Chapter Text
Sicily, Italy.
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*knock*knock*
Inside a grand mansion shrouded in a vast thicket of trees, a knock reverberated to announce one seven-year-old. The kid wore the distinctive black fedora with a yellow ribbon and a matching suit unfit for his age.
“Is that you, Reborn? Come in.” An old, raspy, and tired voice echoed from within the door, signaling the permission the kid needed.
Reborn then entered the room, and the sight of the Vongola Ninth, Timoteo, standing by the tall windows that filled the whole wall behind his old desk with a cup of tea in his hand greeted him. The older man turned with a benign smile as he sighed into his steaming cup.
“What brings you here, Reborn? Is it about Tsuna?” The Ninth asked as the Reborn stepped closer to the desk with a clicking stride.
“That too… but I’m here to report about ‘the thing’ you requested, and here are the related files. As for that ‘other thing,’ it’s proceeding smoothly, and we’re now in the first phase. Got something you want to suggest??” Reborn informed, bringing two folders marked with secrecy and confidentiality only to be opened under exceptional circumstances.
Hearing Reborn, Timoteo smiled further as he picked up one folder to examine the contents. It was noted thickly and had quotations on different pages, which the Ninth skimmed briefly, going ahead next to the other file. Contented, he placed them all down and addressed Reborn.
“You’ve outdone yourself again, Reborn. It’s all well done.”
“Hmph~ Naturally,” Reborn answered with a prideful smirk as if it was only fact. Then, from his inner pocket, Reborn brought out a thick envelope to which Timoteo raised an eyebrow. Saying nothing, Reborn pushed it to him, prompting the Ninth to open it.
Just like what he did with the earlier envelopes, the Ninth opened it swiftly using a knife he picked up from his drawers and was surprised to find pictures of his Grandson from different angles and events.
“Thank you, Reborn,” Timoteo says eventually, and his always-present smile softened with amusement. “It’s his last year as a high school student. Take care of him, Reborn.” Timoteo, the Vongola Ninth, finally states before dismissing Reborn to return to his Tutoring duties.
Reborn tipped his fedora down with a smirk as a farewell before returning to his no-good student.
“Ara~ Reborn-chan! Your back already?” Sawada Nana, Tsuna’s mother, greeted as she met Reborn in the courtyard, just having returned home from Italy while she was picking up the newspaper.
“Yes, Maman! Did you finish breakfast??” Reborn, ever so helpful after growing up a few years in the body, aided her in carrying the laundry that Nana had set aside.
“Yup, you should eat too if you still haven’t, but Tsu-kun is still not awake. Ah, I know Reborn-chan, can you wake him? Otherwise, he’ll be late to his first day of third year!” As happy as always, Nana asked just before she went to the kitchen and readied the table.
“Sure, Maman!”
Just up the stairs, in the first door that greeted him, was Sawada Tsunayoshi, heir to the whole Vongola Famiglia, sleeping peacefully as he would, unaware and uncaring of the impending doom we call Reborn.
Entering quietly into the dim room, Reborn placed his hands in his pockets with a smirk as he gazed down at Tsuna. “Wakey wakey~ Dame-Tsuna,” He breathed out silently before Leon glowed a rainbow hue, transforming into a green mallet, the signature Vongola Hammer for the Traditional Vongola wake-up call.
Classic.
Eyes glinting with a mischievous lilt, he swung his arms up with every intent to hit when Tsuna suddenly woke up.
“Hiiieeeeeee!!!!!! REBORN?!... Eh? Ah... Itte!!!!” He woke up just a second before he got hit, rolling to the side of the bed, and ended up falling off it with a loud
thud. It wouldn’t have mattered if he got hit or not, and it still ended up hurting like hell.
“Humu… you still as no good as always, Dame-Tsuna,” Reborn exclaims, placing the mallet on his shoulders. He was smirking when he met his student’s teary glare.
“Excuse me?? It’s not me who always sneaks and attacks someone sleeping!” Tsuna calls out, nursing his bottom from the hit that it took.
“A great boss should have seen it coming; sleeping so defenselessly is like a free assassination galore for you; still haven’t learned your lesson in Italy? First, you should have been awake; today’s a great day, you know?” Reborn stalked to the bed, stepping on Tsuna, still on the floor.
