Six Days at the Bottom of the Ocean I
ボンゴレの心
Boyudo
He had to find her. If something had happened to her, he didn't know what he would do...
"Kyoko-chan, where are you?" Tsuna yelled through the dilapidated building.
There. Kneeling against the wall.
He had forgotten that this was the Kyoko-chan of ten years in the future. Tsuna had no idea what to expect anyway, but... He had also forgotten how to breathe.
She was beautiful, even more so than usual. She looked more mature, but still had those kind hazel eyes. Her hair was long now, too. It looked nice.
'What should I say...' Tsuna thought, whilst attempting and failing to control the blushes on his face, but failing miserably. 'Ah, I think she saw me crying, how embarassing, she probably thinks I-'
"Thank you" Her voice lanced through Tsuna's thoughts, silencing them instantly.
"You're here Tsu-kun"
Tsu-kun.
Tsuna awoke abruptly. The dream always ended when she said those words. He had been thinking about that moment for the entire time, since returning from the future. It haunted him.
He was just Dame-Tsuna, he didn't deserve someone like Kyoko-chan.
Maybe it didn't mean anything? He didn't want to get his hopes up, that never got him anywhere.
He pressed his hand against his face. There it was again, the moist feeling of tears. It happened every time he had that dream, he cried just like he had when he heard Kyoko-chan might be in danger. Tsuna closed his eyes, to try and blink away the tears, but when he opened his eyes, he saw something large and green speeding towards his face.
"Baka-Tsuna, time for breakfast" The stern tone of his Arcobaleno tutor, Reborn rang out.
"Reborn... I was awake, you know," Tsuna complained, whilst rubbing his head from the blow, "You didn't have to use the hammer!"
"I'll stop when you quit it with the tears." Reborn retorted.
"Crying? No, I wasn't-" But the small tutor had already disappeared.
"Ah, good morning Tsu-kun" Tsuna's mother greeted him, but he only grunted in reply and quickly sat down to eat the food that Reborn hadn't already stolen.
"Lambo-san wants seconds!" Lambo whined, whilst Nana complied with a smile on her face.
Despite his annoying nature and tendency to hurt himself or sometimes others. Tsuna really did care for Lambo and the other young children that had taken residence in his home.
It made him wonder if he would be a good father. Maybe when he had kids with Kyoko-chan he would-
"Baka-Tsuna, Gokudera and Yamamoto are waiting" Reborn reminded Tsuna, thankfully breaking his chain of thought.
"Oh, and if you're late, you can expect punishment..." Reborn said with a dangerous gleam in his eyes.
With a squeal, Tsuna quickly departed.
"Yo, Tsuna" Yamamoto greeted with a bright smile.
"Tenth!" An exasperated Gokudera greeted swiftly.
At this, Tsuna once again had a real smile on his face. These two did wonders for his mood.
They were such reliable friends, and not just in life-and-death situations. Maybe he should ask them for advice about Kyoko-chan?
"Something troubling you, Tsuna?" Yamamoto asked, with a smile on his face, but with a serious look in his eyes that caught Tsuna off guard. