Chapter 102: The Beautiful Country
“If that’s the case, then why was your first instinct to fight off the court when you played against Meisei?”
Miyamoto Tokima hesitated. At the time, he had simply felt that using violence to suppress violence was the most effective solution, and he hadn’t thought much beyond that.
Suddenly, it dawned on him—ever since coming here, whenever he encountered someone who irritated him, his final thought always seemed to be beating them up after school.
That realization made him start to doubt himself.
‘Could it be… am I really a violent person?’
Seeing Miyamoto Tokima fall silent, Satsuki Momoi suddenly smiled.
“Actually, I don’t think you did anything wrong,” she said softly. “I just hope you’ll protect yourself.”
As she spoke, she took Miyamoto Tokima’s hand and continued in a gentle voice,
“No matter what you do, I’ll follow you.”
Feeling the warmth in his palm and hearing her soft words by his ear, Miyamoto Tokima’s lips curved upward unconsciously.
“Thank you, Satsuki.”
Satsuki Momoi smiled sweetly and followed Miyamoto Tokima as they went to meet the final person… Tetsuya Kuroko.
As for Shuzo Nijimura? No need to look for him—he would be heading to the United States with Miyamoto Tokima the day after tomorrow.
...
Tetsuya Kuroko was just as bewildered by Miyamoto Tokima’s sudden invitation.
He walked up to Miyamoto Tokima and spoke quietly,
“Tokima.”
Miyamoto Tokima was still absorbed in talking with Satsuki Momoi when Tetsuya Kuroko’s voice startled him badly.
“Whoa—Kuroko! When did you get here? I didn’t notice you at all!”
To be honest, Tetsuya Kuroko was the only one Miyamoto Tokima found genuinely difficult to deal with. If he wasn’t paying close attention, he really could fail to notice Kuroko’s presence entirely.
Just like now—his attention had been completely on Satsuki Momoi, and he hadn’t sensed Tetsuya Kuroko’s arrival at all.
After Kuroko arrived, Miyamoto Tokima also told him about his upcoming departure.
Tetsuya Kuroko showed a rare look of shock, but he quickly accepted the news.
Miyamoto Tokima had no requests for Tetsuya Kuroko. After all, throughout the entire story, Kuroko was the only one who never fell into darkness—and even managed to pull others back from it.
Faced with someone like that, Miyamoto Tokima didn’t say much. After sharing the news, he left with Satsuki Momoi.
At this point, Miyamoto Tokima had met with all of his Teikō teammates and made his requests. What happened next would depend on the will of the world.
There was… nothing more he could do.
The next day.
All of Teikō gathered at the airport to see Miyamoto Tokima off.
Satsuki Momoi cried bitterly in her mother’s arms.
Miyamoto Tokima, meanwhile, talked with everyone from Teikō.
Daiki Aomine’s eyes were red as he punched Miyamoto Tokima lightly in the chest.
“Tokima, I’m definitely going to beat you! Don’t slack off on your training in America!”
Miyamoto Tokima smiled and nodded.
“Don’t worry, Aomine.”
Yeah right—slacking off was guaranteed. Training? I’ll train you—
Seijuro Akashi looked at Miyamoto Tokima with a gentle smile and said softly,
“We’ll be waiting for you to come back.”
Miyamoto Tokima nodded with a smile.
Suddenly, the sound of muffled sobbing rang out.
Everyone turned toward Atsushi Murasakibara.
Shintaro Midorima immediately dodged away.
“Murasakibara! Why are you wiping your tears on my clothes?!”
Atsushi Murasakibara cried as he answered,
“Because you’re the closest one, Midorima.”
Shogo Haizaki looked at him with a strange expression.
“No, seriously—why are you crying?”
Murasakibara turned his head and said,
“I don’t want Tokima to leave.”
Miyamoto Tokima smiled helplessly and made a promise to everyone.
“Everyone, see you in high school. I hope that when I come back, all of you will have improved.”
They all nodded. Daiki Aomine pounded his chest and declared,
“Don’t worry, Tokima! We’ll work hard—I’m going to beat you!”
Miyamoto Tokima smiled and nodded.
“Alright then. I’ll be heading out.”
He waved goodbye.
The members of Teikō watched his departing figure, their eyes all slightly red.
Daiki Aomine couldn’t help sighing.
“Tokima’s gone, Momoi’s gone, even Nijimura’s gone… now it’s just us.”
Seijuro Akashi wiped at his reddened eyes and said firmly,
“Let’s go. Train properly. Win the next two national championships. Don’t let Tokima look down on us.”
Daiki Aomine grinned and shouted together with the others,
“Yes!”
...
Miyamoto Tokima followed his father onto the private jet with Satsuki Momoi. Seeing Shuzo Nijimura already seated inside, he asked,
“Nijimura, aren’t you going to say goodbye?”
Shuzo Nijimura gave a faint, subdued smile.
“No. I’m afraid it would just make things harder.”
Miyamoto Tokima paused, then smiled softly.
“That’s true. It would hurt. But I believe we’ll be back soon.”
Shuzo Nijimura nodded, gazing out the window at the shrinking outline of Japan below.
“Soon… we’ll be back…”
...
After arriving in the United States.
When Miyamoto Tokima stepped off the plane, the first person he saw was his mother, Michiko.
She was dressed in a black coat and black pants, her long black hair falling neatly behind her, dark sunglasses perched on her face.
The all-black outfit made her look like a mafia boss.
Miyamoto Tokima walked up to her and said,
“Mom.”
Michiko removed her sunglasses, revealing eyes full of warmth that contrasted sharply with her appearance.
She grabbed her son and turned him around repeatedly, examining him from head to toe.
“You’ve grown so much, Tokima. You’re even taller now!”
Her gaze then shifted to Satsuki Momoi beside him.
“You must be Tokima’s girlfriend, Satsuki Momoi, right?”
Satsuki Momoi immediately tensed up, her words coming out haltingly.
“H-hello, Auntie… I…”
Michiko gently patted her head.
“Don’t be nervous. Since Tokima acknowledges you, we parents won’t say much.
And the fact that you traveled so far to come with him shows how much he means to you.”
After that, Satsuki Momoi finally relaxed and began chatting with Michiko.
Mr. Hiroshi spread his hands, his expression clearly saying:
That’s just how your mom is—she’s completely forgotten about us.
Miyamoto Tokima rolled his eyes and silently motioned for Mr. Hiroshi to remind her.
With no other choice, Mr. Hiroshi cleared his throat twice.
Those two coughs made Michiko snap her head around immediately.
“What are you coughing for? Can’t you see I’m talking about something important?!”
Mr. Miyamoto instantly lost all presence, his tone weakening.
“Honey, let’s talk at home. It’s not convenient standing here.”
Only then did Michiko come back to her senses. She led the three of them to the waiting car and headed home.
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