Chapter 73: Celebrity

The crowd erupted in cheers as the game ended.

Karasuno had won their first round, and the energy in the gym buzzed with excitement. Spectators whispered to each other, understanding that calling them the Fallen Crow might have been outdated.

"Uwaah, they're playing a bit too seriously," Kunimi muttered, slouching in his seat. His lazy gaze followed Karasuno's team as they exited the court

Kindaichi crossed his arms, "Yeah, they should've saved their energy for their next game."

It was the first day of the preliminaries. Teams had to play multiple matches daily, and Karasuno was no exception. Even with breaks, going all-out now felt reckless.

Their next opponents would be tougher.

Of course, seeded teams and those paired with them only had to play once today. Since Aoba Johsai was a seed team as well, they only had one game.

"Well, isn't it good that we saw them play seriously?"

Oikawa stood up while tilting his head toward the court, where Hinata bounced beside Kageyama, grinning like he'd won the lottery. "Though it's a shame we didn't get to see their little trick today.

It seemed Karasuno was saving their blind quick attack as a surprise for their next opponent.

"True. But we still learned something," Irihata said while crossing his arms. He exchanged a glance with Mizoguchi, who nodded in response as both of them got up.

"That #10 got a new trick."

"That normal quick attack could be trouble."

Mizoguchi added, "It's something we need to consider if we ever face them again."

"We'll have a quick briefing with the organizing committee first," Irihata explained as the two coaches waved their hands and left. 

"Then we'll meet you in the locker room."

"..."

The Seijoh team fell silent while absorbing their coaches' words.

'I'd rather play against them again...' 

Kindaichi thought, his fist clenching quietly.

Date Tech was strong, but they didn't spark the same fire in him. His rivalry with Karasuno—and his former teammate—Kageyama was more motivating than Date Tech.

'I'll defeat you, King!'

"Date Tech's already done too," Hanamaki said, jerking his chin toward the other court.

The losing team there slumped on their bench, heads bowed. The scoreboard behind them flashed a brutal 25-10 victory for their second set.

The next game to watch was decided.

Iwaizumi cracked his knuckles, "Let's go. We'll come back to watch Karasuno vs. Date Tech later."

With that, the Aoba Johsai players started to make their way out.

Meanwhile, in a long, narrow corridor leading to the main lobby, the Karasuno team was gathered.

"W-we're playing again today?"

Hinata asked with his voice trembling. His eyes were wide and glistening, threatening to spill tears.

Seeing his expression made Tsukishima frown, his nose wrinkling in disgust. He then shook his head and spoke, "Don't cry on us. It's annoying."

Hinata had never played more than one game in a tournament before. His middle school team always lost in the first round. The thought of playing twice in one day felt unreal, like a dream he might wake up from at any moment.

His eyes grew even shinier as tears threatened to fall.

"...Yeah, what's your deal anyway?"

Kageyama hesitated before adding, "Of course, we're playing again. We won our first game."

He sounded annoyed, partly because it looked like he was agreeing with Tsukishima. He shot a glare at the blonde first-year, who just smirked in response.

"Oh please, don't mingle yourself with a peasant," Tsukishima said mockingly, raising his hands in surrender.

"You!"

The gesture only made Kageyama's temper flare.

The two started arguing, their voices rising. The rest of the team watched with wry smiles, used to their constant bickering.

"Well, this is his first time playing more than one game in a tournament. I guess he's just... touched."

Suga chuckled softly, and Daichi nodded in response a small smile played on his lips, "Date Tech was done the second we got out. So, I guess our next opponent is decided."

"Keughh, those arrogant pricks..."

Tanaka growled, his fists clenched so tightly that his knuckles turned white.

His face darkened as he remembered their earlier encounter with Date Tech. The memory of their smug expressions and condescending words made his blood boil.

Nishinoya nodded vigorously before slamming a fist into his open palm, "We have to put them in their place!"

"Ah-ahaha. Right..."

Yamaguchi let out a nervous laugh, scratching the back of his head. He smiled wryly at their fiery declarations.

It was hard to keep up with their intensity sometimes.

Tsukishima stopped arguing with Kageyama and clicked his tongue in annoyance. He adjusted his glasses and muttered, "Please don't get us involved..."

"Huh!?"

Tanaka snapped, his head whipping around to glare at Tsukishima.

In an instant, he was in the first-year's face and grabbed Tsukishima's collar, pulling him closer. Tanaka growled in his ear, "Tsukishima, you seem to need to be taught a lesson..."

"Ryu's right, you idiotic first-year..."

Nishinoya stepped up beside Tanaka, crossing his arms tightly. He glared at Tsukishima, who didn't even bother to resist.

