Upon their arrival at the restaurant, they were promptly greeted by the manager since they were informed ahead of time by Nijimura during their journey there.
Tsuna had chosen this place to commemorate their tournament victory and to bid farewell, as he was preparing to depart for the US, potentially to recruit the talents he sought.
Amidst savoring the A5 Wagyu, Tsuna found the moment opportune to address the group. With a smile, he began, "...I'd like to extend my congratulations once more on our tournament triumph."
Instantly, all eyes turned to Tsuna, attentively awaiting his words.
"I've found myself enjoying this journey far more than I anticipated, and it's all thanks to each of you. Therefore, I'd like to take this opportunity to announce my resignation as the captain of Fukuda Sogo and pass the torch to Ogiwara..."
As Tsuna spoke, initial smiles faded into expressions of disbelief. Confusion etched across their faces, everyone rose to their feet in shock.
"...What?"
"Captain, you can't be serious..."
The room fell into a stunned silence as Tsuna shook his head. Nijimura stepped in, explaining the circumstances behind Tsuna's initial arrival in Japan.
Slowly, realization dawned on the group, their expressions growing solemn as they sank back into their seats, weighed down by the news.
"...Now that we understand, it's clear you were leagues ahead of us, surpassing not just our capabilities, but those of anyone else in Japan," Haizaki acknowledged with a solemn nod.
He acknowledged the exceptional talent of the Generation of Miracles, particularly Akashi, who had pushed Tsuna to reveal more of his abilities. However, in Haizaki's view, they were still far from reaching Tsuna's level.
With a tired sigh, Haizaki caught everyone off guard as he rose to his feet, pointing accusingly at Ogiwara.
"Why him, though?"
"..."
The room fell into stunned silence at Haizaki's sudden outburst.
Ogiwara was visibly taken aback and could only awkwardly scratch his head, mirroring the confusion shared by the others at Tsuna's decision.
"...Captain, why not choose Senior Nijimura instead?"
Ogiwara's question hung in the air, thick with confusion.
Nijimura chuckled in response, "Well, I've decided to retire from basketball..."
"Huh?"
The response was collective, a chorus of surprise echoing through the room.
Nijimura's smile widened as he reflected on his decision.
Martial arts had always held a special place in his heart, and he felt a stronger calling to it than to basketball.
He recognized his talent in martial arts surpassed that in basketball, and he believed pursuing it would be more fulfilling, especially considering his role as Sebas's successor.
As Nijimura explained his reasoning, a collective sigh filled the room once more, the weight of understanding settling in as they processed his decision.
However, they found themselves lacking any valid reasons to dissuade them. Discouraging Tsuna would seem ungrateful, given that he clearly belonged to a higher stage than Japan.
Similarly, discouraging Nijimura would dishonor his unwavering loyalty to Tsuna.
"Still, if both of you leave, won't that lead to chaos at our school?"
The question hung in the air, casting a solemn hush over the room.
Tsuna's lips curled into a smirk at the implication.
With the departure of their sovereign leader, ambitious individuals who thirsted for power would undoubtedly emerge.
Nijimura's presence alone had kept such aspirations in check, but without him, the balance of power would shift, inviting internal conflict and strife.
"Don't worry about that; you're all physically superior to them, so you'll be safe," Tsuna's reassurance lacked conviction, especially considering they were primarily basketball players.
Tsuna shook his head, opting not to explain that their rigorous training had already honed them to peak physical condition for their age group.
He was confident their doubts would soon be dispelled.
Nevertheless, Tsuna didn't leave them without a safety net.
"Even if things don't work out, the Student Union will support you," he assured them.
Mention of the influential force that governed the factions within their school finally brought some relief to the group.
A loud hiccup interrupted their conversation, drawing their attention to Alexandra, who had passed out with a blissful expression on her face, leaving them speechless.
"...As expected of an American—" Ogiwara began, admiring Alexandra's carefree nature, but Nijimura swiftly smacked him on the head, his lips twitching as he shook his head.
"Being American has nothing to do with it, you dumbass!"
They all sighed and returned their focus to their food, continuing their conversation.
However, the atmosphere was tinged with a hint of sadness as they realized this might be the last time they would share such a dinner with Tsuna and Nijimura.
The night stretched on, and the journey ahead seemed even longer.
The next day, Tsuna emerged from his room dressed casually, his steps confident as he made his way to the elevator in the lobby.
As he descended, he was met by a line of security personnel who bowed respectfully in acknowledgment of his presence. Tsuna acknowledged them with a nod, his expression remaining unchanged, before continuing on his path.
At the lobby, he spotted his father, calmly sipping his morning coffee while reviewing some reports.
"Good morning, Dad," Tsuna greeted with a slight bow before taking a seat opposite him.
"Where did you go last night?"
Hirutora sighed, fixing his gaze on Tsuna.
Tsuna's response was nonchalant, "Don't you already know..."
"Still, why did you suddenly come here?"
Tsuna inquired, his curiosity evident in his tone. Hirutora calmly closed his eyes, taking another sip of his coffee before responding, "...Your grandpa asked me to invest in some of his people."
Tsuna nodded thoughtfully, mentally running through the list of influential political figures in Japan who would warrant his father's personal visit.
"I see..."
"So, how was it? Did you achieve what you set out to do by coming here?" Hirutora rubbed his temple wearily. His son was never one to beat around the bush.
Tsuna's smile widened at the question, and he chuckled. "Well, there were some twists, but I guess you can say I got what I wanted..."
His response prompted a matching smile from Hirutora, and their amusement quickly turned into shared smirks as they chuckled together.
Sebas and the others who were present couldn't help but feel a slight shiver at the sight of the father-son duo exchanging smirks and chuckles as if they were plotting something shady.
Uncertain glances were exchanged among the onlookers, their curiosity piqued yet tinged with a touch of trepidation.