269 Chapter 269: They Don't Know Me Son!
Meanwhile, in another part of the city.
Midorima's group stood in front of a fancy hotel that looked a bit too swanky for a bunch of high schoolers. They exchanged glances, silently acknowledging the unexpected grandeur of Fukuda Sogo accommodation.
Aomine casually remarked, "...Guess I forgot he's loaded."
"As expected of Tsuna!"
Momoi nodded approvingly, taking the extravagance in stride.
"Is Tsunachin here?"
Midorima turned to Murasakibara, who seemed to know the security staff well. Following his lead, they entered the posh hotel, a mix of curiosity and amazement on their faces.
"...Damn it, I can never get used to this!"
"Nijimura didn't even flinch! He's a fucking monster, just like our Captain!"
Before long, they were led to the spot where Fukuda Sogo was immersed in an ice bath, prompting the group to fall into a contemplative silence.
"Hmm?"
Momoi scanned the room, searching for Tsuna. Her head drooped in disappointment when she couldn't spot him anywhere.
However, witnessing them in the ice bath made her realize the extent of the privileges they received from Tsuna and how it contributed to maintaining their peak performance.
"...This feels like cheating, doesn't it?"
Midorima couldn't help but mutter, exhaling heavily as he observed the shivering faces of the Fukuda Sogo players in the room.
It was evident that they were being pampered by the top-notch facilities provided by Tsuna.
"More importantly, where's Tsuna?" Aomine shook his head, as he looked around the room.
His absence puzzled them, especially considering the presence of the rest of Fukuda Sogo players in the room.
On the side, without uttering a word, Murasakibara helped himself to the snacks on the table that were meant for everyone in the room.
"What the hell are you guys here?"
"..."
An irritated voice sliced through the air, prompting everyone in the group to turn towards Haizaki. His face had paled, and they could all see him shivering in the cold, rendering them completely speechless.
"...Can't you at least try to look convincing while taking your sweet time in the ice bath, you idiot?" Aomine shook his head disapprovingly.
"Huh? You looking for a fight or something?"
Haizaki screamed as he stood up in his bath tube, his fiery gaze locking onto Aomine's. Aomine, unfazed, reciprocated the gaze, adding a subtle tension to the room.
"..."
Midorima adjusted his glasses, withholding any comment as he observed Haizaki's legs shaking from the cold.
His surprise peaked when he noticed Murasakibara casually helping himself to snacks, seemingly unnoticed by the Fukuda Sogo players.
"I heard they introduced new flavors in these packs. How are they, Murasakibara?" Ogiwara inquired from within the ice bath, attempting to engage Murasakibara in conversation.
Murasakibara, without uttering a word, surveyed the mountains of snacks on the table. He selected the one Ogiwara mentioned, opened it, and took a bite, emitting a nonchalant "Hmmm..."
"...I like it," he disinterestedly responded, sparking Ogiwara's curiosity.
Observing their casual exchange, Midorima couldn't help but mutter, "...So, Murasakibara is a regular here, huh?"
"You guys must be searching for Tsuna, right?"
Nijimura's voice echoed through the room, prompting Midorima, Aomine, and Momoi to turn towards him. His demeanor was calm, in stark contrast to the others who were slowly emerging from the ice bath.
Midorima simply nodded.
"Hmm," Nijimura mused, recalling Tsuna's whereabouts from earlier. He continued, "...I reckon you'll find him over at the gym."
"..."
Surprise flickered across the faces of Midorima's group, their eyes widening at this unexpected revelation. On the other hand, the Fukuda Sogo players nonchalantly shrugged it off, as if such information was an everyday occurrence.
"...Once a freak of nature, always one," Haizaki muttered disdainfully, clicking his tongue in response.
"I know this crazy dude in the US," Ishida chimed in, demonstrating with a pose as if he were lifting a heavy weight. His expression shifted to solemn as he shouted, "They don't know me, son!"
Mochizuki shook his head. "He ran for freaking days. I don't know about our Captain, but I think if he wanted to, he could do the same with that crazy dude."
"..."
Aomine chuckled with excitement. "So, he's still training hard, huh? That's got me pumped up for some reason. Where's the gym?"
Even someone at Tsuna's level always pushed themselves to the limit in training, a realization that struck Aomine as he confronted his own weakness.
It dawned on him—he simply didn't train enough.
Aomine's eagerness to join Tsuna's training caught Nijimura's attention, prompting a frown before he stood up.
"...Give me a minute; I'll take you there myself."
Wiping himself with a towel, he turned to the group.
After Nijimura had adorned himself in appropriate attire, they followed him through the opulent hotel corridor, eventually arriving at the gym. Though, Murasakibara stayed since there were more snacks for him to devour.
Within, the auditory ambiance was dominated by the rhythmic inhalations of someone exerting themselves and the steady hum of a treadmill.
Entering the gym, everyone, except for the blushing Momoi, widened their eyes in disbelief at the sight of Tsuna sprinting on top of the treadmill, his chest bare.
His strong and lean body showcased the outcome of dedicated training, with visible veins accentuating the power underneath the surface.
"His physique..." Midorima mused in silent disbelief, allowing his thoughts to trail further, "It's not that of an athlete."
In Midorima's discerning eyes, Tsuna's body resonated more with that of a skilled martial artist.
"Young Master, I've brought some guests over..."
Nijimura's voice resonated across the spacious gym, prompting Tsuna to cast a fleeting glance at them as he continued his relentless run.
Tsuna then redirected his gaze forward, addressing them, "...Wait for another hour."
"Hah! As if!"
Aomine's voice echoed as he claimed the vacant treadmill beside Tsuna. Shedding his jacket, he initiated the machine, matching Tsuna's pace.
A confident smirk adorned his face as he remarked, "I can't endure waiting that long without doing something."
"...I suppose there wasn't any other choice."
Midorima shook his head.
He also shed his jacket, seamlessly joining their impromptu workout.
Observing the unfolding scene, Momoi's wry smile persisted, her eyes transforming into a discerning and calculating gaze. Purposefully extracting her tools, she began the meticulous task of gathering data.
"They shouldn't train alongside a monster...."
Nijimura shook his head, his gaze shifting between Aomine and Midorima. Deciding to ensure the comfort of his Young Master's guests, he left the gym to procure more drinks for Aomine and Midorima.
As anticipated by Nijimura, precisely an hour later, both Aomine and Midorima found themselves teetering on the brink of surrender.
Their attempts to match Tsuna's unyielding pace had left them drained.
Their eyes widened in shock as they stole glances at Tsuna. Throughout the entirety of their strenuous run, the rhythm of Tsuna's breathing remained unaltered.
"...Fucking monster."
The exclamation escaped, capturing the awe and disbelief that clung to both Aomine and Midorima as they processed the sheer magnitude of Tsuna's endurance.
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