"Ha...? Can you let me go now?"

Tsukishima simply let Tanaka manhandle him, his expression bored, as if it was too much trouble to fight back.

"Listen..."

Tanaka began as he then he let go of Tsukishima's collar. He and Nishinoya stepped back, standing side by side.

In perfect sync, they struck a dramatic pose, pointing their fingers toward the sky, and declared, "You lack the power of youth!"

"...That's definitely a Naruto reference," Takeda said with his lips twitching in slight annoyance.

He rarely showed much emotion, but even he couldn't help but react. He finally understood why these two often teased him by calling him "Itachi" instead of his actual name, Ittetsu.

These guys watched way too much Naruto!

"..."

Ukai shook his head with a small smirk playing on his lips. He then glanced at Tsuna, who had been unusually quiet.

The boy was frowning at his phone, which made him curious as Keishin asked, "What is it, Tsuna?"

"Hmm...? Oh, that..."

Tsuna looked up, startled.

He realized everyone had stopped and was now staring at him with curiosity. He quickly closed his phone and shoved it into his pocket, "My dad's gonna pull up. Sorry, guys, I'll get back later. I gotta go now."

Without another word, Tsuna turned and hurried down the corridor. He took a sharp turn and disappeared from sight, leaving the team in stunned silence.

"...?"

Everyone exchanged confused glances. The sudden departure hung in the air like an unanswered question.

As Tsuna hurried through the lobby, the buzz of the gym faded behind him. Players lingering in the hallway whispered and pointed at his back. He ignored them, his sneakers squeaking sharply against the polished floor.

His mind raced with worry about his dad.

'That old man might do something crazy… Showing up out of nowhere like this…'

Ichiro never came to his matches after all.

Tsuna pushed through the gymnasium doors, squinting against the afternoon sunlight. He scanned the parking lot, searching for their rusty blue Chevy but...

...it wasn't there.

"Huh? I thought he was close…"

"Ah, Tsuna-chan!"

A bright, familiar voice rang out.

"Oikawa...?"

Tsuna blinked and turned.

"Eh? What are you doing out here, are you trying to grab a drink as well?"

Oikawa stood a few meters away with a smile while waving a canned drink from the vending machine. 

"And the others too, huh?"

Tsuna saw that behind Oikawa, the Aoba Johsai team froze mid-motion. They stared at Tsuna as he'd materialized from thin air.

Kunimi's voice broke the stillness. "…The Psychotic Star."

"It's the Shooting Star, you idiot," Iwaizumi grumbled, smacking Kunimi lightly on the head.

Oikawa ignored them, stepping closer.

The afternoon sun glinted off his hair as he tilted his head and asked, "Tsuna-chan, what kind of drinks do you like? Do you like chocolate mint? Like this one?"

"Ah…"

Oikawa waved the drink in his hand, then blinked as if realizing something. "…But this is the last one. You know, if you want, I can share it with you—actually…"

"…?"

Something about Oikawa's overly friendly behavior made Aoba Johsai's players shift uncomfortably.

Even Iwaizumi twitched at the sight as he stepped forward while mumbling, "This motherfucker..."

"Oh! Maybe you'd like a chocolate-strawberry—"

"Can you shut up for a second?"

Before Oikawa could finish, Tsuna casually clamped a hand over his mouth.

"...!"

The entire place fell silent.

Aoba Johsai's players stared, stunned. Oikawa, for once, was also speechless as he said, "Mhmm!"

"Huh...?"

Even Iwaizumi's eyes widened in shock before a slow, impressed grin spread across his face.

He grabbed Oikawa by the collar, holding him still as he turned to Tsuna with genuine admiration, "Tsunayoshi Matsumoto… I didn't know you were chill like that."

"Chill like what?"

Aoba Johsai's team was speechless. They had a collective thought at that moment— "They're both psychopaths…"

VROOOOM—

A loud engine roar cut through the stunned silence.

"Huh??"

"A supercar..."

"In a place like this?"

Everyone turned.

A bright green Lamborghini Aventador rolled up smoothly, its polished body gleaming under the afternoon sun.

It came to a stop right in front of them, its presence too flashy, too out of place. Then, the driver's door swung open as a middle-aged man stepped out.

Head to toe with designer brands. Gold chains clinking around his neck. Rings glinting on his fingers.

His entire presence screamed money.

"..."

But seeing the man, Tsuna's face darkened instantly.

The man, however, didn't seem to notice—or care. Instead, he grinned, spreading his arms wide.

"Yo, what up, son?"

"...?"

A heavy silence followed.

Then, all eyes turned to Tsuna.

"Wait… is he a celebrity's son?"

---

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