Chapter 237: Turning the Tide

"Whoaa!"

"What the heck was that!?"

The crowd erupted into even louder cheers, witnessing an unbelievable combo from Midorima and Takao of Shutoku. They simply couldn't fathom what they had just witnessed as their boisterous voices echoed throughout the gymnasium.

"Did he just pull off a combo like Zenith Strike from Fukuda Sogo?"

Izuki muttered in disbelief.

"...It does look quite similar," Hyuga noted, nervously adjusting his glasses on the side.

He couldn't help but shake his head, thinking these guys were executing such a ridiculous move right there.

"I also agree; it felt eerily similar to how Zenith Strike would unfold." Aida chimed in, closing her eyes as she tried to recall the overpowering combo executed by Tsuna and Nijimura. She continued, "But, this combo from Shutoku should be a lot more challenging to pull off..."

"...Why?"

"It's mainly because both players need to be completely immersed in this combo to execute it. A slight mistake from either of them will break the combo..."

Her voice continued, delving into the complexity of the move.

"Takao had to time the pass exactly when Midorima reached the peak of his jump, aiming precisely where Midorima's hand was about to be. Midorima, in turn, had to seize control of the ball within a minuscule timeframe and release it flawlessly— it wasn't just technical skill that was required."

Eyes in the room sparkled with understanding before transforming into awe at the seamless execution of the combo by Midorima and Takao.

"They needed to trust each other..." Aida concluded.

In her mind, the Zenith Strike briefly replayed, and she noted that such a strike mainly depended on the one passing the ball, as the receiver only had to slam it down as usual.

"...Even though I mentioned that the Sky Direct Three-Point combo was more complicated and Zenith Strike was simpler, Zenith Strike had higher requirements due to the precision needed and the force in passing."

Silently noting this, she understood that there was no one else capable of executing such an elusive pass except Tsunayoshi Kazama from Fukuda Sogo and Ryota Kise from Kaijo.

Shifting her focus back to the game, the exhilarating buzz of the Sky Direct Three-Point combo by Midorima and Takao infused a newfound vigor into the players of Shutoku High.

A wave of heightened pressure swept across the court, causing the Uncrowned Kings to exchange silent frowns. 

It was as if the Shutoku had somehow cranked their strength up a notch.

Amidst the heightened atmosphere, Hayama, visibly irked by the sudden change, let the ball echo through the court with an assertive dribble, utilizing just four fingers.

Closing in with a frown, Miyaji couldn't help but mirror the annoyance etched on Hayama's face.

"Hah! This ain't as fun as it used to be..." Hayama grumbled, voicing his discontent, which seemed to rub Miyaji the wrong way.

Yet, a glint of determination sparked in Miyaji's eyes.

As Hayama shifted his footwork, Miyaji closed the distance, intensifying the pressure. Feeling the heat, Hayama smirked as he altered his pace with a sudden crossover to the right.

In an instant, he broke through Miyaji's defense, leaving the latter scrambling in pursuit.

"Haha, gotcha with that one, huh?"

Hayama's laughter echoed behind like an annoying soundtrack, causing Miyaji's veins to practically pop out of his temple.

In his mind, he silently vowed, "That rude brat, I swear I'll smack some sense into him later!"

In the blink of an eye, Hayama soared toward the basket, excitement gleaming in his eyes. However, that thrill quickly turned to surprise as a sudden presence loomed at his side.

A hand struck the ball in his grip, sending it spiraling out of his control.

Reacting like lightning, Miyaji swooped in, snatching the ball before gracefully hurling it forward in Otsubo's direction.

Hayama stared at the hand that had thwarted his dunk, and his eyes widened in realization.

Midorima's figure emerged, moving with unexpected speed. He muttered in genuine surprise, "How the heck did he get here so fast?"

Rakuzan High players hustled back, a swarm of defenders converging on Otsubo.

Being the closest, Nebuya closed the distance with surprising speed.

Otsubo with a furrowed brow as he carefully dribbled the ball while searching for an opening in Nebuya's formidable defense form.

"He's really not your average defender, huh?" Otsubo silently thought while sizing up Nebuya's rock-solid defensive stance.

Amidst their defensive dance, Nebuya couldn't help but interject with a hearty laugh, "Hahaha, apologies, but I've fueled up on a mountain of food today—I'm practically on fire!"

Closing in with a determined grin, Nebuya seemed to devour the court with his imposing presence.

Otsubo couldn't help but feel the pressure as he took a step back before initiating a crossover to navigate around Nebuya's looming figure.

However, much to Otsubo's surprise, Nebuya's colossal frame managed to shadow his every move.

"Alright, I'll just make a pass then!"

Otsubo's declaration hung in the air. Stepping back once more, he redirected the ball with a sidelong motion, executing a swift pass that sliced through the defense, finding its mark in Takao's waiting hands.

Snagging the ball without missing a beat, Takao's reflexes were in overdrive as he swiftly sent it sailing once more, this time toward Midorima, who was already in a seamless flow of motion.

The ball, guided by Midorima's precise shot, soared through the air in a high arc, effortlessly finding its mark with a swish through the basket.

"Their combo is truly a headache!"

Mibuchi couldn't help but grit his teeth in frustration, the game slipping further out of Rakuzan's control.

The frustration wasn't exclusive to Mibuchi alone.

The players on Rakuzan, whose eyes were set ablaze with annoyance, reflected the increasing difficulty of dealing with their opponents.

Suddenly, they felt a penetrating gaze and turned to see Akashi, his expression cold as ice.

Instantly, their frustration melted away, replaced by a sense of fear.

Hayama swallowed hard, he realized they had let their emotions take over and took a deep breath to regain composure.

"..."

Akashi looked away, satisfied that they had recognized their mistake.

The referee blew his whistle, signaling the end of the first half with Rakuzan leading the scoreboard 45-39.

He then walked towards the bench, his team trailing behind.

Midorima's combo with Takao had provided Shutoku with an opening to grasp the momentum and stage a comeback, bringing them close to catching up with Rakuzan's score.

Noticing the subtle exchanges among Rakuzan High players, Midorima adjusted his glasses, realizing that they had regained their composure.

"...The next half is going to be tough," he muttered to himself as he strolled alongside his teammates to take a break.

His lips unconsciously curled up slightly in anticipation.

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