The mention of the date has made the young Vongola’s eyes widen in realization. He shot up and rattled to his cabinet, frantically throwing on his school uniform.
“Wait, today?? You should have said it sooner!” He cried out, rushing around to get ready.
“It’s not my fault that you did not wake up early. Is it?” Reborn lazily states, now sprawled on Tsuna’s bed as if it were his. “You should hurry, or the Disciplinary Committee will be ringing your ears soon.”
“Is what I’m doing okay? If you got nothing to say.” Putting on the last piece of his uniform, which was a black blazer with white lining in the cuffs and collars, he bolted out of the door to the kitchen, sat down, and ate as quickly as he could with what was left of the breakfast that the kids and reborn had filed out.
“Thanks for the food! Kaa-san, I’m off then!” He called out to his mother from the doorways and replied with a “Take care, Tsu-kun!” From the back of the house.
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The High School department of Namimori High School is located behind Nami Middle in the heart of town, whose entrance is a few blocks away. It is still connected inside, but you’d have to take detours to reach the High school’s main gate. That was a total hassle, but the other hassle would be what greets you by the entrance.
Every morning, with tantamount punctuality, was the Disciplinary Committee, standing guard behind the gate. They hold clipboards and stacks of tickets and watch stoutly for any rule-violating student they find. Tsuna sighed upon seeing them, thinking it was a whole new day and a whole new year. He can’t say that he is excited about what encounters he’ll find, but you have to be optimistic, no?
As he was wallowing, two people approached him from behind. One of them draped their arm around Tsuna’s shoulders and happily greeted them.
“Yo! Tsuna!”
“Tenth, Good Morning! Did you arrive??”
Two of his most trusted, Yamamoto Takeshi and Gokudera Hayato, exclaimed.
“Ah, Takeshi! Hayato! Good morning.” Tsuna called back with equal enthusiasm as he turned to each of them, “Yeah, Reborn had to kick me out of bed though…. As always.” He added bitterly.
“Well, that’s the Reborn-san for you, Tenth. Anyways, it’s our final and new school year, so maybe he's feeling more excited?”
“Knowing the kid, maybe he's up to something fun again?”
“Eh… but Reborn planning fun would never mean anything good for us!”
The three exchanged as they continued walking to their school, with Tsuna whining about the possibilities of Reborn being up to something almost blatantly equal to saying, ‘Let’s get ready to welcome chaos!’ or something.
After three years of being with one another, the relationship between the three changed, becoming more closely knit than before. Gokudera’s tendency to act like a subordinate completely mellowed out. He acted more as a friend of the same equal ground with more vivid opinions voiced out while, of course, still calling Tsuna by his title. Then there’s Yamamoto, who changed the least in attitude but matured finely, still practicing both the Sword and Baseball. This year, Yamamoto was made into team captain, which had made him busier during their summertime, but his time spent with the Famiglia was never hindered. He became more of a Reborn with his skills of always being there.
It is sufficient to say that the three are enjoying their high school years more than ever, considering their middle school life when all things that could go wrong went wrong.
“By the way, Tsuna, have you seen that board they posted?” Yamamoto asked once they passed the threshold of the gate.
“The ones that announce the classes?” Gokudera followed in question.
“Yep, that one. Sasagawa was texting me earlier to come and see it immediately. She said she sent one to you, too, Tsuna.”
“Eh... with Kyoko-chan did?” With the mention of the girl, Tsuna jolted in surprise, not expecting the two to text each other before he fumbled for his phone that he was sure he placed in his bag. After several minutes of searching, Tsuna looks up at Yamamoto sheepishly.
“I left it behind… Haahahaha...” Tsuna laughed unenthusiastically as clouds formed on his head and thunder rumbled.
“So that’s why, Maa~ Maa~ It’s fine,” Yamamoto chuckles in return, ruffling Tsuna’s head. Gokudera from Tsuna’s other side growled out, swatting Yamamoto’s hand, screaming, ‘Don’t Touch the Tenth’s head!’ Yamamoto laughed again, extending his hand to ruffle Gokudera’s head, which met with protests.
