Chapter 68: The game starts

Surprised by the revelation that Fukuda Sogo had no coach, Nakatani was initially taken aback. He looked for any signs of jest in Tsuna's words but found none.

"I see, that's quite unexpected. But anyway, one of my team members will show you where you can sit. And feel free to warm up. We're going to start the game in 30 minutes," Nakatani said, shaking his head in mild disbelief.

He motioned for one of Shutoku's reserve players to guide Fukuda Sogo to their bench before returning to his team.

Tsuna signaled for the rest of his team to follow him as they moved toward their designated seating area. It was evident that Shuutoku had made thorough preparations for today's friendly match.

Once Tsuna had settled into his seat, the rest of the team followed suit, focusing on their captain. They had already received a briefing on their game plan earlier.

"We'll stick with our plan. You will be marking Shintaro for this..."

Turning to Mochizuki, Tsuna instructed.

Mochizuki, upon hearing the instructions, nodded in acknowledgment. "Got it, Captain. But just so you know, he's way better than me."

Tsuna gave a knowing nod. He was well aware of Midorima's skills. However, Mochizuki's role was primarily to keep Midorima occupied.

Ishida chimed in, shaking his head slightly. "Mochizuki, you should give it your best shot."

Tsuna continued with the game plan. "Ishida, you'll step up as the point guard. Since Haizaki is absent, Ogiwara will take his place for now. I'll play as the power forward."

As Haizaki's name was mentioned, the team couldn't help but feel frustrated, and Nijimura shook his head while agreeing.

"Nijimura, you'll stick to your usual role," Tsuna instructed.

Nijimura nodded in response. "Got it."

Although he was a Power Forward at Teiko, Tsuna had thought it through and decided to place him as the center.

Tsuna didn't make this decision lightly. Playing as the center required great strength as they were crucial for the team's defense. Nijimura's martial arts background had made him physically stronger than ever before.

So, he was perfect for the role.

Meanwhile, on Shutoku's bench, Nakatani rubbed his chin thoughtfully while observing Fukuda Sogo's team.

"It looks like they really don't have a coach. That young captain seems to be handling both roles," Nakatani remarked, voicing his observations aloud. His fellow Shutoku members listened attentively.

"Hmm, let's focus on figuring out their strategy. We don't have any data on how they play," Nakatani decided. Otsubo, understanding the plan, nodded in agreement.

However, Midorima had a different idea, and he spoke up suddenly, "Coach Nakatani, would it be possible to run most of the plays through me in the first quarter?"

Nakatani squinted his eyes at Midorima, taken aback by the request. The rest of the team looked equally surprised.

Miyaji placed a hand on Midorima's shoulder and whispered, "Freshman, are you trying to get yourself killed today?"

Midorima shivered a bit but kept his composure. He glanced at Miyaji and said, "...I understand that my request may have been a bit much, but would you mind letting go of my shoulder? I don't like being touched."

Miyaji was taken aback. "What did you say?"

He released Midorima's shoulder, but anger was written all over his face, and he seemed ready to confront Midorima physically. However, Takao stepped in quickly, trying to calm Miyaji down.

"Haha, senior, please hold off beating this self-centered guy for now. We have a guest."

Nakatani didn't seem bothered by the idea and agreed, "Alright then, we'll focus on getting points from Midorima later."

Otsubo, looking a bit baffled, nodded in agreement.

He placed his hand on Midorima's shoulder and said, "...I'll follow the coach's plan, but let's be clear: I'm doing it for the team. Don't forget that, freshman."

Midorima, adjusting his glasses, replied, "...I appreciate your understanding."

But then he added, "By the way, could you please remove your hand?"

Otsubo shrugged and released Midorima's shoulder.

Miyaji appeared even more determined to confront Midorima after these words, with Takao and Kimura working together to restrain him.

Midorima's face remained mostly impassive, but upon closer inspection, one could notice a thin sheen of sweat on his forehead in response to Miyaji's intense reaction.

On Fukuda Sogo's bench, Tsuna shared his insights, "Typically, they prefer a slower pace..."

He then shifted his gaze to Midorima and added, "...but I have a hunch they might throw a curveball at us this time."

"Alright, let's get warmed up. If any adjustments are needed during the game, I'll call for them."

With that, Tsuna rose, and the rest followed suit.

Their warm-up routine was straightforward: some basic stretches, five layups each, ten shots at the basket, and then taking turns passing the ball among themselves. Once they completed their assigned tasks, they could practice as they pleased.

Shutoku had wrapped up their own briefing and began streaming onto the court for their warm-up. Their routine mainly involved stretching and some ball-handling drills.

Miyaji, watching Fukuda Sogo's warm-up, muttered to Kimura, "These guys give me the creeps."

Kimura nodded, "They've got a strong foundation."

Otsubo, looking rather perplexed, turned to Midorima and asked, "So, that guy over there was also your former captain? How many captains did you guys have?"

Takao, standing beside Otsubo, couldn't hold back a chuckle.

Midorima explained, "Well, it's a bit complicated. Senior Nijimura voluntarily stepped down as captain, and Tsuna took over. Then when Tsuna had to go back to the States, the captaincy returned to senior."

Otsubo rubbed his temples, clearly feeling the weight of the complex history at Teiko.

Takao chuckled and tried to ease the mood, saying, "Captain, don't stress over it too much. Teiko was a bit of a crazy place back then. Full of surprises, you know?"

He quickly changed his tone and added with determination, "Let's concentrate on this game and win."

Midorima adjusted his glasses and nodded.

After a solid half-hour of warm-up, both teams took their positions on the court, a palpable tension hanging in the air. Standing at the center of the court, the referee prepared to toss the ball into the air.

With both teams ready for the jump ball, the referee threw it up high, and Otsubo expertly gained control for Shutoku. He quickly passed the ball to a teammate, signaling them to move forward as they prepared for their offensive play.

The pass ended up in the hands of Midorima, who stood at the court's center.

Nijimura couldn't help but wonder why Midorima wasn't budging from his spot.

"...He's gonna shoot from there?"

However, this puzzle was quickly solved as Midorima shifted into his shooting stance and leaped into the air. The ball left his hands in a graceful, high arc.

The sheer elegance of the ball's trajectory captivated the Fukuda Sogo players as they watched it gracefully float through the air.

The ball swished flawlessly through the net, finally breaking the silence. Fukuda Sogo's players, stunned by the incredible shot, blinked back to reality and stared at Midorima in disbelief.

"He can make shots from that distance?"

"Is this the famous shooter from the Generation of Miracles?"

Tsuna couldn't help but chuckle as he looked at Midorima's smirk, his smile showing a hint of amusement.

"What a way to kick off the game, Shintaro."

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