Chapter 39: Winning

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"...You know, there's a legal way for me to settle this."

Tsuna's voice remained calm as he halted in his tracks, waiting until Hanamiya breached the inner defense area. Then, he swiftly passed the ball to Kubota, who was positioned just before the three-point line.

Hibiya's players also responded accordingly and swiftly as they tried to stop Kubota from taking the shot.

Although it was the most efficient play, Imayoshi couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss. His suspicion deepened when he noticed Tsuna, having passed the ball, step back slightly, putting a bit of distance between himself and Hanamiya.

However, Kubota, who had already had a Hibiya player, advanced toward him. Instead of taking the shot, he passed the ball back toward Tsuna.

This sent a warning signal to Imayoshi, who quickened his pace in preparation for what might come next.

"Whatever, it doesn't matter anyway. You won't even get the chance."

Hanamiya retorted, maintaining his defensive stance beneath the basket. He kept a close eye on Tsuna, who was dribbling the ball and making his way toward the hoop.

But Hanamiya wasn't just looking at Tsuna; he was also watching the silhouette of a player reaching for the ball in Tsuna's hand.

A chuckle escaped Hanamiya's lips. He believed Tsuna was too overconfident as he wasted an opportunity to score a few moments ago.

Yet, just as that outstretched hand was about to snatch the ball, Tsuna pulled off a quick sidestep, evading the attempted steal.

Tsuna shot a knowing glance at the would-be thief. His calm and composed voice cut through the tension on the court. "Do you really think I wouldn't notice my surroundings? It seems like that's you're making a mistake here..."

Imayoshi's eyes widened, shocked by Tsuna's uncanny awareness. He couldn't help but mutter, "He's a damn monster."

Even Hanamiya, who had expected Imayoshi to snatch the ball away, was taken aback. But he quickly regained his composure when he saw Tsuna accelerate.

"He's one stubborn guy, but it ends here," Hanamiya muttered, determined not to let Tsuna get past him.

"I think this should be enough distance..."

With a calculating murmur, Tsuna assessed the situation. And then, in a sudden burst of speed, he leaped towards the basket.

The entire stadium erupted in astonishment, their collective gasps echoing through the arena as Tsuna defied all expectations. It was not a regular shot, and it was not even a layup. It was a middle schooler who looked like he was defying gravity.

"Holy cow!" exclaimed a spectator in the stands, their voice drowned in the overwhelming shock of the moment.

Hanamiya, too, was shocked. He didn't expect a Tsuna to attempt a slam dunk. But as he saw Tsuna's trajectory and jump height, he couldn't help but conclude that Tsuna could make it.

With a surge of adrenaline, Hanamiya propelled himself upward, striving to intercept the dunk.

Noticing that Hanamiya seemed to try to intercept his dunk, Tsuna's lips slightly curled upward.

As both of them collided mid-air head-on, Tsuna's powerful momentum sent Hanamiya crashing onto the ground as Tsuna executed the dunk perfectly. The crowd gasped in astonishment at this unexpected turn of events.

Beneath the basket, Hanamiya lay on the ground, wracked with pain. The collision had sent him sprawling, and he groaned, trying to make sense of the sudden turn of events.

He looked up and saw a shadow descending upon him, a haunting figure silhouetted against the blinding stadium lights. The gaze that met his was icy, a chilling darkness that sent shivers down his spine.

However, Nijimura ruined this dramatic moment by pulling Tsuna away from Hanamiya.

"Hey, chill, man. You told me not to fight! You shouldn't either..."

Tsuna slightly twitched his lips as he was pulled away, maintaining his composure. He responded, "Who said I was about to fight..."

"What? You're not?" Nijimura scratched his head, clearly puzzled.

"Captain, that's not it," Sekiguchi chimed in from the side, turning to Tsuna with a surprised expression. "Holy crap, you can dunk?"

Tsuna chuckled, "Of course, I can do it whenever I want..."

"That's awesome, man. Could you teach me how to do it later?"

Sekuguchi's excitement was palpable, and he couldn't help but want to learn from Tsuna.

"...I'm not really into teaching, but I can give you a few tips."

"Really!? I'll take whatever you can share. This is gonna be epic!"

Sekiguchi was practically bouncing enthusiastically at the thought of mastering such a flashy move.

"Oh, count me in for those tips too," the others from Teiko chimed in, including Kubota, who was usually quiet but clearly eager to learn something new.

Tsuna chuckled and shook his head as he returned to his position. "Alright, everyone, back to your positions. We still have some time until the game ends..."

Nijimura wore a content smile as he nodded in agreement. He couldn't help but be impressed by how effortlessly Tsuna took charge and led the team. It raised questions about who the real captain was out on the court.

Shaking away such thoughts, Nijimura refocused on the game. They were still ahead on the scoreboard, and that spectacular dunk a while ago had firmly put them back in control of the game's momentum.

Despite his concerns about Hibiya pulling off another trick, Nijimura couldn't help but smirk slightly as he glanced at their opponents.

Assistant Coach Sanada smiled lightly as he observed this turn of events. He had entrusted everything to Tsuna, allowing him to take the reins, and it appeared to be a wise decision.

"Now that we've regained control of the momentum, it's time to seal the deal," Sanada thought to himself.

Hanamiya appeared despondent as he had to be substituted, and his body seemed injured.

Imayoshi's smile had vanished, replaced by a deep frown.

As he watched Tsuna, who had returned to a defensive position, Imayoshi couldn't escape the feeling of being held by the throat, a suffocating sensation.

"In moments like this, I should've called a timeout," Imayoshi pondered. But as he glanced at his teammates, particularly Hanamiya, who wore a dark and frustrated expression while gritting his teeth, he realized their chances might be slipping away.

Imayoshi decided not to call a timeout, and the game continued.

On one side, Hibiya looked disheartened, while on the other, Teiko seemed invigorated by Tsuna's recent stunt. Tsuna, his face adorned with a slight smile, decided it was time to switch things up.

Instead of trying to score on his own, Tsuna saw an opportunity to dominate their opponents by attacking from all angles. With a sense of excitement, they began pressuring Hibiya relentlessly, Tsuna expertly moving the ball around.

Teiko started racking up point after point, leaving Hibiya far behind.

When the referee finally blew the whistle, signaling the end of the game, Teiko emerged victorious with a score of 86 - 59 against Hibiya.

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