"Ah, Midorima. Over here!"
Momoi's voice rang out, drawing Aomine and Kise's gaze toward Midorima, who approached them and took a seat without uttering a word.
Kise studied Midorima's face, noting what appeared to be tear streaks as the latter chuckled, "Haha, what's this, Midorimacchi? Are you crying?"
"..."
Nevertheless, Midorima merely made a slight adjustment to his glasses, offering no response to Kise's inquiry and remaining focused on the unfolding game.
Kise awkwardly scratched his head, and Aomine, intrigued, raised his eyebrows before redirecting his attention back to the court.
"Looks like they've got a handle on keeping Kurokocchi in check. How on earth did Kazamacchi pull that off?"
Kise cleared his throat as he opened his mouth, diverting his attention to the unfolding scene on the basketball court.
"Hmm, you see, Kuroko's got this way about him. His presence is so subtle; it's easy to overlook most of the time..." Momoi wore a contemplative look as she began to elucidate, her words drawing the interest of the others in the group.
Observing the astonishment etched on the faces of the Seirin players, she shook her head and continued, "Once that subtle aura, his misdirection's core, vanishes, he loses the ability to utilize it anymore..."
"That's why I never bothered teaching him how to shoot back in middle school..."
A nonchalant voice cut through the air.
Everyone's eyes widened in disbelief as Akashi approached. Midorima looked at Akashi with a sharp gaze as he recalled Tsuna's words from the corridor, contemplating, "...Aim to defeat you? Then, I shall defeat him along the way."
It was a declaration fueled by resolve, pride, and vengeance.
Caught off guard, the group looked at Akashi with surprise. He smiled and said, "I noticed you guys were sitting together, so I thought I'd drop by and say hello..."
"...Did you see this coming all along?" Aomine's voice cut through the air, addressing the curiosity shared by everyone.
Akashi maintained his smile, leaving the answer ambiguous as he carried on, "The reason lies in what Tsunayoshi used to render him ineffective."
Furrowed brows were the collective response as they absorbed his words.
"His moves were too extravagant throughout the season. The Vanishing Drive and Phantom Shot drew too much attention," Akashi continued his gaze briefly shifting to Kuroko on the court before turning to Tsuna.
"Tsunayoshi understood this completely. To make matters worse, he allowed them to have their way. Unable to attack recklessly from within due to Nijimura's presence, they placed their trust in Tetsuya..."
Instead of relying on the uncertain odds with Nijimura, their only viable choice was to opt for this path to disrupt the rhythm they aimed to achieve.
Someone as calculating as Tsuna wouldn't likely overlook this strategy. However, rather than thwarting their attempts, he allowed them free rein, strategically exploiting the openings for Kuroko.
Midorima's eyes widened in realization, and he voiced it, "So, in essence, Seirin dug their own grave. Is that what you're implying?"
Akashi affirmed with a nod, then gracefully walked away, his team beckoning. Waving his hand, he remarked, "It's been a pleasure meeting you all, but I have my responsibilities..."
Observing Akashi's departure, everyone shifted their focus back to the court. Midorima adjusted his glasses ever so slightly, his mind pondering, "Impressive as always, I get that. But what's this? He initiated his strategy right from the start. What's going on?"
In the entirety of the tournament, Tsuna had never promptly closed off all opportunities from their opponents. There was consistently an underlying motive, later unveiled as his mission to empower his teammates.
"Could it be that he has finally attained what he was aiming for?"
Midorima felt a chill creeping down his spine. If that were indeed the case, Seirin was in serious trouble.
On the court, Tsuna expertly dribbled the ball while Izuki, with beads of sweat forming, closed the distance to apply pressure.
"I thought I was the one applying pressure. But why do I feel like I'm the one being squeezed?" Izuki pondered, the sweat drenching his back.
Without a moment's hesitation, Tsuna executed a sharp crossover to Izuki's left side, creating an opening for himself. He effortlessly broke through, making his way toward the basket.
However, Kagami's imposing figure rapidly approached, and he shouted, "Not on my watch!"
Tsuna shook his head, noticing Haizaki positioning himself after catching sight of Kuroko's figure, now completely visible on the court.
Yet, Tsuna appeared to have anticipated this moment. He swung his arm, propelling the ball across the court with a regular pass instead of his usual elusive one.
The ball found its way into Haizaki's hands, and in a swift move, he capitalized on the opportunity as he slammed the ball down the basket with a powerful dunk.
"Just how could he see Kuroko's coming?"
The members of Seirin seemed utterly perplexed, their expressions a mix of confusion and disbelief. However, Aida was an exception; she quickly grasped the situation and promptly called for a timeout.
Shaking his head, Tsuna spoke up, "It seems you all are having a tough time grasping your predicament..."
His words sliced through the atmosphere, prompting the Seirin players, who were on their way to the bench, to turn and fix their gaze upon Tsuna.
"Let me take this chance to properly clear up our misunderstanding, Tetsuya," Tsuna spoke, his gaze fixed on Kuroko's eyes, which seemed to waver.
"Back in Teiko, I advised you to work on your physique, emphasizing its role as the foundation for every athlete. Furthermore, I wanted you to concentrate on your basics, as they form the essence of a good basketball player," he continued.
Kuroko remained silent, Tsuna's words piercing deep into his soul. His physical prowess was lacking, while his basic skills were quite different.
Seemingly indifferent to Kuroko's internal struggle, Tsuna pressed on, "Yet, you misconstrued my words, focusing solely on your advantage – your low presence..."
The resonance of Tsuna's words sent a jolt through the Seirin players, their eyes widening in sudden realization.
All eyes turned to Kuroko, who mirrored the realization, his complexion paling as Tsuna's straightforward words echoed, "Now that your sole advantage is gone, you are nothing more than a burden for your team..."
"..."
A hush fell over Seirin, especially Kuroko, as they were enveloped in silence. They watched as Tsuna nonchalantly walked away, leaving behind an atmosphere heavy with unspoken thoughts.
Seeing the impact of his words, Tsuna sighed. However, he was relieved that he had finally addressed the misunderstanding with Kuroko that had always been rendering him momentarily speechless.
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