Chapter 21: Streetball Court

"Great then, I shall take my leave," Hirutora announced, rising from his seat with the intention of giving Tsuna some space. However, before he could exit the room, Tsuna's voice reached him, "Father, what about those people?"

Hirutora halted in his steps, turning to face his son, who met his gaze steadily. He understood that Tsuna was inquiring about the thugs he had encountered in Japan.

"...Out of the eleven, only two might fully recover."

Hirutora disclosed the grim reality, waiting calmly for Tsuna's reaction.

"...I see."

Deep down, Tsuna was relieved. At least there were no fatalities.

He nodded with a sense of acceptance, having anticipated such outcomes. After all, he hadn't held back in his response to their aggression, opting to target vital areas. The mere fact that none of them had died was something of a mercy.

"Do you feel sorry for them?"

Those thugs, though misguided, were still young, with their whole lives ahead of them. Being left in a vegetative state, trapped in an existence devoid of real living, seemed even more merciless than death itself.

Hearing the question, Tsuna fell into a contemplative silence, his gaze fixed on the scene outside the private jet's window. He spoke calmly, "No, I just did what I had to do to survive."

Hirutora acknowledged his son's response with a slow nod.

He understood that sentiment well—the world often demanded harsh choices for survival. Hirutora was keenly aware that had Tsuna reacted differently, it could have easily been him tucked within the sterile embrace of a hospital bed, fighting for his life.

While Hirutora might have expected Tsuna to feel remorse over his actions, given his young age, he felt a certain contentment in Tsuna's pragmatic understanding of the harsh realities at play.

Observing Tsuna's distant stare out the window, Hirutora's lips curled into a faint smile. He turned to leave the room, giving Tsuna space to contemplate.

Tsuna was enveloped in his mother's anxious inquiries upon returning to the US. The worry etched on her face tugged at his heart, sparking a sense of guilt.

The doctors were relieved to find that Tsuna's injuries, despite the intense fight he had been through, were relatively minor. To their surprise, he had managed to evade any significant harm, which garnered their amazement. The medical team responsible for his well-being expressed their gratitude that Tsuna's crucial body parts had escaped harm.

While the doctors acknowledged Tsuna's lack of formal combat training, they attributed his relatively unscathed condition to sheer luck. They believed that chance had played a significant role in his favorable outcome.

Unbeknownst to them, Tsuna had effectively translated his skills from his previous life into his present circumstances. This enabled him to deftly dodge critical attacks and absorb others using his limbs, explaining the fractures he had endured.

The medical professionals predicted a recovery period of around 4 to 5 weeks for his fractures based on his condition.

And as predicted, four weeks had passed since the altercation, and Tsuna now sat beside Alexandra in a car.

Alexandra had suggested taking Tsuna to a streetball court in the city, a spot known for enjoying a more unconventional style of basketball. She had been a regular at this place, having been introduced to it by her friends some time ago.

"When will you go back to Japan?"

Alexandra asked Tsuna about his return plans to Japan in between the casual ambiance. Tsuna, engrossed in a book, looked up at her as she spoke.

"I had to attend my brother's wedding before returning, so I will return next week."

Tsuna closed the book, giving her his attention.

"That's great then!"

Alexandra's face lit up upon hearing this. She was pleased with the prospect of having Tsuna join them for a streetball game in the upcoming game. This meant they could enjoy playing together for the duration of the week.

Alexandra kept up the conversation, asking Tsuna about Japan—whether he enjoyed it, how the basketball scene compared to the US and various other topics. They chatted on until their discussion was interrupted by Sebas, who let them know they had reached their destination.

Stepping out of the car, Tsuna's gaze fell upon the bustling streetball court.

The court was divided into two sections, with one side occupied by younger players. Though Tsuna noted that these youngsters were around his age, he couldn't help but turn to Alexandra with a questioning glance, his finger gesturing toward the teens, "Do you want me to join in with them?"

Amusement danced in Alexandra's eyes as she chuckled, her head shaking gently. "No worries, I have got a team ready for you to join in. Follow me, and I'll introduce you to everyone."

With a nod, Tsuna followed Alexandra to another part of the court. Here, a group of people sat, engrossed in lively conversation.

"Alex! Finally, we've been waiting!" One of the guys with blonde hair greeted Alexandra.

"Well, sorry for making you guys wait." Alexandra apologized. She then turned to Tsuna and introduced him to her team, "And I got you guys your final player!"

"Hey there, I'm Tsuna. Nice to meet you all," Tsuna introduced himself with a nod. Each of them seemed taken aback by his presence.

Taking the initiative, Alexandra pointed to each of her friends, introducing them in turn. "This blond guy is Chris, the one with the bald head is Ben, the guy with the tattoo on his face is Johnny, and our fellow Asian teammate is Richard."

"Alex, are you serious? He looks so young for this court," Chris, the blond guy, questioned Alexandra. Tsuna did appear notably younger than the rest of them.

"Come on, you know I promised a solid player," Alexandra insisted, trying to persuade them. "Tsuna's definitely the best addition we could have right now. Trust me!"

Shaking his head, Ben tossed the ball from hand to hand before passing it to Tsuna. Tsuna caught it smoothly, exuding a calm demeanor. "Well, let's put it to the test then."

Turning to Tsuna, Ben asked, "What's your take on this?"

Tsuna responded with a smile, saying, "Sure, why not?"

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