Ogiwara and Haizaki exchanged nervous glances, sweat beading on their brows. Haizaki edged closer, while Ogiwara cautiously stepped back, ready to react at a moment's notice.
"Move aside," Akashi's voice sliced through the tension on the court, chilling in its command.
"Why should I even listen to you?"
Haizaki's response was a derisive scoff, his defensive stance unwavering. But Akashi remained silent, his focus solely on the game.
With precise dribbles, he increased his pace, executing a sharp crossover.
His eyes glowed while watching Haizaki's movement with determination as he stepped back, causing Haizaki to lose his balance and land on the court with a frustrated grunt.
"...I was prepared for this, and yet he still got me," Haizaki muttered under his breath as he struggled to regain his footing, frustration evident in his every movement.
As Akashi executed his ankle-breaking move, Ogiwara's senses sharpened. He immediately lunged forward, aiming to intercept the ball.
"This is the moment!"
He knew that in his current stance, an ankle break was improbable.
However, he was met with Akashi's piercing gaze, which stripped away any illusion of security.
"...Fuck," Ogiwara silently cursed.
Akashi's voice cut through the tension, icy and resolute. "...Even with reinforcements, the outcome remains unchanged."
"...for I am, absolute!"
His words hung heavy in the air, resonating with unwavering confidence.
In a flash, Akashi sidestepped Ogiwara's responsive attempt to steal the ball, his movements fluid and precise.
Nijimura furrowed his eyebrows as he sensed the urgency and immediately moved to intercept.
"...Wha?"
But the second he turned, he was met with Akashi's piercing gaze, glowing with radiant rings in his pupils.
As realization dawned upon Nijimura, his instincts roared to life, guiding his gaze downward where he discovered the ball slipping through the narrow gap between his legs.
With a flick of his wrist, Akashi unleashed a swift pass to Nebuya, who wasted no time slamming the ball home with thunderous force.
"Fancy pass, Captain!"
Nebuya's booming voice echoed through the gymnasium, igniting a chorus of cheers from the crowd.
"He anticipated my every move," Nijimura muttered under his breath, a hint of frustration etched on his face as he watched Akashi's calculated retreat from the court.
"Don't let it distract you, Shuzo," Tsuna's composed voice cut through the tension, anchoring Nijimura's focus back to the game.
Taking a moment to compose himself, Nijimura nodded resolutely before springing into action, swiftly retrieving the ball and passing it to Tsuna, reigniting the momentum of the game.
"Let's stick to the plan," Tsuna's composed voice resonated, instilling a sense of assurance in his teammates as they prepared to execute their strategy.
With synchronized nods, they moved in unison, Tsuna leading the charge with the ball in his possession.
"I need you to turn up the heat a notch."
Locking eyes with Nijimura, Tsuna issued a subtle directive.
"Understood." Nijimura's expression shifted, a spark of determination igniting in his gaze as he acknowledged the command with a confident nod.
The team seamlessly infiltrated Rakuzan's defensive formation, each member closely shadowed by their opponents.
Noticing Hayama's approach Tsuna immediately shifted gears, leaving Hayama momentarily caught off guard, his face betraying a flicker of surprise at Tsuna's unexpected acceleration.
"...Is he really going for it?" The realization dawned on Hayama as he braced himself for Tsuna's anticipated ankle-breaking maneuver.
His eyes widened in disbelief as Tsuna swiftly changed course, veering towards his side.
"Frick, he's not going for it..." Hayama cursed, feeling the strain on his ankle intensify as he attempted to impede Tsuna's advance, teeth clenched in pain.
Yet, Tsuna's movements defied expectation once again. With a sudden step back, Tsuna evaded Hayama's attempt, leaving him sprawled on the ground, gaze fixed upward at Tsuna's towering figure.
"Damn, never mind! He's actually pulling it off!"
Hayama cursed under his breath as Tsuna effortlessly surged forward.
"Captain!"
The shout pierced through the tension as Tsuna spotted Akashi rapidly closing in, his eyes ablaze with radiant rings, a clear sign that he had employed his Emperor Eyes to slip past Ogiwara and Haizaki's defenses.
"..."
Their eyes locked in a silent exchange, sparking an electric atmosphere.
With a swift motion, Tsuna swung his arm, sending the ball in his possession hurtling out of sight. Akashi's surprise was evident as he followed Tsuna's gaze, only to find Nijimura already in motion, his hand poised for action.
In a breathtaking display of coordination, the ball soared through the air, meeting Nijimura's slamming hand with precision.
With the force of a comet, it thundered into the basket, eliciting roars of excitement from the crowd as they erupted into cheers.
"The Zenith Strike!"
The exclamation reverberated through the gymnasium, accompanied by a surge of excitement as spectators realized Fukuda Sogo still held the momentum in their grasp.
Akashi furrowed his eyebrows in frustration, interpreting Tsuna's actions as an attempt to evade their confrontation. With a shake of his head, he silently resolved to see how long Tsuna could avoid facing him directly.
"Let's get back into it," Akashi signaled to his teammates, gesturing for them to resume play.
Observing Akashi's demeanor, Tsuna couldn't help but smile wryly.
"He's quite amusing at times, but his arrogance is becoming rather grating," he mused inwardly.
Unfazed by Akashi's perception, Tsuna returned to his position on the court, prepared to face whatever challenges lay ahead.
As the game unfolded, Fukuda Sogo maintained their advantage, dictating the flow of play. However, Rakuzan began to mount a gradual resurgence, spurred on by Akashi's keen utilization of his Emperor Eyes.
Despite their efforts, the first quarter concluded with Fukuda Sogo firmly ahead, leading 23-11.
Despite facing a significant deficit, the players of Rakuzan High remained composed and undeterred.
They exuded confidence, firmly believing in their ability to reverse the tide of the game.
"Hmm, it's only the first quarter anyway," Jiro murmured quietly to himself
In the midst of the quiet exchange between Jiro and Hirutora, Hirutora's thoughts swirled with a mixture of understanding and amusement.
"..."
He recognized Jiro's sentiments all too well but opted to maintain his silence, allowing the weight of their unspoken words to hang in the air.
However, a subtle shake of his head betrayed his amusement as his gaze drifted to his son's distant figure.
Despite the distance separating them, Tsuna's eyes met his father's, prompting a faint sheen of sweat to form on Hirutora's forehead as a wry thought crossed his mind. "...Looks like his habit of toying with his food hasn't changed one bit."
In Hirutora's eyes, Tsuna's prowess in martial arts far surpassed his achievements in athletics. This was evident from Tsuna's victory over Sebas, a renowned fighter in their 'world'.
To maintain such skill, Tsuna adhered to a strict diet, often consuming large quantities of unpalatable yet nutritious food.
However, rather than simply consuming it, Tsuna had developed a habit of playing with his food, turning meals into a form of entertainment.
"..."
With a mixture of understanding and pity, Hirutora shook his head subtly, silently empathizing with Jiro's son.