Chapter 164: Tip off!

"The game is about to start."

"You seem to be excited, Reo!"

"...You seem to be talking about yourself, Kotaro."

"Hahahaha, I'm full!"

Rakuzan High entered the arena, drawing attention as they settled into their seats. Whispers rippled through the surrounding crowd at the sight of the formidable team.

With a gentle shake of his head, Mibuchi observed the excited Kotaro. On the other side, Nebuya was contemplating whether to indulge in more food as he mumbled.

Meanwhile, Mayuzumi displayed his usual nonchalance and cast a fleeting glance at his teammates before fixing his gaze on Akashi, who remained calmly focused on the unfolding game.

"...He seems to be curious about the match," Mayuzumi mused, observing the subtle intensity that flickered within Akashi's otherwise composed eyes.

Returning to the court, Mayuzumi noted the teams had assumed their positions, the referee poised in the center.

Murasakibara's gaze fixed on Nijimura, and with Tsuna's earlier words echoing in his mind, he couldn't help but express his irritation with a click of his tongue.

Nijimura, perplexed by Murasakibara's unusual behaviour, tilted his head in confusion.

As the referee prepared to toss the ball, Nijimura's eyes widened in surprise. Murasakibara, typically indifferent, emitted an unexpected and palpable focus that caught both teams off guard.

Nijimura was sweating slightly, bewildered by the contrast between what Tsuna said about Murasakibara being confused and the unexpected focus from the towering player.

Glancing at Tsuna, who wore his iconic smirk on his face, made Nijimura twitch his lips slightly.

Meanwhile, even the Yosen High members were taken aback, their eyes fixed on Murasakibara in disbelief.

"I've never seen him so focused," Okamura admitted, wiping sweat from his weathered face.

Himuro was also surprised by Murasakibara's unusual demeanor. His gaze shifted between the towering player and Tsuna, who was weirdly smirking.

"Whatever he's planning, it's good to have Atsushi excited like this," Himuro remarked.

As the referee launched the ball into the air, signifying the commencement of the game, both Nijimura and Murasakibara exerted power through their legs, propelling themselves upward in a synchronized display of athleticism.

The clash for the ball unfolded in a breathtaking aerial duel, capturing the crowd's attention and eliciting gasps of anticipation.

With a determined frown etched across his face, Nijimura leapt into the air.

However, Murasakibara's impressive height and long reach allowed him to secure the ball first. In a swift motion, he redirected it toward Himuro.

"Move forward!"

Okamura's commanding voice resonated through the court, punctuating the tense atmosphere. Himuro skillfully controlled the ball, initiating the first offensive maneuver of the match.

Surprisingly, Murasakibara also advanced, taking part in the offensive onslaught.

The unexpected turn of events prompted the Yosen High coach to stand up, her eyes wide with disbelief.

"He went forward this time?" she exclaimed, unable to conceal her surprise at Murasakibara's uncharacteristic aggression.

From the beginning of Murasakibara's association with Yosen High, the towering player had adhered strictly to his defensive territory, never venturing beyond its bounds because he was too lazy.

"...That lazy ass actually went forward with us?"

Fukui found himself dumbfounded, his gaze fixed on Murasakibara's figure.

"That was surprising," Okamura marveled silently, his expression one of awe as he observed Murasakibara's newfound aggression.

His eyes flickered toward Tsuna, a more serious expression etched on Okamura's face.

"...He might not be a Generation of Miracles member, but if he could make Murasakibara this serious, he must be on the same level," he concluded.

Himuro suddenly paused on the court, visibly taken aback by Murasakibara's unexpected behavior.

However, he quickly regained his composure and resumed his dribble, continuing to advance.

This moment of surprise gave Mochizuki enough time to position himself adeptly and swiftly cut off Himuro's path. He took a deep breath, vividly recalling Tsuna's cautionary words about the formidable Shooting Guard from Yosen High.

As Himuro continued his dribble, he sensed an unexpected intensity emanating from Mochizuki's defense.

Despite this, a confident smirk formed on Himuro's lips.

"...Focus alone won't suffice to halt me!" he declared, undeterred by the defensive pressure.

Himuro showcased his exceptional ball-handling skills on the basketball court, dribbling the ball with a fluid grace.

The smooth rhythm of the ball against the floor echoed through the gymnasium as he made a beautiful stride to the right, mesmerizing Mochizuki before he snapped back, and he swiftly reacted, mirroring Himuro's movement to cut off his path.

Yet, to Mochizuki's surprise, Himuro's figure seemed to freeze in his former position, creating a split-second illusion of stillness.

Which made him widen his eyes in disbelief, "...What?"

Seizing the opportunity, Himuro swiftly pivoted, striding to the left with a calculated precision that left Mochizuki momentarily off-balance.

The gymnasium held its breath as Himuro effortlessly broke past Mochizuki's defense, the finesse in his footwork and the deceptive dribbling leaving an indelible impression on the court. 

As Himuro approached the ideal shooting range, he found himself surprised by Mochizuki's unexpected speed.

"He's fast!"

Caught off guard, Himuro momentarily hesitated before swiftly passing the ball to Murasakibara, whom Nijimura closely marked.

Observing this, Mochizuki clicked his tongue in frustration. "...This guy is quick to react. Now, I won't be able to catch him off guard again."

He realized that the next time to stop Himuro would be even more tricky.

Under the basket, Murasakibara, with his towering height, aggressively grabbed the ball, fully expecting to overpower any opponent in his path. However, he was taken aback as he realized Nijimura, despite his shorter stature, stood firm under the pressure.

Undeterred, Murasakibara's primary focus remained on scoring. He soared into the air with a powerful jump, rotating his massive frame toward the basket, ready to execute a forceful slam.

The gymnasium seemed to shake with the sheer energy of Murasakibara's move.

Smiles spread across Yosen High players' faces at Murasakibara's impressive leap. They were confident that no one could stop him from scoring points. However, their expressions of confidence quickly turned to shock.

Yet, in a split second, Murasakibara felt an unexpected chill. Nijimura's hand intercepted the ball with incredible precision, swatting it with finesse.

The ball, diverted by Nijimura's clever block, bounced off the backboard, narrowly missing the basket.

Murasakibara's eyes widened in disbelief, a rare expression on the towering player's face as he looked at Nijimura in shock.

"..."

Once filled with the anticipation of a powerful dunk, the gymnasium fell into a momentary hush.

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