Chapter 50: A promise

Midorima, with his arms crossed, replied first.

"That would be impossible for me," he stated firmly. His family significantly influenced Japan's political landscape.

Midorima studying overseas was practically unfeasible as many factors tied him to Japan.

"Why do you suddenly ask this, Tsunayoshi?"

Akashi, too, shook his head. His family's ties were deeply woven into Japan's fabric, and considering his father's conservative views on things, it would be nearly impossible to leave the country until he became an adult.

Confusion danced across the faces of their teammates as they awaited Tsuna's response, curiosity bubbling within them. 

"Japan would be too small for us," Tsuna resumed walking, bridging the gap to catch up with the others as he elaborated on his idea.

Aomine couldn't help but express disbelief. Shaking his head, he continued to stride alongside Tsuna. Murasakibara, seemingly indifferent, moved in sync with the group.

"Are you even serious?" Aomine inquired.

While Murasakibara might entertain the notion of moving to the States, his parents would likely disagree.

They knew their son's carefree nature all too well, and the language barrier alone presented a significant obstacle in an English-speaking country.

With his laid-back attitude and language challenges, the thought of leaving Murasakibara in the States would undoubtedly be a source of great concern for his parents.

Tsuna, however, wasn't disheartened by their initial refusal. He understood that they were all still quite young, after all.

Nevertheless, there lingered a hint of regret in Tsuna's mind. He couldn't shake the feeling that their incredible talent might someday consume them, much like what had happened in the original storyline.

"Don't worry, Tsuna. Even if they don't want to come, I'll accompany you. Just wife me!" Momoi declared, giving Tsuna's shoulder an enthusiastic pat.

Her words halted their little group, and Aomine couldn't resist smacking Momoi on the back of her head.

"You? A good wife? That's a laugh," Aomine chortled.

He grinned, "I can imagine you accidentally poisoning your husband with breakfast one day."

Momoi flushed with indignation, ready to protest, but as the group erupted in laughter, she couldn't help herself as she laughed along with the rest while still trying to deny Aomine's claim, saying she was still learning how to cook.

Tsuna chuckled at the banter, shaking his head in amusement.

"Alright then, I promise," he said with a confident grin. "I promise I'll come back one day and drag you all out of Japan to see the world, no matter what your excuses."

Tsuna's declaration was met with a collective smirk from his friends, each of them taking it as a challenge, and their competitive spirits reignited.

The next day, it was clear that Assistant Coach Sanada was absent. He was probably still nursing his embarrassment from the previous night.

After their tournament victory, the team quickly returned to their usual training routine. Despite their recent success, they understood the importance of continuous improvement.

Following Tsuna's announcement that he would be leaving Japan, Aomine became particularly persistent in challenging him to one-on-one matches.

It became a daily occurrence, with Aomine striving to close the gap between them. While Tsuna remained undefeated against Aomine, the pressure to maintain his dominance pushed him to work even harder.

Their intense matchups attracted the attention of the entire Teiko team.

It wasn't just Aomine; everyone wanted to spend time with Tsuna before he left. With final exams approaching, it became even more crucial to make the most of their time together, knowing that Tsuna's departure was imminent.

They hit the books together, just like any group of friends. Hanging out at Tsuna's place became common; occasionally, they even had sleepovers.

While they didn't visit Tsuna's house daily, things changed when Tsuna showed Murasakibara his impressive collection of snacks from all over Japan.

Murasakibara's eyes lit up like stars at the sight of these snacks. He couldn't resist asking if he could have some, and Tsuna, being the generous host, gave him the green light to enjoy as much as he wanted.

Murasakibara's snack cravings became regular, and Aomine suspected they were part of some secret training regimen.

Aomine decided to invite himself in to come over, often bringing Momoi with him.

Before they knew it, the other first-year members began showing up almost daily, turning Tsuna's house into their unofficial hangout spot. It had become their go-to gathering place.

Having them around felt like a blessing to Tsuna. It evoked a sense of nostalgia, like the days of his childhood. It was a reminder of the simple joy of being a kid.

He realized that those carefree days became rare once you became an adult. Adulthood brought responsibilities and the need to work hard to support and protect the people you cared about.

These moments were precious to him. He had started hustling early in his previous life, and those memories had become hazy. He had little time for fun as he worked tirelessly to build a multimillion-dollar company before his untimely demise.

In this life, Tsuna knew the pressure was even greater. He had a family legacy to uphold, and the expectation to excel in everything he did weighed heavily on his shoulders.

The day of the final exam had arrived, and the school was abuzz with chatter. Some students were confident, others excited, and a few felt nervous.

Aomine, on the other hand, seemed to have already given up on the exam. He knew he couldn't make it, so he randomly selected answers that vaguely made sense to him.

Murasakibara, in his usual carefree manner, didn't even seem to realize it was a final exam. He chose his answers based on the number of snacks he had with him that day.

Momoi, however, appeared unfazed. She hummed her favorite song as she calmly filled in her answer sheet.

Kuroko and Midorima had no trouble with the exam, while Tsuna and Akashi were confident they had aced every subject.

As the results were announced, Tsuna and Akashi found themselves at the top of the list, with perfect scores.

In contrast, Aomine and Murasakibara didn't fare well and received a scolding from their homeroom teacher. Fortunately, their recent tournament win softened the teacher's stance, allowing them to improve their scores.

With that, Tsuna's time in Japan ended, and Teiko organized a special farewell party in the gym in his honor. After everything was settled, Tsuna said his formal goodbyes to his friends.

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