As Fukuda Sogo stepped into their changing room, the door swung open, and there stood Alexandra, who had been absent since the opening ceremony.
"How's the game?" Alexandra inquired.
"Don't worry, Coach. We've got it under control!" Ogiwara replied with a confident smile.
Tsuna shook his head at Ogiwara's reassurance.
Alexandra wasn't expressing concern out of worry but rather as a coach checking in on her team, a natural part of her role.
Tsuna turned to Haizaki, "Let's throw a wrench into their game plan in the next half..."
He wanted Haizaki to disrupt Fukuoka Daichi's rhythm.
"And Ishida, you're up next. You're taking Mochizuki's spot. We're going to step up the pace..."
He then guided Ishida with clear instructions about his role and position, highlighting the need for a quicker tempo. The plan was to accelerate their rhythm in the next half, considering that relying too much on three-pointers could slow them down, so Tsuna was taking Mochizuki out.
Tsuna's eyes gleamed.
In the upcoming half, they aimed to elevate their performance. Haizaki grinned, eager to showcase his skills, especially with Kaijo on the other court. Watching Kise playing still made his blood boil with anger.
The room buzzed with anticipation, hinting at an exciting shift in the game.
Observing the scene, Alexandra nonchalantly remarked, "Well, it looks like you guys had it covered without needing my assistance..."
"You should take a bit more rest, Alex. I know you're still dealing with the hangover..." Tsuna said calmly as he got up.
Alexandra winced at Tsuna's words, giving a wry smile to the others, who looked at her with disbelief.
"Eh? Coach, were you drinking last night?"
The others couldn't help but ask. They knew that Alexandra wasn't always the most reliable figure outside of basketball, but the idea of her drinking before a tournament was surprising.
"As expected of an American! You're really different..." Ogiwara nodded in understanding.
He found it fascinating how carefree she could be.
She massaged her temples and slowly spoke, "Being American has nothing to do with my personality, but whatever, I'll nap here then. Wake me up later..."
Tsuna shook his head at this, standing up and saying, "Let's get back to the court..."
The break between the first and second half was about to end, and they needed to return to the court soon.
As both teams stepped back onto the court, Fukuoka Daichi appeared resolute, eager to regain some semblance of control in the game.
"They're not giving up yet," Midorima observed, studying the expressions on Fukuoka Daichi's players.
Otsubo and the rest of the team agreed, acknowledging the courage displayed by their opponents against a formidable adversary.
However, as the third quarter kicked off, Fukuda Sogo began to accelerate, leaving Fukuoka Daichi's players struggling to keep up.
"...Looks like they're about to finish them off, huh?" Aomine commented, bored, and the sentiment resonated with everyone at Too Academy.
Imayoshi adjusted his glasses, glancing at Haizaki, who had seamlessly disrupted Fukuoka Daichi's moves for Fukuda Sogo's rapid-paced play, leaving their opponents helpless.
Observing Tsuna, who faced a double team, Imayoshi noted, "Their entire strategy centers around him. No wonder they're doubling down on defense."
"Double team or not, it's futile against a monster like that..."
As anticipated, once Haizaki disrupted Fukuoka Daichi's rhythm, Tsuna elevated his performance, effortlessly maneuvering through the double team as if it were a mere inconvenience.
"To stop a monster, you need another..." Imayoshi pondered, shaking his head as he glanced at Aomine.
"...Looks like the game's in the bag, huh?"
Imayoshi rose from his seat, addressing his team, "Time to prepare. We're up against a formidable opponent this time..."
With unanimous agreement, everyone at Too Academy stood up, trailing Imayoshi to their assigned changing room.
Seirin made their way to their assigned changing room in another section of the stadium.
"...No point dwelling on Fukuda Sogo now. We've got a major game ahead," Hyuga said as they walked.
Kagami nodded in agreement, muttering, "Yeah, can't get that guy out of my head since the hot spring encounter..."
After successfully advancing to the Winter Cup following their final league preliminaries, they celebrated in a hot spring. There, they encountered Too Academy, their first-round opponents.
Kagami's eyes brimmed with determination at the thought of Aomine, "This time, I'll come out on top!"
"Kagami?"
Kuroko called out to Kagami, who seemed lost in thought. Startled by the voice, Kagami's eyes widened, and he turned to face Kuroko. Noticing the curious gazes of others, he questioned, "...Why's everyone staring at me?"
Hyuga adjusted his glasses and walked up to Kagami, delivering a smack to the back of his head.
Kagami staggered, annoyed, "What was that for!?"
"Don't stop abruptly when we're walking, idiot!" Hyuga scolded, delivering another well-placed smack.
Feeling embarrassed, Kagami accepted the smack and resumed walking with the team. He shook his head, realizing he had unknowingly halted.
With a smile aimed at his teammates, he thought, "It's not just about me...."
"We're taking down Too Academy!" Kagami stated in his mind with a newfound determination.
As Shutoku exited the stadium, Midorima couldn't shake off the thought of facing Tsuna in the future.
His gaze shifted to the area where Rakuzan High was seated, and he muttered, "But first, I need to defeat Akashi, huh?"
Adjusting his glasses, he glanced at his teammates, a small smile forming on Midorima's lips. The players from Too Academy, Seirin, and Shutoku marched away from the stadium, their determination evident in every step.
Simultaneously, the stadium erupted into an even greater frenzy.
"Holy cow!"
"Can someone put an end to this madness? They're absolutely dominating Fukuoka Daichi!"
The scoreboard displayed a staggering 95-5, a testament to the overwhelming performance of Fukuda Sogo.
"It's just the third quarter, for heaven's sake. This has got to stop!"
Despite the sympathetic murmurings for the struggling Fukuoka Daichi, there was an undeniable sense of anticipation in the air. The spectators were not just witnessing a game; they were part of an exhilarating experience.
Back on the court, Tsuna observed the opposing team while sitting on the bench with his team. "...They seemed fired up at the beginning of the second half, but now it appears they've given up."
The members of Fukuda Sogo also picked up on that. They empathized with their opponents but couldn't hide their disappointment.
"...Pathetic," Haizaki remarked.
"You're right," Ogiwara concurred with his 'best friend.' Despite being laid-back, his time in the US has given him some profound insights.
Turning his attention to their opponents, Ogiwara remarked, "Basketball isn't a game for the weak-minded."
Haizaki responded with a disdainful click of his tongue at Ogiwara's comment.
"Well, that's progress..." Tsuna chuckled, observing Haizaki's muted reaction to being addressed in such a manner by Ogiwara.
"It's a shame they gave up, but we need to wrap this up," Tsuna declared with a cold glint in his eyes.
Everyone in Fukuda Sogo nodded in agreement.
There was an unspoken understanding that they wouldn't ease up just because their opponents had thrown in the towel. In their eyes, sentiments like mercy had no place on the court.
It might seem ruthless, but in their philosophy, the stronger ones conquer!
---
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