40 Chapter 40: Teaching a lesson

With a commanding lead in the score, Teiko's team burst into cheers, and the crowd joined in, sharing their excitement.

Noticing the despondent looks on their opponents' faces, Teiko's players, still frustrated by Hibiya's dirty tricks, couldn't resist taunting them, prompting a warning from the referee.

Assistant Coach Sanada, looking weary, scolded them for their excessive behavior.

Tsuna, amused by it all, shook his head slightly.

Once the formalities were done, they were given the green light to leave the gymnasium.

"What's the plan for after this?" Sekiguchi asked, his voice carrying across the team.

Nijimura rubbed his chin thoughtfully for a moment before answering, "I know a budget-friendly okonomiyaki place nearby. How about we head there?"

Tsuna recognized the neighborhood and remembered that his family had a restaurant nearby.

"I also know a nice spot. How about some A5 Wagyu?" Tsuna suggested. The rest of the team immediately shook their heads in response, declining the offer.

Nijimura said, "I can't swing those pricey joints with my allowance."

He demonstrated this by displaying his empty wallet. Sikiguchi offered him a sympathetic pat on the back.

Tsuna grinned, "No worries, guys. It's my treat."

"Really?" The team exclaimed in surprise and delight.

Nijimura, still in disbelief, clapped a hand on Tsuna's shoulder. "How deep are your pockets, man? You're not secretly a millionaire, are you?"

Tsuna shook his head at this, not offering much of an explanation.

However, Nijimura's question gave him pause. He hadn't really considered the specifics of his pocket money before. When you reached a certain level of wealth, the exact amount became rather irrelevant as everything became free.

Tsuna finally replied, "I'm not exactly sure about the amount. But we don't need to worry about the bill."

"Why shouldn't we worry about paying?" 

This answer left Nijimura and the others puzzled.

Tsuna dropped the bombshell, "Because my family owns the place..."

"..."

The gymnasium fell into stunned silence.

"...Tsuna, can you adopt me?" Sekiguchi asked with a bloodshot eye, his request met by a playful smack from Nijimura, who jokingly claimed he should be the one to get adopted.

The team laughed at this banter, and Tsuna shook his head in amusement.

Then, he suddenly felt the urge and asked his teammates to proceed as he needed to use the restroom. They all nodded and eagerly headed towards their destination.

Tsuna encountered an unexpected individual inside the restroom, apparently there for the same reason.

"Huh? Well, look who's here, the freshman who bested us. Congratulations on the win."

Tsuna glanced over at the guy, surprised to see him here, of all places.

"Just mind your own business, Hanamiya."

Tsuna shook his head as he continued his business, clearly uninterested in engaging with Hanamiya.

Hanamiya, however, persisted, his words trailing after Tsuna.

"Why so distant, buddy? Would an apology change your mind?"

Tsuna finished up quickly, but to his irritation, Hanamiya appeared to be waiting for him, causing a slight frown to crease Tsuna's brow.

"What do you want?"

Tsuna asked cautiously. Although his expression was the same, his tone was slightly annoyed.

Hanamiya approached Tsuna, his expression seeming somewhat remorseful. He let out a sigh as he spoke.

"Look, I didn't mean to harm you, okay?"

He continued, explaining himself. "I just felt so stuck, like I couldn't compete fairly. I tried to improve, but nothing seemed to work. I was desperate..."

Hanamiya, now standing right in front of Tsuna, placed his hands on Tsuna's shoulders, looking like a child who had done something terribly wrong.

"I'm not as naturally gifted as you," Hanamiya admitted, his eyes reflecting a hint of remorse. "You can turn the tide of a game at will. So, please, just this once, can you forgive me?"

He pleaded earnestly, looking like he genuinely regretted his actions.

"Pfftttt..."

Before Tsuna could respond, Hanamiya's expression abruptly shifted to his usual smirking one, and he burst into laughter.

"Ahahahahaha!"

Tsuna remained unfazed, his expression calm as if this scene didn't affect him in the least.

"Ah, come on," Hanamiya chuckled, trying to stifle his laughter. "I thought I put on quite the pitiful act there. You're a real heartless one."

Seeing that Tsuna maintained his nonchalant expression, Hanamiya sighed and withdrew his hand, raising it in a surrendering gesture.

"Alright, alright, no need to give me that look," he said, then his expression hardened, erasing all traces of his former amusement. "But that look, it just makes me want to tease you even more."

Tsuna finally responded, his voice unsettlingly calm and his face as serene as the sea. "You know, if you had just walked away quietly, I might have let it slide. But it seems like you'll never learn, huh?"

Tsuna muttered the last sentence in English, which left Hanamiya looking puzzled as he resumed his obnoxious smirk.

"...What can you do about---"

Hanamiya began to taunt Tsuna, but his words were abruptly cut short. In the blink of an eye, a fist materialized right in front of his face, catching him completely off guard.

BAM!

Hanamiya was sent sprawling to the ground.

"I'll spell out what you did wrong for you. First, your dirty play, it's repulsive. Second, you can't seem to shut up, even when I'm trying to be mature about it. And third, I don't like strangers grabbing me."

Tsuna stepped closer, his expression unchanged, as Hanamiya still seemed to be in disbelief over what had just occurred.

Tsuna grabbed Hanamiya by the hair, causing him to groan in pain, and whispered, "...Don't worry, I'll teach you slowly and thoroughly. Just like your parents should have."

Hanamiya experienced a sensation he had never felt before, a mixture of dread and familiarity washing over him.

Fear gripped Hanamiya, and it seemed to penetrate his very soul. Those icy eyes bore down on him, regarding him as if he were nothing more than a helpless insect, easily squashed.

Hanamiya experienced a fear that felt all too familiar, but this time, it was different. During the game, he could dismiss it as the intensity of competition, but now, he was in a situation where that fear seemed inescapable, trapped in the clutches of a devil.

"N-no...pl-please..."

"Why are you getting scared now? We've got a lot to cover..."

Hanamiya's pleas trembled, his voice stuttering, but Tsuna remained unmoved.

He was resolute in his mission to teach Hanamiya a lesson that he would carry with him for the rest of his life, ensuring that the fear and helplessness he felt today would haunt his thoughts whenever Tsuna came to mind.

Outside, the gymnasium was largely empty after the game.

Not many people passed by, but if anyone happened to be walking near the restroom, they would be horrified by the low, guttural groans that echoed through the hallway, a sound that seemed more beast than human.

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