Seirin cautiously infiltrated Fukuda Sogo's defensive formation. And with the ball in hand, Hyuga dribbled with precision.
However, a frown etched across his face as Mochizuki closed in, leaving no discernible openings for Hyuga to exploit.
"Dammit!"
Hyuga clenched his jaw, battling with his inner turmoil as Mochizuki's steadfast defense bore down on him like a relentless force.
The pressure was building up, pushing against him with every passing moment.
He understood with crystal clarity that Mochizuki had finely honed his defensive skills, his keen instincts allowing him to counteract even the swift moves of his Barrier Jump.
Hyuga scanned the court, and his eyes locked onto Kiyoshi stationed beneath the basket.
They shared a momentary glance, a silent agreement passing between them. Without hesitation, Kiyoshi tensed up in anticipation as Hyuga soared into action.
Mochizuki, taken aback, couldn't help but exclaim, "What a reckless—"
Reacting swiftly, he leaped to block Hyuga's shot.
However, Hyuga was determined as his eyes were blazing, and managed to launch the ball into the air, creating a higher arc than his usual shots.
"He's not even trying to score..."
Mochizuki was at a loss for words, his lips twitching as he watched Hyuga's determined face.
The ball descended slowly, making contact with the basket before bouncing back.
Anticipating the play, Kiyoshi immediately sprang into action and smoothly maneuvering past Nijimura.
In a seamless motion, he leaped to snatch the ball.
However, just as he prepared to jump, an eerie sensation crept over him, causing his hair to stand on end.
Kiyoshi sensed an intense pressure emanating from Nijimura, surpassing even the formidable aura of Fukuda Sogo's players, excluding their captain.
Nijimura's form reacted with lightning speed, pivoting through Kiyoshi's trajectory to disrupt the ball mid-air and secure the rebound.
Anticipating Nijimura's move to pass the ball to Tsuna, Izuki swiftly rotated his body, closing in on Tsuna's position.
Tsuna chuckled, observing Izuki repositioning himself in front of him.
He cast a brief glance at Nijimura, noting the fiery intensity in his gaze, and remarked, "Shuzo seems to be quite excited..."
He comprehended Nijimura's enthusiasm well; he had conveyed that it was time to unveil a new level of play in this small arena.
As the bearer of Sebas' legacy, Nijimura was naturally thrilled to make a significant contribution.
Meanwhile, Izuki was taken aback by Tsuna's chuckle as he sensed that something was awry and instinctively turned to investigate. His eyes widened in surprise as Nijimura, defying expectations, accelerated with an agility that caught everyone in Seirin off guard.
"He's actually quicker than both Ogiwara and Haizaki!" Kiyoshi exclaimed, hustling to match Nijimura's rapid movements.
Haizaki was their power forward and a player who had attained the baseline level of the Generation of Miracles, and Ogiwara, naturally nimble with his compact stature, both were outpaced by Nijimura.
It was a surprising revelation!
Haizaki simply shook his head at Seirin's astonished reaction, muttering, "It's no surprise he's fast; he used to play as a power forward back in Teiko..."
Being agile while dribbling was the bare minimum requirement for a power forward.
During his time in Teiko, Nijimura had already established himself as one of the best players of his generation.
This realization left Seirin flustered, and they could only watch helplessly as Nijimura hammered the ball down with a resounding dunk, sending another surge of excitement through the gymnasium crowd.
Even Kagami found himself unable to catch up in time, gritting his teeth as he arrived slightly late.
Frustration enveloped Seirin's players, and the referee's whistle pierced the air. They all turned to see Furihata trembling, preparing to enter the game as if terror-stricken.
Hyuga, confused, muttered, "...What?"
"Did I mess up or something?"
Izuki questioned, checking his number as he walked off the court. He said to Furihata, "I'll leave him in your care, Furihata..."
"..."
Silence fell over Fukuda Sogo as they observed Furihata, trembling like a lost puppy, stepping onto the court and stumbling on his feet.
Their expressions turned peculiar, and Haizaki couldn't help but awkwardly scratch his head.
"...Are they trying to crack a joke or something?" He couldn't help but mutter aloud in disbelief.
However, despite Furihata's apparent struggle, he managed to stand his ground with the support of his teammates. Slowly, he walked up to Tsuna, who looked at him with amusement.
"...I'm scared, I want to go home," Furihata thought silently as he stared at Tsuna's figure, which appeared particularly imposing at that moment.
"Is he going to be okay?"
Koganei couldn't help but feel a bit worried as he turned to Aida. She simply shook her head, saying, "It's fine, I just want him to buy some time..."
She turned to Izuki, her eyes locked onto him as she conveyed, "Izuki, I want you to observe closely. Not the players of Fukuda Sogo, but our teammates. I need you to grasp what needs to be done..."
"Understood..."
Izuki arched his eyebrows, getting the gist of her request, and replied with a nod.
Aida aimed for Izuki to perceive what they were experiencing—something not apparent while engrossed in the game. She wanted him to grasp the tension in the air, the collective unease that demanded resolution.
Taking another timeout was an option, but Aida knew it wouldn't foster their self-realization.
They might persist in the same pattern unless they internalized the urgency themselves.
As the game unfolded, Fukuda Sogo maintained their dominance, prompting Izuki to widen his eyes in sudden realization. Aida nodded approvingly, addressing him, "Did you catch on?"
"...Yes, seems like I need to approach this cautiously." Izuki responded with a nod.
The team was getting entangled in Fukuda Sogo's relentless and aggressive playstyle.
Under normal circumstances, they might have recognized this sooner, but the prevailing tension had everyone on edge. The unfavorable situation was taking a toll on their stamina, and it wasn't sustainable in the long run.
"Good, it's time for you to step back..." She declared, signaling for another substitution.
This time, she opted to take out Kagami, and shortly after, Izuki reentered the game in Kagami's stead.
However, as time passed, Aida noticed that Furihata appeared to be out of breath, causing her eyes to widen in shock. Gratefully, the other freshmen, joined by Koganei, expressed their willingness to buy some time for the team.
Gradually, Aida succeeded in conveying the situation to the entire Seirin team.
They began regaining control, attempting to return to their rhythm and resist being swayed by Fukuda Sogo's pace.
Tsuna observed in silence, opting not to make any immediate adjustments.
"No need for that; we're about to disrupt their balance anyway..." Shaking his head, he turned his attention back to Haizaki.
"Shogo, it's your turn..."
"Hehe, about time, huh?"
Haizaki responded with a broad grin, eagerly licking his lips.
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