The Yoyogi Gymnasium echoed with the rowdy cheers of the crowd as Shutoku High faced off against Iwai High.
The smooth swish of the ball through the net harmonized with the cheers as they witnessed Midorima's trademark high-arc three-pointer.
Shutoku was barely winning against them, yet Midorima's mind seemed to have taken a detour amidst the game.
Takao approached Midorima and nudged his shoulder with a friendly, "Nice shot, Shin!"
"..."
Midorima's response, however, remained silent.
His gaze, usually sharp and focused, now seemed distant.
The memories of the last game played on a loop in his mind, a reel of images that demanded his attention even amid victory.
Takao furrowed his brow, studying Midorima more closely.
The lack of response from the usually prideful shooter felt odd, leaving an unspoken tension in the air.
The rest of the Shutoku team, though successful in the current game, shared a similar state of distraction.
The memory of Tsunayoshi Kazama's true prowess in the previous game lingered like a shadow over their triumph.
Nakatani let out a sigh, signaling for a timeout.
"Huh? A timeout from Shutoku?"
"But they're in the lead, aren't they?"
"That's odd..."
Whispers spread through the crowd as they caught on to who had called the timeout. The Iwai High players, equally perplexed, quietly watched the Shutoku High players making their way to the bench.
Nakatani rubbed his temples, scrutinizing his team before letting out a sigh, "Alright, listen up, everyone. I know that last game was something else. We all saw it. But we're not here to be spectators but to play. Get your heads back in the game!"
As they exchanged glances, the team collectively realized they needed to shake off the distraction and refocus.
"But, Coach, did you see that dunk? I mean, who pulls off something like that?" Takao chimed in, his face twisted into a comically terrified expression.
"...."
A hushed silence fell over everyone after Takao's words hung in the air.
Takao's attempt to refocus the team in his comical way left him perplexed, scratching his head awkwardly. He mumbled, "...Guess I shouldn't have said that."
"Forget it; they're not our main concern right now," Nakatani said, recovering from the surprise of Takao's comment.
Maintaining a stern expression, Nakatani redirected everyone's attention. "Instead of dwelling on them, we need to focus on Rakuzan High at the moment..."
Rakuzan High would likely be awaiting them in the semi-finals, provided they secured the ticket to the next round later.
Fukuda Sogo shouldn't be their current priority right now.
The current and the next game, the semi-finals, should be their primary focus.
Midorima sighed in agreement. Their coach had a point.
"...I can't allow myself to be distracted if I want to win against Akashi," he mumbled as he took a deep breath.
As high as his confidence was, it had wavered in the face of Tsuna's true level that he showcased briefly a while back.
However, Tsuna was not someone he should be wary of in his current circumstances. His primary concern should be defeating Akashi before strategizing on how to overcome Tsuna.
After realizing this fact, Midorima's eyes regained their usual focus, prompting Nakatani, who observed the change, to nod in satisfaction.
Everyone in Shutoku High appeared to have realized this, trying to refocus. Miyaji loudly slapped himself in the face, Otsubo took a deep breath, wearing a serious expression, and Kimura lightly pinched himself to snap out of it.
Takao smiled on the side; however, Miyaji and Kimura suddenly turned to him, making him widen his eyes, quite taken aback.
"...What?"
"Why aren't you doing anything, Takao?"
Kimura spoke before Miyaji nodded as he stood up, "Don't worry, I'll punch you in the face to wake you up..."
"Wait, wait, Senior, wait. I'm all focused...."
Takao paled as he saw that Miyaji was serious before turning to Midorima for help with his gaze.
However, Midorima just lightly adjusted his glasses, ignoring him completely.
"Enough!"
Fortunately, Nakatani's voice was heard, which stopped Miyaji in his tracks and made Takao sigh in relief.
"Now that all of you have woken up, let's go out there and show them what Shutoku is made of. Execute our plays, trust each other, and leave everything on the court. We're not here to watch but to play our hearts out and win!"
Nakatani's words resonated, prompting a nod from the team.
As they returned to the court, the lingering effects of the previous game began to dissipate, replaced by a renewed sense of purpose and focus.
Iwai High players noticed the change in Shutoku's demeanor as they were making their way back onto the court.
"...What's going on?"
"Looks like they've shifted. What's happening?"
They couldn't help but voice their thoughts, sensing an intense focus emanating from the Shutoku players.
Despite currently trailing, they held the confidence to reverse the situation, given that the margin was narrow.
It was within reach!
However, as the game persisted and the Shutoku players displayed a newfound determination, Iwai High found themselves overpowered.
With the referee's whistle signaling the end of the fourth quarter, the Iwai High players could only gaze in disbelief at the scoreboard, displaying a score of 104 - 74.
Frustration and tears welled up in the eyes of some, unable to conceal their emotions.
"...We're on the verge of the semi-finals."
"And still, we ended up losing..."
Murmurs of disbelief reverberated through the team as they lined up for the post-game ceremonies, their gazes distant and unfocused.
Midorima observed this, calmly adjusting his glasses as he walked off the court with the rest of the team. As they proceeded down the corridor, they unexpectedly crossed paths with another team, prompting their gazes to sharpen, including Takao's.
"...Looks like we'll be facing off in the semi-finals, Shintaro."
Akashi's voice rang out, yet neither team faltered as Rakuzan High confidently entered the court for their upcoming game.
Shutoku, too, pressed forward without hesitation. Midorima spoke up, "Confident as always, huh? Very well, we'll defeat you in the semi-finals, Akashi..."
Midorima's declaration carried a renewed sense of determination. Witnessing Akashi's unwavering confidence, especially even after seeing Tsuna's true level, stirred a mix of shame and wounded pride within him.
"...'We'? That's intriguing," Akashi mumbled quietly upon hearing Midorima's words.
A subtle shake of his head conveyed his thoughts, "You've changed, Shintaro..."
As Rakuzan proceeded to exit, the cheers of the audience enveloped them, creating an atmosphere of anticipation.
Simultaneously, Shutoku pressed forward, their determined gazes cutting through the background of raucous applause.
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