บท 173: Chapter 173: The Aegis' Crumbling Defense
"...What did I just see?"
"That's unreal..."
The crowd fell into a momentary silence, collectively processing the spectacle they had just witnessed—a lightning-quick alley-oop they had never seen before.
However, the hushed murmurs swiftly gave way to a crescendo of excitement and shock as the gymnasium erupted with a mix of awe and disbelief.
"...What was that?"
Mibuchi voiced the sentiment shared by many, his expression reflecting his genuine surprise at the sheer speed and precision of the alley-oop.
The sentiment resonated with the members of Rakuzan High, who exchanged bewildered glances.
Meanwhile, Akashi's eyes gleamed with a thoughtful light in the commotion. His sharp gaze solely focused on Tsuna's figure as he muttered, "...Good, show more of your card, Tsunayoshi!"
Back in the court, Murasakibara's towering figure observed Nijimura with genuine surprise before a frown etched across his face.
Just moments ago, he had been closely marking Nijimura, only to find himself bewildered as Nijimura quickly got past Murasakibara's defense without even holding a ball in his hand.
It left Murasakibara confused. The confusion deepened as Nijimura leaped toward the basket.
However, his confusion was answered by Tsuna's elusive pass.
The ball was aimed directly into Nijimura's slamming motion with precision akin to a bullet finding its mark. The seamless coordination between Tsuna and Nijimura unfolded before Murasakibara's eyes, leaving him momentarily taken aback.
"...How did he pull that off?" Takao exclaimed, his eyes fixed on Nijimura in shock. The same awe echoed among the Shutoku players beside him, all sharing a moment of disbelief.
Midorima shook his head, cutting through the murmurs. "...That pass was the impressive part."
Everyone turned their attention to Midorima as he adjusted his glasses, preparing to share his thoughts. Midorima continued, "Both plays were good, no doubt. Not everyone can execute that kind of pass. But Nijimura was just going through the motions. As long as his hand was open to receive the pass, his form doesn't matter..."
Midorima couldn't help but admire Nijimura's unshakable confidence in Tsuna's abilities.
Nijimura's unwavering trust in Tsuna's pass to be there precisely as he slammed it down into the basket showcased a profound level of trust and synergy between the two players.
The Shutoku team nodded as Midorima explained, "And Tsuna, he had to aim precisely, hitting exactly where Nijimura's hand was swinging..."
His words highlighted the remarkable precision and coordination needed between Tsuna and Nijimura to pull off such a flawless play.
"Whoa, Kazamacchi pulls off something incredible again..." Kise exclaimed with a touch of surprise in his voice. Yet, his eyes sparkled with a peculiar excitement as he observed the unfolding game.
Kise found himself captivated by the unexpected and extraordinary plays showcased by Fukuda Sogo.
On his end, Kasamatsu refrained from physically hitting Kise this time.
Instead, he studied Fukuda Sogo's players with a serious expression. His mind churned with thoughts, exploring the possibilities of Fukuda Sogo's depth.
"Have these guys held back, even during the Interhigh? Or is this something they cooked up specifically for the Winter Cup?"
Kasamatsu considered different scenarios, contemplating the potential surprises Fukuda Sogo might still have up their sleeves.
Scheduled to play on the other court, Kaijo High was preparing for their upcoming game, so they walked down the court toward their designated area for the tournament's second round.
Fukui clenched his teeth in frustration as the game pressed on. His focused dribbling carried the weight of the challenge. "Darn, can't believe they still have tricks up their sleeves..."
With a quick look, Fukui spotted Tsuna approaching, prompting a displeased click of his tongue.
He swiftly passed the ball to Okamura, whom Haizaki closely marked. Okamura wasted no time and redirected the ball to Murasakibara.
Murasakibara, determination evident on his face, muttered, "...I'll crush you."
He jumped into the air, initiating his signature move, Thor's Hammer. Rotating his body, Murasakibara prepared to slam the ball with both hands.
However, to his surprise, a strong hand intervened, striking down the ball and diverting its trajectory. Murasakibara missed the basket, gritting his teeth in annoyance as he directed his gaze at Nijimura.
If anyone looked closely, within Murasakibara's pupils, a strange glint shimmered—a glint that had never been there before.
Fortunate for Yosen High, Liu positioned himself just right to snag the rebound as the ball bounced off.
He snatched it swiftly, yet an unsettling feeling pricked at his senses. As expected, Ogiwara darted to swipe the ball away like a shadow in pursuit as Liu instinctively stepped back.
Sweat trickled down Liu's face, and under his breath, he grumbled, "...Persistent guy!"
Quick on his feet, Liu promptly passed the ball to Himuro, recognizing that he held the best chance in this critical moment.
As the ball settled into Himuro's hands, a weighty sense of the impending moment gripped him.
Without a moment's pause, he readied himself to make a move, executing a crossover to elude Mochizuki's defense. However, an unsettling feeling lingered as he glided forward with elegance—Mochizuki mirrored and countered every nuanced step.
"...I know he could see through my fakes, but what's this feeling," Himuro thought, feeling a sense of being watched like a predator stalking its prey.
The awareness of Mochizuki's sharp observation settled over him.
However, regaining his composure, Himuro knew it was now or never. With determination, he stepped back, rotating his body in the opposite direction, aiming to break past Mochizuki's defense.
Relief washed over Himuro as he skillfully bypassed Mochizuki, focusing now on the basket for the upcoming shot.
Yet, before he could release the ball, a hand grazed it, causing it to slip out of his grasp. Himuro's disbelief was evident as he glanced at Mochizuki, the culprit.
Frustration marked his face as Himuro grumbled, "...How did he get even quicker!?"
With lightning-quick reflexes, Tsuna approached the ball like a ghost, smoothly taking possession with a deft steal or interception.
Once he had the ball, Tsuna showed off his super speed and accuracy, effortlessly gliding through the court since there wasn't much defense to slow him down.
As Tsuna approached the basket, he gathered his strength and jumped high into the air, defying gravity with an impressive leap.
Hanging mid-air, Tsuna pulled off something unexpected as he circled the ball between his legs, surprising everyone with his skill.
Descending toward the basket with power and precision, Tsuna slammed the ball through the hoop.
The crowd burst into cheers and shouts, filling the stadium with a thunderous roar.
"Wow!!!"
Shouts, cheers, and applause echoed throughout the stadium, showcasing their amazement and admiration for Tsuna's impressive skills.
"Hah! Look at him showing off!"
Aomine remarked, glancing at Tsuna with a smirk.
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