章 282: Chapter 282: A Fall from Grace
As the seconds dwindled, signaling the imminent close of the second quarter, Akashi discerned Tsuna's intent to goad him into triggering the zone right then and there.
Yet, consumed by fury, rationality eluded him.
"Very well!"
Akashi proclaimed, his declaration suffusing the court with an overwhelming pressure. Simultaneously, crimson streaks radiated from his eyes, a visual manifestation of his intense focus on Tsuna, who met his gaze with a sly smirk.
Without a moment's hesitation, Akashi dismissed any consideration for his teammates, deeming them worthless in the current situation.
"They're completely irrelevant now," he muttered under his breath, his gaze intensifying as he swiftly closed the distance.
His pupils glowed with the activation of his Emperor Eyes, providing him with unparalleled insight. With a seamless transition, he entered his zone state and executed a sharp crossover as he broke through Tsuna's defense.
Fukuda Sogo players exchanged glances and immediately gave chase. They grasped the unspoken truth that once Akashi entered the zone, passing was no longer part of his strategy.
Haizaki and Ogiwara lunged forward, tapping into their primal instincts in an attempt to halt Akashi's advance.
As Akashi sidestepped towards Ogiwara, his pupils ignited once more, a telltale sign of his Emperor Eyes at work.
With a swift crossover, he caught Ogiwara off balance mid-step.
"Goddammit!"
Haizaki cursed under his breath, his teeth clenched in frustration.
He made a desperate attempt to steal the ball in that fleeting moment, but Akashi's heightened perception, aided by his Emperor Eyes, allowed him to effortlessly evade Haizaki's grasp and break through their joint defense.
Tsuna observed the scene with a calm demeanor, a small smile gracing his lips.
He closed his eyes briefly before reopening them, now adorned with dark-colored streamlines, signaling his own heightened focus and readiness.
"Can't afford to offer any more opportunities, can I?" He murmured to himself, his voice barely audible over the din of the court.
Turning slowly, his attention was drawn to Akashi, who had effortlessly breached Mochizuki's defense and was now poised to confront Nijimura, Fukuda Sogo's last line of defense.
Sensing a formidable presence behind him, Akashi suddenly became aware of Tsuna's entry into the zone.
With precision born of his Emperor Eyes, he disrupted Nijimura's balance, causing him to stumble and fall to the ground.
Akashi surged forward with determination, his strides purposeful as he closed the distance between him and the basket.
"..."
With each step, his resolve solidified, fueled by the need to redeem his wounded pride.
However, as he leaped toward the basket, a surge of frustration rippled through him, evident in the grit of his teeth and the fiery intensity in his eyes. His gaze fixed on Tsuna, who seemed to have effortlessly closed the considerable gap between them in mere moments.
"Tsunayoshi!"
Akashi's voice rang out, a blend of fury and disbelief echoing across the court. With a swift motion, he raised the basketball, intent on making the crucial score, only to find his efforts thwarted by Tsuna's agile intervention.
The clash of their hands against the ball sent it careening off course, its trajectory disrupted as it collided with the backboard before bouncing back onto the court
"Sorry, but I can't exactly shout your name back; it'd be a bit embarrassing," Tsuna remarked casually, his words laced with a hint of amusement that only served to further stoke Akashi's ire.
As they both touched down on the court, their movements blurred into a blur of speed as they raced to retrieve the ball bouncing back onto the hardwood.
The players of Rakuzan High could only clench their teeth in frustration, realizing they had once again been left to fend for themselves by their captain.
Meanwhile, the players of Fukuda Sogo swiftly repositioned themselves, forming a tight defensive formation that effectively shut down any attempts by Rakuzan to regain momentum.
The stark contrast in morale between the two teams was palpable; while the members of Fukuda Sogo watched the unfolding duel between Tsuna and Akashi with solemn focus, the atmosphere among the Rakuzan players was one of frustration and uncertainty.
As the ball veered towards Tsuna's side of the court, he quickly closed the distance, using his body to shield it from Akashi's reach.
With a sudden burst of speed, Tsuna surged forward, prompting Akashi to mirror his movement in anticipation.
Yet, it was a feint—a clever deception.
Tsuna spun on his heel, leaving the ball untouched, and darted off in the opposite direction.
Despite Akashi's swift reaction, he could only trail behind Tsuna, their movements intertwining in a mesmerizing ballet of basketball prowess that left their teammates mere spectators.
Tsuna's strides were swift and purposeful, but Akashi, drawing upon both his zone and Emperor Eyes, matched him step for step.
With keen focus, he shadowed Tsuna's every move, refusing to yield an inch of ground as they navigated the court in perfect harmony.
Akashi remained unwavering, completely engrossed in the intense exchange unfolding before him.
His eyes tracked Tsuna's every move with lightning speed, his pupils darting to keep pace with Tsuna's nimble dribbling.
Tsuna was acutely aware of Akashi's focus, and adjusted his strategy accordingly.
Rather than attempting to outpace Akashi, he closed the distance with deliberate precision.
Akashi braced himself as Tsuna drew near, his Emperor Eyes ablaze with anticipation, ready to react to Tsuna's next move based on the glimpse of the future he had gleaned.
True to Akashi's foresight, Tsuna executed a swift crossover to the right, a move that sparked a glimmer of excitement in Akashi's expression.
"This is it!" he exclaimed, his hand poised to intercept the ball in Tsuna's grasp.
Tsuna's smirk widened as he confidently addressed Akashi. "...Didn't I mention? I've studied your use of the Emperor Eyes, Seijuro."
"Huh?"
Akashi's response was laced with confusion, his attention momentarily diverted by Tsuna's unexpected revelation.
Before he could fully process Tsuna's words, he found himself watching in disbelief as Tsuna executed a sharp step back, causing Akashi to instinctively adjust his footing, only to lose his balance in the process.
"..."
Tsuna paid no heed to Akashi's bewildered state, his focus solely on breaching Akashi's defense with effortless agility, taking advantage of Akashi's momentary lapse to surge past him unabated.
The resounding slam of the basketball hitting the court and the thunderous roar of the crowd snapped Akashi back to the present moment.
He shifted his gaze, his eyes meeting Tsuna's as the latter landed gracefully on the ground.
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