Chapter 106: Fukuda Sogo vs. the Jabberwock!

Soon after their friendly greetings, which left those around them a bit uneasy due to their intense presence, Tsuna and Nash decided to have a game following some warm-up exercises.

In no time, both teams stood on opposite sides of the court, donning their respective jerseys. However, a noticeable contrast set them apart.

The Jabberwock players seemed relaxed, exuding confidence, while Fukuda Sogo appeared rather tense. Tsuna couldn't help but observe this, shaking his head in response.

However, Tsuna couldn't blame Fukuda Sogo for their apprehension. Even though the Jabberwock hadn't made any aggressive moves, an indescribable tension hung in the air when facing them. It was as if they stood before a pack of formidable beasts, ready to engulf them whole.

Nijimura's face grew serious as he pondered, "...Just their presence alone makes them seem superior to the Generation of Miracles."

Pushing those thoughts aside, Nijimura shook his head as both teams took their positions on the court.

With a staff member from their gymnasium acting as the referee, both teams lined up, poised for the game to begin. The referee signaled for them to prepare, and as both teams readied themselves, he tossed the ball into the air to kick off the match.

Silver effortlessly gained control of the ball and passed it to Nash, who smirked confidently.

Once Nash had the ball, Ogiwara, and Haizaki swiftly moved to double-team him. Nash acknowledged their approach with a casual glance at Tsuna, who watched him intently without saying a word.

Nash couldn't help but think about Tsuna's unconventional actions as he recalled their encounter just a few minutes ago.

Tsuna had arranged to meet with their manager, and Nash had guided Tsuna to the meeting spot, even though Tsuna was already familiar with the place. It was a gesture of respect.

As they strolled along on their way to meet the manager, Nash's curiosity got the best of him, and he inquired, "Is it because of them that you had to come to Japan?"

Upon hearing this, Tsuna gently shook his head, responding, "No, not exactly. While there were some individuals worth scouting, none of them ended up on my current team..."

Nash furrowed his brow, puzzled by Tsuna's statement. "Then, why did you invest so much in your current team?"

Tsuna glanced briefly at Nash before resuming their walk, a sly grin forming on his face. "They are my means of acquiring those individuals..."

Nash couldn't help but shake his head at the revelation. He'd known Tsuna for quite a few years and understood that Tsuna was not one to engage in meaningless endeavors. Even if Nash couldn't grasp the purpose, he knew Tsuna had calculated everything.

"...They'd be slaughtered," Nash couldn't help but acknowledge that Tsuna's Tsuna's teammates were like punching bags against the Jabberwock.

"I know, but it doesn't change much," Tsuna said. His face turned serious, and he came to a halt, locking eyes with Nash.

"...Nash, make sure you do it," Tsuna said in a serious tone as his eyes flashed with a strange glint.

Initially, Tsuna's intention was to get his team back on track, but it was too simple of a task to entrust to the Jabberwock.

He craved more!

That's why he decided to make a gamble.

Nash was puzzled by Tsuna's motivations but nodded in agreement.

"Sure, but if we crush them like a fly, don't blame us..."

As he reminisced about this, Tsuna couldn't help but think, "If they perish in the process, then that's the way it has to be..."

Recalling these conversations brought a chuckle from Nash.

Ogiwara and Haizaki couldn't comprehend the reason behind Nash's sudden chuckle. Still, they sensed a shift in his demeanor as he dribbled the ball with deliberate slowness.

Nash's condescending gaze unsettled Haizaki, who exchanged a knowing look with Ogiwara. They understood something was about to happen and moved in closer.

Studying Nash intently, Haizaki adopted a serious demeanor, but Nash remained unfazed. He observed the ball's movement in Nash's hands, and Nash responded with a subtle smirk, altering his dribbling rhythm.

Haizaki initially kept up with Nash's dribble, but he soon found it increasingly challenging to match the pace. Ogiwara, recognizing the need for assistance, closed the gap and joined Haizaki.

Nash maintained his smirk as he sidestepped to Haizaki's right. Haizaki was determined to keep up with Nash's ball handling, doing his best to shadow Nash's every move.

But Nash pulled a sudden move, stepping back and pivoting to his left with lightning speed. Haizaki was left momentarily stunned, unable to react swiftly enough to Nash's rapid change in direction.

The Fukuda Sogo team watched in awe as Nash displayed his incredible skills.

"He's definitely on par with the Generation of Miracles!"

Mochizuki shouted in amazement.

Ogiwara quickly reacted to Nash's movements, but Nash was one step ahead.

He stepped back, eluding Ogiwara.

However, Ogiwara's efforts bought enough time for Haizaki to recover and get back into position. Haizaki made a desperate lunge, extending his hand to steal the ball.

As Haizaki closed in on the ball, Nash abruptly changed his direction, causing Haizaki to miss his steal attempt.

"Slippery guy," Haizaki muttered in frustration and quickly moved to close the gap between him and Nash. He intended to keep the pressure on.

"But that should be en--"

Haizaki's words trailed off as he saw a look of disgust in Nash's eyes. It was as though their efforts were beneath his notice, leaving Haizaki lost for words.

"Motherfucker!"

Haizaki shouted in frustration, driven to anger as he put all his effort into trying to outmaneuver Nash. 

Tsuna watched the scene with a calm expression, fully aware that Nash was merely toying with Haizaki and Ogiwara.

"Hah, this is amusing..." Nash remarked with a sly grin.

He changed his dribbling pace again, sending the ball darting between his feet so quickly that Haizaki and Ogiwara couldn't keep up. They watched in awe and shock as the ball became a blur.

Haizaki and Ogiwara were struggling to keep up with Nash's lightning-quick dribbling. This time, it was even faster!

In a bold move, Nash spread his arms wide as though to taunt them, making Haizaki and Ogiwara momentarily lose track of the ball. To their surprise, the ball was briefly hovering behind Nash before he skillfully elbowed it, sending it soaring to Allen.

Mochizuki, still in shock, was too slow to react as Allen chuckled and took a shot, and the ball swished through the net.

Nijimura stood there in silent astonishment.

Initially, he considered Nash on par with the Generation of Miracles.

But now, realizing that Nash was likely not even giving his best and merely toying with them, Nijimura couldn't help but wear a stern expression as he thought, "He's a monster just like Tsuna..."

---

Big thanks to Ben for joining us as patrons. Your support means a lot to me, and I'm thrilled to have you on board! 🙌

Do you want to read 15 chapters ahead of the schedule? Here's where you can find them:

p@treon.com/mythoast