"Tsuna, where's our coach?" Nijimura inquired out of the blue.
As they pressed on with their training, they were near the end of their session, engaged in a drill called the lateral shuffle.
While maintaining the shuffle, Tsuna replied, "She took off last night. Mentioned she wanted to travel around for a bit."
"What about our training for the next week?" Nijimura grumbled, clearly frustrated.
Their upcoming playoff against Onita High was just a week away. With the match looming, they needed their coach's guidance to ensure they were in the best possible shape.
Understanding Nijimura's concern, Tsuna shook his head.
"It'll be fine," Tsuna assured him.
He believed that making drastic changes to their daily routine just before the match might disrupt their preparations, and it was essential to maintain stability for peak performance.
Tsuna continued, "Let's stick to our regular training regimen. She didn't leave us high and dry. She prepared everything in advance..."
Nijimura, catching his breath during the shuffle, recalled, "You're right. She mentioned leaving something in your room."
Tsuna nodded in agreement, and Nijimura's expression cleared up.
It seemed that Alexandra had planned her return for the playoff day. She had even sent Tsuna a comprehensive schedule for the upcoming week's training, complete with dietary instructions.
"I'll provide you with the file later," Tsuna said, taking a deep breath as he finished his set.
He turned to Nijimura, who had also completed his training, and added, "Inform the rest of the team about the schedule. As for the dietary plan, pass it to Sebas. He can arrange for someone to handle it. I want us to focus on training."
Nijimura nodded, bowing slightly. "Got it."
Tsuna acknowledged this with a nod, then turned to the other players, instructing them to freshen up and take a well-deserved rest for the day.
Leaving the basketball court, night had fallen.
"I think it's time for a shower."
Tsuna wiped the sweat from his brow and mumbled.
A familiar voice responded, "You haven't changed at all, have you? You still switch to English when you're thinking out loud."
Tsuna turned to see the person who had spoken. "Well, you seem different from the last time we met, Shintaro..."
Midorima chose to ignore those words, adjusting his glasses in a typical fashion.
He wasn't eager to acknowledge the changes he had undergone after his defeats against Tsuna and Kuroko. These losses had brought into focus certain deficiencies he hadn't noticed because he was used to playing with monsters on the same team.
Tsuna seemed calm as he shook his head in response. "My family owns this place. It's no surprise that I know Shutoku had been a regular."
This revelation intrigued Tsuna. He had a rough idea that Shutoku held their summer camp at a specific resort in Kanagawa. However, he never expected that this resort was one of his family's properties in Japan.
"I understand," Midorima replied.
His gaze briefly shifted toward the gymnasium in the courtyard. He considered that perhaps Tsuna's ownership might explain the presence of a basketball court here.
Turning back to Tsuna, Midorima expressed his concern, "I observed your team practicing earlier. Don't you think you're pushing yourselves too hard, especially with a game just a week away?"
Tsuna shrugged, adopting a nonchalant tone.
"This is our usual training routine," he casually mentioned, leaving Midorima somewhat stunned by their intense regimen.
Tsuna continued, "It's not that surprising. Our school is known for having students with exceptional physical abilities."
While not every student at Fukuda Sogo Academy was inherently gifted, the nature of the school required a certain level of physical prowess from all its students. If not, they wouldn't have an easy life at school.
Midorima's brows furrowed as he recalled his own research into Fukuda Sogo Academy after learning that Tsuna attended there.
Observing Tsuna's casual demeanor about his school, Midorima couldn't help but regard him seriously, thinking, "Is this guy... a force to be reckoned with at his school too?"
At this moment, Midorima was torn between the idea of whether Tsuna or Akashi was more formidable. The two had prominent backgrounds. Both exuded dominance, having been raised to stand at the apex.
The memories of certain issues in Teiko had transformed Akashi's inherent dominance into an extreme force resurfaced as Midorima thought about the guy.
"Midorima, what's on your left hand..." Tsuna inquired with a mischievous grin, causing Midorima to flinch instinctively. Something about Tsuna's expression was a little fishy.
Shaking off the uneasy feeling, Midorima replied, "It's a pair of chopsticks. According to Oha-Asa Horoscope, they're my lucky item for today..."
"I want them..."Tsuna's smirk persisted as he responded, "I bet you're about to be surprised again later. Do you dare to bet on these?"
Although Tsuna's smirk was unsettling, Midorima wasn't the one to back down from a challenge.
"Hah! I'll see what you got."
Midorima boldly accepted Tsuna's challenge, his competitive spirit refusing to yield. Midorima maintained his confident demeanor, his assurance that nothing could faze him apparent in his smile...
...that was until Tsuna led him to the cafeteria, where Midorima's eyes widened in astonishment.
"What are you doing here?"
Midorima was taken aback by the unexpected sight of Kuroko and Kagami eating in the cafeteria. His expression turned into a mix of surprise and anger as he pointed a finger at them.
Kuroko, always calm and collected, greeted him with a nod, saying, "Hello, Midorima. It's been a while."
Kagami, equally bewildered, stood up and pointed back at Midorima, demanding, "What are you doing here?"
Tsuna found amusement in the situation as he shook his head. He then signaled one of the staff members to bring him a meal per his dietary plan.
Kagami couldn't hide his confusion, "Wait, you can do that here? I thought this was a self-serve cafeteria..."
Midorima, slightly irritated, chimed in, "Of course he can. He owns the place, you idiot!"
He handed the promised chopsticks to Tsuna, who smirked as he accepted them.
Kagami, feeling perplexed, scratched his head. Observing Midorima go about getting his meal, Kagami wondered, "Is this guy here for training too?"
Tsuna took a seat at their table, awaiting his specially prepared meal. Before long, Midorima joined them, and the silence in the air grew heavier, making the atmosphere quite tense.
Midorima sighed, attempting to ease the tension, and directed his question to Kuroko, "So, are you guys here for a vacation?"
Before Kuroko could respond, the cafeteria door swung open dramatically, and a crowd entered.
They formed three distinct groups based on their togetherness. Awkwardly, everyone exchanged glances before finding separate seats, adhering to their respective groups.
One of the groups greeted Tsuna respectfully before settling into their own seats. This seemingly minor interaction drew the attention of everyone present, who regarded Tsuna with a hint of surprise.
Shutoku also glanced at Tsuna, but their reaction was less surprised than Seirin's.
Midorima, still wearing a frown, noticed Kuroko's surprise when he looked at someone, and he began to think, "Their whole team is here too? Must be for training..."
However, when he followed Kuroko's gaze and spotted someone familiar to both of them, he couldn't help but exclaim, "...Haizaki?"
Haizaki, noticing their attention, merely clicked his tongue and ignored them, choosing not to engage.
The atmosphere grew tense, and amidst the palpable discomfort, Tsuna couldn't resist a smirk, finding the situation rather intriguing.
---
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