Chapter 3: Alexandra Garcia

On that day, Tsuna's mother hired a construction company to build a basketball court just for him. It had been a month since then, and Sebas, the butler, guided Tsuna to the court.

As Tsuna looked around, he was truly impressed with what he saw. The court was like a professional outdoor court, complete with benches for resting and a storage area for basketballs.

The sight exceeded Tsuna's expectations, and he couldn't help but take out a basketball from the storage on the side of the court.

Swiftly, Tsuna began dribbling the ball, a familiar sensation flooding over him. Holding the ball in his hands, he couldn't help but grin like a child who had just received their favorite toy.

The rhythmic sound of the ball bouncing against the court floor filled Tsuna with nostalgia. It reminded him of how that sound used to wash away his worries in his previous life.

As Tsuna continued to dribble the ball, he could feel the motion and rhythm, despite knowing that he had lost the muscle memory he once had. He was a bit out of practice, but simply playing with the ball excited him.

With his young body, Tsuna knew that he could train as hard as his peers or even harder. Unlike in his past life, he now had a better starting point, so he wouldn't feel the same frustration he experienced when he hit a talent bottleneck just because he started later in life.

Tsuna swiftly dribbled the ball, heading towards the hoop with determination. He executed a flawless layup shot, the ball smoothly gliding into the basket. Retrieving the ball, he dribbled it towards the center, carefully angling his shot, and effortlessly scored another point.

Sebas, observing from the sidelines, couldn't help but be surprised by Tsuna's excitement and skill.

"Young Master," Sebas murmured, still in awe, "It seems he can truly act his age."

Having cared for Tsuna since he was just a baby, Sebas felt a mix of relief and joy for his young master.

Tsuna's exceptional maturity, while impressive, also carried a tinge of sadness. At his age, he should have been playing and enjoying carefree moments, but Tsuna had been dedicated to upholding his family's legacy.

A woman in her forties entered the basketball court, accompanied by her assistants and a young woman with blonde hair and glasses.

Upon seeing her, Sebas respectfully greeted her with a bow and reported, "Welcome, Madam. Young Master is currently enjoying himself."

Giving a slight nod, the middle-aged woman fixed her gaze on Tsuna, who was happily engrossed in playing basketball alone.

Like Sebas, Tsuna's mother became emotional, her eyes welling up with tears. It was heartwarming for her to witness her son finally embracing his age, joyfully playing basketball, and letting go of his worries.

The blonde-haired woman scratched her head, uncertain of what to do in this situation. Both Sebas and the Madam seemed content to simply watch Tsuna playing on his own.

Turning her attention to the boy, the woman couldn't help but be surprised. The boy's techniques initially appeared rough, but he rapidly improved astoundingly.

"What in the world?" she muttered silently, taken aback by the unexpected progress.

Originally, she had taken this job for the high salary, expecting to train a nine-year-old boy who had never touched a basketball before. Her expectations were modest.

But now, as she observed the boy, she couldn't resist turning to Tsuna's mother, asking with curiosity, "Madam, did your son truly start playing basketball today?"

Perplexed, Tsuna's mother replied, "Yes, to my knowledge. Why do you ask?"

"..."

The woman fell silent, although she had anticipated the answer, hearing it directly left her speechless. She carefully chose her words, stating, "Then your son possesses genuine talent. The way he naturally grasps essential skills, it's as if he was born to play basketball. I'm confident that he could become a top player in the NBA in the future."

Hearing the compliment filled Tsuna's mother with contentment. As a mother, any praise bestowed upon her son felt like praise for herself. However, a frown creased her forehead when the woman mentioned the prospect of Tsuna becoming a professional basketball player.

She doubted that her husband would allow their son to pursue a career in basketball. Yet, witnessing the sheer joy on Tsuna's face as he played, she felt it was necessary to discuss the matter with her husband.

Fully absorbed in his basketball play, Tsuna couldn't help but turn his head when he noticed a few people watching him from the side.

Spotting his mother among them, Tsuna waved enthusiastically and walked over to join them.

"Hi, Mom. What brings you here?" he asked, his curiosity piqued. He glanced at the blonde-haired woman standing beside his mother, trying to figure out who she was.

"Tsuna, this is Alexandra Garcia. She was the NCAA champion during her time at UCLA," Tsuna's mother explained with a smile, introducing the blonde-haired woman to him.

Tsuna's mother continued, "I invited her here to provide you with basketball training."

"Thanks, Mom! I could definitely use some guidance to improve my basketball skills," Tsuna replied with a gentle smile, expressing his gratitude.

As the mother and son interacted, Alexandra couldn't help but be amazed by Tsuna's maturity, which surpassed his young age.

"Well then, I'll leave him in your capable hands, Ms. Garcia," Tsuna's mother said kindly as she exited the court, followed by her assistants. Tsuna bid them goodbye with a wave of his hand.

"Absolutely, Madam," Alexandra replied with a reassuring smile, giving a salute.

Tsuna shifted his complete attention to Alexandra, and a distant memory from his past suddenly resurfaced. Alexandra was a champion basketball player who later joined the WNBA.

Unfortunately, her professional basketball career was cut short due to an unknown illness that affected her vision. Struggling to face this setback, she resorted to playing street basketball for money.

However, her path crossed with Taiga Kagami and Tatsuya Himuro, who approached her with a request for basketball lessons. As the two boys grew more passionate about the game, Alexandra's initial annoyance transformed into genuine joy as she embraced the role of their mentor.

But as Tsuna observed her now, she didn't appear to be retired. He could sense vibrant energy radiating from her, indicating that she still possessed a strong passion for the sport.

"So, shall we begin?" Tsuna calmly addressed Alexandra.

Alexandra couldn't help but notice that Tsuna's demeanor felt distinctively different when he was with his mother.

It surprised her, but Sebas seemed unfazed, standing by the side. This seemed to be Tsuna's usual demeanor when interacting with new people.

Although taken aback, Alexandra simply shrugged it off, flashing a grin as she responded, "Let's play a one-on-one game then..."

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