Meanwhile, tucked away in a corner of the audience, the two heavily disguised middle-aged men exchanged glances.
Jiro Akashi turned to his companion and asked, "...Did he just look this way?"
Hirutora couldn't help but let out a sigh at the question. After a brief pause, he answered, "...Yes."
"He's very sharp, isn't he?" Jiro remarked with a shake of his head.
It wasn't just about communication or discerning details for negotiation; Tsuna displayed a sharpness that extended to all aspects of his being.
Possessing such traits at that age was an anomaly.
Hirutora's lips betrayed a slight twitch, his serious expression on the verge of breaking into a proud smile that he managed to suppress.
However, Jiro was keenly observant, could discern the suppressed pride. He clicked his tongue and mused, "Let's see whose son proves to be superior..."
Back on the court, Tsuna regarded Akashi's cold expression with an amused glint, sensing it might have irked Akashi.
However, Tsuna paid little mind to it as he casually opened his mouth, "Let's make this enjoyable, Seijuro..."
"Enjoyable, huh? If you can still find enjoyment after I bring you to your knees, then sure..." Akashi responded nonchalantly.
He turned away as he strolled slowly, and left a parting remark, "Remember, Tsunayoshi. My words are absolute..."
Tsuna chuckled in response to Akashi's statement.
"...I genuinely prefer the other one over you," Tsuna calmly uttered, causing Akashi to pause in his steps before he continued walking away.
Shaking his head in mild amusement, Tsuna then turned to his team.
He gestured for them to prepare for the pre-match ceremony, and they assembled in the center of the court, exchanging good wishes with each other in anticipation of the upcoming game.
"...What an imposing pressure, eh?"
Imayoshi couldn't help but chuckle, taking note of the tense atmosphere that loomed above the court during Tsuna and Akashi's conversation.
It didn't resemble a casual exchange; rather, it felt like a declaration of war akin to rulers in medieval times.
His expression turned serious as he casually examined his hand, noticing the hairs standing on edge. A shiver ran down his spine just witnessing the confrontation between the two.
"They are indeed different..."
Mumbling to himself, Imayoshi observed Fukuda Sogo and Rakuzan lining up. He glanced at the other players from both teams, noting the strong presence and intense focus that left him wide-eyed in realization.
"King of Kings against Emperor of Creation; this game shall decide the ruler of the entire region of Japan."
A solemn hush settled over the spectators as they nestled down in their seats, their expressions serious.
All eyes were fixed on the ongoing ceremony, which was concluding, and both teams started making their way to their benches to prepare for warm-ups.
Fukuda Sogo went through their usual warm-up routine at a steady pace, mirroring their usual focus. Simultaneously, Rakuzan High engaged in a similar warm-up, both teams immersing themselves in their own worlds, showcasing unwavering concentration.
This dedication was especially apparent on Ogiwara and Haizaki's side as they reminisced about the sudden adjustments their captain had made for this game.
"...I want both of you to double-team Seijuro," Tsuna declared with a smirk, dropping an unexpected request that left Ogiwara wide-eyed in shock, and Haizaki in disbelief, his mouth agape.
"What? Why?"
Tsuna chuckled at their reactions, retorting, "Why not? Don't you guys have some unresolved matters with him? Consider it my blessing..."
"...Captain," Ogiwara found himself deeply moved, eyes welling up with tears.
Shaking his head furiously, he regained his composure, nodding solemnly as he assured Tsuna,"Don't worry, Captain! With our friendship, anything is possible!"
"Shut up, Ogiwara..."
Haizaki muttered as he immediately facepalming at Ogiwara's dramatic declaration, a sense of embarrassment radiating from him as if he wanted to delete himself from the awkward moment.
Laughter erupted from Mochizuki and Ishida as they swiftly approached Ogiwara and Haizaki, offering friendly pats on their shoulders.
"Ogiwara, Haizaki, your friendships are truly boundless," Mochizuki remarked with an air of solemnity.
"I'm convinced that Rakuzan's Captain had no choice but to yield to such a splendid relationship..."
Mochizuki's words lingered in the room, carrying a sense of sincerity that made Ogiwara caught in the heartfelt moment and respond with a dignified nod.
Tsuna struggled to withhold a facepalm, his mouth twitching as he saw the comical scene unfolding. Beside him, Nijimura shared a similar state, while Alexandra reveled in the entertainment.
Ishida joined in, addressing them with similar sentiments.
Haizaki sighed as he descended into an uncharacteristic silence. His eyes that were once animated now appeared hollow and devoid of life.
"...Alright, you're getting out of hand, stop it," Tsuna interjected, his voice laced with a hint of exasperation as he lightly massaged his temple, observing the unfolding scene.
"So, what do you think?" Tsuna inquired of Ogiwara and Haizaki, his tone now serious, dispelling the earlier lighthearted atmosphere.
"We'll do this, Captain!"
Both Ogiwara and Haizaki responded in unison, their expressions transformed into a serious demeanor.
Their eyes burned with intensity and fury as they spoke in tandem.
Tsuna nodded in satisfaction, his attention shifting to Ishida. "Then you'll be our starter for this game..."
"Hideki, you'll be marking their shooting guard, show Kazuhiro how it's done," he continued, turning to Mochizuki, who nodded in understanding.
While Tsuna was confident that Mochizuki could effectively suppress Mibuchi once he was fully focused, he believed it would be beneficial for Ishida to demonstrate how it's done.
Their reports from the Interhigh indicated that Mochizuki had struggled against Mibuchi.
"Alright, that's it for the plan. Let's head out..." Tsuna declared, prompting a unified response from everyone, "Understood! Captain!"
Haizaki's lips subtly curled into a wry smile as he stole a discreet glance at Akashi's commanding figure across the court. "...Motherfucker, still aloof as usual, huh?" he muttered quietly, a determined glint shining in his eyes.
His commitment to subduing Akashi this time burned quietly within, a fierce resolution that, despite his lingering uncertainty, found solace in the knowledge that he wasn't facing this challenge alone.
Turning to Ogiwara, who caught his gaze with a sharpness that bordered on unsettling, Haizaki received a reassuring thumbs-up accompanied by the brightest of smiles. It left him momentarily speechless as he mused, "...At least, he's reliable."
Reluctantly acknowledging it to himself, Ogiwara was perhaps the most compatible player Haizaki had ever encountered for a double-team strategy.
An unspoken understanding existed between them, a reliability that surpassed the need for explicit words.
Ogiwara was, without a doubt, that reliable.
With Ogiwara at his side, Haizaki exuded confidence, assured that together, they would adeptly fulfill their roles on the court.
As the warm-up concluded, the teams swiftly assumed their positions, the atmosphere charged with anticipation.
The referee, moving deliberately to the center, signaled the imminent start of the match.
Akashi's gaze lingered on Tsuna, his eyes ablaze with a fierce determination signifying his unwavering focus on the game.
Both teams, now poised and ready, awaited the referee's signal.
With a resounding blow of the whistle, the ball was tossed into the air. Nijimura and Nebuya were tense and prepared as they leaped in unison, their eyes locked on the descending ball.
And thus, the clash between the King of Kings and The Emperor of Creation unfolds!