Bab 57: Chapter 57: Taking a gamble
As Tsuna watched Ogiwara join the group, Nijimura leaned in and asked, "Is he the one you mentioned earlier?"
"Yeah," Tsuna replied, shaking his head slightly. He gestured for Haizaki and Ogiwara to line up with the rest of the team.
Nijimura stepped back, nodding in approval. "Well, if you scouted him personally, he must be good."
Tsuna couldn't help but hope for the best as he observed Ogiwara, who seemed to fit right in with the others, engaging in excited conversation with his new teammates.
Seeing Ogiwara's cheerful demeanor, Tsuna couldn't help but shake his head in amusement, reminiscing about their first encounter.
A year ago, Tsuna had been on a business trip to Japan. The purpose was to scout famous basketball teams worldwide as part of their plan to organize the world's largest streetball event.
Technically, he didn't have to be there in person, but he figured it was also a good opportunity to visit his grandparents.
As he scouted various teams across the country, Tsuna got wind that the national middle school basketball finals were coincidentally taking place at the Yoyogi Gymnasium in Tokyo, right around the time of his visit.
Tsuna decided to catch the final match when he learned it featured his former teammates. Originally, he intended to visit them and say hello, but watching the game changed his plans.
The matchup was Teiko High versus Meiko High. Just by observing the game, Tsuna could tell that Teiko was about to trounce Meiko. They completely controlled the game, deftly passing the ball and easily racking up points.
Tsuna furrowed his brow as he observed the game. It was clear that Teiko wasn't putting in their full effort. Even though Meiko was a decent team, they were completely outmatched.
Tsuna couldn't help but notice that something seemed off about Murasakibara. Although he moved on the court, his mind appeared distant. Aomine, too, had lost the spirited expression Tsuna remembered; instead, he wore a bored and disinterested look.
However, Tsuna noticed a new face in Teiko's lineup amidst this. This blond guy, whom Tsuna didn't recognize from his time at Teiko, seemed to be in a heated discussion with Aomine. He was gesturing energetically, insisting on receiving the ball, while Aomine appeared weary.
Tsuna recognized him as Kise Ryouta. He couldn't help but admire the guy's potential. Kise was clearly talented, and Tsuna believed he had plenty of room for growth.
Midorima, on the other hand, maintained his usual stoic demeanor but played with a passive style that was quite different from what Tsuna remembered.
Meanwhile, Akashi seemed like a completely transformed person.
In the game, Akashi took on the center role, displaying exceptional ball-handling skills that facilitated easy scoring for the team. Aomine, however, grew increasingly bored with the lopsided match.
What annoyed Aomine even more was the fact that their opponents seemed to have lost their fighting spirit. Their faces wore expressions of resignation, which further dampened his mood.
As Tsuna watched the game, he couldn't help but notice the absence of Kuroko. He realized that, up to the point he left, everything had unfolded just as it had in the original storyline.
Tsuna couldn't help but feel a pang of regret as he watched the lackluster match unfold before him. He shook his head in disappointment.
The game was anything but exciting. Teiko played effortlessly, not breaking a sweat, while Meiko struggled to keep up. By halftime, it was clear that Meiko had all but given up, their players barely moving on the court.
Amidst this despondency, Tsuna noticed one exception, and it was Ogiwara.
Despite the bleak situation, Ogiwara continued to persevere, putting in a commendable effort to make a difference on the court. Tsuna couldn't help but focus on him, feeling a sense of admiration for his determination.
Watching Ogiwara's unwavering determination on the court brought back memories for Tsuna. He saw a reflection of his former self in Ogiwara — a player who refused to give up, even when the odds seemed insurmountable.
However, a frown creased his face as Tsuna reminisced about his own past experiences. He couldn't help but think of the original storyline and glanced at the scoreboard.
In the game's final seconds, it seemed that Ogiwara had finally realized the extent to which Teiko was toying with them. He overheard snippets of conversation from the Teiko players and turned his gaze to the scoreboard, a look of despair crossing his face.
The score stood at a staggering 111-11, a clear testament to Teiko's absolute dominance in the game.
The crushing reality of the game's outcome had shattered Ogiwara's mental fortitude, and he couldn't hold back the tears any longer. His eyes welled up as despair washed over him.
Witnessing this scene left Tsuna with a sense of disdain, and he muttered, "Pathetic..."
However, despite his words, after the game had concluded and the awards ceremony had passed, nearly emptying the gymnasium of spectators, Tsuna found himself in the designated changing room for the defeated Meiko team.
From outside, he could hear someone letting out heart-wrenching screams of heartbreak, accompanied by the sounds of things being violently thrown about. Tsuna had a pretty good idea of who it was and shook his head in response.
Before long, the changing room door creaked open, and Ogiwara timidly stepped out. He spotted Tsuna standing there with a furrowed brow and attempted to force a smile, although it came across as rather ghastly.
"Sorry you had to see that," he mumbled apologetically. "I'm sure it was pretty shocking."
"Don't force that smile. It looks terrible," Tsuna replied, his frown deepening.
Ogiwara let out an awkward, hollow laugh.
"My bad," he said, lacking the energy for a more elaborate response.
Eager to put some distance between himself and the situation, Ogiwara turned and walked away.
"Giving up after only that? That was pathetic..."
Tsuna's words cut through the air like a knife. Ogiwara abruptly stopped in his tracks, his face twisting into a mask of rage as he turned towards Tsuna.
"What do you know!" he shouted, his voice laden with anger. "You don't understand anything!"
Tsuna didn't back down, his expression unyielding. "You can't hide behind your circumstances. It doesn't change the fact that you were pathetic out there."
The tension between them hung heavy in the air as Ogiwara seethed with frustration while Tsuna held his ground.
Tsuna pressed on, his determination unyielding, until Ogiwara's spirit was utterly depleted. The weight of Tsuna's words silenced him completely.
Tsuna sighed and took a seat on the closest bench. Ogiwara, still wearing a heartbroken expression, gazed at Tsuna and asked a question that seemed to haunt him, "Then how can I stop being pathetic?"
Tsuna turned to the defeated young man and uttered a simple yet profound response, "Just bite them..."
"What do you mean?" Ogiwara asked, his confusion evident.
Tsuna explained patiently, "They may seem like giants compared to you, but even an ant can inflict a tiny bit of pain on a human. You have to find your way to 'bite' them."
"Just bite them," Ogiwara mumbled, lost in thought. The memory of those indifferent faces on the opposing team, toying with his own, made his fists clench, and his veins bulge with determination.
Ogiwara gathered his resolve to fight back and asked, "So, how am I supposed to 'bite' them?"
While Ogiwara's earlier despair had stirred something in him, it wasn't the primary reason Tsuna had sought him out. The real motive for his visit was more of a gamble, and he couldn't help but smirk at Ogiwara's question.
"What do you think of Shizuoka? Don't you think it's a beautiful city..."
"What?"
---
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