Chapter 274: Snatching Snacks from the Lion's Jaws

Nijimura's eyes honed in and guided the ball towards Tsuna with a deft touch.

Nebuya was expressing his irritation through a click of the tongue, and Nijimura, once back on the floor, seamlessly transitioned into their next moves.

Tsuna firmly gripped the ball, scanning the court as Haizaki and Ogiwara swiftly adjusted their positions, marking Akashi with determined precision. The surprise etched on Akashi's face was unmistakable.

"...What?"

In a slightly surprised tone, Akashi muttered as Haizaki and Ogiwara boldly approached him, prompting a quick exchange of glances with Hayama, who nodded in agreement while swiftly advancing toward Tsuna.

The gymnasium echoed with cheers, the crowd's excitement creating a vibrant atmosphere.

Caught off guard by Tsuna's unexpected strategy, Midorima's eyes widened in surprise.

He found himself frowning, pondering, "...Is he planning something here?"

The stark contrast from the anticipated moves based on the way Tsuna usually do things left him in a momentary state of confusion.

Shaking his head to dispel the confusion, Midorima chose to set aside the complexities and immerse himself in the enjoyment of the game.

His focus returned to Tsuna, calmly dribbling the ball with Hayama approaching.

"...I'll be watching you win, just as you told me to, Tsuna," Midorima murmured, a quiet determination in his voice, settling into the role of a spectator, prepared to witness Tsuna's unconventional tactics unfold on the court.

On the court, Hayama immediately approached Tsuna with palpable tension, his instincts urging him to flee right instant from the figure before him.

However, an irrepressible grin broke across Hayam's face as he couldn't contain his excitement, declaring, "...This is it! An exhilarating duel!"

Tsuna, observing Hayama's conflicting emotions of fear and thrill, couldn't help but mutter, "He's not right in the head, too, huh?"

Undeterred, Tsuna shook his head before unleashing a burst of swift, rhythmic dribbles that set the ball ablaze with motion. The hardwood resonated with the percussive beats of the ball, and Hayama's grin widened as if mirroring the dance between man and basketball.

"I couldn't see the ball properly!"

Hayama's excitement surged as he struggled to keep up with Tsuna's lightning-quick movements. His instincts, like a finely-tuned machine, propelled him forward in sync with every twist and turn on the court.

However, just as Hayama thought he had grasped the rhythm, Tsuna abruptly slammed the brakes.

The ball seemed to vanish into thin air, leaving Hayama bewildered. He tilted his head in confusion, eyes narrowing as he stared at Tsuna, who stood like a sentinel in the sudden stillness.

"What?" Hayama muttered, his senses heightened, a mix of confusion and determination in his eyes.

"Kotaro, reposition!"

Mibuchi'svoice sliced through the charged air.

Hayama's gaze darted, realizing the ball was truly no longer in Tsuna's possession. It now hurtled towards Nijimura, prompting an instinctive response from Hayama.

"...Damn," he cursed, quickening his pace to shadow Tsuna closely.

Nijimura, in possession of the ball, advanced with deliberate dribbles.

Nebuya closed in on him with a challenge, bellowing, "Come at me head-on, Nijimura!"

Nijimura maintained his focus despite the loud annoying shouts, though, he couldn't help but furrow his eyebrows.

"Why the hell are you shouting so loudly?" he retorted, seamlessly continuing his advance without missing a beat.

"Hahaha!"

Nebuya's laughter echoed on the court, a boisterous response to the impending clash. Grinning, he taunted, "I've eaten more than my usual servings today, all for you, Nijimura!"

More food meant more strength, or so Nebuya believed.

Nijimura shook his head in disbelief, a speechless expression etched on his face.

"This guy is completely insane," he muttered under his breath, his eyes narrowing as he prepared for the impending clash.

With the ball securely in his possession, Nijimura closed the distance with a sharp, purposeful advance.

Nebuya grinned and responded by widening his defensive stance, creating a formidable barrier.

However, Nijimura remained unfazed, executing a deceptive feint towards the right. Nebuya was caught off guard before adjusting his form, only for Nijimura to explosively cross over to the left, shattering Nebuya's defense in the process.

"...Shit!" He shouted in disbelief.

The sequence left Akashi with a frown, his gaze briefly shifting to Haizaki and Ogiwara.

Their fierce expressions made it clear that any attempt to intervene would be met with resistance.

Meanwhile, Nijimura streaked down the court with relentless determination, leaving no one in his wake. In a heartbeat, he slammed the ball through the basket, a flawless execution that sent the crowd into a frenzy.

"Whoaa!"

"Our King got it first!"

The roar of excitement echoed through the arena as Fukuda Sogo secured the first points of the game, a momentous feat that set the stage for the intense battle that lay ahead.

With Nijimura's triumphant two-point contribution, Fukuda Sogo gracefully retreated to get back to their position on the court.

Akashi's gaze shifted to Tsuna, who wore a nonchalant expression.

A hint of skepticism crept into Akashi's voice as he muttered, "...I don't know if you're being serious or not anymore, Tsunayoshi."

Commanding Mibuchi to retrieve the ball, Akashi received it with calculated precision.

"Move forward..."

Dribbling the ball forward, he initiated a deliberate advance. Rakuzan High players responded by slowly advance into the opponent's defensive formation in sync.

Meanwhile, Haizaki and Ogiwara responded with immediate aggression, closing in on Akashi with predatory intent.

Looking at the approaching duo, Akashi scoffed dismissively, his words dripping with disdain. "What a joke..."

Haizaki and Ogiwara, though met with Akashi's scorn, remained unfazed. Their bodies may have appeared relaxed, but their expressions betrayed a fierce determination.

"Sending monkeys after a lion is a suicide, Tsunayoshi..." Akashi declared with an air of authority.

In response, he sharply altered the pace of his dribble, a calculated move that forced Haizaki to grit his teeth and tense up as he exchanged a meaningful glance with Ogiwara, who acknowledged with a nod and a subtle repositioning.

Akashi wasted no time, deftly breaking open Haizaki's defense with a seemingly effortless side step.

His focus shifted forward; now, he needed to navigate past Ogiwara.

"They won't even make me sweat," Akashi thought, his confidence palpable as he prepared to adjust his movements.

However, disbelief flickered in his widened eyes as he felt a hand aiming for the ball in his possession. Akashi turned to find Haizaki's sharp gaze focused on him, the latter's hand streaking the ball away in a surprising display of skill.

"Monkey, you say?"

Haizaki scoffed, his confidence evident as he burst forward, leaving a lingering remark, "I'll show you that even a monkey can find its food in the mouth of the lion, you bastard..."

Ogiwara quickly reacted and moved to retrieve the ball before launching it towards Haizaki, who sprinted ahead with determination.

Tsuna's satisfaction manifested in a smirk as he nodded, observing Haizaki's powerful slam that echoed across the court.

The crowd was enthralled by the spectacle and reveled in the electrifying display.