Amidst the dimly lit expanse of one of the resort's grand chambers, two figures sat across each other, locked in a battle of intellect. The room was adorned with opulent furnishings, giving the scene an air of sophistication.
One of the players, seemingly disinterested, idly moved his pieces with an air of boredom.
"...Young Master, could you please go easy on me at least once?"
Nijimura, who had been caught in a whirlwind of complex moves, sat in silent astonishment, unable to think of any moves to get out of his current situation on board.
Tsuna shook his head as he gracefully maneuvered his finger.
His queen glided gracefully across the board, positioning herself directly before the opposing King. Flanking her were the loyal knight and the wise bishop, forming an impenetrable wall of strategy and precision.
"Checkmate!"
Nijimura let out a sigh, feeling disappointed. "Another loss, huh?"
Nijimura wasn't really into chess; he wasn't much of a strategist. However, he had noticed that Tsuna always played the game by himself, so he decided to give it a shot. Unfortunately, he had never defeated Tsuna in any of their games.
"You just never catch on," Tsuna shook his head in disapproval.
While he appreciated Nijimura's attempt to keep him company, he preferred playing solo since Nijimura didn't provide much of a challenge. Even though playing against himself usually ended in a tie, it helped him stay mentally sharp.
Nijimura felt a bit embarrassed and scratched his head. He cleared his throat and then informed, "Young Master, we've received an invitation to attend the Annual Gatherings."
Tsuna's eyes flashed at this. He had heard of the gatherings from his grandpa's friend, who kept trying to betroth him with his granddaughter.
It was a gathering for the younger generation, featuring individuals from influential families and prominent figures within the country. The event drew together the offspring of politicians, business magnates, and other influential people.
Tsuna reached for his phone, curious about the news. He flipped open his phone, revealing a text message from someone asking, "Will you attend the Annual Gatherings?"
A small smile formed on Tsuna's face as he responded, "I will."
A reply immediately came in, saying, "In that case, I'll be there too."
Tsuna chuckled with amusement while Nijimura observed his young master, perplexed.
"He is really confident, isn't he?"
Tsuna said audibly so Nijimura could catch it.
Facing Nijimura, Tsuna ordered, "Let everyone know we'll be watching the semi-finals tomorrow. Pay close attention to Rakuzan's players."
"Rakuzan? Are you that sure Akashi will beat Murasakibara?" Nijimura couldn't resist asking.
Tsuna grinned, saying, "Certainly, their power balance is broken because Seijuro and Atsushi won't be in the game. With three Uncrowned Kings on their team, it's tough for Rakuzan to lose..."
Nijimura's eyes widened in shock at the news. Was this connected to the message Tsuna had received earlier?
"Understood!"
Even though Nijimura had plenty of questions, he obediently acknowledged.
Observing this, Tsuna nodded and motioned for Nijimura to go to bed. Nijimura got up, offered a bow, and exited the room. As the door closed behind Nijimura, Tsuna was left alone, gazing out the window at the starry night sky.
He mumbled to himself, "It'll be interesting to see his reaction later..."
---
The next day, Fukuda Sogo took a break from their training to tune in to the semi-final match between Yosen High and Rakuzan High. As expected, Akashi and Murasakibara didn't play, leaving most of the fans disappointed.
Nonetheless, the game proved thrilling thanks to the standout performances of the Uncrowned Kings from Rakuzan.
Although Tsuna had encouraged his team to attend the semi-final, he seemed to have other obligations because he didn't join them to watch the game.
Nijimura couldn't help but shake his head. Tsuna always had a packed schedule, so he didn't dwell on it.
Normally, as Sebas' successor, he'd follow Tsuna, but Tsuna insisted he stay and watch the game because his role in the final held significant importance. Nijimura attentively observed the unfolding game, with Rakuzan taking the lead.
He silently mused, "...Those Uncrowned Kings are quite impressive."
He had put extra effort into paying attention to their gameplay and tactics since Tsuna had also informed him that he wouldn't be playing in the final.
Nijimura couldn't quite fathom why, but he knew that Tsuna had a prior commitment during the upcoming final game.
Observing Haizaki and Ogiwara, whose eyes were red from intense scrutiny of Rakuzan's playstyle, Nijimura was at a loss as he considered, "What on earth did Tsuna tell these guys..."
Shortly, the game concluded with Rakuzan emerging victorious, prompting cheering throughout the stadium.
Seeing Rakuzan's victory, all of Fukuda Sogo's members turned to Nijimura, who simply nodded in acknowledgment. They headed back to their resort and resumed their regular training routine.
Meanwhile, in the upscale Minato neighborhood of Tokyo.
A district that was located in the heart of the bustling metropolis with lush greenery and meticulously manicured gardens that added a refreshing touch of nature to this urban oasis.
A tall and imposing teenager with shoulder-length lavender hair that reached his back and violet eyes stood motionless in front of a fancy house in the neighborhood.
He held a snack and nibbled on another while gazing at the house.
All of a sudden, a car pulled up next to the tall teenager. The passenger-side window rolled down, revealing Tsuna. He wore a speechless expression as he looked at the teenager and asked, "...Atsushi, what brings you here?"
Tsuna was aware that Murasakibara hadn't played in the semi-final. Still, he couldn't understand why Murasakibara was standing right in front of his main residence in Tokyo, out of all other places.
As Tsuna looked at him, Murasakibara offered a casual greeting, saying, "Hey, Tsunacchin, it's been a while..."
Murasakibara's gaze shifted from the elegant house behind him to Tsuna.
His mouth parted, ready to speak, but then his eyes fixated on the opened snack in his hand. A momentary pause cast an awkward air between them before Murasakibara shrugged off the awkwardness and resumed munching on his snack.
"..."
The crispy sound of the chips echoed in the tranquil surroundings, a stark contrast to the elegance of the neighborhood. His gaze remained steady, and the bored expression that was practically his trademark remained etched on his face.
"...You really haven't changed, have you?"
Tsuna managed a wry smile.
Having finished his snack, Murasakibara appeared eager to continue his previous question. He started, "Tsunacchin, is this your place? I can't remember well..."
"...Yeah, it is. Do you want to come in?" Tsuna responded after a moment of contemplation.
"So, you still have your snack collection?"
Murasakibara inquired, revealing his real motive for visiting Tsuna.
"So, the first thing you wanted from me after hearing I was back was my snack collection?" Tsuna shook his head, chuckling at the irony.
Murasakibara simply nodded as if it were the most natural request in the world.
Tsuna sighed and, stepping out of the car, motioned for Sebas to park it. He said, "...Of course, come on in. I just got a fresh batch yesterday."
Murasakibara's eyes sparkled with excitement as he followed Tsuna into the house, like an eager child anticipating a new toy.
---
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