Chapter 281: Slowly Drowning in Defeat

"Nijimura!"

Nebuya exclaimed, his astonishment evident in his wide-eyed gaze directed at Nijimura's figure.

Despite facing off against him during the Interhigh, Nebuya had believed he had a solid understanding of Nijimura's strength.

After going through his intense training regime to improve, Nebuya was feeling confident.

Coupled with Nijimura's apparent lack of showcasing new techniques like some of their teammates, Nebuya had assumed his own improvements would be sufficient to match Nijimura's prowess.

However, the outcome of their duel had proven otherwise, leaving Nebuya surprised and questioning his previous assessment.

"He's still got the upper hand!"

Nebuya exclaimed, feeling the sweat dampening his back as he struggled to keep up.

Nijimura took slow steps backward with his expression calm yet determined as he observed Nebuya's stunned demeanor before shaking his head slightly.

"I may lack the technical finesse of some other players," Nijimura acknowledged inwardly, recognizing his own limitations in terms of versatility and flashy moves.

Turning his attention to Tsuna, Nijimura continued, "But I've learned that it's not just about the techniques you possess. It's about mastering every aspect of your technique to its absolute limit..."

He understood the significance of muscle utilization, precise movement, and exploiting momentum. These elements, when harnessed skillfully, could amplify his power exponentially and tip the scales in his favor during confrontations.

This understanding had enabled him to hold his own against Murasakibara's formidable raw strength, despite his own comparative lack thereof.

However, in the end, Murasakibara had still managed to overpower him. Reflecting on this, Nijimura couldn't suppress a wry chuckle as he drew a comparison between Murasakibara and Nebuya.

"Murasakibara may as well be an actual gorilla, or perhaps a mutated one," he mused, "but Nebuya? He's more akin to a gorilla pup in comparison."

Nijimura regarded Nebuya with a slight smirk playing on his lips, his tone laced with confidence as he spoke, "I can do this all day..."

"..."

Nebuya's response was a tense silence, his teeth clenched tightly together as he balled his fists in frustration at Nijimura's words.

As the game unfolded, the intensity only seemed to escalate.

Hayama found himself under immense pressure as he was marked closely by Haizaki.

With each dribble, he exerted all his strength, the resounding thud of the ball echoing through the court.

"This guy means business," Hayama acknowledged inwardly, his determination palpable as he locked eyes with Haizaki's taunting smirk.

"..."

Frustration bubbled within him, manifesting in the veins pulsating at his temples.

"I can't afford to hold back," he resolved, his movements becoming more calculated.

With a swift sidestep to evade Haizaki's defense, Hayama executed a decisive crossover, breaking free from his opponent's grasp with a sense of satisfaction evident on his face as he continued to advance down the court.

Yet, to his astonishment, Haizaki's back remained turned as he instantly stepped back, a deceptive move that caught Hayama off guard.

With a swift swing of his hand, Haizaki deftly intercepted the ball from behind, leaving Hayama in disbelief.

"What?" Hayama's incredulous exclamation hung in the air, his expression a mixture of shock and confusion.

Meanwhile, Mibuchi watched on with a furrowed brow, recognizing the move with surprise.

"Isn't that Izuki's Eagle Spear?" he mused aloud, his disbelief evident.

"Is he still capable of employing techniques he stole from opponents in the past?"

As the ball slipped out of Hayama's hand, Ogiwara refused to let it slide.

With lightning reflexes, he pounced into action and he immediately lunged towards the ball. Simultaneously, Haizaki surged forward alongside him, their movements perfectly synchronized.

With Tsuna on Akashi, Rakuzan realized they needed to devise an alternative strategy to counter Ogiwara and Haizaki's coordinated attack.

However, despite Rakuzan's desperate attempts to intercept their advance, Ogiwara and Haizaki moved with seamless synchronization, almost as if they shared a single mind.

Their flawless teamwork allowed them to bypass Rakuzan's defense, securing another crucial score for Fukuda Sogo.

As Mibuchi received the ball, he felt the intensity of Mochizuki's presence bearing down on him like an unstoppable force.

Undeterred, Mibuchi's expression remained stoic. With a subtle adjustment of his footwork, he lifted his body, creating the illusion that he was gearing up for a shot.

This prompted Mochizuki to react accordingly.

Mibuchi's eyes sparkled with a cunning glint.

In a sudden burst of movement, he leaped into the air, attempting a genuine shot. To his surprise, he found Mochizuki was still able to jump, thwarting his attempt with a decisive block.

"How? That was Void!"

The initial feints and fakes should have thrown off Mochizuki's posture as it should be, causing him to lose his ability to jump!

Mibuchi's disbelief echoed through the court as he grappled with the realization that Mochizuki had seemingly defied the laws of gravity.

With the ball back in play, Mochizuki wasted no time in swiftly darting towards it, his movements fluid and calculated.

As Mibuchi closed in, hoping to reclaim possession, Mochizuki met his gaze with a knowing look.

"I saw through your intentions," Mochizuki explained calmly, his voice cutting through the tension of the court.

"What?" Mibuchi's confusion deepened.

"I observed your footwork," Mochizuki elaborated, his eyes focused and unwavering. "I recognized the telltale signs that you were preparing to execute Void."

Mibuchi's disbelief only grew as Mochizuki effortlessly evaded his defense, smoothly maneuvering past him with a deceptive crossover.

"Though I may lack Ishida's speed," Mochizuki continued, "I possess keen observational skills that won't be easily deceived by your moves."

Ishida's agility rendered Mibuchi ineffective, swiftly snatching the ball with the precision of a seasoned predator.

Despite lacking Ishida's raw athleticism, Mochizuki possessed a keen sense of observation, discerning Mibuchi's intentions from subtle cues in his footwork.

This ability was the reason why Tsuna placed Mochizuki back in, especially considering Akashi might be able to pull off an unexpected pass that often caught defenders off guard.

Mibuchi clenched his teeth in frustration, realizing his predicament.

With determined strides, he hurried to intercept Mochizuki.

However, it was too late; Mochizuki launched a shot from just beyond the three-point line, leaving Mibuchi to watch helplessly as Fukuda Sogo secured three more crucial points.

Akashi's expression darkened as he witnessed the utter defeat of his team.

His gaze shifted to Mayuzumi, who was marked by Ogiwara.

Despite Mayuzumi's attempts to improve his positioning and slip past Ogiwara's marking, it proved futile. Ogiwara's keen instinct allowed him to detect Mayuzumi's presence, rendering his misdirection ineffective.

"...Your presence may be subtle, but not as elusive as Kuroko's who had forced us to rely solely on instinct to track his movements," Ogiwara muttered, his eyes piercing as he addressed Mayuzumi.

Mayuzumi clenched his teeth in response to Ogiwara's words.

"Your presence was detectable enough on our radar, you fucking imposter!" Ogiwara continued, eliciting surprise from Haizaki with his fervent accusation.

However, given Kuroko's status as his childhood friend, Haizaki could empathize with his anger toward Mayuzumi, who appeared to be usurping Kuroko's uniqueness. 

"...Now, what will you do, Seijuro? This could be the end if you don't take action," Tsuna's icy voice echoed through the court, causing Akashi's frown to deepen even further as he felt his anger simmering within him.