As Rakuzan High began to walk off the court, Akashi, before reaching the exit gate, turned to glance at Fukuda Sogo.
His eyebrows furrowed as he noticed a figure sitting beside Tsuna.
"...He seems familiar." Akashi felt a sense of recognition but couldn't quite place where he had seen the figure before.
Intrigued, he took a closer look.
"What's catching your eye, Sei?" Mibuchi's voice snapped him out of his observation.
Akashi shook his head, refocusing on walking along, and replied, "...Nothing."
Continuing at the same pace, Mibuchi, puzzled by Akashi's peculiar behavior, subtly fixed his hair with an air of elegance before shrugging it off.
Meanwhile, Jiro who was seated with Tsuna, frowned upon sensing his own son's gaze fixated on him.
Confident in his subtle disguise, Jiro also knew well his son's sharp observational skills. He shook his head, standing up, prompting Tsuna to raise his eyebrows.
"You're leaving already?"
"...Yeah, I've got something to take care of," Jiro replied nonchalantly.
His bodyguards also rose from their seats, prepared to escort him out of the gymnasium.
Tsuna shook his head, fully aware that Jiro was speaking nonsense.
Considering Akashi's determination to show Tsuna 'his place,' he understood that Akashi might recognize and catch sight of Jiro sitting with him and possibly sensed a familiarity in Jiro's figure.
Akashi might even discern that it was his own father who sat alongside his rival.
"Uncle, Seijuro belongs to a higher stage. Japan is too small for him," Tsuna casually commented, prompting Jiro to press on with an aura of authority.
This showed Tsuna that Jiro was displeased with what he had just heard.
"...He belongs to Akashi Group. He has his responsibilities."
Fukuda Sogo's players couldn't help but flinch as they once again looked at Jiro's figure, swallowing nervously.
"I don't understand what Hirutora was doing, but you should also know you have your own responsibilities..." Jiro continued with a stern voice.
"Don't you realize I've laid the foundation already?"
Tsuna smiled, responding with calmness.
Jiro frowned upon hearing this, and Tsuna continued, "Well, my dad opposes me doing these things I wanted to do, just like you did, but he gave me a deadline..."
"..."
"Well, I was also setting my own deadline, but he didn't need to know..." Tsuna silently continued as Jiro walked away without offering any replies.
Tsuna shook his head, noting Jiro's stiffness and thinking, "Well, I hope I laid a foundation for you, Seijuro."
A chuckle escaped Tsuna as he believed he had done Akashi a favor.
Although Tsuna was aware that Akashi's primary position was much like his own, he couldn't help but feel it was unfortunate for such talent to be buried in such a small place.
That's why he wished for Akashi to ascend to a higher stage with others he might be able to scout later.
After all, Tsuna believed that Akashi was a great prospect. He muttered, "...He'd be a formidable opponent once he fully bloomed."
A smirk played on Tsuna's lips at the thought.
"..."
His expression made the others lightly twitch their lips, feeling utterly speechless, as they pondered that their captain was likely plotting something again.
"Whoa, Fukuda Sogo's here, huh?"
A voice suddenly resonated from the side, prompting everyone to turn and see a person being assisted to walk towards them.
"What are you doing here, Ryota?" Haizaki frowned as he snapped.
It was Kise, with Kasamatsu aiding him. His body clearly wasn't in a condition to attend a game on his own.
"Ahaha, well, how do I say this," Kise awkwardly chuckled. He shook his head and continued, "We can't find any places to sit, so I wonder if you guys would be willing to share the seats with us..."
"...That's the story, Fukuda Sogo's Captain, Tsunayoshi Kazama. It'd be great if you allow us to sit along," Kasamatsu explained.
"Just call my name comfortably. Anyway, it's not like we have any use for these empty seats anyway, so feel free to take a seat," Tsuna shrugged, accommodating their request.
"You're the best! Kazamacchi!"
Kise exclaimed happily, which prompted Haizaki to click his tongue in annoyance.
"Thank you, I appreciate it," Kasamatsu casually thanked Tsuna. He then helped Kise to sit in the seat beside Tsuna before returning to sit beside Nijimura on the second row.
"Wasn't expecting to see you again this fast," Nijimura spoke, nodding at Kasamatsu, who reciprocated.
"...I wasn't expecting to ask for a favor as well."
Nijimura laughed it off, saying, "Haha, it's all good. We have more company to enjoy the game. It's better this way."
With the addition of Kise and Kasamatsu, their conversation became livelier, especially since Ishida and Mochizuki were naturally chatty.
However, another figure approached.
"Hey there! We'd like to join in as well, is that okay?"
Momoi's voice was heard as Aomine followed behind, looking bored.
"Sure, just come and sit with us." Tsuna nodded, giving her his consent.
She immediately took a seat beside Tsuna, while Aomine shook his head before sitting beside Kise and asked, "What are you doing here? You should be resting..."
"Why do you care? I'd rather watch the semifinals than get bored waiting in a hospital bed..."
Kise sulked, prompting Aomine to sigh exhaustedly.
Kise had indeed been taken to the hospital after his impressive performance against Fukuda Sogo, pushing his body to break through its limitations. Some of his muscles were torn, fortunately not career-threatening.
Though, he needed a few months until he was able to get back in the court.
"But you need to rest, idiot," Aomine retorted.
Kise shrugged, "I'll rest when I'm dead. Besides, the therapy is making me stronger."
"...It's not how it works."
Tsuna and Momoi chuckled at their banter. However, they didn't seem to care and just continued on their own.
"Tsunachin, do you bring some snacks? I want some."
A bored voice was heard, prompting Tsuna to shake his head, thinking, "It's suddenly become so lively here..."
"I didn't bring any," Tsuna replied after a brief pause.
"Why not?"
Murasakibara's confusion was evident as he plopped down beside Momoi, looking genuinely perplexed.
"Because I had no idea I'd run into you here..."
"...Well, now that you have, could you grab me some?"
Himuro arrived silently, offering a casual wave as he settled into the second row alongside Nijimura and Kasamatsu, exchanging greetings with them.
Ignoring Murasakibara entirely, he left it to Tsuna to handle.
"I could check with Sebas..."
"Seriously?"
With their arrival, the atmosphere in Fukuda Sogo's section seat instantly transformed into a lively scene, the addition of these characters injecting a burst of energy into the surroundings.
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