Chapter 285: Cooperation!

The members of Fukuda Sogo watched in astonishment as each player from Rakuzan High exhibited the same crimson sparks in their eyes, mirroring Akashi's intense focus.

"They're all in the zone?" Nijimura muttered in disbelief, his gaze shifting to Tsuna as he pondered the significance of this development.

"Is that why he's excited?"

Could it be that Tsuna was finally prepared to unleash his true power once more?

Shock rippled through the gymnasium as spectators beheld the transformed state of the Rakuzan High players.

"This is beyond belief," Imayoshi remarked, shaking his head in disbelief.

"..."

The sentiment was shared by the members of Too Academy, their expressions reflecting a mixture of astonishment and concern.

Meanwhile, Aomine's fists clenched tightly as his body was pulsating with adrenaline. Internally, a fervent desire to join the fray surged within him.

"I want in on this game!" he inwardly exclaimed.

In the Kaijo High section, Kasamatsu shook his head in disbelief while observing the unfolding events, while Kise let out a wry smile, perhaps sensing the impending tension.

As the game progressed, Tsuna, who was still in the zone, took a deep breath.

His determination was evident as he surged forward, leaving his teammates trailing behind. 

"Get into a good position," He left a remark as he spurred Fukuda Sogo into action, each member nodding in understanding before springing into motion.

With Tsuna aggressively advancing, Akashi approached him to find himself surprised as Tsuna closed in on their distance, their proximity narrowed suddenly.

"...!"

The suddenness of Tsuna's movement sent a jolt through Akashi, his senses honed to the impending clash.

Yet, Tsuna pressed forward without hesitation, smoothly sliding to the left, effortlessly evading Akashi's defense.

Akashi's eyes widened in astonishment, recognizing the raw power emanating from his opponent.

"This is his true power, huh?" he mused silently.

However, Tsuna's maneuver didn't go unchallenged.

Making eye contact with his teammates, Akashi signaled for assistance. In response, Hayama and Mibuchi sprang into action, swiftly closing in on Tsuna in a bid to halt his advance.

Tsuna was unfazed by the approaching threat, took a step back, his arm swinging with precision as he unleashed a blistering pass across the court.

The velocity of the pass left both Hayama and Mibuchi gritting their teeth.

"Great choice..."

Haizaki was anticipating the incoming pass, and smirked as he extended his hand to receive it.

However, just as the ball was about to reach him, Mayuzumi's form materialized unexpectedly in its path.

"...!"

The sudden appearance of Mayuzumi startled everyone in Fukuda Sogo, as they hadn't sensed his presence until that moment.

"What?"

Haizaki exclaimed, taken aback by the interruption.

Silent but swift, Mayuzumi wasted no time.

With a deft slap, he forcefully altered the ball's trajectory, redirecting it away from Haizaki. As the ball made contact with his palm, Mayuzumi winced, muttering under his breath, "...What a ridiculous pass."

Nijimura's eyes widened in surprise at Mayuzumi's sudden disappearance from their senses.

Considering the overwhelming aura emanating from every player on Rakuzan High, it made sense for Mayuzumi to use their collective presence to mask his own.

Despite this realization, Nijimura remained focused on the ball's trajectory, knowing that not everyone could handle Tsuna's pass and might fumble.

However, as he moved toward where the ball was headed, Nijimura abruptly halted in his tracks.

The sight before him caused him to curse under his breath.

"Damn it, never mind..."

It was Akashi who had received the pass!

With anticipation mounting, Akashi confidently received Tsuna's pass, his grip firm and steady as he felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through his arm.

Reacting swiftly, he surged forward alongside his teammates from Rakuzan High, their collective determination palpable.

As Tsuna darted across the court, closing in on Akashi with intent to stop him, Akashi remained composed.

Stepping back, he swiftly passed the ball to Mibuchi, who was momentarily taken aback by the precision of the pass before executing a flawless fadeaway three-pointer.

Rakuzan High's strategy of avoiding direct confrontation with Tsuna proved effective, allowing them to score efficiently as long as they executed their movements swiftly and flawlessly.

"I see, this is indeed a perfect strategy to score against us..."

With a nod of acknowledgment towards Akashi's retreating figure, Tsuna readied himself for the upcoming play.

As Akashi deliberately avoided direct engagement with Tsuna and orchestrated plays with impeccable rhythm, it disrupted Fukuda Sogo's defensive tempo.

Even though Mayuzumi's ability to disrupt passes wouldn't be foolproof every time, Akashi totally grasped Tsuna's character who felt a growing reluctance to make risky passes like that.

With limited options left, Tsuna's determination surged, evident in the dark-colored streamlines that flickered across his pupils.

"I shall do it on my own, then..." he declared, his excitement palpable.

Akashi recognized what was coming as he let out a wry smile.

"...I guess we need to cooperate," he muttered to himself as the game pressed on.

"I won't pass this time, try to get in their movement," Tsuna's voice echoed across the court, prompting immediate acknowledgment from Fukuda Sogo's players.

With synchronized nods, they surged forward, springing into action to align themselves with Tsuna's callout.

This time, instead of charging forward, Tsuna adopted a more measured pace, allowing his teammates to find optimal positions on the court.

"Good..."

With a glint of determination in his eyes, Tsuna suddenly shifted gears.

Akashi sensed the mounting pressure and honed his focus.

Yet, before he could react, Tsuna executed a flawless maneuver, dribbling the ball between his legs and swiftly bypassing Akashi's defense.

In response, Rakuzan High's players exchanged uncertain glances, while Hayama and Mibuchi seized the opportunity to break free from Fukuda Sogo's tight marking and give chase to Tsuna.

Undeterred, Tsuna remained composed, anticipating his teammates' movements and the shifting dynamics of the game.

With passing out of the equation, he sharply closing in.

As Mibuchi and Hayama observed Tsuna's bold maneuver, they were taken aback by his unwavering confidence.

"What a confidence!"

Tsuna's decisive action to penetrate their double team impressed Mibuchi, who couldn't help but admire his audacity.

However, their shock intensified when Tsuna deftly sidestepped towards Mibuchi's flank, catching them off guard.

"...Shit, he's actually after Reo!"

Hayama's realization of Tsuna's intentions elicited an urgent response, recognizing the imminent threat posed by Tsuna's maneuver.

"Hmm?"

Suddenly, a swift movement disrupted Tsuna's control of the ball, causing him to glance in surprise at the source.

"What?"

Before him stood Akashi, his eyes ablaze with radiant rings as his heterochromia eyes were clearly seen, their brilliance cutting through the court's tension.

"We've decided to cooperate, Tsunayoshi..."

Tsuna's astonishment mirrored in his widened eyes as Akashi's voice pierced the air, delivering a chilling declaration of cooperation.

Mayuzumi swiftly seized the opportunity, seizing the ball and launching it forward, prompting Akashi to spring into action with calculated precision.

Fukuda Sogo's players watched in disbelief as Tsuna's momentum was abruptly halted, their expressions a mix of shock and confusion.

Their frantic attempts to readjust were met with the composed synchrony of Rakuzan High, who moved with seamless coordination, unfazed by the unexpected turn of events.