Chapter 242: Chapter 242: Our Turning Point!
"...Is he attempting to break through Akashi's defense using his heightened focus and reaction in the zone?"
Kise voiced his confusion, observing Midorima's imposing presence against Akashi on the court.
"I've never seen him pull this off before, and given Akashi's skills, it should be a tough task. But with the Zone..."
Aomine's voice trailed off as he continued his thoughts, "...In the zone, he should be quick enough to make it work."
Tsuna maintained his silence, watching the unfolding scene.
His gaze fixed on Midorima, and a small smile curled on his lips as he thought, "Good, you've finally grasped the significance, huh?"
It took Midorima quite a while to acknowledge his shortcomings.
However, Tsuna had long been aware of this, as he was the one who pointed it out to Midorima. Yet, Midorima's pride had initially hindered him from accepting the truth, and he persisted in his old ways.
"...Sometimes, your own ego and pride become your limitations." Tsuna chuckled, recognizing how well this description matched Midorima's personality.
Midorima had heavily relied on his teammates' passes, often positioning himself advantageously to take shots.
If he could enhance his dribbling skills, he would have the ability to create his own openings for shots!
Back on the court, a radiant glow emanated from Akashi's eyes as he boldly declared, "Let's see if you truly have something better to show me, Shintaro!"
In a breathtakingly swift motion, Akashi's figure inclined forward, and his hand sliced through the air with surgical precision, aiming to swipe the ball from Midorima's grasp.
"Hmm?"
Yet, as Akashi's hand closed in, his eyes widened in genuine surprise.
Midorima's gaze met Akashi's Emperor Eyes with an unyielding intensity, devoid of any wavering.
"..."
Time seemed to freeze, the court enveloped in a suspended moment, like fractured glass suspended in mid-shatter.
Then, with an almost supernatural reaction speed, Midorima sidestepped and surged forward, leaving Akashi's once formidable defense in shambles.
Akashi found himself momentarily stunned which was a rare occurrence before he quickly suppressed it.
Swiftly regaining his composure, he pursued Midorima, who was gracefully navigating through the court, rapidly closing in on Rakuzan High's basket.
"He breaks through Akashi's defense even with Emperor Eyes?"
The disbelief echoed among the Rakuzan High players, their collective shock palpable on the court.
"No, this was not the time to be shocked!"
However, Mibuchi immediately shook his head, realizing the impending threat was approaching like a relentless force.
"Nebuya!"
Mibuchi urgently shouted, prompting Nebuya, who was momentarily frozen in shock, to snap into action.
"Fuck, I got it!"
Reacting swiftly, Nebuya surged forward, determined to halt Midorima's unstoppable advance.
"I've had my fill today! Come on, you son of a bitch!"
Despite Nebuya's provocative taunt, Midorima remained seemingly indifferent, his attention unwavering as if the words barely registered.
"...What?"
Suddenly, with a fluid change of pace, Midorima came to an abrupt stop. The atmosphere shifted, a strange calmness settling in his green eyes.
Nebuya's muscles tightened involuntarily as a chill ran down his spine.
"This guy..."
Midorima closed the distance with an unsettling composure, his movements almost ghostly.
Nebuya braced himself, but before he could react, Midorima effortlessly dismantled his defense with a deft sidestep, propelling himself toward the basket like a controlled force of nature.
In a thunderous collision, Midorima sent the ball soaring through the basket, the sound echoing through the court.
"...He's a damn monster!"
Nebuya muttered under his breath as he watched Midorima's silhouette hanging on the rim before gracefully touching down on the ground.
They hadn't anticipated that Midorima possessed such prowess from inside the court.
With no prior data to suggest this, Midorima's sudden dominance, especially after entering the zone, felt like a resounding slap in the face, exposing the gaps in their information.
In the midst of the boisterous crowd, the Seirin players were caught off guard, their eyes wide with disbelief.
"He can dunk as well, huh?"
Kagami mumbled, his face tense with surprise.
It marked the inaugural occasion they witnessed Midorima executing a dunk in an official game!
"Maybe it's his debut in dunking?"
Kagami questioned, skeptical that Midorima had ever practiced dunks during his training. He couldn't help but think of Midorima as the type who relentlessly trained his shooting skills until they reached the point of failure.
Little did Kagami know, that Midorima indeed adhered to such a rigorous training regimen. A complete freak that focused on shooting!
As the intense game unfolded, a palpable tension gripped everyone in Rakuzan, their focus heightened as they advanced with Akashi leading the charge.
A furrow appeared on Akashi's forehead as he observed his teammates losing composure once more.
Despite his concern, Akashi chose to overlook it, acknowledging that he, too, was taken aback.
He dribbled the ball deliberately, and as Midorima's form drew near, Akashi sensed a tangible pressure engulfing him. The atmosphere grew serious, etching a determined expression on Akashi's face.
Midorima's calm demeanor and steadfast gaze felt like a challenge, a subtle act of superiority.
Akashi felt challenged and refused to let it slide.
His eyes glowed radiantly with a ring light in his pupils. With unwavering confidence, he declared, "Your head is held too high, Shintaro!"
"Lower it down!"
With a commanding shout, he swiftly altered his pace, a sudden change that shattered Midorima's balance, sending him crashing to the court.
Without affording Midorima a chance to react, Akashi explosively surged forward, exploiting the stunned expressions on Shutoku High's players.
It was a commanding move, a testament to Akashi's ability to exploit any opening, even in the face of Midorima's heightened prowess within the zone.
"...So what if I fell," Midorima calmly muttered, as though the impact with the ground held little significance.
With unwavering determination, he invested every ounce of effort into rising to his feet, his words carrying a quiet resilience, "Falling is embarrassing, but I'd be more embarrassed if I didn't get up!"
With unwavering focus and a burst of speed, he immediately pursued Akashi.
As Akashi soared for a layup, his eyes widened in shock at the sudden interception.
A hand swept down, redirecting the ball with a sharp rebound off the backboard. Midorima's figure materialized, the green sparks streaming across his pupils still ablaze.
"This is our turning point, Akashi. Don't get in the way!"
Midorima's declaration cut through the air with a cold precision.
The ball reached Takao's hands, who instinctively passed it back to Midorima.
Without a moment's hesitation, Midorima propelled himself forward, his speed now amplified, effortlessly weaving through the court like an agile force of nature.
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