Chapter 165: Shattered Records

"Don't be surprised. I just know how to handle a big guy like you..."

Nijimura's voice cut through the silence, his words laced with confidence. He'd observed enough clashes between Tsuna and Silver to pick up a few tricks.

Murasakibara was taken aback by Nijimura's words, and he then frowned in displeasure.

Meanwhile, Okamura widened his eyes in shock. However, as he recalled what Nijimura had done, he understood why he could block Murasakibara's dunk.

As he thought, "He's not just clever..."

"...He's also not someone to be taken lightly!"

However, what made him slightly feel on edge was the intense pressure from Nijimura.

The audience collectively gasped in disbelief at the spectacle of Nijimura's successful block, a momentary suspension of breath as the unexpected turn of events unfolded.

Seirin High's players mirrored the shock reflected in the stands. Koganei voiced the collective sentiment and exclaimed, "...That's ridiculous!"

"He was clever..."

Momoi mused, her eyes fixed on Nijimura, who had remarkably used a skilful block that thwarted Murasakibara's attempt to score for Yosen High.

"Clever, huh? What's that supposed to mean?" Kagami questioned with his brow furrowing in confusion.

Aomine shook his head with a disdainful smirk.

"What a blockhead," Aomine muttered dismissively, casting a sidelong glance at Kagami.

"What did you just call me!?" Kagami retorted, his irritation bubbling to the surface. His eyes rolled in annoyance at Aomine's unabashed comment.

Aomine merely scoffed at Kagami's reaction, an amused glint in his eyes as if revelling in the stirred emotions of his fiery counterpart.

Meanwhile, Momoi observed the banter between the two with a shake of her head, her eyes reflecting a mix of exasperation and fondness.

"Nijimura was keenly aware of his disadvantage in raw power, especially pitted against someone of Murasakibara's caliber," she explained, calming down the tension between them.

"And because of this, he relied more on his jumping power, executing a skillful block with a slight angle that disrupted Murasakibara's powerful dunk attempt." She then continued that, making everyone in Seirin nod in realization.

Ignoring Momoi's explanation, Aomine's attention was fixated entirely on Nijimura, who emanated a familiar pressure.

"...His aura seems to be sharper than the last time."

A subtle frown etched across Aomine's face as he recalled the less-than-pleasant memories of being pressured by Nijimura during their encounter in the Interhigh.

The gymnasium echoed with exuberant cheers and gasps of amazement.

"Woaaah!!!"

"That's crazy! Murasakibara was stopped!"

The crowd, electrified by the unexpected turn of events, couldn't contain their excitement. The uproarious cheers surged through the air, creating an electric atmosphere as spectators absorbed the intensity of the play unfolding right from the beginning.

Yet, the game was far from over.

"Fuck! Everyone get back on your feet!"

Okamura's urgent shout reverberated through the gym as he realized that the astonishing play momentarily paralyzed his team.

Seizing the moment, Ogiwara displayed remarkable agility and reaction speed.

In a fluid and decisive motion, he anticipated the ball's trajectory as it rebounded off the backboard.

With precision, Ogiwara snatched the ball mid-air and executed a swift pass, directing the ball seamlessly into Tsuna's waiting hands without hesitation.

Tsuna swiftly grabbed the ball as he dashed forward, disrupting the momentum and shifting it toward Fukuda Sogo High. However, Yosen High was no pushover, as Fukui reacted immediately as he moved to intercept Tsuna's advance.

Recognizing the urgency, Yosen High hastily scrambled to recover and pursue the Captain of Fukuda Sogo Academy.

In the action, Liu's gaze instinctively fell upon Fukui who had reacted faster than any of them. A silent expression of relief crossed Liu's face, accompanied by an inner sentiment, "Thank God he reacted immediately!"

"..."

Typically, Fukui would accompany such defensive maneuvers with spirited shouts like, "I won't let you get past me!" or "Not on my watch!" But having reviewed the recordings of Fukuda Sogo's previous matches, he hesitated.

The formidable skills the Fukuda Sogo captain displayed cast doubt on Fukui's usual confidence.

"...Then, I don't need to stop you!"

Fukui's determined eyes gleamed with a different kind of resolve. His words held a conviction that caught Tsuna's attention.

"...Naturally, you wouldn't."

A knowing smile formed on Tsuna's face as he understood Fukui's strategy. It became evident that Fukui wasn't attempting a direct block but instead buying precious time.

As the scene unfolded, the realization of what Fukui was doing rippled through the team as they witnessed a towering figure swiftly go past them. A collective exhale echoed through the team, marked by a palpable sense of relief. 

"We're the Shield of Aegis! Be it the King of Kings or whatever, taking us down won't be easy!" Okamura's fervent proclamation echoed across the court, his voice resonating with the unwavering confidence that radiated from his determined gaze.

Tsuna effortlessly sidestepped Fukui's defense, seizing the opportunity and leaving him behind. In a seamless motion, Tsuna leaped gracefully into the air, the ball cradled in his hand as he aimed for a dunk.

As Tsuna anticipated, a looming shadow appeared beside him as a towering figure with long arms powerfully stroking the ball in his hand—Murasakibara had arrived.

But Tsuna didn't falter in the slightest as he adjusted his intended move. Instead of executing the dunk as initially planned, he subtly altered the ball's trajectory, nudging it toward the backboard.

"...What?"

Murasakibara's eyes widened in surprise at Tsuna's unexpected maneuver, his confusion evident.

However, his confusion was answered as another figure swiftly appeared behind him – Nijimura.

Seizing the opportunity, Nijimura wasted no time. The ball rebounding off the backboard was immediately slammed down to the basket by him!

The gymnasium erupted in awe and excitement.

"...As expected of Fukuda Sogo! They've shattered the Shield of Aegis' record!"

"Holy...! Finally, Yosen High gets dunked on!"

"Yeah, it's the first time they're facing an opponent that can score even with their defense!"

Spectators and players alike marveled at the collaborative combo that outwitted and successfully executed a scoring play against the formidable defense of the Yosen High.

As they landed on the court, Murasakibara eyed Nijimura with an uncharacteristic seriousness, a frown marring his usually disinterested expression.

"...You're pretty annoying," he grumbled, glancing at the Fukuda Sogo player who had just scored.

Even though annoyance flashed in his eyes, Murasakibara couldn't deny that he was taking Nijimura more seriously now. It was the first time he acknowledged that Nijimura's skills went beyond mere strength as he used annoying techniques that were troublesome to him.

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