章 245: Chapter 245: Heading to Their Match
The Shutoku players, their momentum utterly shattered, moved forward with a palpable tension as the game resumed.
Takao swiftly passed the ball to Midorima.
"...It's in your hands now, Shin!"
Takao conveyed, understanding that, given the current situation with Akashi, Midorima was their best hope.
A shared understanding rippled through the Shutoku players as they keenly watched Midorima, who skillfully maneuvered the ball with caution while Akashi closed in rapidly.
Dribbling the ball in Akashi's presence, Midorima's eyes widened suddenly. He took a step back, baffled, and voiced his confusion, "...What is this?"
As Midorima approached Akashi, an unexpected alarm surged through him, causing his hair to stand on end.
"Didn't you catch what I said earlier, Shintaro?" Akashi's voice echoed across the court.
The intensity of locking gazes with Akashi's nonchalant expression sent a shiver down Midorima's spine.
"So what? I'll dismantle your arrogance, Akashi..." Midorima shot back.
In a swift recovery, he steeled himself, reigniting his determination to win the game and advance.
Akashi shook his head in disappointment as he continued, "You're misunderstanding. The arrogance wasn't mine. It was your arrogance, thinking you could still turn this around. It's impossible now..."
Yet, these words served as fuel for Midorima. The intensity in his eyes flared as he executed a rapid crossover to the right, a move that Akashi effortlessly mirrored.
"Persist, and understand it was merely a desperate attempt to defy the absolute..." Akashi's voice trailed during the movement.
This prompted Midorima to grit his teeth in frustration. With a sudden step back and a fluid spin to the left, Midorima attempted to outmaneuver Akashi.
To the surprise of Shutoku's players, Akashi's figure did not follow Midorima's anticipated movement.
Hope flickered in their expressions, only to be extinguished as widened eyes of disbelief revealed the truth – the ball had been swiped from Midorima's grasp.
Midorima swiftly pivoted, his body turning to pursue Akashi, who deftly weaved through the court with the stolen ball in hand.
Shutoku players reacted swiftly, a collective surge as they pursued Akashi, fully aware of the passive state Rakuzan High players had descended into.
However, as they closed in on Akashi, a surreal sight unfolded.
One by one, Shutoku players found themselves kneeling, their gazes fixated on the radiant rings in Akashi's pupils. He didn't spare them a glance, continuing his relentless rampage, effortlessly scoring another point for Rakuzan.
"...They're widening the gap once again," Takao muttered.
Otsubo shook his head, realizing, "No, it's not them anymore. We're now only up against Akashi!"
Observing that Akashi no longer spared his teammates a glance, playing solo and disregarding the usual team style. He was familiar with Rakuzan High's playing style from his research.
"I need to toss my prior knowledge out the window and focus on stopping him," Otsubo muttered.
Now, it was a lone Akashi against the entire Shutoku High team—five against one.
Midorima, too, seemed to recognize this shift, his frustration evident in the tight grip of his fist.
However, Otsubo gently patted Midorima on the shoulder, prompting a surprised look from Midorima.
He suddenly spoke suddenly, "We're a team while he's alone. Don't bear it on your own, share the burden with us..."
Midorima's tightly clenched fist relaxed as he nodded in agreement.
As the third quarter came to an end, Shutoku players couldn't help but steal glances in Akashi's direction, still grappling with the disbelief of the surreal encounter.
Eventually, their attention shifted to the scoreboard, revealing the harsh reality.
73 - 63 in favor of Rakuzan.
A mere two points away from catching up just moments ago, before Akashi entered the zone, they had harbored confidence in turning the game around.
However, that optimism was now seemed like a distant dream, crushed beneath the relentless might of Akashi.
"...."
A heavy silence blanketed the court before it was shattered by the crowd erupting into loud cheers.
The spectators were in a frenzy, having witnessed the unbelievable sight of Akashi single-handedly dismantling Shutoku players, turning the once-competitive game into a showcase of individual dominance.
"That's absolutely insane!"
"Rakuzan! Rakuzan! Rakuzan!"
The resounding cheers and shouts of the fans reverberated throughout the gymnasium.
On the other hand, Shutoku's fans wore concerned expressions as their eyes flickered between the game and the widening scoreboard.
If Shutoku couldn't make a significant impact in the last quarter, it was apparent that Rakuzan, or rather, Akashi, would continue to score, further expanding the gap in the scoreboard.
As both teams retreated to their benches, a heavy silence settled in.
Shutoku's players had their minds racing, searching for a way out, while their coach pondered with a thoughtful hum. On the other side, Rakuzan sat in quiet disbelief, their eyes fixed on Akashi.
"...Did he really not need us from the start?"
Hayama couldn't help but think silently, observing Akashi calmly wiping his towel in the quietude.
Gritting his teeth, Hayama noticed Akashi's indifference towards them and silently cursed, "Why won't you at least scold us, Akashi!?"
Receiving cold treatment felt more biting than facing Akashi's scolding, and it wasn't just him; the other Uncrowned Kings wore expressions of discontent under the chilly reception.
Mayuzumi stood as an exception, never truly being part of the Uncrowned Kings' small circle and even having his own dealing with Akashi.
What Akashi did didn't carry much weight for him.
Not long after, the break between quarters concluded, and both teams returned to fill the court.
Shutoku had committed to stopping Akashi entirely, confident that he wouldn't pass to teammates anymore. They believed that even if he did, they could make mid-game adjustments.
However, as the fourth quarter commenced, Akashi swiftly crushed their strategy, single-handedly dismantling their defense.
Midorima also found himself unable to counter.
The scoreboard expanded rapidly, and before they knew it, the fourth quarter concluded.
All eyes turned to Akashi, standing alone in the middle of the court, his cold gaze piercing their souls as they looked at the scoreboard in disbelief.
"...Did we really lose this badly, to just him?"
Takao expressed his shock, staring at the scoreboard that displayed a crushing 97 - 63 victory for Rakuzan High.
The gymnasium resounded with cheers once again, the excitement echoing through the crowd, especially among those who were fervent fans of Rakuzan High.
Amidst the cheers, Tsuna rose from his seat, and Fukuda Sogo's players followed suit in a show of anticipation.
"Well, this isn't really a surprise, anyway..." Tsuna thought silently, observing the result.
On the side, Momoi turned toward Tsuna. She offered a gesture of good luck accompanied by a warm smile.
In response, Tsuna returned the smile, nodding.
He then faced his team and spoke, "Let's get going. We have our own match waiting as well."
"Understood, Captain!"
Fukuda Sogo's players responded energetically, mirroring Tsuna's steps as they headed onto the court.
---
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