Chapter 13: Monsters

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After completing the set of exercises, Assistant Coach Sanada made the decision to split the team into two groups based on the players' year in school. Five new additions had been promoted to the first string, and Sanada was eager to witness the new talents in action against the regular players.

A substitute player from the first string took on the role of the referee, positioning himself at the center of the court. He held the basketball in his hands, poised to toss it into the air for the jump ball.

Both teams had selected their tallest players to contest the jump ball. Murasakibara stood at the center for the first-year team, while an unfamiliar player from the senior players' team, who matched Murasakibara's height, faced off against him.

Aomine's wide grin radiated his intense enthusiasm. The upcoming game stirred his excitement, and he couldn't help but revel in it. Despite being just a practice match, the prospect of facing opponents who were seasoned regulars in a team considered a strong contender on the national stage thrilled him.

Amidst the charged atmosphere, Tsuna turned to Aomine, a smile curving his lips. His own excitement matched that of his teammate. The practice game was an opportunity to gauge the skills of their opponents, a prospect that had Tsuna's anticipation bubbling.

Curious about Aomine's thoughts, Tsuna inquired, "Looking forward to it?"

Aomine's grin remained, and he replied with unwavering excitement, "Absolutely. I've heard they're no pushovers."

"Indeed," Midorima chimed in, his own demeanor reflective of anticipation. Adjusting his glasses with meticulous precision, he added, "They have consistently held a top-three position in the national ranking. Their skill is beyond doubt."

Engaging in this pre-game chatter, the anticipation continued to build. Amidst the exchanges, the seniors who had taken on the role of referees signaled for the teams to get ready, indicating that the moment of action was drawing near.

The referee then lofted the ball into the air, and both Murasakibara and his opponent leaped to reach it. With a well-timed hit, Murasakibara managed to direct the ball towards Akashi, his first-year teammate.

Swiftly reacting, all the first-year players surged forward, positioning themselves closer to the opposing team's court. However, Murasakibara's approach was more leisurely; he simply strolled back and stationed himself within the first-year team's defensive zone, his focus on blocking the enemy's offensive maneuvers.

Akashi began to dribble the basketball, making his way down the court. However, Nijimura swiftly positioned himself before Akashi, intent on preventing him from progressing further. The senior players marked each of the first-year players, leaving no room for gaps in their defense.

Observing Nijimura's solid defense, Akashi's mind whirled. He pondered how Tsuna managed to bypass him so effortlessly before.

In a snap, Aomine located the perfect opening, prompting Akashi to pass the ball to him. With a smirk, Aomine deftly dribbled the ball toward the hoop, his speed and skill allowing him to navigate through the defenders with finesse.

Just as Aomine prepared to execute a layup shot, a young man with short, spiky blond hair and piercing blue eyes leaped in, expertly blocking the ball.

"You won't get away with that, freshman!" the young man declared, surprising Aomine.

Meanwhile, Tsuna moved into position to guard one of the senior players. As the ball was passed to Nijimura, the dynamics shifted. Now in control of the ball, the senior players pressed forward. Nijimura engaged in dribbling, surprising even Akashi with his speed.

"He's faster than I expected!"

Advancing toward the opposing hoop, Nijimura propelled himself with purpose. Tsuna dashed forward to intercept his progress. But then, Nijimura abruptly shifted his stance into a shooting posture, catching Tsuna off-guard. Swiftly releasing the ball, Nijimura's shot soared through the air, leaving Tsuna with little time to respond.

'That was a swift change of tactics. I can't afford to underestimate them,' Tsuna mused, his gaze fixed on the hoop as the ball sailed through the net seamlessly.

Even Murasakibara was taken aback, unable to block the shot in time.

"Pass me the ball, Seijuro," Tsuna called out to Akashi, who was in possession of the ball.

Taking hold of the ball, Tsuna's demeanor shifted, his intensity heightening as he recognized the challenge before him.

'Here he comes,' Nijimura thought, rallying his teammates to defend against Tsuna's impending move.

Tsuna dribbled the ball as he pressed forward, threading his way through the defense with remarkable ease. However, as he neared Nijimura, he adjusted his approach, sensing a change in Nijimura's stance.

Much like the previous day, Tsuna altered his dribble speed, attempting to breach Nijimura's defense from the left side. Yet, Nijimura's reflexes were quick, his body shifting in tandem with Tsuna's movements.

Anticipating Tsuna's crossover to the right, Nijimura moved to intercept. But to his surprise, Tsuna smoothly passed the ball to Midorima without even turning his body.

Caught off guard, Nijimura's eyes widened as he saw Tsuna's triumphant smile.

"Got me," he grumbled inwardly.

With the ball now in Midorima's possession, he launched a shot toward the hoop. The ball arched through the air with exceptional height, leaving Nijimura and the others gazing upward.

"I've got my lucky item with me today," Midorima announced, strolling back towards the defensive lineup. His gaze flicked towards the bench where a potted plant sat, and he continued confidently, "There's no way I'll miss."

Nijimura and his teammates exchanged incredulous glances. Sinking a three-point shot with that high arc was already impressive, but turning away before the ball even swished through the net exuded an air of extreme confidence.

Actually, it was more than that – it was sheer self-assuredness.

As he retreated to his position, Midorima couldn't help but notice that Tsuna, who had delivered the precise pass, was already striding back ahead of him. Midorima stole a glance at Tsuna's back, a mix of surprise and admiration in his eyes.

'Did he have that much faith in my shot?' The question echoed in Midorima's mind, prompting him to reevaluate his initial impression of Tsuna. It was becoming increasingly apparent that someone bearing that surname wouldn't settle for mediocrity.

"Well done, Shintaro," Akashi interjected, his tone measured.

"It's to be expected," Midorima responded, adjusting his glasses. While his exterior appeared composed, anyone astute enough could detect a subtle upturn of his lips – a sign of his hidden satisfaction.

Across the court, Sanada's eyes were locked on the unfolding action, a small smile playing at his lips. "I'm confident we'll clinch this year's tournament, Coach," he murmured, his tone oozing assurance.

He quickly corrected himself, "Actually, we'll definitely win."

Meanwhile, on the court, Aomine's grin was practically ear to ear. He relished the challenge of facing formidable opponents. The adversaries weren't just on the other side – his fellow teammates were also a force to be reckoned with. Tsuna, in particular, caught his attention with a playing style that bore striking similarities to his own.

'I can't wait to go all out against him,' Aomine mused inwardly.

As the game progressed, Nijimura couldn't help but acknowledge that their opponents' defense was as robust as their offense. His frustration mounted as he watched the score tip increasingly in the opponents' favor, while their side remained stagnant.

In a flash, Tsuna snatched the ball and sent it flying towards Aomine. Seizing the ball firmly, Aomine dribbled forward with a menacing intent.

Predictably, he danced through the defense with effortless finesse. However, Nijimura boldly stepped in, aiming to thwart Aomine's advance. Just as he thought he had a chance to steal the ball, Aomine executed a swift sidestep, launching the ball at the hoop with an air of casual nonchalance.

"What the—?"

Sekiguchi's incredulous exclamation echoed through the court.

'Monstrous skill levels! It might be understandable if there were just one or two exceptional players, but this...!?'

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