บท 202: Chapter 202: Bearing the Sweet Fruit of Persistence
As the game progressed and Fukuda Sogo's pace intensified, Kaijo found themselves increasingly overwhelmed by the mounting pressure, teetering on the verge of defensive collapse.
The crowd also became more animated, mirroring the intensity of the match.
"...Looks like they've caught on, huh?" Midorima mumbled to himself, casting a glance at the unfolding game.
However, with Kaijo now understanding the necessity of taking risks and creating openings beyond relying solely on Kise, they began making bold moves that simultaneously intensified the pressure on Fukuda Sogo's defense.
Midorima had been perplexed before, wondering why Tsuna had initially centered the gameplay around the duel between Haizaki and Kise.
"Was he confident that Haizaki could completely suppress Kise?"
Midorima believed so, given that Haizaki hadn't succeeded in entirely suppressing Kise. It seemed the most logical explanation for Fukuda Sogo's abrupt shift in their attack pattern.
Anyone would think the same, considering a slight advantage in the duel wouldn't satisfy a team of such caliber.
"...Still, what if it's the other way around?"
Midorima adjusted his glasses with a grim expression.
If that were the case, it meant Kise had improved significantly for Tsuna to utilize him in refining a player of Haizaki's caliber.
"Haizaki is already strong enough to take control the momentum against Kise. Does that mean there's more to it?"
However, having a better understanding of Tsuna than anyone, as he closely monitored Fukuda Sogo's Captain's movements, Midorima was aware that Tsuna undoubtedly had a plan involving Haizaki.
"...If Haizaki can truly surpass expectations, that means there would be three players in Fukuda Sogo, including Tsuna, who could contend with the Generation of Miracles."
Even if it were only at a foundational level, the prospect was still daunting enough for such a team to emerge in the tournament.
Despite the significant improvements made by the current Generation of Miracles, a player reaching such a level was impressive nonetheless.
"Absurd..."
Midorima sighed, unable to resist shifting his gaze toward where Rakuzan High was situated. The only other team with such a formidable lineup, besides Fukuda Sogo, would be...
...Rakuzan High.
They boasted three of the Uncrowned Kings in their team, and despite their defeat against Fukuda Sogo in the Interhigh, this setback was seen as a guarantee for improvement.
Aware of the formidable opponents Shutoku would face, Midorima was far from discouraged.
Instead, his gaze lit up with excitement within his pupils.
Having identified his trigger to enter the zone, he had become more honest with himself about the thrill of facing strong opponents.
On the court, Kaijo's risky plays had been mostly stopped by Fukuda Sogo's players.
However, they remained persistent in their efforts.
While Fukuda Sogo's players attempted to steer the play towards either Kasamatsu or Kise, Kaijo actively sought alternatives. This time, the ball found its way to Moriyama, who was being marked by Ishida.
Moriyama, Kaijo's shooting guard, possessed a unique and challenging shooting style. Despite its difficulty to block, Moriyama considered his current situation to be an unfavorable matchup. Especially against an agility-focused player like Ishida.
"Nevertheless, there are other options," he thought with a smirk as he surprised Ishida by passing the ball to Kise without any apparent pressure from him.
The move left Ishida perplexed.
Why would Moriyama willingly pass the ball to Kise in a seemingly pressure-free situation?
Though he was perplexed, Ishida still tried to close the distance with Moriyama to continue marking Kaijo's Shooting Guard.
However, he soon realized that Moriyama had effortlessly stepped back faster.
It created more space between them, prompting him to exclaim as he saw the ball flying to Moriyama's hand, "Shit!"
Moriyama smirked lightly at Ishida as Kise passed the ball back to him.
"...Well, it looks like our persistence finally paid off, doesn't it?"
He spoke, genuinely pleased that their efforts were bearing fruit after multiple failed attempts to break through.
Observing Ishida's immediate reaction as he tried to close the distance between them, Moriyama smoothly transitioned into his unorthodox shooting motion. He swung the ball between his hands from below, deviating from the orthodox shot from above.
The ball soared into the air with a high arc, its trajectory devoid of any visible motion, causing Ishida to grit his teeth, acknowledging that the shot was flawless.
As expected, the ball swished smoothly through the basket.
Despite Fukuda Sogo's immediate retaliation, Kaijo remained undeterred. Moriyama's breakthrough had created numerous possibilities for them.
Building on Moriyama's success, Kobori and Hayakawa finally connected the points, capitalizing on Moriyama's shot and securing the rebound in case he missed.
On the side, Ogiwara was pleasantly surprised to see Hayakawa's versatility, excelling not only in rebounding but also showcasing impressive speed.
A slight smile appeared on Ogiwara's face as he looked forward to the challenge posed by this strong opponent.
With these developments, Kaijo successfully penetrated Fukuda Sogo's defense.
The only tasks left were to fortify their own defense and slow down Fukuda Sogo's scoring pace, ensuring they could catch up in the game.
Kaijo's coach had a plan in case they succeeded in breaking through, which they did. They employed Kobori and Hayakawa to double-team anyone approaching their defensive area near their own basket.
While it might not completely halt Fukuda Sogo's aggressive assault, it could at least apply the brakes, giving Kaijo's offense an opportunity to narrow the score gap.
Kasamatsu's lips curved into a satisfied smile, seeing their strategy play out.
"...This should be the turning point!" he declared with confidence.
Yet, when he shifted his focus to Tsuna, his words faltered, and his eyes widened with surprise.
"...What?"
Anticipating a furrowed brow or signs of deep contemplation, Kasamatsu was taken aback. Instead, Tsuna's expression exuded absolute calmness, as if Kaijo's maneuvers had left no impact on him whatsoever.
Staring into Tsuna's tranquil gaze felt like peering into the abyss, and Kasamatsu clenched his teeth, thinking, "Do you find this amusing? We're on the brink of seizing the momentum, and yet you treat it like a joke? What's going on in that head of yours, you rascal!"
As Tsuna sensed Kasamatsu's intense gaze, he raised his eyebrows in surprise, piecing together the thoughts racing through Kasamatsu's mind.
However, he simply shook his head lightly, choosing not to offer an explanation.
From the beginning, he never underestimated Kaijo High. He had meticulously contemplated the best strategies to counter any moves they might make.
It was akin to his approach to chess, where he would consider multiple possibilities.
Even as it appeared that Kaijo was on the brink of turning the tables, it fell well within his expectations.
"...Besides, if they couldn't manage that, it would be rather dull, wouldn't it?"
Tsuna's expression twisted into his signature smirk, a gesture Kasamatsu misinterpreted as mockery, further fueling his frustration.
Yet, among the members of Fukuda Sogo, there was a collective understanding that it was time to shatter Kaijo's soaring aspirations.
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