“Ah… must have been with Reborn earlier…. but you talk with Kyoko-chan? I didn’t realize.”
“Well, we do sometimes about school matters. She is part of the student council.”
One system that stands out in Namimori High School is that they appoint Student council members directly if they have the student’s consent. Of course, students can apply, but they must have the credentials to do so, such as academic records and performance. Last year, Sasagawa Kyoko was scouted by one of the teachers as she had proved dependable after being pushed to become the class representative. Thinking that it was an excellent opportunity, Kyoko accepted.
Now, they met up with the said girl by the bulletin board in front of the school building, where students flocked with one another to read the announcements.
There were too many people that Tsuna hesitated to join. Thankfully, Kyoko went to them instead, closely followed by Kurokawa Hana and Dokuro Chrome.
“Tsuna-kun, Gokudera-kun, and Yamamoto-kun! Good morning, it’s been quite a while, neh~!” Kyoko cried out as soon as she reached them.
“K-Kyoko-chan! Good morning, too.” Tsuna replied, flustered.
You might think that even after three years, Tsuna still has a crush on Sasagawa Kyoko, but to ease that, the answer is a big fat no. Three years is long, and in those three years, Tsuna did confess, and they did get together, but unfortunately, it did not last long as expectations were far from reality. Throw in the constant issues Tsuna had to address, and the two felt it needed more time. Kyoko, who knows his situation as a boss in training, thought it would be for the best that they still were friends. Being friends made them closer, like siblings and in a best-of-friends relationship. With Sasagawa Ryohei being Tsuna’s guardian, their friendship became even more evident; of course, that equals Kyoko’s affiliation being closer to the Vongola Famiglia.
Gokudera and Yamamoto greeted the three girls before joining the crowd by the bulletin board, leaving Tsuna with them. Although Tsuna offered to go with them, the two said they’d inform him and catch up with the three instead.
“How was summer? I heard from Reborn that you three were with Lal Mirch and Haru?” Tsuna started in concern.
“Tiring, that’s for sure.” Hana scoffed, leaning on a hip as she flipped her hair. “I thought I’d die before I could defend myself when it all started!”
She was another addition to the group after being kidnapped along with Kyoko for being affiliated with the Sun Guardian of the Vongola Famiglia and being
close friends with the heir. That was the explanation she gave when she tried to resist the machinations of the enemy Famiglia at that time, which Kyoko showed complete understanding. The two girls tried to protect each other, and as their doom was almost certified, Tsuna and company arrived, smashing the walls easily with their dying will flames burning brightly. Hana, being Hana, of course, demanded an explanation. There was a whole debate about whether she should know, but Hana was stubborn. So Ryohei then asked permission to reveal their secret to her, which she did. She took it hard at first, unable to believe anything, but eventually resolved herself because Ryohei talked to her. She knew the man could not lie ultimately, and being stared at with such seriousness, she had to believe it. Once she did, the rest that followed was easy.
Hana, Kyoko, and Haru approached Tsuna with a request to teach them how to defend themselves. In response to their thoughts, Tsuna had to ask Reborn if it would be possible.
-Flashback-
Reborn asked, ‘What for? You can always rescue them.’
‘We can, but that will not help them long. And we also have our limitations as humans. If there’s a way we can increase their survivability, especially now that they choose to stick with us and uphold our friendship, then I had to answer to their resolve. So please, Reborn.’ Tsuna responded, to which Reborn tipped his fedora with a smirk.
‘I see. If it’s what the boss says, then consider it done.’
‘Reborn! Like I said, don’t refer to me like that!’
'How else would you like me to refer to you? Go back to training, Dame-Tsuna!'
'OUWTCH!'
--Flashback End--
“But Hana-san was strong the whole time, bossu. Lal Mirch also praised her prowess.” Chrome chimed in timidly, clutching her bag with her usual soft-spoken attitude.
“Eh?” Tsuna was surprised as he did get to hear of their progress; there were few words on how well they did. Chrome joined the three in their training to strengthen her physical capabilities as soon as she recuperated from getting her organs planted and working again. She no longer needs to rely on real illusions to live and is now the epitome of a healthy girl.
