Chapter 190: Haizaki's Resolve

Meanwhile...

"...Ahhh, this feels so good."

Ogiwara sighed in satisfaction as he settled into a massage chair.

After the ice bath, they found themselves in a massage room, each chair providing a soothing retreat for tired bodies. The room had a serene ambiance with soft lighting and calming music playing in the background.

"Don't make weird sounds like that. It's creepy..." Haizaki grumbled, occupying a chair next to Ogiwara.

"...Why? It feels good, doesn't it?"

"Just do what I said..." Haizaki retorted, dismissing Ogiwara's enjoyment with a nonchalant wave of his hand.

"Tsunachin, where's my St. Erik Crips?" Murasakibara's grumbling voice echoed, drawing everyone's attention to the towering figure in a massage chair, his eyes expressing mild irritation.

His repetitive complaints had started to wear on everyone's nerves. Nijimura shook his head, observing the colossal pile of snacks beside Murasakibara, rapidly diminishing in an almost surreal manner.

"Those crisps will come tomorrow. We can't find them here in Japan; we have to import them from abroad..."

"Eh? Why?" Murasakibara questioned, displaying a genuine lack of understanding.

"Like I said, those fancy chips are produced in Sweden. We do have some in some of our five-star restaurants, but they're quite scarce. So we'll have to wait until tomorrow when the next batch arrives..."

"Oh?" Murasakibara wore a puzzled expression, failing to fully grasp the situation. He grumbled again, "But I want it now, though..."

"..."

Everyone present rolled their eyes at Murasakibara's persistence.

However, Tsuna's unwavering patience in addressing Murasakibara's persistent inquiry surprised them and gradually earned a newfound respect for Tsuna's composure.

"The third round for the Winter Cup is in two days, huh? Who's our opponent again?" Mochizuki recalled the upcoming schedule for the Winter Cup.

"I don't know. It's either Kaijo High or, umm, what was their opponent again? I can't even recall their name..." Ishida sighed, the massage chair coming to a halt.

He rose from the chair, his eyes brightened as the soreness in his body seemed to dissipate.

Mochizuki was left speechless, watching Ishida, who couldn't even remember Kaijo's opponent in the second round. However, his own eyes widened in realization, "...What was their name again?"

He, too, couldn't recollect Kaijo High's opponent. 

Nijimura seemed to see through their forgetness as he sighed, "...Our opponent for the next round is undoubtedly Kaijo High."

Everyone's eyes brightened at the news, realizing they would be facing another formidable team. However, Haizaki donned a frown, clenching his fist tightly as if agitation was brewing within him.

In Haizaki's mind, a blonde figure with an annoying smile surfaced, causing him to grit his teeth in frustration.

"...What's wrong, bud?" Ogiwara inquired, noticing Haizaki's unusual demeanor.

Without a reply, Haizaki stood up abruptly and left the massage room.

The others stared at Haizaki in confusion while Tsuna's eyes gleamed with a calculated light as he observed Haizaki's departure.

"...Just where is he going?"

Ogiwara muttered in confusion, glancing at the door, Haizaki had exited through. He contemplated whether to follow and inquire about Haizaki's troubles.

"Just leave him alone for now..." Tsuna's voice cut through the room, causing Ogiwara to tilt his head in confusion before deciding to remain seated.

Observing Tsuna's composed expression, Ogiwara nodded, convinced that Tsuna had everything under control.

Yet, Tsuna's eyes remained fixed on the door, the one Haizaki had exited through earlier. In his thoughts, Tsuna pondered, "...Will you be my final piece?"

A subtle smirk crept onto Tsuna's face at the notion of Haizaki being his last piece to complete the board.

"Don't disappoint me later, Shogo!"

The words escaped him in a silent mutter.

Caught off guard by the unexpected smirk, everyone in the room involuntarily flinched. A collective realization struck them, leaving them momentarily speechless, each sharing a common thought, "...Our Captain must be scheming something once again."

After Haizaki exited the massage room, his mind and heart were still racing with agitation as he stepped into the hotel's indoor court.

The dimly lit room cast in moonlight immediately caught his attention. The natural light filtering in from the outside painted the court in a somber glow, creating a moody atmosphere. Haizaki couldn't help but recall an unpleasant memory amid this subdued ambiance.

He cursed under his breath, "Motherfucker..."

The echo of his discontent lingered in the air, matching the muted surroundings of the indoor court.

Haizaki's hand snatched a ball from the side, triggering a flood of memories that cast a shadow over his expression. He couldn't resist dribbling the ball, engaging in a solo game.

As he maneuvered across the court, the memories of his time at Teiko High resurfaced with vivid intensity, each recalling a blow to his ego.

His first year at Teiko had been a breeze, effortlessly securing a spot in the first string, thanks in no small part to Tsuna's presence. The power dynamics remained unchallenged throughout the year, maintaining an equilibrium.

However, the tranquility shattered in his second year.

Kise emerged seemingly out of nowhere.

Despite Haizaki's initial perception of Kise as weak, he had never considered him a serious threat to his position.

Yet, Kise's growth defied expectations, becoming exponential. Unwilling to admit it, Haizaki felt a rising threat. Subconsciously, he picked fights with Kise in an attempt to assert dominance and clarify who was truly superior.

Their clashes consistently ended with Haizaki on top. While Kise showed improvement each time, Haizaki maintained the belief that victory was easily within his grasp.

However, a nagging realization lingered – Kise would eventually surpass him. Perhaps it was better to quit now.

"Akashi, you bastard!"

The curse exploded from Haizaki as he forcefully slammed the ball into the basket, sending shockwaves through the silent court. Those words, uttered coldly by Akashi right before they earned the title of the Generation of Miracles, echoed hauntingly in Haizaki's mind.

Those cutting words struck at the core of Haizaki's pride. However, it wasn't just the verbal sting; the icy gaze from Akashi pierced his very soul, leaving him with a lingering fear that only intensified his wounded ego.

"...Now that I think about it, his gaze is nothing compared to our Captain's when he was displeased."

Reflecting on it only fueled Haizaki's anger. It wasn't just anger towards Akashi; it was anger at himself for succumbing to fear.

Everywhere he went, the name "Generation of Miracles" trailed him like a shadow, a constant reminder that irked him to no end. Deep down, he believed he deserved a place among them. If only he hadn't quit just because of Akashi's words, he could have been in the same spotlight.

Haizaki felt his place had been unjustly taken.

"...I am Shogo Haizaki! I was supposed to be the one to steal and not to be stolen!"

Determined to prove Akashi wrong, he vowed to showcase his superiority. The first step in that direction was to suppress Kise. His gaze brimmed with unwavering determination as he focused on the upcoming match.

"I'll crush you later, Kise!"

Haizaki declared, the intensity in his eyes revealing his resolve to demonstrate his prowess.

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