Chapter 293: Epilogue!

The bustling crowd outside the Chase Center buzzed with anticipation as fans discussed the upcoming showdown between the Golden State Samurai and the Miami Chill.

"Man, Golden State Samurai has been unstoppable since they burst onto the scene. Who's their opponent again?"

"They're facing off against Miami Chill! Ever since they added a player from Asia to their roster, they've been turning heads too!"

"Wait, hold up. So, the starting lineup for Golden State Samurai is all Asian? This is getting wild."

"Are we about to witness an Asian invasion in the NBA?"

The murmurs continued as the excitement built up outside the arena, signaling the imminent start of the game.

Inside the Chase Center, in one of the locker rooms designated for the Golden State Samurai, the atmosphere was anything but tense. Laughter filled the air as the players prepared for the match ahead.

A blonde Asian with a two block hairstyle stared confusedly at the oversized washing machine in the locker room, prompting raised eyebrows from his teammates.

"Why do we have a washing machine here?"

"It's my lucky item according to Ohaasa forecast," came the succinct response from a green-haired Asian, eliciting disbelief from the blonde.

"Huh? You've gotta be kidding me!"

Indeed, Kise and Midorima, two former teammates of Tsuna, had been invited to the States by him.

They had to change schools, and Tsuna provided them with options.

Two years had passed since they scattered across the states, joining different teams to compete.

Eventually, this year, they reunited with Tsuna for another round of competition in the NBA.

Despite Tsuna's efforts to recruit talent from Japan and extending invitations to Akashi, the latter declined, citing his responsibilities back home.

However, Akashi hinted at the possibility of a future meeting, leaving the door open for potential reunions down the line.

On the other hand, Aomine accepted Tsuna's invitation, but he ultimately had different plans in mind and declined the offer to join Tsuna's team, the Golden State Samurai.

"...What a fool," a voice chimed in, prompting Midorima to furrow his brows in annoyance.

He turned to see a red-haired Asian, which was quite unexpected for Tsuna, who had been expecting Aomine instead.

"Kagami, are you looking for a fight?"

Midorima asked, his irritation evident.

Tsuna shook his head at this familiar banter between Midorima and Kagami, which seemed to start up whenever they crossed paths.

He shrugged off the minor issue, knowing they would cooperate during the game regardless. His attention turned to the purple-haired Asian in the room, who was munching on a healthy snack, a sight that pleased Tsuna.

"Tsunachin, can I get more of this?"

Murasakibara asked, noticing he only had two snacks left.

"..."

Without a word, Tsuna gestured to their manager to show Murasakibara where they kept some extra stock.

Upon arriving in the States, Tsuna implemented a strict regimen of discipline and a healthy diet for Murasakibara.

Initially, the towering athlete sulked incessantly, reluctant to adapt. However, realizing the magnitude of the stage they now competed on compared to Japan, Murasakibara acquiesced since he hated losing.

Observing Murasakibara's imposing physique and towering height, Tsuna couldn't help but feel a weighty sense of pressure.

Yet, he smiled faintly, silently acknowledging, "This guy is a total beast now."

"Tsuna!"

A sudden embrace enveloped Tsuna from the side, the pink-haired Asian pressing her head against his strong arm, eliciting a gentle smile from Tsuna.

"What's got you so excited?" Tsuna inquired, noting Momoi's bubbly demeanor.

Momoi giggled with excitement before replying, "I just got word from Daiki. He said he'll be coming over next week."

"Oh? Isn't he in LA right now?"

Tsuna recalled.

"Yes, but he mentioned wrapping up his business there soon..." Momoi confirmed with a nod.

After a brief discussion, Tsuna huddled with his teammates as their coach outlined their current strategy.

Armed with Momoi's meticulous data, their plan had evolved into a potent force, instilling them with confidence as they prepared to face off against the Miami Chill.

With their tactical briefing concluded, the team made their way to the arena, greeted by the thunderous applause of the crowd as both the Golden State Samurai and the Miami Chill made their entrances.

As they stepped onto the court, however, the Golden State Samurai came to a sudden stop, their attention captured by a figure among the Miami Chill players, who met their gaze with a knowing smile.

Tsuna returned the smile, a mixture of surprise and familiarity flickering across his features as he addressed the figure, "I didn't expect our reunion to happen like this, Seijuro..."

"That's the plan, to surprise you all..."

Akashi responded with a chuckle, his demeanor composed yet tinged with amusement.

Tsuna couldn't help but wonder how Akashi had persuaded his father to allow this unexpected reunion.

Still, he was grateful that perhaps his words to Jiro had impacted the usually stubborn man back then.

Shaking his head with a smile, Tsuna extended his hand in a gesture of sportsmanship, which Akashi firmly accepted.

In unison, they said, "Let's make this game memorable!" 

With determination etched on the faces of both teams, they stood poised to demonstrate their skills in the arena, ready to prove who was truly superior.

Meanwhile...

In the heart of Los Angeles, within the bustling arena of a streetball tournament, crowds thronged with excitement, eagerly anticipating the upcoming game.

"Whoa! Look, it's the Jabberwock!"

"Damn, they're as imposing as ever!"

Exclamations rippled through the arena as the formidable Jabberwock players made their grand entrance, their presence commanding attention.

But amidst the fervor, a similarly powerful aura emanated from their opponents, the Outlaws, as they too filed into the arena.

Among them stood a figure with striking purple hair and dark skin, a standout amidst the team.

As Nash and the rest of the Jabberwock focused their attention on the purple-haired figure, he approached them with casual confidence.

"Hey, aren't you guys Tsuna's crew?" He casually greeted them.

"...You could say that," Nash responded with a nod.

"Awesome! So, does that mean if I take you down, it's like indirectly taking down Tsuna? Haha, that'd be something!"

"Hmm? Whatcha say?"

His words immediately grated on the nerves of the Jabberwock players, but Nash raised a hand to quell any rising tension, addressing the purple-haired newcomer.

"Do you know Tsuna?"

A wide grin spread across the purple-haired figure's face as he proudly declared, "The name's Daiki Aomine! Pleasure to meet you all!"