Chapter 169: Chapter 169: Subduing the Giant
Tsuna dribbled the ball with an air of calmness, and Fukui made his move, applying pressure and remaining on high alert.
Despite Tsuna's apparent relaxation in the face of Fukui's defensive effort, the latter was hesitant and lacked the confidence to make a meaningful impact on his team, audibly swallowing nervously.
Tsuna could see that Yosen High was well prepared this time as they all scattered into their defensive zone. A light smile played on his lips as he observed the strategic positioning of the opposing team.
His attention shifted to Murasakibara, locked in a confrontation with Nijimura.
"Not a bad formation," Tsuna remarked, surprising Fukui with his sincere acknowledgment of Yosen High's defensive efforts.
The unexpected praise left a ripple of disbelief among the players.
"...Do you think this game was just a walk in the park!?" Fukui gritted his teeth in frustration.
However, before Yosen High was able to react to the unexpected praise, Tsuna's arm moved swiftly as the ball transformed into a blur, leaving them momentarily taken aback.
Himuro's face displayed a mixture of emotions as he watched the play unfold. "We were ready for his pass, but it still managed to catch us off guard."
"How in the world did he pull that off?"
Fukui shared the sentiment, his eyes widening as he saw Haizaki confidently receive the ball with excitement gleaming in his gaze.
Despite Yosen High anticipating Tsuna's elusive pass, the actual execution still left them astonished.
Haizaki was taken aback while holding the ball as a numbing sensation spread through his palm. He couldn't help but acknowledge the strength behind the pass, "Seems like it was just as Mochizuki had described, such an intense pass..."
Haizaki's confidence surged despite the numbing sensation in his palm.
His grin widened as he dribbled the ball with remarkable speed against Okamura, who had sweat rolled down his face.
He swiftly moved to the right as he employed a quick body rotation and deftly evaded Okamura's defense.
The gap closed rapidly as he neared the basket. Leaping up, he ferociously slammed the ball toward the hoop with intense determination. The court vibrated with the echo of the resounding impact.
Nijimura observed their opponent's expression as he shook his head lightly.
"...I wonder what their reaction would be if they knew that Tsuna was still holding back his strength in those passes."
He slightly chuckled as he went back to his position.
The scoreboard now displayed 7 - 0, with Fukuda Sogo taking advantage of the game.
As the game continued, Yosen High realized that Murasakibara couldn't score points for them, with Nijimura persistently and cleverly blocking Murasakibara's attempt. Nijimura could feel his body strain from facing Muraskibara.
No one else saw Nijimura's struggle besides Tsuna in the court.
However, among the spectators, there was one exception...
"...Nijimura won't endure this till the end." A composed voice echoed, breaking the hushed silence as it observed the unfolding game.
Confusion etched Mibuchi's face as he queried, "...What do you mean by that, Sei?"
Mibuchi couldn't help but ask, clearly couldn't quite fathom how Akashi reached such a conclusion. From his standpoint, Nijimura seemed fine, while Murasakibara appeared unsettled.
"It might seem like Nijimura is holding his own against Murasakibara," Akashi commented, his eyes briefly flicking toward the scoreboard, which indicated Fukuda Sogo's current dominance in the game. "But facing Murasakibara's Thor Hammer is not a matter of technique alone..."
Akashi acknowledged that what Nijimura was attempting demanded a level of precision and reaction speed beyond the capabilities of an average player.
However, the sheer magnitude of Murasakibara's raw strength posed a significant challenge.
In the court, Tsuna just let it be as he knew Nijimura better than anyone.
Similar to how he didn't underestimate Murasakibara's physical strength, Tsuna wouldn't overlook Nijimura's stamina.
Nijimura's martial arts training with Sebas was a rigorous journey filled with demanding exercises that pushed the boundaries of physical endurance. He endured challenges that seemed unimaginable to others, shaping him into a formidable force.
The rest of the team wasn't anxious about Nijimura either. He was the only one who could handle the intense training that Tsuna, their captain, had gone through.
Those workouts were so harsh that just watching them made others feel sick.
However, despite all that, Nijimura could complete these workouts persistently!
The ball was again under Fukuda Sogo's control, held securely in Tsuna's skilled hands.
Seeing Tsuna holding the ball, Okamura was alerted.
"Shit! Get back fast!"
He swiftly signaled the team to regroup, prompting the players to immediately retreat to their respective positions along the defensive line.
The opposing Yosen High defense tightened in anticipation of the next move.
Seeing their alertness, Tsuna's demeanor remained calm. With a nonchalant flick of his wrist, the ball transformed into a blur, moving with unparalleled speed as it weaved through the court.
Its destination was clear—Nijimura.
The ball landed securely in Nijimura's hands, but he wasn't without a mark.
Murasakibara was there with his towering figure. Murasakiabara didn't say anything this time as he was determined to stop Nijimura.
Nijimura's senses were entirely online as he swiftly maneuvered, utilizing his agility to break past Murasakibara's defensive reach.
With a burst of speed, Nijimura jumped for a forceful slam.
However, Murasakibara wasn't an easy obstacle.
Even though Nijimura gave it his all, he felt Murasakibara's imposing presence behind him. The clash in mid-air unfolded, and Murasakibara successfully blocked Nijimura's dunk attempt with an unyielding defense.
The crowd held its breath, witnessing the intense struggle between two powerhouses on the basketball court as the ball ricocheted off the backboard following Murasakibara's block, and Liu efficiently secured the rebound.
Without wasting a moment, he swiftly passed it to Himuro.
The team had quickly assessed the situation, realizing that, with Nijimura effectively containing Murasakibara, their best chance to close the score gap was through Himuro's offensive prowess.
Meanwhile, as both players touched down on the court, Nijimura couldn't conceal his frown, contemplating, "...Looks like the usual methods won't cut it, huh?"
Turning to head back to his position, Nijimura caught sight of Murasakibara's smug expression directed at him, causing him to halt in his tracks abruptly.
Aware that Murasakibara's behavior resembled that of a child, Nijimura felt the veins in his temples pulsating with annoyance. His lips twitched, and he shot Murasakibara an irritated smile, muttering, "...Kid or not, I'll give you a proper beating later."
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