Upon arriving in Japan, Tsuna was warmly welcomed by the first-string basketball players, including the future Generation of Miracles. They had come to check up on him after hearing about the intense altercation he had been involved in.
It had been quite a while since they had received news of the incident. Unfortunately, Tsuna's family had whisked him away to the US immediately afterward, preventing them from personally assessing his condition.
Momoi, in particular, was overwhelmed with emotion. She sobbed uncontrollably in Tsuna's arms, blaming herself for what had happened.
Tsuna offered a wry smile, gently trying to extricate himself from her embrace. He wanted to catch up with the others, who seemed more interested in the private basketball court just behind the house. They were already engaged in playful games together.
After some effort, Tsuna regained his freedom and joined in the fun on the court.
The head coach and his assistant, who had also come to inquire about his well-being, observed for a while. Seeing Tsuna enjoying himself with the others, they exchanged pleasantries and left, content that he was in good spirits.
After their energetic game, they all gathered and took a moment to relax.
"I heard you really gave those thugs a beating. That was insane! I had no idea you could fight like that," Aomine commented, still catching his breath from their intense match.
"Yeah, I took care of them, but it landed me in the hospital afterward," Tsuna replied casually, flashing a slight smile.
"How's your injury, though?"
Midorima, holding a miniature painting, approached them. He adjusted his glasses with his free hand before asking about Tsuna's injury.
"..."
The group fell into a brief silence as they observed Midorima clutching the painting. Although they were accustomed to his eccentric habits and the odd items he brought to school, it never failed to leave them momentarily speechless.
Tsuna shook his head lightly, "Nah, it wasn't too bad. Just some minor fractures in my arms and legs."
He demonstrated by moving his arms to show they were perfectly fine.
Midorima acknowledged this with a nod and reverted to his usual quiet self.
"But they're fully healed now," Tsuna added.
"That's a relief, especially since the Nationals are coming up soon. It would be a bummer if you couldn't join us," Nijimura chimed in.
Murasakibara, munching on his snacks, inquired, "Nationals? What's that?"
The group collectively turned to Murasakibara, their faces showing surprise at his lack of knowledge about the Nationals.
"..."
Murasakibara's question left everyone momentarily stunned. The Nationals were a big deal in Japanese high school and middle school basketball, and it was unusual for someone involved in the sport not to know about them.
"Hehe! Let me fill you in!"
Momoi, excited and in stark contrast to her previous mood, raised her hand enthusiastically. She cleared her throat, pleased to have everyone's attention.
"The Nationals, also known as the National Sports Meet, is a prestigious high school and middle school basketball tournament in Japan. It brings together the winners of the Interhigh from each prefecture for an all-star competition. The team that emerges victorious from this tournament can proudly claim to be the best in the entire country."
"Last time, we were the second-best team, but this year, we're among the top five favorites to win it!" Momoi exclaimed.
Tsuna's face brightened with a smile as he eagerly looked forward to competing in the upcoming tournament.
As the conversation flowed, time passed swiftly. Before they knew it, it was already noon. Feeling that they had occupied Tsuna's time long enough, they decided it was time to take their leave.
Tsuna courteously escorted them to the door, engaging in light conversation as they prepared to depart.
"Tsunayoshi, there's something you might not have heard about yet. We've got a new player in the first string," Akashi informed Tsuna, turning to share the news.
Tsuna's curiosity piqued, and he raised an eyebrow as he inquired, "Really? I hadn't heard about that until now. How's the newcomer? Is he skilled?"
Akashi took a moment to gather his thoughts before responding, "Well, I'd say he has a pretty solid foundation."
Nijimura, however, seemed slightly annoyed as he added, "Yeah, he's not half bad. But the trouble is, he's got a knack for causing problems."
Aomine chuckled heartily at this revelation and couldn't resist commenting, "Haha, yeah. I've noticed that, too. If it weren't for Captain dragging him onto the court, he'd probably spend all his time at the arcade."
Nijimura sighed deeply, looking somewhat exasperated. "Honestly, if I didn't drag that guy out of there, he'd just skip training altogether."
Tsuna chuckled at the image that formed in his mind. It seemed like the new addition had quite the personality, and he was eager to meet this intriguing troublemaker for himself.
He was genuinely interested in this individual who had managed to rile up Nijimura.
"He does sound like quite the troublemaker..."
Nijimura offered a bit more insight, "His name is Shogo Haizaki. You'll get to meet him soon. Usually, I'd caution people to be careful around him, but..."
He glanced Tsuna up and down, recognizing the aura of someone not to be trifled with. "I highly doubt he'd want to pick a fight with you."
Aomine grinned, "It would be something to see him get completely schooled, though. I hope he's bold enough to challenge Tsuna."
The comment elicited laughter from the group. Even Midorima and Murasakibara, who were typically more reserved, cracked a smile.
After their conversation, they parted ways.
Tsuna offered to give them a ride since Sebas was at home and ready to drive them, but they declined, choosing to walk home instead. Tsuna accepted their decision without argument, knowing it would be futile to convince them otherwise.
As the rest of the group departed, Tsuna headed back inside his house for a shower.
Meanwhile...
Akashi sat in the car, gazing out the window with a noticeable frown on his face.
Even though the others might not have picked up on it, Akashi's acute ability to read people made it impossible for him to ignore the significant transformation in Tsuna since their last training session.
He was genuinely astonished by Tsuna's improvement. Considering that Tsuna had suffered fractures and likely couldn't train for a whole month, the level of progress he'd made in such a short time was nothing short of astounding.
But what puzzled and unsettled Akashi even more was the sensation he experienced when he faced Tsuna. It was as if something within him was struggling to break free and challenge whatever it was that resided within Tsuna. It left him deeply uneasy.
"...Who are you really, Tsunayoshi Kazama?" Akashi muttered to himself, his hand clenching involuntarily over the complex emotions stirring within him.
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