As the game continued, Yosen High was on high alert this time. It was especially true for Fukui, who dribbled the ball as he glanced at Tsuna, who was approaching him.
The pressure he felt standing before the Captain of Fukuda Sogo Academy was intense as sweat drenched his back. His instinct was screaming to him not to delay it any longer before Tsuna locked him in his place as he passed the ball immediately.
"This guy...is he really just a high school student?" Fukui knew if he grabbed the ball any longer, Tsuna would have snatched it away from his grasp.
He understood he wouldn't be able to come out unscathed.
Receiving the ball, Himuro took a deep breath as he focused even more on the game. Mochizuki reacted quickly as he sealed away Himuro's path.
Mochizuki knew that Himuro's graceful moves could momentarily entranced anyone with the fluidity of his opponent's play. Making it look completely harmless while it was deadly.
However, Himuro's elegant stride still be able to carry him past Mochizuki, showcasing his finesse on the court.
"...It's still beautiful to look at!"
With a frown etched on his face, Mochizuki shifted his body and swiftly chased after Himuro. He understood that the match demanded not just admiration but swift reactions.
As Himuro entered his shooting range, a sense of awareness tingled at the back of his mind. Sensing a looming presence behind him, he decided to pass the ball swiftly.
When Himuro turned to look at the side, Mochizuki's figure was already there. He seemed to be thoroughly prepared to stop Himuro's shot.
"He's also not bad..."
Himuro acknowledged the prowess of Fukuda Sogo's players, recognizing that agility and quick reaction times were their inherent traits.
The ball left his hands and found its way to Liu, who received it seamlessly. Without wasting a moment, Liu, in perfect synchronization, sent the ball directly to Murasakibara, who was stationed under the basket.
Holding the ball in his massive hand, Murasakibara's typical nonchalant expression shifted to one of seriousness. He felt the presence of the immovable force that was Nijimura, diligently keeping him in check right behind him.
Recognizing the proximity of the basket, a gleam of determination sparked in Murasakibara's eyes. Without wasting a moment, he decided to unleash his special technique.
With his back facing the basket, Murasakibara propelled himself upward, his tall frame rotating gracefully in mid-air.
The momentum generated flair to his move as he forcefully slammed the ball into the basket.
In the midst of his impressive dunk, Murasakibara's deep voice rang out, "Thor's Hammer!"
The stadium erupted with excitement as the crowd cheered, captivated by the sheer power and spectacle of Murasakibara's flashy move.
However, to everyone's surprise, Nijimura's eyes were cold and calculating.
Instead of starting to block the dunk immediately, he maintained a stern gaze on Murasakibara's form midair. As Murasakibara's arm began its downward motion, a flash of determination sparked in Nijimura's eyes.
Timing his move precisely, Nijimura didn't attempt to stop Murasakibara outright.
Instead, he subtly utilized the power generated from his jump to alter Murasakibara's slamming direction. The collision between their forces created a thunderous sound that resonated through the court, sending shockwaves of surprise through the audience.
Murasakibara's thunderous slam slightly missed its mark as the ball hit the edge of the basket, creating an unexpected rebound that sent it bouncing back toward the court.
"...He's actually that good?"
Miyaji expressed his disbelief, seated alongside his Shutoku teammates. Takao nodded in agreement, sharing Miyaji's sentiment.
While their previous encounter with Fukuda Sogo in a friendly game highlighted Fukuda Sogo's exceptional prowess as a team. Tsuna's attention-grabbing performance had overshadowed the capabilities of the other players.
That created a misconception about the team's individual strengths, while in reality, each of them was not someone you could take lightly.
Even Midorima found himself taken aback by Nijimura's unexpected prowess against Murasakibara. Adjusting his glasses, he mused, "I already knew he was skilled, but to handle Murasakibara like this? It appears I've been underestimating him by a considerable margin..."
Observing Nijimura's performance, a new level of seriousness shone in Midorima's gaze.
Aomine, who was sitting with Seirin, raised an eyebrow in surprise. Though, he was not entirely shocked as he vividly remembered what it was like to be marked by Nijimura.
"...That guy might not be as ridiculous as Tsuna, but he's quite sharp and witty." He thought while glancing at the unfolding game.
Nijimura, despite feeling the stinging impact of facing Murasakibara's powerful move, maintained his composure. As soon as his feet touched the ground, Nijimura's eyes sharpened with focus.
He swiftly closed the distance between himself and the rebounding ball with agile and precise movements. Snatching it in mid-air, Nijimura seamlessly transitioned into an offensive play, moving forward with determination.
Murasakibara's swift reaction was unexpected, showcasing his agility despite his height. Closing the distance with surprising speed, he pursued Nijimura relentlessly.
Nijimura widened his eyes in surprise as he sensed the looming presence of Murasakibara closing in on his side.
Reacting with a burst of agility, Nijimura side-stepped, forcefully putting strain on his feet to execute a sudden move.
Murasakibara widened his eyes in surprise at how sharp Nijimura's sense was.
"He altered his movement under such speed and still be okay? That's ridiculous!" Liu looked at Nijimura's figure in disbelief.
"...Holy shit, is he alright?"
"That should hurt his feet, though?"
The sentiment echoed throughout the audience, who erupted into thunderous cheers at the unfolding spectacle.
On the other hand, Nijimura found himself taken aback. He couldn't help but find Murasakibara's existence to be ridiculous.
"...He's got the ideal physique for basketball, the strength to match, and now he's surprisingly fast, too? Isn't this guy practically born for basketball?"
Nijimura's quick footwork allowed him to evade Murasakibara's outstretched hand, narrowly avoiding the imminent threat of having the ball snatched away. He then sighed as he passed the ball toward Tsuna.
"...Why? Are you scared?"
Tsuna posed a question to Nijimura with his gaze while securing the ball.
Nijimura seemed to comprehend the unspoken inquiry, shaking his head with a smile. "That's not it. It's more about pacing myself against such a monster. I might not last too long otherwise."
Tsuna chuckled softly, the ball swaying rhythmically in his relaxed grip. "Fair point. It'd be quite a hassle to have to sub you out early, indeed."
---
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