Chapter 99: Your Mom Misses You
After Daiki Aomine took a bite of the meat, a surge of rich flavor instantly flooded his taste buds.
Just as an expression of bliss spread across his face, a sharp pain followed right after.
“Spicy!!! Water!!! Water!!!”
Shintaro Midorima swiftly produced a cup of green liquid and handed it to Daiki Aomine.
He had already anticipated this outcome.
Half-dazed from the heat, Daiki Aomine didn’t even look. He grabbed the cup and chugged it down in one go.
The instant the liquid went down his throat, it felt like his taste buds had been utterly destroyed, and he spat it out violently.
“Ah! What the hell is this?!”
Daiki Aomine screamed, sticking out his tongue in agony.
Shintaro Midorima lowered his head slightly. The glare on his glasses turned them completely white, concealing his eyes.
“This is a special blend I prepared myself… wasabi water.”
Daiki Aomine was already pushed to his limit. Enduring the pain, he grabbed the drink beside him and gulped it down.
Miyamoto Tokima twitched at the corner of his mouth.
“Midorima… that was brutal…”
After finally recovering, Daiki Aomine behaved himself and stuck to the clear broth.
Aside from Miyamoto Tokima, almost everyone from Teikō Middle School chose the clear broth as well.
Almost everyone.
There were two exceptions—Shuzo Nijimura and Shogo Haizaki.
The two of them had actually gotten addicted to the spicy broth, something Miyamoto Tokima hadn’t expected at all.
After Coach Shirogane finished eating, he went to pay the bill, only to be told it was free.
That was when he remembered—this hotpot restaurant belonged to Miyamoto Tokima’s family.
Naturally, there was no need for him to pay.
After eating and drinking their fill, the Teikō group headed home.
Miyamoto Tokima walked Satsuki Momoi back and only turned to leave after watching her enter her house.
...
“I’m home.”
Satsuki Momoi opened the door and froze when she saw a stranger sitting inside.
Her mother quickly spoke up,
“Momoi, come here and greet Mr. Miyamoto Hiroshi.”
Satsuki Momoi walked up to the man. Looking at his somewhat familiar face, she said softly,
“Miyamoto…”
...
“I’m home!”
Miyamoto Tokima pushed the door open and called out, but quickly realized no one was inside.
After a moment of confusion, he let it go, took off his clothes, and went to take a shower.
After sweating from hotpot, not showering would have been unbearable.
When he came out, towel-drying his hair, he found his father already sitting on the sofa.
Miyamoto Tokima looked at Miyamoto Hiroshi and greeted him,
“Yo, you’re back, Dad.”
Miyamoto Hiroshi nodded and looked up at him.
“I’m back.”
Miyamoto Tokima sensed that something was off with his father’s mood.
He picked up the hair dryer and began drying his hair as he asked,
“What’s wrong, Dad?”
Miyamoto Hiroshi sighed.
“Tokima… we might have to leave Japan.”
Miyamoto Tokima froze mid-motion and turned off the hair dryer.
He turned his head slowly, hesitating as he spoke,
“Dad… you… you’re kidding, right…”
Miyamoto Hiroshi shook his head, his tone firm and unquestionable.
“The plans in the United States are about to begin. We have to go.”
Miyamoto Tokima turned fully toward him and asked,
“Can I stay?”
He truly didn’t want to leave. He had gained friendship here, and love as well.
Being told all of a sudden that he had to leave—no one would be willing to accept that.
Miyamoto Hiroshi shook his head again.
“No. You must go. First, you’re the heir of the Miyamoto family—you have to show your face. Second…”
He paused briefly.
“Your mother misses you.”
The moment he heard that, Miyamoto Tokima’s expression changed. He clenched his fists unwillingly.
He felt deep gratitude toward his mother, Miyamoto Michiko.
First, she had given him a second life.
Second, when he was young, she had truly saved his life.
If it weren’t for Miyamoto Michiko, his second life might have already ended long ago.
“There’s really no room to discuss this?”
Miyamoto Hiroshi shook his head, leaving no space for negotiation.
“None.”
Miyamoto Tokima bit down hard, fists clenched, then slowly relaxed them.
‘Is this the will of the world…?’
He spoke in a low voice,
“When do we leave?”
“The day after tomorrow,” Miyamoto Hiroshi replied.
“Use tomorrow to properly say goodbye to your friends.”
“Will we come back?”
“I don’t know,” Miyamoto Hiroshi said after a pause.
“Maybe… we will…”
Even as he said that, he knew in his heart that Miyamoto Tokima would return here sooner rather than later.
Miyamoto Tokima looked dejected, but silently resolved that he would definitely come back during high school.
After thinking for a moment, he decided to try anyway and spoke up,
“Dad, can I bring—”
Miyamoto Hiroshi smiled faintly, as if he already knew what his son was worried about, and interrupted him.
“Relax. You can bring your girlfriend. I’ve already talked things through with her parents.”
Miyamoto Tokima stiffened slightly.
“Dad… you already…”
Miyamoto Hiroshi nodded.
“Yeah, it’s all handled. I asked the girl too—she agreed. I could tell how strong her feelings for you are.
The moment I mentioned it, she didn’t hesitate at all. You’d better treat her well.”
Miyamoto Tokima smiled.
“Don’t worry, Dad. I will.”
Miyamoto Hiroshi continued,
“Oh, and about that friend of yours whose father is sick—I met his father today as well. Everything’s settled.
They’ll be heading to the United States with us the day after tomorrow.”
Miyamoto Tokima stared blankly at his father, suddenly feeling his presence grow larger than ever.
He hadn’t expected that his father had already taken care of so many things without letting him worry.
What Miyamoto Tokima didn’t know was that Miyamoto Hiroshi had done far more than just this for him…
Night.
Miyamoto Tokima lay in bed for a long time, unable to fall asleep.
He raised his right hand and stared at it, sinking into thought.
‘Is the will of the world really unchangeable? Is the Generation of Miracles destined to fall into darkness?’
‘No. I don’t believe that. Even if I have to leave, I’ll do everything I can to change it!’
He made up his mind—if leaving couldn’t be changed, then he would change their thinking.
With that resolve, Miyamoto Tokima finally fell asleep.
The next day.
After getting up, the first person Miyamoto Tokima went to find was Satsuki Momoi.
She was coming downstairs with her mother.
Seeing Miyamoto Tokima, her mother smiled and nodded.
“Go on, Momoi.”
Tears shimmered in Satsuki Momoi’s eyes as she let go of her mother’s hand and walked over to him.
“Tokima… are you leaving today?”
Miyamoto Tokima shook his head.
“No… today, we’re going to do something meaningful…”
(Regarding the subsequent plot, I'll clarify: the departure is inevitable, as arrangements still need to be made in the US.)
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