“That’s right, Tsuna-kun! Lal-chan’s drills were tough, but Hana-chan ultimately destroyed it! The sparring between the two was like a total action scene! You should have visited us sometimes!” Kyoko exclaimed bubbly, although Hana looked like she’d love to clamp the mouths of these two as she looked pretty bashful.
“Enough of it, Kyoko and Chrome. I just thought… I had to do my best as well... If… I plan to, you know…” She meant to imply something, which Tsuna grew confused until it registered in his mind while the other two females giggled.
“Heh, that’s great to hear, but it sounds like you all went through a lot. Summer must have been tough, and I’m sorry, Kyoko-chan; I wished I could, but things came up. And well, Reborn… hahaha.”
“You're right. Reborn might have wrung you dry as well. But it’s all right, Tsuna-kun, it was all fun too. Just last month, we went around wedding shops to help Lal-chan with her plans hehehe~ It was so cute! Wanna see the pictures?” Kyoko comforted Tsuna while fishing her phone out to beckon Tsuna closer.
The picture showed Lal trying out wedding dresses. Now that she was back to her original body and Colonello had started to grow up, the two had started their preparations for planning their wedding.
“Wow~ Lal-san looks so happy,” Tsuna commented when Yamamoto and Gokudera returned.
“TEEEEEEENTH~ Listen to this! The school is out to get us!” Gokudera cried in anguish, startling the 4 of them up.
“Eh? What’s up, Gokudera-kun?”
“We have to go immediately to the school office, Tenth! I swear, whoever decided it is out of their minds!” Despite Tsuna’s confusion, Gokudera continued attempting to pull Tsuna to the office, only to be stopped by Yamamoto.
“Maa, Maa~ Calm down, Hayato. It’s just that, Tsuna, the roster is out, and we took a look at it but found out that we three were scattered in different sections, so Hayato here was panicking.” Yamamoto explained as he held Hayato back.
“Let go, you sword idiot! I’m sure there has been a mistake! We can fix this. A dynamite or two should do it!”
“No, no, no… Hayato let’s calm down, okay? I don’t think there was a mistake, but if that is what they decided, let’s… go along with it.” Tsuna said in conclusion, hoping to appease Hayato.
“But Tenth, you don’t want to have a class with me?” Gokudera called out, eyes glistening with water.
“Of course not, Hayato.” Tsuna's sweat dropped in return.
“Stop making Bossu uncomfortable, Storm-san, or is this Separation Anxiety Disorder?” Chrome added cleanly, still with her deadpan face as she spoke, making
Hana and Yamamoto laugh.
“Ha? What are you saying, mist woman? I’m not, in any case. I’m just viewing it as unfair. All of us have been in one classroom for years, and they have chosen to change that now. None of us are even with him, and he’s all alone in that section! Can I not be worried?!” And there it is, Gokudera Hayato’s mother-hen mode. It was mentioned earlier that his subordinate mentality has mellowed out, but it seemed to have been changed instead with an overprotective side, which is entirely welcome. Tsuna only smiled unsurely, not registering the problem.
“Although I share your sentiments, Haya-chan, let’s not blow others up. And you did try to inquire earlier, right? But what did they say? It’s been decided. Besides, it’s not like we’re in different schools.”
“Yamamoto has a point, Gokudera, and you should drop it and just go along. Anyways, we should be going. Bell’s almost chiming.”
“But tenth is all alone!”
As Hana said, the school bell did chime, freezing the group in synch before each bolted to their respective classrooms. Different cries from each other echoed through the halls, either one filled with laughter or curses; in the end, Tsuna joined in the laughing.
Boy, first day of classroom and already late? It’s typical and mundane, but Tsuna loved it the most. But, of course, with such mundanity, Tsuna had forgotten what it was like without any of his friends. And it was only now that he understood the gravity of being alone with no one beside him. Again.
“What the … hahaha~ If it isn’t Dame-Tsuna! Don’t have your dogs with you? Looks like there will be something interesting after all!”
That’s right. Tsuna was so used to the chaos and pleasant atmosphere that he had forgotten how things were before he got to know every single part of his family.