"...To see the momentum they craved flip around so abruptly," Otsubo remarked, glancing at Yosen High players while packing their belongings.
"His passing range is practically akin to Shin's shooting range, right?" Takao added, shaking his head in disbelief.
His gaze shifted to Midorima beside him, and a thought lingered in his mind, "...Ordinary people like us can never hope to catch up with monsters like them, huh?"
"...Well, that was unfortunate."
Mibuchi released a sigh, a tangible expression of disappointment. Recognized for their strength, Yosen High had been a formidable opponent.
Rakuzan High had previously crossed paths with them during the Interhigh.
Despite the expectation that adding Murasakibara and Himuro to their roster would elevate their prowess, it proved otherwise, especially in the face of Fukuda Sogo. Mibuchi couldn't help but shake his head gently, musing, "...I suppose they should be doing that well, considering they're our rivals."
Mibuchi was confident if they were in Fukuda Sogo's shoes, they would do the same against Yosen High with Akashi on their side.
Kaijo had commenced their warm-up routine on the court in anticipation of their upcoming game.
Meanwhile, within Fukuda Sogo's changing room...
A collective sense of disbelief hung in the air as everyone's attention centered on Tsuna. Alexandra simply shook her head while Nijimura was looking at his hands that were still trembling from the recent confrontation with Murasakibara.
"...Why are you all looking at me like that?"
Tsuna sighed, a hint of weariness in his voice as he posed the question, attempting to unravel the mystery behind the scrutinizing gazes.
"Have you been holding back your pass to us in close range, Captain?" Mochizuki's frustration spilled into his words as he tightly gripped his fist.
A collective sense of surprise hit them as each member absorbed the impact of their captain's recent display. The shock wasn't limited to external observers; the team members themselves found themselves equally taken aback.
Yet, amidst the astonishment, a thread of frustration wound its way through their thoughts.
Watching Tsuna execute the seemingly effortless pass from such a distance, it dawned on them that he had been deliberately holding back his strength for them.
The realization added a layer of depth to their emotions, transforming initial surprise into a shared sense of vexation.
Mochizuki believed that with his current strength, he had finally earned the right to receive one of Tsuna's passes. However, it turned out that Tsuna was being considerate, adjusting the strength of the pass.
Even with this consideration, Mochizuki found himself struggling to maintain control of the ball due to the pass's unexpected force.
Ogiwara and Haizaki shared a state of mild distress. Observing their reactions, Tsuna couldn't help but shake his head in amusement.
"Does it really matter?"
"...No."
"Then, why the sulking faces?"
"...We're just frustrated."
Turning to Alexandra, Tsuna addressed her directly, "...Alex, it seems like they've started spouting nonsense. Increase their training."
"What! Why?"
Alexandra chuckled, her response laced with understanding. "Sure thing, Captain."
"You said you want me to stop holding back, then get stronger. Isn't it simple?"
"..."
Tsuna's straightforward words left them momentarily speechless, their eyes now gleaming with newfound determination. Ogiwara locked eyes with Tsuna, his gaze burning with resolve as he silently pledged, "...We promise you, we'll face your full force in this tournament! I swear to it!"
Tsuna sighed once more, turning his attention toward Nijimura. "Good job on suppressing Atsushi during the first half, Shuzo. Your job ends here..."
Nijimura raised his gaze, offering a wry smile in response to Tsuna's words. The toll of facing such a formidable opponent was evident, yet he had undeniably fulfilled his role admirably.
"...We need to switch things up in the second half. In the next quarter, we'll finish them off with this." Tsuna's eyes gleamed with a hint of cunning light as he began outlining their plans.
Meanwhile, a similar atmosphere lingered in the Yosen High camp. Players sat in silence, facing their coach. However, amidst the tension, one individual seemed unaffected, busily piling up mountains of snacks and devouring them on the side.
"...Well, there's no need to dwell too much on what happened earlier. What's done is done. There's nothing we can do about it," Araki calmly addressed the team.
Having successfully captured everyone's attention, she nodded in acknowledgment before proceeding.
"Considering Murasakibara has opened up our way from the inside, we must fully capitalize on it in the next half..."
A unanimous nod rippled through the team, determination reflected in their gleaming eyes.
"Still, I doubt they would just let us be. So, be prepared for what's coming. Things shouldn't deviate much from their records..." Araki continued as her instructions intermingling with the rhythmic sounds of munching.
Her eyes then sparked with a fierce light as she concluded, "...And in the next quarter, we have to be more aggressive. That's the only way to catch up and win the game!"
Shortly after the break ended, both teams returned to the court, reigniting the excitement among the spectators. The watchful eyes of other teams focused on their every move.
"You're up, and I know you'll handle it easily..." Mochizuki spoke, offering his encouragement to Ishida.
Ishida chuckled in response, "...Don't worry, I'm not going to do it alone anyway."
Tsuna had made the decision to substitute Mochizuki, signalling a shift to an even faster pace. With Mochizuki tapping into his beastly instinct, Tsuna's agenda for the day was nearly complete, with just one task remaining –
– to finish the game with absolute domination.
And Mochizuki didn't even complain about Tsuna's decision.
Tsuna's leadership style was never forceful, yet everyone in Fukuda Sogo followed his words like a compass. Even the stubborn Haizaki, though hesitant to admit it, would comply with Tsuna's instructions.
Yosen High also observed this sudden change, and Okamura's frown deepened. A sense of foreboding lingered, but he dismissed it with a slight shake of his head, urging his team, "Alright, focus up. Whatever they're planning, it'll unfold on the court! Let's go!"
As both teams readied themselves, the game commenced swiftly. The players from Yosen High braced for the unknown as Tsuna casually dribbled the ball.
To their astonishment, Fukui, initially assigned to mark Tsuna, found himself closely shadowed by Nijimura, preventing him from fulfilling his defensive duty.
"...Did he switch places with Nijimura? So, does that mean he's personally taking on Murasakibara from now on?" Araki's expression tightened at this unexpected twist.
She closely observed Murasakibara, displaying clear annoyance as he made his way to confront Tsuna.
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