Chapter 158: Confrontation

As they reached the entrance to the gymnasium, which coincided with the exit gate, Fukuda Sogo and Yosen High abruptly stopped in their tracks.

The air grew heavy with an uncomfortable silence, replacing the previous lighthearted banter.

The expressions on the faces of Fukuda Sogo's players shifted dramatically, their usual cheerfulness replaced by a steely seriousness.

"...Such a pressure."

Himuro felt the pressure building up as beads of sweat formed as he observed Tsuna's back and the red-haired teenager on the opposite side.

Yosen High, too, felt the weight of the sudden change in atmosphere.

The transition from friendly exchanges to this tense encounter left the team on edge. The unspoken tension hung in the air, setting the stage for an uncertain and potentially confrontational moment between the two teams.

Tsuna just smiled at the situation, while Okamura seemed to feel uncomfortable under the sudden change of atmosphere.

He then suddenly bid Tsuna farewell, "Well, we can't stay for long. So, I guess it's a farewell..." 

As Okamura bid farewell to Tsuna, there was a palpable sense of discomfort in the air. The abrupt change in atmosphere left Okamura and his team feeling uneasy, prompting a swift departure. 

As much as they wanted to stay and see what would happen, they wouldn't have time to discuss their strategy briefly.

As Okamura and his teammates walked away, he couldn't help but glance back at the unexpected encounter.

"To think we'd meet both Fukuda Sogo and Rakuzan in such a place..."

A mix of emotions spread across his face—surprise, curiosity, and perhaps a touch of amusement.

"And they're both definitely strong opponents, hahaha!"

He chuckled, breaking into laughter that seemed out of place given the circumstances, earning quizzical looks from those around him.

Okamura's laughter faded as he pondered, glancing at Himuro, "But we're no weaker either..."

Himuro, absent during the Interhigh and now a part of the team, had bolstered Okamura's confidence in their tournament prospects.

Meanwhile, Tsuna and Akashi stood at the crossroads between the exit gate and Rakuzan's designated changing room.

He turned to his left as he saw the exit gate and looked to the right to see Rakuzan's designated changing room. Tsuna then chuckled at the coincidence.

The coincidence of meeting Fukuda Sogo and Rakuzan in this unexpected place wasn't lost on Tsuna.

The air was thick with a heavy atmosphere, but not a single player from both teams seemed to be nervous.

Instead, their eyes lit up with a flash of excitement within their pupils.

Clearly anticipating another showdown against each other.

"Can't say it was unexpected to see you here, Seijuro..." Tsuna spoke while looking at Akashi.

Akashi shook his head, though he agreed with Tsuna about that. "Tough, it was not surprising; I suppose I should say congratulations on your first round..."

"Thank you for that. I know it should be a walk in the park for you, but I guess good luck on your first round..." Tsuna responded back.

It was unfortunate that they were placed in a different bracket. But Tsuna thought it might be for the best.

"...I guess I'll see you in the final then, Fukuda Sogo!"

As Akashi's eyes flashed with a sharp light which hinted at the competitive spirit burning within him.

"Oh?"

Tsuna was pretty calm and collected as he responded with a nod, accepting the implied challenge.

"Right, see you at the final!"

"You guys are so confident, huh?"

A voice suddenly interrupted the moment as both Tsuna and Akashi turned to see Midorima approaching them with Shutoku following right behind.

As Shutoku joined in the commotion, the trio stood in a figurative crossroads, their paths intersecting in a moment that foreshadowed the intense clashes yet to unfold in the tournament.

A while ago...

"...Seirin won, huh?"

Midorima gathered his belongings in the changing room, reflecting on Seirin's victory. As he packed, he mused about their first-round triumph, absolute domination.

"Time to go, Shin!"

Takao's voice pulled Midorima's attention. Glancing around, he noticed the team waiting for him. With a nod, he grabbed his scissors, the chosen lucky item for the day.

As they exited the changing room, the players stepped into the corridor, only to be met with an unexpected and palpable tension that hung in the air.

Takao couldn't help but feel a strange sense of familiarity with this atmosphere, a feeling that made him nervously gulp down his saliva.

Before them, a confrontation unfolded.

Fukuda Sogo Academy and Rakuzan High stood facing each other, the intensity of their gazes creating an invisible barrier that hinted at the unspoken rivalry between the two teams.

Takao couldn't help but whisper to himself, "Just how the hell could a high school student be that scary?"

The intensity of the confrontation between Tsuna and Akashi seemed to send shivers down his spine, leaving him in awe of the sheer pressure emanating from the two players.

Meanwhile, Midorima overheard Takao's muttered words.

He glanced at Takao's pale expression before turning his attention to Tsuna and Akashi, who were locked in a silent exchange.

Midorima approached with determination as he heard their words, determined to respond back with a strong statement!

"Shutoku will take the trophy this time," he declared with a sharp gaze.

Addressing Akashi directly, he continued, "That's why we'll beat you in the semi-finals to get to the final!"

Akashi's gaze held a subtle amusement as he addressed Midorima, "Sure, feel free to try your best, Shintaro..."

The tone carried a sense of confidence, a belief in the strength of Rakuzan High.

However, Akashi quickly shifted his attention back to Tsuna, acknowledging the impending match.

"As much as I wanted to have a talk, we have our first round waiting. So, see you later, Tsunayoshi."

With that, he gracefully departed along with his team as they headed towards Rakuzan High's designated changing room.

Tsuna watched Akashi's retreating figure as his eyes glinted with amusement. He then turned to Midorima, who seemed displeased by what he had said earlier.

Tsuna couldn't help but chuckle, breaking the tension as he spoke, "Why? I didn't mean to underestimate Shutoku..."

Tsuna knew that Midorima took it as if he was expecting Rakuzan instead of Shutoku in the final.

However, the truth was...

Tsuna said, "I don't really care which one of you to get to the final..."

Tsuna's nonchalance seemed to irk the Shutoku players, who interpreted his words as arrogance. The atmosphere around them tightened as they clenched their fists in response to what they perceived as challenging.

"Such arrogance!" someone exclaimed, voicing the collective determination of the Shutoku team.

"You should know better whether I'm being arrogant or not, Shintaro. But anyway, see you guys later..."

Tsuna was unperturbed as he addressed Midorima, who was silent.

Tsuna's words held a quiet confidence, a belief in his team's abilities. He thought, "I put extra effort into nurturing them after all..."

As Tsuna confidently walked away, he motioned for his teammates to join him, leaving Shutoku alone.

As Fukuda Sogo finally walked out of the gymnasium, Takao approached Midorima as he spoke, "I didn't know he was actually pretty arrogant..." 

Midorima just shook his head in response.

He understood why Takao felt that way about Tsuna's straightforwardness, but Midorima knew Tsuna well. Spouting lies and nonsense wasn't Tsuna's style.

Midorima clenched his fist, thinking, "...Tsuna truly didn't expect much from the Winter Cup."

His eyes sparked with resolve as he dismissed his distracting thoughts. The impending match against Rakuzan High, which was playing on the same bracket with Shutoku demanded his full attention.

Otsubo, the team captain, shook his head and stated, "There's no point in dwelling on them right now. Let's head home and concentrate on our next game tomorrow..."

Agreeing with their captain, the team nodded in unison.

They redirected their focus, leaving the gymnasium behind as they proceeded toward the exit gate.

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