Chapter 7: Registering for the club

Observing Aomine's enthusiastic demeanor, Tsuna shook his head with a small smile. "My name is Tsunayoshi Kazama. Do you know where the booth is?"

Aomine scratched his head and scanned the area. Spotting a long line of people, he pointed in its direction and turned to Tsuna. "That should be the booth. Teiko's basketball club is the most popular, so it's hard to miss."

"I see, let's head over there," Tsuna calmly responded, walking towards the booth while taking in the surroundings. Aomine followed closely by his side.

Curiosity getting the best of him, Aomine asked, noticing Tsuna's unfamiliarity with the setting, "You're Japanese, right? Why do you behave like an international student?"

Tsuna replied, "Although I would occasionally visit Japan, I was actually born and raised in the US."

Aomine's eyes widened in excitement. "Woah, the US? You must have played basketball a lot, right? How about a 1v1 match after this?"

Understanding the US's prominence in basketball and its international popularity, Aomine assumed Tsuna must have honed his skills in the sport from the source.

Reaching the end of the long line at the basketball club booth, Tsuna shook his head and said, "Let's register first. By the way, which class are you in?"

"Hmm, you're right," Aomine chuckled, scratching the back of his head. He then answered Tsuna's question, "I believe I'm in 1-C Class."

"C, huh? I'm in 1-D Class, our classes should be next to each other," Tsuna responded upon hearing about Aomine's class placement.

Aomine cheerfully suggested, "We should go to our classes together after this!"

Tsuna looked at Aomine with a hint of confusion but agreed nonetheless. "Sure, why not."

He found it interesting how Aomine's cheerful personality in middle school contrasted with his memories of Aomine's high school days.

"Geez, Daiki! Why did you leave me alone in the crowd? What would happen if I got lost!?" a voice complained from behind, causing Tsuna and Aomine to turn.

It was a tired-looking girl with long pink hair that reached her lower back. She walked towards them, panting and pouting, clearly not in a great mood.

"Satsuki? Oh, my bad," Aomine responded, his tone lacking sincerity.

As the girl was called, Momoi expressed her dissatisfaction with Aomine's response. She then turned to Tsuna and asked, "Oh, is he your friend?"

"Oh, right! Satsuki, meet Kazama!" Aomine said, introducing Momoi to Tsuna. He continued, "And Kazama, meet Satsuki. She's my childhood friend!"

"Ah, nice to meet you! My name is Satsuki Momoi!" Momoi introduced herself with a slight bow.

Tsuna nodded in response to Momoi's introduction and confidently introduced himself, saying, "My name is Tsunayoshi Kazama. Nice to meet you as well."

Momoi couldn't help but wonder about Tsuna's attitude. In her experience, it was customary for people to bow to each other when they introduced themselves. She thought to herself, "What's with this attitude? That's very rude of him..."

However, Tsuna was unaware of Momoi's expectations. Even if he were aware, Tsuna firmly believed that bowing was reserved for showing respect to elders and his parents. He simply felt very uncomfortable bowing down to others.

For him, it was a matter of personal dignity and pride. He valued treating others with kindness and respect, but he also believed in maintaining his own sense of self-worth.

With introductions out of the way, Aomine's eyes sparkled as he turned to Tsuna and suggested, "Kazama, actually, we can leave our registration with Satsuki here. Let's go check out our classroom!"

"No! Why should I!?" Momoi retorted angrily, disagreeing with Aomine's suggestion.

"Oh? Sure then, why not," Tsuna agreed, looking at their interaction with a smile. Their dynamic reminded him of how siblings would interact with each other.

"Don't just agree to it!" Momoi protested again, pouting.

However, her protests seemed to be ignored as Aomine and Tsuna had already walked away, likely heading to check out their classroom and place their school bags there in preparation for the welcoming ceremony.

"Hey! Don't ignore me!" Momoi shouted, feeling annoyed and helpless. With no choice but to register for them, she braced herself.

After a long waiting, she finally reached the booth. However, as she began the registration process, she couldn't quite remember Tsuna's name.

"Wait, what was his name again? Shirahoshi? No, that's not a guy's name. Umm, Mina? Minayoshi?" Momoi scratched her head furiously, trying to recall Tsuna's name.

"Yes, Minayoshi, it should be Minayoshi," Momoi convinced herself, believing she had recalled Tsuna's name perfectly.

Tsuna and Aomine walked together to the classroom, engaging in a lively conversation. Aomine's passion for basketball was evident as he asked Tsuna numerous questions about the sport. Tsuna, although not as enthusiastic, gladly answered his inquiries.

Unbeknownst to Tsuna, Momoi had mistakenly messed up his name, which might cause confusion or complications in the future.

Upon entering the classroom, Tsuna noticed that a few students had already settled in, placing their school bags on their desks and engaging in friendly conversations. As Tsuna walked in, their chatter gradually subsided, and they turned their attention toward him and greeted him.

"Good morning!"

With a polite smile, Tsuna returned their greeting, "Good morning."

However, sensing Tsuna's reserved demeanor, they resumed their conversations, seemingly uninterested in engaging with him further. Tsuna calmly placed his school bag on the front row desk near the window, finding solace in the peaceful view outside.

Suddenly, an announcement echoed through the classroom, instructing the freshmen to gather in the auditorium for the welcoming ceremony.

Aomine burst through the door, full of energy, and called out to Tsuna, "Tsuna! Let's go together!"

Aomine, understanding Tsuna's preference for a more informal approach to addressing others, called him by his first name.

Tsuna had mentioned that he wasn't accustomed to using honorifics or addressing people by their family names, as he had a more relaxed attitude towards cultural conventions.

"Daiki? Sure, let's go," Tsuna nodded in agreement, accepting Aomine's invitation as they made their way toward the auditorium.

As they arrived at the venue, the students were directed to line up in their designated spots according to their respective classes. Tsuna bid farewell to Aomine and made his way toward his class's designated spot, joining the other students in the line.

The auditorium quickly filled with eager new students, buzzing with anticipation. Once everyone had arrived and lined up, the teacher in charge reported to the headmaster, signaling the start of the welcoming ceremony.

The headmaster took the stage and delivered a warm welcome speech, setting a positive and inclusive tone for the new academic year. The speech was followed by an informative presentation from a respected teacher, providing insights into the school's curriculum and various opportunities available to the students.

Lastly, it was time for the student council president to address the new students. With confidence and enthusiasm, the student council president delivered an inspiring speech, inviting the freshmen to join the student council and actively contribute to the school community. The speech aimed to instill a sense of belonging and encourage students to embrace their potential at school.

Amidst the ongoing ceremony, Tsuna took a moment to soak in the vibrant atmosphere surrounding him. The auditorium was filled with eager students, their energy palpable as they chatted and exchanged excited glances.

Tsuna couldn't help but smile nostalgically, reflecting on the anticipation and thrill of experiencing school life once more.

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