Chapter 143: Turning the Tide!

On the court, Kuroko approached his teammates, saying, "Everyone, we're left with no other option but to use that now..."

Hyuga furrowed his brow but eventually nodded.

Kagami clenched his fist in frustration, feeling his own weakness forced them into this situation. Suddenly, a reassuring hand landed on his shoulder. He turned to see Kiyoshi, whose face bore a serious expression.

Kiyoshi spoke, "Let's secure the win, Kagami..."

Kagami was surprised, but he took a deep breath to settle himself, closing his eyes momentarily. As he exhaled, he opened his eyes, now filled with determination.

"Let's do this," he declared as the game resumed with the ball in their hands.

This time, the entire team exuded a stronger sense of determination, their gazes more resolute.

Imayoshi sensed the change, feeling goosebumps on his skin. He observed the Seirin players and approached Kuroko, marking him closely.

In his mind, he pondered, "...They must have something planned!"

As the game unfolded, Too Academy fortified their defense as they put heavy pressure on the attacking side. Seirin was searching for openings, but found themselves stymied at every turn with their attempts to force an opening met with a formidable resistance.

The only glimmer of opportunity seemed to rest in Kagami, who had become the focal point for the team. However, even from a distance, Aomine's imposing presence cast a looming shadow, causing Izuki to hesitate.

"...We can't pick the Boss Monster right away," Izuki thought with a sweat, maintaining possession while Susa kept the pressure on.

Izuki then passed the ball to Hyuga, he hoped for a different approach.

The exchange continued, with Hyuga reciprocating the pass. Seirin was now caught in a delicate dance of possession, sought the opportune moment to make their move. 

On the sidelines, Momoi, watching with a discerning eye, couldn't shake off an uneasy feeling. The unfolding scene and the palpable tension on the court, left her with a sense of foreboding.

She revisited Seirin's player data, searching for any overlooked details, and her focus landed on Kuroko's information. She thought, "...His stats might not stand out, but his ability is the trickiest."

"Just what have I missed..." Momoi muttered under her breath, her eyes fixed on the determined expressions worn by the Seirin players.

The uneasy sentiment wasn't exclusive to Momoi. Too Academy's players also sensed that something was amiss and couldn't shake off a collective sense of foreboding.

"We've kept Kuroko in place, and Hyuga couldn't do anything to do his Barrier Jump..." Imayoshi scrutinized the unfolding situation as his thought raced to analyze their situation.

His gaze shifted to Kiyoshi, marked by Wakamatsu and contemplated, "The only option was Kiyoshi and Kagami, but passing to Kiyoshi required them to have Kuroko's misdirection online considering our defensive formation..."

Seirin found themselves in a tough spot, no matter how Imayoshi looked at it. Yet, an unsettling feeling nagged at Imayoshi. He mumbled, "But what's causing this unease..."

Despite careful consideration, an uneasy sense lingered.

A subtle but persistent discomfort permeated the atmosphere.

"What are we overlooking..." he wondered aloud, uncertainty clouding his analysis.

Imayoshi, having keenly felt Kuroko's presence and successfully shadowed his every move, found it inconceivable to lose track of him at this point.

However, a shocking realization washed over him. He widened his eyes in disbelief, turning to meet Kuroko's determined gaze as he thought out loud. "...How could I see you so clearly."

The moment the realization dawned on Imayoshi, a silent understanding passed between every player on the Seirin team.

Kuroko, as if guided by an invisible force, subtly shifted closer to Izuki.

Imayoshi, now hyper-aware of Kuroko's every move, mirrored the adjustment.

Kuroko and Izuki locked eyes, a shared understanding passing between them. With determination etched on his face, Izuki altered his pace, attempting to forcefully drive past Susa's formidable defense.

As Izuki closed the distance, Susa who was closely marking him was caught off guard as something unbelievable happened right before his very eyes.

In the blink of an eye, Izuki seemingly vanished from Susa's perspective.

A look of shock washed over Susa's face as he realized that Izuki had effortlessly slipped past his defense.

"What in the world!?"

Susa exclaimed, the disbelief evident in his widened eyes.

Imayoshi also struggled to comprehend the unfolding spectacle with his eyes wide open in shock.

"...Izuki used Vanishing Drive!?" he uttered, the incredulity coloring his words.

The unexpected application of Kuroko's signature move by Izuki left Too Academy's players in a state of astonishment.

The sudden break in Too Academy's defensive formation caused by Izuki's deft maneuvering past Susa, left a visible gap that Izuki exploited as he charged toward the basket.

"Fuck it, I'll stop you first!"

The frustration on Wakamatsu's face was palpable, audible in the click of his tongue as he found himself compelled to confront Izuki and thwart his advance.

Yet, Izuki was expecting this and as soon as he sensed the opening, he swiftly passed the ball to Kiyoshi, who now found himself unmarked and free.

"Goddammit!" 

The unfolding scene elicited a frustrated exclamation from Wakamatsu, who then realized he was being played as he reacted and redirected his focus to impede Kiyoshi's impending attempt at a dunk.

"Stop right where you are, Kiyoshi Teppei!"

Wakamatsu shouted, a testament to the urgency and intensity of the moment.

With determination etched on his face, Wakamatsu leaped into action, closing the distance to block Kiyoshi's dunk attempt.

"...As expected of a team who specializes in individual play, each of them is a top player!"

Hyuga was watching the sequence with a gritted-teeth expression as he marveled at the speed and precision of Wakamatsu's maneuvers. 

In the split second when Kiyoshi sensed the impending block from Wakamatsu, a frown creased his forehead.

However, Kiyoshi was renowned as the Uncrowned King for a reason as he showcased his mastery.

His hand that was poised for a dunk, underwent a swift transformation mid-air.

Instead of completing the slam, he orchestrated a seamless pass back to Izuki, who had positioned himself for the play.

The unexpected maneuver left Wakamatsu frustrated and cursing under his breath.

"Fuck, such an annoying trick!" he muttered, the annoyance evident in his tone.

As Wakamatsu landed and turned to confront the aftermath, his gaze fell on Kiyoshi's retreating figure, who had effortlessly returned to his position.

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