บท 41: Chapter 41: Two side of a coin
As Tsuna exited the restroom, he spotted a familiar figure standing watch, offering him a handkerchief.
"Thanks, Sebas!"
Tsuna said, taking the handkerchief and using it to clean his hands. He then turned to Sebas, who appeared unfazed by the recent events.
"Are you done with your business here, Young Master?" Sebas inquired.
"Yeah," Tsuna replied, though his tone conveyed a nonchalant attitude. His eyes were sharp as he glanced around the hallway, searching for any signs of security cameras.
His frown deepened as he noticed one camera pointed in their direction, covering the restroom area.
"That security camera seems to be broken, Young Master," Sebas remarked, seeming to understand Tsuna's concern.
Their eyes met, and Tsuna's lips curled into a subtle smile, conveying his approval to Sebas, who responded with a slight nod and a smile of his own.
"Yaa, what a coincidence..."
As Tsuna and Sebas prepared to depart, a voice suddenly broke their conversation. They turned to find Imayoshi approaching with a calm demeanor, a polite smile on his face, and his eyes closed.
Imayoshi had been searching for Hanamiya, their teammate, as they were supposed to leave the gymnasium together. Discovering Tsuna here was an unexpected twist.
Imayoshi couldn't help but be taken aback by the presence of Tsuna's butler, Sebas, who had a refined air about him.
"I knew he wasn't an ordinary guy, but..." Imayoshi mused silently, casting a quick, assessing glance at Sebas. "To think he had a personal butler like this."
An unsettling feeling crept over him. Imayoshi narrowed his eyes at the duo, his voice maintaining its customary politeness as he asked, "Have you two happened to see a member of our team around here?"
Tsuna calmly regarded Imayoshi before directing his attention to Sebas, asking, "Sebas, do you spot anyone else here besides me?"
"No, Young Master," came Sebas' prompt and unwavering response, leaving Tsuna to give a nonchalant shrug.
"You heard him. There's no one else here," Tsuna declared, turning on his heel and departing.
Imayoshi couldn't shake the feeling that something was amiss, though he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Nonetheless, he followed the conversation with a somewhat puzzled expression as he watched Tsuna walk away.
"... Urgh."
A low, painful groan echoed within the restroom, jolting Imayoshi from his thoughts. Alarmed, he rushed inside and was met with the shocking sight of Hanamiya being beaten and barely holding on.
Imayoshi's mind raced as he recalled his recent encounter with Tsuna in the hallway.
The contrast between Tsuna's casual demeanor and the violence he was now confronted with sent a shiver down Imayoshi's spine.
Regaining his composure, Imayoshi quickly contacted Hibiya's coach, and chaos ensued in the gymnasium.
Hanamiya was swiftly transported to the nearest hospital. His injuries were severe, leaving him battered and nearly unrecognizable.
Adding to the grim situation, Hanamiya exhibited signs of intense fear, prompting the hospital to consider his mental well-being. As a result, he was slated for a month of intensive treatment and care.
Understanding the gravity of the situation, Imayoshi promptly informed Hibiya's coach about the incident. The coach's anger flared as they demanded a review of the security camera footage to identify the assailant and bring them to justice.
If the evidence supported Imayoshi's account, they insisted that Tsuna should be banned from all future tournaments, with Teiko disqualified from the current one.
However, to their astonishment, the security camera in the hallway had mysteriously malfunctioned at the precise time of the incident. What was even more perplexing was that not just one camera, but the entire gymnasium's security system had gone dark during that period.
Adding to the situation's complexity, an entire month's worth of recorded footage had vanished, with no possibility of recovery. The circumstances surrounding the incident had taken a decidedly enigmatic turn.
Lacking substantial evidence, they found themselves in a legal quagmire. Taking on the scion of a powerful conglomerate family with access to elite lawyers would likely result in a futile legal battle.
Even if they managed to find a decent attorney, the mere involvement of the Kazama family scion would attract immense media attention and opportunistic individuals eager to align themselves with such influence.
After weighing these grim prospects, they reluctantly accepted the situation, their frustration palpable as they clenched their jaws in resignation.
Meanwhile, the atmosphere was markedly different in the other parts of the city.
As Tsuna entered the VIP room, he was greeted with an unexpected sight.
"Hehehe!" Assistant Coach Sanada erupted into hearty laughter. His face flushed a bright red. This uncharacteristic display left the others gaping in astonishment.
"There's this girl I used to fancy, you see," Sanada began to recount with abandon, paying no heed to the incredulous expressions of his students.
He continued his story, punctuating it with sips of sake. "I was quite shy back then, but when she turned me down... Looking at her husband, I can't help but think, 'I'm better than him you bitch...' Hahaha!"
Seeing this, Tsuna gestured silently to Nijimura, urging him to provide some context for this unexpected scene.
Nijimura, scratching his head somewhat awkwardly, proceeded to fill Tsuna in on the situation. He explained that they had all been pretty excited about the prospect of indulging in some fancy, luxurious dining, especially because it was on the house.
Sekiguchi called Assistant Coach Sanada to share the good news and invite him to join the feast.
Initially, everything was running pretty smoothly. But then, as they sat down at this upscale restaurant, Sanada had a revelation.
He discovered that the place offered Juyondai sake, an extraordinarily rare and renowned brand that was considered one of the best in the world. Normally, this sake was reserved only for VIPs, but they enjoyed it for free due to their connection with Tsuna.
This discovery had sent Sanada into a state of sheer delight, and, well, he got a bit carried away, asking for one glass after another.
The sake had an astonishing effect on Sanada, transforming him into a completely different person. He was now behaving in an utterly uncharacteristic way for him, thanks to the alcohol.
All Tsuna could do in response was to massage his temples, rendered nearly speechless by the whole situation.
Nijimura offered an apologetic look on behalf of Sanada, but Tsuna simply shook his head with a faint smile. He reassured them, "Guys, it's not about how much you spent today. I'm more concerned that Assistant Coach Sanada might wake up tomorrow with quite the hangover..."
He paused, considering Sanada's personality. "Knowing him, he might just decide to get back at us by intensifying our training."
"What!? Our training's already brutal!"
Kubota exclaimed, his shock evident. Tsuna and Nijimura exchanged silent glances, taken aback by Kubota's outburst.
Kubota was typically a reserved individual, so his sudden outburst left them puzzled. Nijimura turned to Sekiguchi and inquired, "What did he drink?"
Sekiguchi, looking equally perplexed, picked up a glass and gave it a sniff. "Oh fuck, it was the sake!!"
"..."
Tsuna couldn't help but shake his head at the situation, his speechlessness evident. He began to wonder if sending them to the restaurant ahead of him had been a bad idea.
---
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