Despite his surprise at the reappearance of the other Akashi, Tsuna wasted no time dwelling on confusion.
Instead, he sprang into action, streaking down the court in pursuit of Akashi, who had seized the ball.
"I know this was not enough, of course."
Akashi seemed to have anticipated Tsuna's reaction speed as he remained composed, calmly observing Tsuna's approach as he prepared to counter.
Tsuna noted the absence of Akashi's heterochromia eyes, which are now replaced by a uniform hue, a subtle yet significant change.
"...They've swapped already?"
Tsuna's mind raced as he processed the implications of Akashi's ability to swap with his counterpart at will.
Realizing the need to get into an aggressive play to stop this, Tsuna immediately closed the distance, only for Akashi to step back and pass to the vacant left side.
Sensing Mayuzumi's presence, Tsuna furrowed his eyebrows as he saw Mayuzumi push the ball forward to Hayama, who capitalized on the momentum to bypass Haizaki's defense and score.
Akashi didn't seem to be surprised by this as he met Tsuna's gaze and calmly reassured him, "We will catch up, Tsuna."
In response along these lines, the entire Rakuzan team exhibited a newfound determination, their eyes sharpened as if echoing Akashi's sentiment.
They were prepared to push through their limits, fully aware that maintaining such intense paces might be challenging throughout the entire game.
"We'll have our revenge!"
However, the slim chance of winning the tournament didn't deter them anymore. Regardless of the odds, they were willing to give their all this time!
As the intense pace of Rakuzan High threw off the Fukuda Sogo team, each member gritted their teeth in frustration, feeling the pressure of the opposing team's relentless performance.
However, amidst the tension, Tsuna found himself thoroughly entertained by this.
A faint smile played on his lips as he observed the determination of his teammates.
"Alright, guys. Enough of this embarrassing attitude," Tsuna's voice cut through the tension.
"..."
His words resonated with the team, reminding them that succumbing to frustration would only weaken their resolve.
With a collective nod, they tightened their fists, taking a deep breath to refocus their determination.
Tsuna nodded in acknowledgment of Rakuzan's impressive performance, his gaze briefly flickering to the scoreboard where Rakuzan had consecutively scored 7 points.
"They're good," he conceded, "but you've done well keeping up with the pace. Though it was unexpected, it's alright."
"The third quarter has just begun, so I need you all to stay focused."
With a reassuring tone, he continued, his words like a soothing balm quelling their frustrations.
"..."
His calm demeanor seemed to instill a sense of confidence in his team, reflected in their collective nods of understanding.
Satisfied with their response, Tsuna gestured to Nijimura to begin the next play. As Nijimura retrieved the ball and passed it to him, Tsuna's tone shifted slightly.
"Though I said that," he began, "I need you all to slow down this time."
"...?"
Confusion flickered across the faces of the Fukuda Sogo players, uncertain of Tsuna's intentions.
Falling behind in the pace against Rakuzan could spell disaster for Fukuda Sogo.
However, a glimmer of realization crossed his features, and he nodded decisively.
"Understood, Captain."
Tsuna acknowledged the agreement with a nod of his own, his demeanor carrying an air of confidence.
He took a deliberate step forward, cradling the ball in his hands.
Perplexity etched across the faces of Fukuda Sogo's players, but there was an unspoken trust in Tsuna's decisions, given his track record of sound judgment.
Nijimura's understanding seemed to have resonated with the rest.
On the opposing side, Akashi observed as Fukuda Sogo's players intentionally slowed down their pace.
A flicker of confusion passed over his expression. However, his confusion turned to genuine alarm as he witnessed Tsuna's smile broaden.
"Does he have something else up his sleeve?"
The notion of a technique beyond the Zone crossed his thoughts, especially since Akashi remained unaware of Seirin's advancements after Rakuzan's early departure.
However, perplexity clouded Akashi's expression when he noticed Tsuna's eyes gradually losing their intense sparks, signaling an exit from the Zone.
"What is this feeling?"
Akashi pondered, his confusion deepening. Yet, his unease intensified as Tsuna's voice resonated, "Well done, Seijuro. First Seirin, and now Rakuzan. Coming to Japan has proven to be anything but boring. I'm grateful..."
As soon as Tsuna uttered those words, an overwhelming aura radiated from his being, suffusing the entire gymnasium and enveloping everyone in its palpable silence.
With deliberate slowness, Tsuna closed his eyes before gradually reopening them to reveal a pair of mesmerizing crimson orbs.
"...!!"
The sight sent a shiver down Akashi's spine, freezing him in place.
"What is that!?"
Akashi exclaimed, his voice barely a whisper amidst the charged atmosphere. The sensation was hauntingly familiar, reminiscent of the ominous pressure they had experienced while departing the gymnasium on that fateful day.
"Let's see if you can handle this, Seijuro," Tsuna declared calmly, his tone laden with expectation.
As Tsuna wrapped up his speech, he surged forward.
Spurring everyone in Rakuzan High into action. With a sense of determination in the air, they moved to intercept him, their expressions determined but tense.
For Tsuna, time seemed to stretch, allowing him to scrutinize every detail of the court and his opponents' movements with heightened clarity. Despite the pressure mounting around him, he remained composed and focused.
As Akashi closed in, Tsuna's calm demeanor didn't waver. With a swift maneuver, he evaded Akashi's advance, leaving the Rakuzan captain momentarily surprised by his agility.
Undeterred by this, Akashi's eyes ignited with an otherworldly glow as he activated his Emperor Eyes. He had immediately swapped as he sprang into action with unparalleled focus and shadowed Tsuna's every move from behind.
Mibuchi and Hayama synchronized their movements, stepping forward to execute their double-team.
But Tsuna seemed to have anticipated their every move.
With uncanny agility, he swiftly maneuvered to the heart of their convergence, leaving them trailing behind in his wake.
Meanwhile, Akashi utilized his Emperor Eyes as he had strategically positioned himself within Tsuna's blind spot.
As Tsuna's hand gripped the ball, Akashi made his move, his hand streaking toward the ball with precision. And at the same time, Mayuzumi and Nebuya aggressively closed in on Tsuna, aiming to intercept his advance.
However, Tsuna's reaction was unexpected.
With a casual turn of his head, his cold crimson eyes locked onto Akashi's Emperor Eyes.
"...!"
At that moment, Akashi felt a chill run down his spine, realizing with startling clarity that Tsuna had seen through his tactics.
Without even turning back to the looming double-team, Tsuna sidestepped with fluid grace, deftly dribbling the ball between his legs.
With impeccable timing, he executed a fadeaway jump shot, releasing the ball from his fingertips in one seamless motion. Before anyone in Rakuzan High could even react, the ball soared through the air, finding its mark with pinpoint accuracy.
"He's done it again!"
"He's not human!"
"All hail our King!"
The crowd erupted into frenzied applause and cheers, electrified by Tsuna's awe-inspiring display of skill and dominance.
"...He's truly someone I genuinely admire," Akashi whispered softly to himself, his eyes fixed on Tsuna's figure with a mix of astonishment and reverence.