Chapter 110: Breaking the ice: Scoring their first points

Nash hardened his expression as he remarked, "But there's still no way for you to change the outcome of this game."

Tsuna continued to dribble the ball at an incredible speed, with the Jabberwock players doggedly keeping up, even though it seemed nearly impossible. However, Tsuna maintained his relentless pace, causing the Jabberwock players to break into a sweat.

Silver couldn't help but think, "We knew he was a monster, but what's with this intense pressure?"

Silver, who was known for his excessive arrogance, had a personality quite like Nash's. He wasn't the kind to easily acknowledge others, especially in the world of streetball.

But Tsuna was different.

He was one of the very few people who had earned Silver's respect. It all began during Tsuna's one-on-one with Nash.

As Silver got to know Tsuna better while he managed the team and played alongside them, he became deeply impressed with Tsuna's innovative minds, which had made the team internationally renowned.

Tsuna's dedication left everyone in awe.

He trained tirelessly, often pushing himself even harder than the rest of them. His commitment and motivation were truly remarkable.

Tsunayoshi Kazama, as they came to know him, was an exceptional player, and his work ethic was off the charts.

He had a unique drive that set him apart.

Silver had always recognized Tsuna's talent, and even Nash wanted him to join their team. However, there were some reasons preventing Tsuna from playing with them, which was quite unfortunate.

Silver closely followed Tsuna's every move. Tsuna wore a confident smirk as he quickly maneuvered, stepping back and creating space between them. In a swift motion, Tsuna passed the ball to Nijimura, who had now regained his composure.

Fukuda Sogo players rallied around their captain, ready to support him.

But Tsuna didn't stop there. He made a beeline for the basket, and Silver, realizing Tsuna's intention, cursed under his breath as he gave chase.

As expected by Silver, Nijimura swiftly lobbed the ball toward the basket, aiming for Tsuna. Tsuna leaped into the air to claim it.

"I will not let you do it easily!"

With determination in his eyes, Silver jumped as well, aiming to block Tsuna's shot.

Tsuna smiled serenely as he hung in midair, clutching the ball. He understood that Silver's taller frame gave him an advantage in such situations.

However...

Tsuna closed his eyes and found himself standing before a monumental set of doors in his conscious mind. When he approached, the grand doors swung open, almost as if they were expecting him, revealing a realm he was about to enter as an honored guest.

As he opened his eyes, Tsuna's gaze seemed to smolder with an intense determination.

Dark sparks crackled within his eyes as he faced Silver's imposing block head-on, soaring through the air.

The basketball firmly gripped in Tsuna's hand met Silver's outstretched fingers. Silver, brimming with confidence, expected to deny Tsuna's attempt to dunk.

But shock coursed through him as he realized that Tsuna's strength surpassed his own. Silver's mouth gaped in disbelief as Tsuna forcefully, and with overpowering force, slammed the ball through the hoop. 

Silver gazed up at Tsuna, who was briefly suspended in the air before landing gracefully. Tsuna extended a hand and asked, "Need a hand, Jason?"

Without even thinking, Silver accepted the offer and rose to his feet. His expression was a mix of amazement and surprise. He watched Tsuna as the guy shook his head and returned to his team.

As Tsuna walked away, Silver couldn't help but mutter to himself, "He's an absolute monster..."

All the players on the Jabberwock team were in a state of shock, their eyes wide open in disbelief. Silver was their strongest in terms of physical strength, yet Tsuna had managed to bypass his block, which seemed nothing short of madness.

Tsuna continued to walk with his team, sensing an odd atmosphere. He noticed that his teammates were avoiding eye contact, appearing somewhat embarrassed.

"Why the long faces?" Tsuna inquired.

Every one of them remained silent, sharing uneasy glances with one another.

Tsuna was perplexed by their reaction. They were grown adults, yet their behavior was quite childlike.

"Alright, let's try to score a bit more," Tsuna suggested, glancing at the scoreboard.

The rest of the team also turned their attention to it, which displayed a score of 2-46, an absolute lead for the Jabberwock.

Rather than feeling hopeless, a newfound determination swelled within them. They set a goal to score at least ten more points. Tsuna nodded, acknowledging their determination.

The game resumed, with Nash dribbling the ball while gazing thoughtfully in Tsuna's direction.

Nash couldn't believe his eyes as he observed Tsuna's incredible performance.

"Zone? When did he learn to do that?" he wondered silently.

When Tsuna executed a remarkable dunk, revelation dawned upon Nash.

His anger flared up, and he muttered, "He's capable of scoring on his own, but he was intentionally holding back."

Nash came to a sudden realization that Tsuna's solo performance wasn't about scoring points. Instead, he was strategically buying time and putting on a show for his teammates, motivating them to rise against the overpowering strength of the Jabberwock.

Nash couldn't help but express his disbelief.

"This guy's out of his mind," he mumbled.

While Tsuna had informed Nash of his intentions to use the Jabberwock to thoroughly defeat Fukuda Sogo, Nash was still taken aback by Tsuna's ability to maintain control over the game, even in these circumstances.

It didn't sit well with Nash's own pride.

With a commanding gesture, he directed his team to continue playing.

"...As I thought, someone with that level of ambition definitely needs to have such guts," he reflected.

As Nash moved ahead, the Fukuda Sogo players stood their ground, their determination evident in their resolute stances.

Tsuna's eyes sparked with dark streaks, held a pleased expression.

He said, "Well done. It would've been a waste if you all had gone down so easily."

Tsuna felt satisfaction in the success of his gamble this time. His gaze then shifted to Ogiwara, and his eyes glinted with a hint of something deeper as he confirmed something.

As the intense basketball game pressed on in a distinctly different part of Japan, Shizuoka, a red-haired teenager, strolled purposefully down a street, heading towards a specific school in the area.

As Kagami entered Fukuda Sogo Academy, he couldn't help but mutter, "This must be where Alex works."

But his confidence waned when he noticed a group of students who, while not dressed like typical delinquents, had an intimidating aura. He looked around with a hint of nervousness, wondering if he had stumbled into some kind of trouble.

A student who appeared to be the leader of the group stepped forward and barked, "Why the hell are you in our school, you moron?"

Kagami's anxiety grew as these intimidating individuals surrounded him. He stuttered, "...I'm here to find Alex."

Upon mentioning Alex's name, the mood among the students shifted suddenly, leaving Kagami startled.

The leader shook his head dismissively and raised his hand, commanding, "Looks like we've got another one vying for her attention. Let's teach him a lesson he won't forget!"

"Ooooh!!!"

A chorus of agreement erupted from the group as they charged toward Kagami. Panic washed over him as he realized what was happening.

Ever since Alexandra had arrived at their school, situations like this had become all too common. It seemed like a routine for these students to make examples out of anyone who dared to approach their foreign basketball coach.

"Wait, hold on! I'm one of her students!"

Kagami's plea was drowned out by the mob of students converging on him. He was quickly overwhelmed, subjected to a barrage of blows as he exclaimed, "What's wrong with this place?"

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