Aomine glanced at Fukui as he muttered, "Poor guy..."
The Point Guard from Yosen High who was tasked with keeping tabs on Tsuna, felt like a punching bag.
It was crystal clear how wide the gap between Tsuna and Fukui really was.
Aomine's words echoed through Seirin, but the team stared at the court with mixed emotions, unsure how to respond.
"...Yosen, who usually forces opponents to surrender with their defense, got shut down," Izuki said, pushing down his surprise.
Hyuga adjusted his glasses, a serious expression on his face. "King of Kings, that title isn't just for show..."
Kiyoshi nodded silently, glancing at Murasakibara, who struggled against Nijimura. Kiyoshi felt conflicted, having initially looked forward to playing against Murasakibara with Seirin.
Kagami, too, could only gaze at Tsuna with a complex expression.
While it held true that Tsuna stood as the heart of the Fukuda Sogo gameplay and strategy, the tides turned against Yosen High even without him personally assuming Nijimura's role of containing Murasakibara.
That fact, in itself, was a testament to the sheer strength of Fukuda Sogo.
Kagami sighed, glancing at Alexandra. Her description of Tsuna as a monster rang true. He reflected, "I guess I got too comfortable after beating Too Academy."
He initially thought that by defeating Aomine, he would have the same chance to go up against Tsuna. However, he seemed to be mistaken, as even when Tsuna hadn't showcased his all, Yosen High was incapable of coping against them.
On the side, Momoi cast a discerning gaze upon the Seirin players, noting a surprising shift in their demeanor. Their earlier confidence appeared to have been soaked by the intensity of the game.
Her eyes widened in realization, "...But their vibe doesn't scream discouragement."
In place of the previously exuberant confidence, a profound and resolute determination emanated from the Seirin players.
Meanwhile, Kuroko detected an unusual gleam in Murasakibara's eyes. His own eyes widened in surprise, and with a composed demeanor, he declared, "...This is not over yet."
All eyes shifted towards Kuroko in collective surprise. They understood it was merely the second quarter, yet the dominance of Fukuda Sogo over Yosen High was evident from every perspective.
"...They haven't thrown in the towel yet," Kuroko asserted, a statement that momentarily stunned the onlookers. However, their expressions soon softened into smiles, as if collectively acknowledging Kuroko's insight.
Kagami, too, wore a faint smile as he pondered, "...That's right. Besides, Tatsuya hasn't revealed that tricky shot yet."
In the thick of the game, as minutes ticked away, Murasakibara kept pushing himself, facing challenges one after another.
"...I hate this," he muttered, his frustration clear for anyone to hear. Nijimura, catching wind of Murasakibara's discontent, remained on high alert.
Despite hearing Murasakibara's discontent, Nijimura didn't let his guard down.
Murasakibara, on the other hand, showed no signs of easing up the pressure. If anything, Nijimura felt it was becoming even more challenging to contain Murasakibara, especially as the complaints persisted.
"...He keeps saying he hates it, but why is he putting in even more effort?" Nijimura clicked his tongue, holding the ball in his hand.
Observing Murasakibara closely, he noticed those pupils were gleaming with intense excitement. Nijimura's demeanor wavered as his gaze locked with a pair of intense eyes, sending an unexpected shiver down his spine.
The revelation caught him off guard, an unsettling feeling creeping over him. As if his body reacted to shake off the disturbance, he instinctively passed the ball to Tsuna.
"What?" Nijimura was puzzled by his own actions, looking at his trembling hands in disbelief. "Did I just get scared? Me?"
Surprised by the sudden exchange, Tsuna caught the ball and looked puzzled at Nijimura. The conflict in Nijimura's expression was palpable, his inner turmoil evident in the unsteady pass.
"Looks like Nijimura's part is wrapping up," he thought, stealing a glance at their positions before focusing on the ball in his grip. A smirk curved his lips as he effortlessly outmaneuvered Fukui's defense.
Sensing the shift, Liu abandoned his defensive zone to impede Tsuna's progress.
However, with a quick and graceful move, Tsuna delivered a precise pass to Mochizuki. The court seemed to freeze briefly as Mochizuki took the shot just before the three-pointer line.
The coach from Yosen High, her eyes scanning the court, sensed an unusual shift in the atmosphere. Murasakibara's imposing figure seemed to be at the center of it, casting a shadow of confusion over her face.
She hesitated, a puzzled expression furrowing her brow as she considered calling a timeout to assess the situation.
However, as her gaze lingered on the unfolding events, a sense of caution held her back. It was as if she instinctively understood that interfering might disrupt a delicate balance.
Araki then sighed as she turned to Okamura, her voice cutting through the ambient noise, "...Okamura, tell Himuro to step up!"
The unexpected command caught Okamura off guard, but he quickly grasped the urgency in the coach's tone. He hurriedly made his way towards Himuro, who, upon receiving the message, nodded with a determined look.
As the attack shifted towards Yosen High, the players from Fukuda Sogo sensed a change in the air.
Instinctively, they understood that Yosen High had something up their sleeves. The determined expressions on the faces of Yosen High's players betrayed no sign of surrender, putting Fukuda Sogo's team on high alert.
The tension heightened as Fukui seized the ball. In a seamless motion, he delivered a precise pass to Himuro, who had strategically positioned himself within his shooting range.
Recognizing the threat, Mochizuki closed the distance with lightning speed, aiming to put intense pressure on Himuro. Yet, Himuro remained unyielding, his focus unwavering as his eyes sharpened with determination.
With a graceful and elegant motion, he entered his shooting stance.
From the audience, Kagami couldn't help but mutter in awe, "...That shot is unstoppable." His eyes fixed on Himuro's poised form on the court.
Meanwhile, Mochizuki's anticipated block took an unexpected turn.
As Himuro gracefully released the ball, Mochizuki grinned, confident that he had the perfect timing to intercept. To his horror, though, the ball defied expectation, phasing through his outstretched hand as if it were a mere illusion.
The audience's collective gasp echoed through the gym as the ball soared up into the air, smoothly swishing through the basket.
Mochizuki turned, eyes wide, to follow the trajectory of the ball as it bounced weakly on the court after its triumphant journey through the net.
"...What the hell was that shot?"
Shock registered on his face as he slowly turned to look at Himuro, disbelief etched in his expression.
Meanwhile, Himuro, undeterred by the unexpected turn of events, wore a serious and determined expression. As Mochizuki stared in disbelief, Himuro declared, "...This is not over yet!"
The intensity in his voice resonated on the court.
---
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