Meanwhile, seated alongside the Rakuzan players, Akashi's normally composed demeanor betrayed a rare display of emotion.
Tension surged through him as he tightly gripped his fist. A complicated light flickered in Akashi's eyes, an unprecedented wavering in his confidence.
Yet, as if jolted by an electric shock that shook even his soul.
Akashi snapped back, and he swiftly regained composure.
His eyes, if anything, grew even colder!
His heart, momentarily touched by an uncharacteristic ripple, now seemed as cold as ever, as though the momentary disturbance had been nothing more than an illusion.
Meanwhile, a dark figure covered in a shadow was seen in his unconsciousness, letting out what seemed like a sigh of relief.
Back on the court, as Kaijo High resumed play and sent the ball in, it didn't take long for them to pass it to Kise.
Yet, like a shadow, Tsuna's figure appeared, snatching the ball.
The Kaijo High players were immediately on high alert.
To their surprise, Tsuna didn't make any drastic movements. He calmly dribbled the ball in his hand.
Seizing the opportunity, Kise reacted promptly, closing the distance to put pressure on Tsuna.
Yet, Tsuna's eyes were now void of the sparks that had streamed across his pupils a while back, signaling his departure from the zone. Kise couldn't help but be taken aback.
Remaining calm, Tsuna dribbled the ball, his gaze fixed on Kise from head to toe. A sigh escaped him as he abruptly flicked his arm, sending the ball blurring out of the court.
"What?"
Kise was thoroughly confused, his eyes reflecting disbelief as he looked at Tsuna for an explanation.
Tsuna paid no heed to Kise as he turned his attention to Kaijo's coach, who stood on the sidelines with a grim expression.
Addressing him directly, Tsuna commanded, "Get him out of the game now."
"...."
Takeuchi's response was silence, a heavy sigh escaping him. Tsuna's tone held the weight of authority, completely disregarding any hierarchy between them.
This time, Takeuchi let it slide, recognizing the urgency of the current situation.
Meanwhile, Kasamatsu and the others at Kaijo High seemed to have caught on to what was unfolding, their eyes fixed on Kise's figure.
Kise was caught in the midst of this peculiar interaction and wore a confused expression. Then, Takeuchi's blunt words cut through the air, "Kise, get the heck out. Nakamura will take your place."
The color drained from Kise's face as he processed the abrupt command.
"Huh? Are you---" Kise began to voice his objection when a sudden jab to his stomach left him groaning in pain.
Rolling his eyes in annoyance, Kise found himself facing Kasamatsu, the stern captain of the team.
"Shut up and just listen, you idiot! Do you think we can't do anything without you? How dare you underestimate your own teammates!"
Kasamatsu's scolding words sliced through the air, carrying a mix of frustration and determination.
Kise had been the driving force, the lone warrior fighting for the team as they faced the seemingly invincible Fukuda Sogo.
"Captain's right, Kise."
Moriyama smiled, offering Kise a supportive thumbs up.
The realization hit them like a wave of shame. Kise was fighting for their sake!
"Just leave the rest to us! Whoaa! I'm fired up. I will try my best!"
Hayakawa's usual loudness echoed a burst of enthusiasm in the air.
However, one thing resonated within the team. It was time for everyone to step up and fight their own battles—
—a battle they had left in the hands of Kise to fight alone.
Amidst the emotional whirlwind, Kise's eyes widened as he looked at his teammates. There was an unspoken reassurance, a silent promise to carry on the fight.
"Everyone..."
Overwhelmed, Kise felt a lump in his throat, and tears welled up in his eyes. Their assuring presence struck a chord deep within him.
Yet, reality jolted him back to the game. Kise, who was still grappling with his emotions, suddenly lost his balance.
Fortunately, Kasamatsu was quick to react as he extended a helping hand to steady him.
"Kise? Are you alright?" A rare concern etched Kasamatsu's face.
In his normal state, Kise might have teased Kasamatsu for showing such an expression. However, confusion marked Kise's features as he muttered with a perplexed expression, "What?"
His body seemed to betray him, the sudden imbalance leaving him questioning the very ground beneath his feet.
"...He's going to suffer for a while."
Observing Kise seemingly losing control, Tsuna shook his head in disappointment.
It was evident that Kise's body should have given up a long time ago, even before he entered the zone.
What kept him moving was the adrenaline coursing through his body, fueled by determination and frustration, witnessing his teammates on the verge of breaking apart.
Kise would undoubtedly need time to recover from this ordeal.
If Tsuna hadn't noticed and kept pushing, it might have led to unforeseen injuries that could have prematurely ended Kise's career.
He couldn't shake off the sense of disappointment that lingered as he walked slowly toward his team.
His figure appeared lonely amidst the hustle and bustle of the court.
In no time, Kise was safely ushered to the bench before Kaijo High summoned the medic to take him out. However, Kise refused, insisting on receiving only basic treatment.
He was determined to witness the conclusion with his own eyes.
Takeuchi frowned at the insistence but ultimately allowed it.
As the game pressed on, Kaijo found themselves confronting Fukuda Sogo's might without Kise by their side.
Despite Kasamatsu's words of assurance to not underestimate his team, the reality was that facing Fukuda Sogo without Kise left him far from confident.
Yet, he had no choice but to grit his teeth and face the challenge head-on. The rest of the team mirrored his determination as they braced for the impending clash.
With only one minute left until the game's conclusion, time seemed to stretch endlessly for Kaijo High.
Powerless to halt the unstoppable force of Fukuda Sogo's attack, they could only endure the pressure building against them.
Even though Tsuna had stepped out of the zone, the momentum of Fukuda Sogo was relentless, triumphing over anything Kaijo had thrown at them. The referee's final whistle echoed through the gymnasium, and Kaijo could only cast frustrated glances at the scoreboard.
Their aspirations of winning the tournament, a dream nurtured especially by the third-year players in their final chance, were now shattered.
The gnawing score of 144 - 80 stared back at them, a stark reminder of their defeat.
While the outcome was somewhat anticipated, having teetered on the edge of despair, the reality of it still managed to frustrate them.
---
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