The buzzer sounds pierced the air, signaling the end of the third quarter, prompting both teams to make their way to their benches.
"Damn, not only were they tenacious, but new tricks kept coming out of their play." Mochizuki shook his head in disbelief.
"This is quite concerning. So Kuroko was able to predict movements as well?" Nijimura furrowed his eyebrows, and they all took a seat, grabbing some drinks as they wiped away their sweat.
"...Isn't that remarkably similar to Rakuzan's captain, Emperor Eyes?"
"No, that's not quite right."
Ogiwara chimed in, drawing everyone's attention as he explained, "Kuroko might be able to predict future movements, but it's limited to his teammates. He's observed them extensively and forged such strong bonds that they completely entrust everything to Kuroko's guidance..."
"...It's a unique ability exclusive to Kuroko—the skill to predict his teammates' movements accurately. It's his own version of Emperor Eyes."
Ogiwara added with a sense of admiration evident in his tone.
"...Why do you sound so proud of that while explaining our opponent's skill!"
Nijimura smacked Ogiwara on the head, prompting Ogiwara to give a wry smile as he responded, "Why not? Don't you guys feel the same?"
"..."
A moment of silence followed Ogiwara's words.
Although they didn't necessarily share Ogiwara's admiration for Kuroko and Seirin, the tenacity displayed by Seirin, even in the face of an unwinnable game, earned their respect.
Nijimura shook his head and then turned to Tsuna, asking, "So, what do we do, Captain?"
Instantly, all eyes turned to Tsuna, who remained silent.
Observing their collective gaze, Tsuna shook his head lightly. His eyes shifted to the scoreboard, displaying an overwhelming 87-29, and he opened his mouth, "Nothing..."
"Huh?"
Confusion etched across everyone's faces, prompting tilted heads and raised eyebrows.
Nijimura sharpened his gaze at Tsuna, he had this nagging feeling lingering since the last timeout. Despite Tsuna sounding and acting like his regular self, Nijimura couldn't shake the sense that something was off.
"It was like he..."
He scrunched his forehead, his thoughts chugging along, "... was pissed, maybe?"
Tsuna's face remained cool and unaffected as he reassured, "No need to fret about it. I believe you guys will be quicker on the draw if Tetsuya tries that again."
"...And the rest is on me," Tsuna concluded while subtly lowering his voice.
Nijimura felt a bead of sweat forming, convinced he had hit the nail on the head.
The others, oblivious to the subtle tension, simply nodded with satisfied grins. They basked in the glow of their captain's unwavering trust, blissfully unaware of the storm brewing beneath the surface.
Without a moment's pause, both teams surged onto the court, and an instant hush enveloped the gymnasium as tension settled in.
The crowd remained as fervent as ever, fueled by Seirin's unyielding determination, which they found truly commendable.
Regardless of the outcome, the game continued to be a thrilling spectacle!
With the match reigniting, the ball found its way into Seirin's hands. They navigated the court with deliberate moves, and Izuki wasted no time, swiftly passing the ball to Kagami.
Kagami drew a deep breath, a shared intensity exchanged among the Seirin players as they seamlessly wove into the intricate fabric of Fukuda Sogo's defensive formation.
Yet, Fukuda Sogo responded in kind, each Seirin player tightly marked, creating a palpable tension on the court.
Facing Tsuna's advancing figure, Kagami took another deep breath. Even in this critical moment, the feeling of being stonewalled lingered.
"...But I have to do this!" Kagami declared, the sparks in his eyes seemingly ablaze as he abruptly altered his dribbling pace.
His eyes darted around rapidly, searching for an opening.
In a sudden and sharp twist, Kagami crossed over to the right. Yet, his progress was halted as Tsuna's figure swiftly closed in, defending against Kagami's right-handed grip on the ball.
"Damn it..." Kagami cursed.
However, a spark ignited in Kagami's eyes as he widened them.
With a swift motion, Kuroko suddenly materialized and utilized his Ignite Pass Kai onto the ball in Kagami's hand, propelling the ball straight towards Kiyoshi faster than Tsuna anticipated.
Kuroko understood the delicate dance he had to perform; grabbing the ball himself would trigger Tsuna's swift response.
So, he opted to force the pass instead.
And much to Kuroko's relief, Tsuna was caught off guard as he furrowed his eyebrows when the ball zipped past him.
"Nice pass, Kuroko!"
"Not on my watch!"
Seizing the ball, Kiyoshi's eyes honed in, his leap toward the basket met by Nijimura's ascent, both players locked in a mid-air confrontation.
Kagami also tried to move for support, yet he could do nothing as he felt the tight shadow of Tsuna trailing him.
"...I knew it!"
As Kiyoshi sensed a sharp hand approaching the ball, he furrowed his eyebrows, retracting it just in time.
"Hmm?"
A pass beyond Nijimura's outstretched reach ensued, surprising the latter at Kiyoshi's swift reaction.
In fact, Kiyoshi had anticipated Nijimura's move as he noted the perfect timing and, to his satisfaction, observed someone maneuvering behind Nijimura.
It was Izuki!
He promptly sprang into action upon Kiyoshi securing the ball. Izuki then efficiently handled the ball, executing a precise lay-up that resulted in a seamless basket.
Ogiwara, who was diligently tracking Kuroko with his sharp senses, clenched his teeth in response.
However, his preparedness backfired when Kuroko, contrary to expectations, propelled the ball forward while still in Kagami's possession.
"...He employs misdirection with remarkable timing as well," Ogiwara remarked.
Within that brief interval, Kuroko adeptly repositioned himself, ensuring the ball remained secure from Tsuna's interception.
Reacting promptly, Ogiwara attempted to intervene, but the unpredictable nature of Kagami's movements and Kuroko's elusive tactics left him surprised once again.
"...I'm sorry, captain." Ogiwara lowered his head in shame.
However, Tsuna just shook his head, signaling Nijimura to pass the ball to him.
"That's fine, like I said, just keep your awareness, and I'll take care of the rest..." He continued, smoothly grabbing the ball passed by Nijimura.
Ogiwara nodded solemnly, and everyone from Fukuda Sogo advanced forward.
Tsuna aggressively dribbled the ball, charging ahead only to abruptly halt his steps when Kagami closed in, putting up a solid defense.
However, Tsuna noticed Kuroko advancing behind Kagami's figure.
"...Are they double-teaming Captain right now?" Ogiwara thought, adjusting his position just in case, as Seirin's defense appeared wide open.
Meanwhile, Tsuna remained silent, executing a sharp crossover with such speed that it left Kagami wide-eyed.
"...Did he get even faster?" Kagami mumbled in astonishment.
However, Kuroko's figure abruptly materialized, his eyes glowing brightly as he utilized his Quasi-Emperor Eyes to aim sharply at the ball in Tsuna's vulnerable position.
Yet...
"Not bad, Tetsuya..." Tsuna's voice cut through the air, catching Kuroko off guard.
Tsuna's lips curled upward ever so slightly as he continued, "You're the second one to make me sweat a little..."
"What!"
In an instant, Tsuna swung his arm with force, a powerful slam between Kuroko's legs as he executed a swift spin, seamlessly retrieving the ball that went past Kuroko's legs.
Tsuna didn't even waste a second as he burst forward, leaving Kagami and Kuroko wide-eyed as their meticulously constructed defense crumbled in the face of Tsuna's relentless attack.