared as he advanced towards Tsuna, his pressure intensifying, "taking us on alone won't alter the outcome."
Tsuna was no ordinary player, and Nash understood this better than anyone. Even with his formidable Belial Eyes ability, Nash wasn't confident about facing Tsuna alone. However, Silver quickly joined him to form a double team against Tsuna.
Nash was confident that if Tsuna had been on his own, he wouldn't have been able to break through their defense.
"...All your efforts were in vain, Tsuna," Nash declared earnestly.
In the heat of the basketball showdown, Tsuna responded with silence.
Their movements were like a carefully choreographed dance, with Silver providing solid support to Nash.
But despite the prolonged battle, there was no clear outcome. Tsuna skillfully dribbled the ball, and a frown was etched on his face. It was a high-stakes battle of skills and wits, but the outcome remained uncertain.
Nash wiped sweat from his brow, his thoughts racing. "I might have said his effort was meaningless, but..."
The last time they faced off, Tsuna's skills weren't at this level. The extent of his improvement was almost unbelievable, but Nash had witnessed it firsthand.
On the Jabberwock side, the players shared in the collective surprise. Nick moved swiftly to join Nash and Silver as they converged on Tsuna together.
They engaged in another frenzied showdown.
In a brilliant move, Silver managed to steal the ball with assistance from Nick, who quickly joined in to support him and Nash.
Silver surged forward, his senses keenly tuned to Tsuna, who pursued him relentlessly.
He maintained his unwavering focus as he glided past the silent Fukuda Sogo players, who stood motionless, overwhelmed by their utter powerlessness in the face of the situation.
"I always knew the Boss was a formidable player, but the way he's single-handedly challenging our defense..."
"He truly lives up to his reputation," Silver mused silently.
His earlier taunting expression had vanished, replaced by seriousness and respect.
As Silver soared toward the basket for a dunk, he sensed a looming presence closing in rapidly from his side, aiming to snatch the ball.
He reacted quickly, abruptly shifting his weight and planting his feet firmly. A flash of pain shot through him, but his eyes widened in astonishment as Tsuna materialized right beside him, blocking his path.
With limited options, Silver swiftly dished the ball to Allen, who received it with surprise and promptly sank a basket.
"This is insane," Nash couldn't help muttering as he returned to his position.
The game pressed on, and Tsuna again took the lead, dribbling the ball solo. His teammates watched in disbelief, captivated by Tsuna's unwavering determination.
Ogiwara struggled with his desire to question Tsuna but held his words back with determination.
He remembered their initial encounter when Tsuna had asked if he was willing to put sweat and blood into their love for basketball. He had agreed, fully aware of the rigorous training that lay ahead.
As he watched Tsuna face off against the Jabberwock, Ogiwara couldn't help but think about the relentless pain he had endured during their training.
"I've gritted my teeth through every moment of that training," Ogiwara thought to himself.
He tried to summon the courage to endure his physical and emotional pain as he witnessed Tsuna's incredible performance.
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