Chapter 117: Chapter 117: Coming for help
As the game progressed, Seirin managed to gain a lead in the score. Kagami, in particular, effectively disrupted Midorima's shooting attempts.
However, Midorima adapted by incorporating feints and deceptive moves, forcing Kagami to expend more energy jumping to contest his shots.
On the other hand, Kuroko encountered difficulties as Takao vigilantly tracked his every move with his sharp instincts. Despite the challenge, by the end of the first quarter, Seirin maintained their lead, with a score of 27-16 displayed on the scoreboard.
"Tsuna!" A familiar voice called out, and Tsuna turned to see Momoi rushing towards him for a hug. He managed to brace himself in time to withstand her sudden embrace.
He chuckled as he playfully flicked her forehead. "You surprised me!"
Momoi looked at him with an exaggeratedly hurt expression, rubbing her forehead. "Aww, why'd you do that?"
"Don't do that again. What if I wasn't ready? We might both end up on the ground..."
Momoi pouted and responded, "But I knew you'd catch me."
Tsuna let out a sigh.
Ever since he had beaten Aomine and brought him back to training, Momoi had become exceptionally clingy. He didn't mind it too much; perhaps it was her way of showing gratitude.
"So, who did you come with today?"
Tsuna asked, with Momoi holding onto his right hand.
"I'm with my team. They're right there," Momoi pointed to a section of the stadium, "and I saw you over here, so I came over to say hello..."
Tsuna turned to where she pointed and spotted the regulars from Too Academy watching the game together.
"I see," Tsuna replied. Then, noticing Aomine wasn't among them, he asked, "Daiki still training, huh?"
Momoi smiled and nodded. "That's right! He's been incredibly dedicated to training..."
Kise observed the scene with weary expressions as Tsuna and Momoi engaged in their own conversation.
Nijimura seemed unfazed and even slightly amused by the situation. On the other hand, Kise was a bit uncomfortable being ignored and couldn't resist chiming in.
He raised his hand like an eager student in a classroom.
"Excuse me, Momoicchi. I'm here too," Kise said.
Momoi turned her attention to Kise and tilted her head with surprise. "Oh, Kise, you're here too?"
Kise mumbled in a slightly dejected tone, "Well, it seems like I went unnoticed..."
Momoi, however, seemed to pay little attention to Kise as she quickly returned to conversing with Tsuna.
Watching this unfold, Kise felt speechless and somewhat overlooked. He felt a pat on his shoulder from Nijimura, who was nodding at him, which brought Kise a sense of comfort.
And Nijimura's nod seemed to convey that everything was fine. Sighing with acceptance, Kise nodded, and Nijimura responded with a satisfied smile before focusing back on the court.
Tsuna shook his head in response to these interactions and shifted his focus back to the court as the second quarter of the game got underway.
The second quarter unfolded much like the first, with Kagami continuing to shut down Midorima. Kuroko found himself challenged by Takao, and Kiyoshi, Seirin's center, made it difficult for other Shutoku players to score.
Momoi commented on the situation, saying, "Kagami won't last long if they keep this up."
Kise agreed, saying, "His improvement is evident. He's jumping higher than the last time I saw him play, but his stamina drains faster than Midorima's."
Tsuna observed the game quietly from the sidelines.
Seirin's coach, Aida, couldn't ignore the situation on the court any longer and called for a timeout.
"We can't continue like this," Aida addressed the team. She then turned to Kiyoshi and said, "I need you to support Kagami."
Kiyoshi agreed with a nod while Kagami took a quick drink of water on the sidelines.
Kagami's eyes sparkled with excitement as he glanced at Midorima. Despite his fatigue, he was eager for the challenge.
Kiyoshi the opened up his mouth which then surprised everyone by suggesting, "Coach, I think we should take Kuroko out as well."
His comment grabbed the team's attention.
Kuroko, even though hesitant, realized that with Takao closely guarding him, his misdirection wouldn't be as effective. He reluctantly nodded and said, "I agree with Senior Kiyoshi."
"It'll also allow me to prepare my new skill for the next quarter," Kuroko added with a firm gaze.
Coach Aida acknowledged this and substituted Kuroko with Mitobe.
On the other side, Shutoku remained composed despite the challenging situation.
"...It's about time!"
Nakatani, the coach of Shutoku, broke the silence, glancing at Midorima, who adjusted his glasses.
The players from Shutoku nodded in agreement.
Earlier in the changing room, Midorima had stated his intention to pass the ball and act as bait, which had been met with skepticism.
However, witnessing Midorima's unwavering determination not to taste defeat again ignited their competitive spirit.
They returned to the court with fiery determination in their eyes.
As they stepped onto the court, Midorima felt an intense gaze from the audience and turned his head to identify the source of it.
"...Tsuna, huh?"
Midorima mumbled and adjusted his glasses.
"So, you're here to watch," he commented, recalling their recent encounter the previous night.
It had been late when Midorima informed his family of his plans to visit Tsuna. They were more than happy to provide a driver and a car for the trip.
Upon reaching Tsuna's Tokyo residence, he found Tsuna seemingly ready to retire for the night.
"Shintaro? That's so unlike you to come over this late," Tsuna remarked, inviting him inside.
They sat across from each other.
Tsuna inquired, "How did you know I was here?"
Midorima replied calmly, "I have my sources."
Besides that, considering Tsuna's meticulous nature.
Midorima knew Tsuna would have ensured his team arrived in advance, giving them time to adjust to the new environment and be in top form.
Tsuna nodded, deep in thought, resting his hand on his chin as he contemplated. "So, what brings you here?"
"..."
Midorima initially remained silent but then let out a sigh, mustering the courage to ask, "What is it like to enter a zone?"
Tsuna was taken aback by the question, his eyes widening slightly. Knowing Midorima's prideful nature, Tsuna found it surprising that Midorima had come to him late at night, seeking help.
He observed Midorima's serious expression, silently thinking, "He's matured, huh?"
The fact that, in the original canon, there was no mention of Midorima entering the zone or even showing interest in it made Tsuna put on his signature sly smirk.
Midorima visibly flinched at Tsuna's expression, seemingly wondering if he had approached the wrong person for guidance.
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