Chapter 14: 1v1 with Aomine

The point gap continued to widen, and both the senior and freshman teams struggled to catch their breath. The intensity and fervor of the match had reached unprecedented heights.

In the midst of the high-paced game, Tsuna keenly assessed the situation. He recognized that his energy wasn't boundless; the opponents' robust defense required him to expend extra stamina. Even Murasakibara, with his formidable physique, was audibly panting. This indicated the challenging nature of the opponent's offensive strategies.

Sekiguchi gained possession of the ball and embarked on a drive towards the basket. However, his trajectory was abruptly disrupted by Midorima's adept defense. Reacting swiftly, Sekiguchi managed to salvage the situation by passing the ball to Nijimura.

Internal alarm bells rang for Sekiguchi as he shot a quick glance towards the freshmen team. The sight of their performance was enough to give anyone pause.

Dribbling the ball, Nijimura hunted for a weak point in the defensive wall. Akashi, displaying his own prowess, endeavored to intercept Nijimura's progress. At the critical moment, when Akashi made a move to snatch the ball, Nijimura exhibited exceptional control, tightly securing the ball and evading Akashi's defense.

With steadfast determination, Nijimura closed in on the hoop for a layup shot. Yet, just as he was poised mid-air for the crucial throw, Murasakibara sprang into action, attempting to block Nijimura's shot.

Anticipating this defensive maneuver, Nijimura instinctively altered his airborne posture, seamlessly diverting his attention from a shot attempt to an expertly executed pass. The recipient of his calculated pass was a young man with long, obsidian hair that obscured his eyes and partially veiled his ears, Masaya Kubota.

Kubota's swift reflexes translated into a rapid release of the ball, which sailed towards the backboard with precision, sinking into the net in a flawless bank shot.

"They're very good," Midorima, while adjusting his glasses, couldn't help but acknowledge the exceptional skill displayed by the opposing team. Thoughts of their proficiency flickered through his mind.

"I'm hungry," On a different wavelength, Murasakibara's mental musings diverged greatly. His thoughts danced around a rather unrelated topic: snacks. His mind's tangential path would likely astonish the seniors if they had any inkling of his whimsical contemplation during such a crucial match.

Unbeknownst to the seniors, had they been privy to Murasakibara's thoughts, their collective frustration might have found audible expression in vehement expletives directed at him.

Emboldened by Kubota's successful contribution, the senior players rallied, channeling their efforts both in defense and attack with unyielding determination. This shift in momentum put pressure on the freshmen team, including Tsuna, who felt the sudden swell of intensified competition.

After an intense period of play, the sharp blast of the referee's whistle resonated across the court, its high pitch cutting through the charged atmosphere. All eyes converged on the scoreboard, where the final score was displayed: 71-78.

The seniors claimed 71 points while the freshmen secured a total of 78 points.

"That was insane," Nijimura mumbled, still catching his breath as he rested on the court. The game had taken a considerable toll on his stamina. What struck him even more was the remarkable skill displayed by the new players. The addition to their team was undeniably of top-tier quality.

Assistant Coach Sanada, despite his initial surprise, wore a persistent smile. The unfolding events had pleasantly caught him off guard. This year, their prospects for clinching the championship looked promising.

Meanwhile, Tsuna took a moment to rehydrate with a water bottle handed to him by Momoi. He was undeniably fatigued, yet not to an incapacitating extent. His time training with Alex in the US had exposed him to even more demanding regimes. Thus, while today's training had been grueling, he managed it with accustomed resilience.

Aomine, approaching Tsuna, mirrored his fatigue-quenching action by raising a water bottle to his lips. He struck up a conversation, curiosity gleaming in his eyes. "How's it going?"

Tsuna met Aomine's gaze, acknowledging the approach with a nod.

"Hanging in there," he replied.

The exhaustion was present, but not overwhelming. Then came Aomine's wide grin, an embodiment of his characteristic enthusiasm.

"How about a one-on-one, Tsuna?" he proposed.

A sense of eagerness illuminated Aomine's expression, his enthusiasm for a one-on-one match palpable.

Sekiguchi's weary voice punctuated the moment as he sprawled on the ground, drained by the exertion of the game.

"You guys aren't tired at all?" he chimed in, expressing his exhaustion.

Tsuna checked the time, realizing that they still had a bit before the training facility closed for the day. With a grin, he responded, "Sure, why not?"

Meanwhile, Sekiguchi felt quite miserable as he muttered, "Did I just get ignored?"

And so, the stage was set. Tsuna found himself in a court face-off against Aomine. The dynamic shifted, with Aomine now on the offense and Tsuna tasked with defense. The rest of the players watched attentively from the sidelines, their curiosity piqued to witness this showdown and determine who had the upper hand.

"Let's do this," Tsuna challenged, his voice directed towards the grinning Aomine.

Without a word in response, Aomine lunged forward, his movements swiftly met by Tsuna's defensive stance. The basketball was bounced to the left by Aomine, yet Tsuna anticipated the action with precision, shifting his body to effectively obstruct Aomine's progress.

The flawless defense left Aomine halted in his tracks, confronted by Tsuna's impenetrable guard. Not even a sliver of an opening was visible.

Tsuna's remarkable reaction speed fascinated Aomine, who found himself growing even more thrilled by the challenge. His smirk expanded across his face, radiating his excitement.

"I can't predict the outcome," Sekiguchi mused aloud.

"You're correct, their reaction times are incredibly balanced. It's a tough call," Akashi responded, his insight capturing the attention of those around him.

"Akashi's right, however, one thing for sure, Tsuna's fundamental skills seem to surpass all of ours," Nijimura added, interjecting into the conversation.

Momoi's gaze shifted between Aomine and Tsuna, her expression reflecting her deep concern for the unfolding match.

Back on the court, Aomine's nimble movements saw him dribbling the ball behind his back, deftly transitioning to his right side as he surged forward, attempting to breach Tsuna's defense. The velocity at which he moved left those watching utterly astonished.

But in the midst of his rapid maneuver, Aomine abruptly encountered an astonishing reality.

'What...?' A bewildered glance was cast towards Tsuna, who seemed nonchalantly engaged in dribbling the ball.

Every observer present was equally flabbergasted. The manner in which Tsuna had snatched the ball away remained elusive to their eyes.

"This is insane..." Nijimura murmured to himself, his words audible to those nearby.

"...Captain, can you explain what just happened?" Midorima inquired, his visage a canvas of disbelief.

"The occurrence was nearly a blur, but it appears Tsuna managed to pilfer the ball just before Aomine initiated his dribble from behind. There's a fleeting moment, when a player starts dribbling from their rear, during which the ball is momentarily vulnerable to theft, either from their left or right side based on their intended direction. Given Aomine's speed, seizing that opportunity is nearly impossible..."

Even Aomine found himself taken aback, yet an undercurrent of exhilaration coursed through him.

'He's surpassing my expectations by a long shot,' he silently acknowledged, an almost childlike grin tugging at his lips, akin to a youngster reuniting with a long-lost toy.

"Alright, I'll take offense now, correct?" Tsuna inquired, his tone dripping with indifference.

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