A somber atmosphere hung over Seirin's bench as Aida furrowed her brow, desperately searching for a solution to their predicament.
Sweat dripped profusely from everyone in Seirin, prompting Aida to furrow her eyebrows in surprise, "...They're this exhausted after just the first quarter?"
This revelation caught her off guard, especially since she was aware of their significant improvements, particularly in stamina, thanks to their rigorous mountain training.
The only exception was Kagami, and her concern deepened.
"...Should we double-team Fukuda Sogo's Captain?"
Kiyoshi proposed, prompting everyone to quickly mull over the idea.
"That sounds like a plan," Izuki agreed with a nod.
The ball in Fukuda Sogo's possession primarily flowed through Tsuna's passes. He resembled a heart in a human body, breathing life into the team by pumping the ball and circulating it throughout the court.
And it was evident to everyone that if they managed to halt his momentum, they might have a chance to turn the game around.
"No, we can't do that..."
Aida swiftly dismissed the idea, prompting all eyes to shift towards her.
She shook her head, questioning, "...Have you all forgotten that he's currently the best player in the tournament?"
"..."
A hush fell over the group.
Tsuna's prowess was widely acknowledged. Following his recent standout performance against Kaijo High, he had ascended to a level even beyond that of the Generation of Miracles.
Double-teaming a player of such caliber would be futile and might even backfire if they couldn't execute it flawlessly.
Aida directed her attention to Kagami, conveying, "Kagami, we need a favor from you this time. In this second round, create a wave from the inside. Teppei will be there to support you, and we'll use the opportunity to buy some time..."
Everyone nodded, but confusion lingered as they raised a question, "Buy time?"
"Coach, what does that mean?"
Koganei voiced his uncertainty.
Aida nodded, affirming the plan, before turning to Kuroko. She explained, "We are going to bring Kuroko back..."
Kuroko's eyes widened in shock as he pointed at himself, "Me?"
Caught off guard by being suddenly brought into the conversation, Kuroko felt a surge of surprise. The weight of his recent realization, that he had become nothing but a burden as Tsuna had mentioned earlier, still lingered, casting a shadow over his mood.
In the canon, when Mayuzumi emerged after his misdirection evaporated, Kuroko found the inspiration to maintain his role as the phantom sixth man.
However, Mayuzumi was a Rakuzan player, and Kuroko had no such luxury.
Reclaiming his position as the shadow meant navigating a different, more challenging path.
"Well, our Coach surely has some strategies in mind. Let's focus on our roles this time and buy some time..." Hyuga affirmed with a nod.
In unison, everyone acknowledged the plan, rising from their seats and gearing up for the second quarter as the break came to an end.
Aida turned her attention to Kuroko, her voice steady as she began, "Kuroko, what are your thoughts on this..."
Kuroko's eyes widened in surprise, but he quickly absorbed Aida's explanation and nodded solemnly, responding, "That would be possible."
As both teams returned to the court, the crowd's energy surged, reigniting their excitement.
Kagami inhaled deeply, his gaze intensifying.
He stole a glance at Kuroko, engrossed in conversation with their Coach, and muttered, "We'll be waiting, Kuroko..."
As the game unfolded, Tsuna skillfully maneuvered the ball in his hand, advancing with a deliberate pace.
Simultaneously, Izuki closed in, his eyes undergoing an immediate transformation.
In a sudden burst of speed, Tsuna altered his pace, dribbling the ball with increased speed. With a swift crossover move, he dismantled Izuki's defense, effortlessly breaking through.
Yet, Izuki, utilizing his Eagle Eye, saw through the maneuver and promptly stepped back.
Without turning his back, he aimed to swat the ball from behind.
Seemingly anticipating Izuki's move, Tsuna nonchalantly sidestepped at precisely the right moment. The seamless coordination left everyone on the Seirin team once again surprised.
However, they had no choice but to shake off their initial shock and refocus on their formation.
"...I think I've turned numb with surprises."
Kiyoshi contemplated as he closely mirrored Nijimura's movements, determined to thwart their attempt at executing Zenith Strike.
However, when Tsuna broke through, Seirin was suddenly hit with an overwhelming pressure as Fukuda Sogo players appeared to relax their form, yet paradoxically moved even faster.
"...What?" Hyuga widened his eyes in response to the unexpected turn.
Gritting his teeth, Kagami realized that Fukuda Sogo had elevated their game once again. He cursed, "Damn it, they're all tapping into their beast instincts!"
The players of Fukuda Sogo intensified their pressure, actively maneuvering to outwit their defenders.
This heightened aggression put Seirin's team on edge, forcing them to exercise extra caution in predicting Tsuna's potential pass recipients.
Just as the pressure peaked, Tsuna unexpectedly came to a sudden stop.
With the ball in hand, he swung his arm in a straight line toward the basket.
The ball blurred across the court, slicing through Seirin's formation.
Taking advantage of the chaos, Ogiwara slipped past Mitobe's mark, snatched the ball, and effortlessly slammed it through the basket.
The sequence unfolded with seamless precision, catching both teams off guard.
"Damn, to think that our formation seems useless against their crazy offense. Is this even real?"
Hyuga cursed under his breath as they seized the ball and moved forward cautiously.
He had been aware of Fukuda Sogo's reputation for having the strongest offense, but the reality of it was beyond comprehension.
"Fukuda Sogo is on a whole different level compared to the last time we saw them during the summer training camp..." Koganei voiced his realization, loud enough for everyone on Seirin's bench to grasp the sentiment.
They couldn't help but clench their hands tightly, all eyes fixated on the unfolding events on the court.
"...They're all tensed," Aida observed, causing her to furrow her eyebrows in concern.
The entire court seemed to be on edge, the realization sinking in that Fukuda Sogo had elevated their pace.
Aida couldn't help but mutter, "This is not good..."
Even the regular pace from Fukuda Sogo had put them in a tight spot, depleting more stamina than necessary. Now, with everyone on edge, the situation looked dire as they had no choice but to allow Fukuda Sogo's pace to mess up with theirs.
Aida couldn't shake the realization, "They won't last until the end!"
"Furihata, I need you to do me a favor..."
She turned to Furihata, recognizing the urgency of bringing them back into the moment and easing their tension for now.
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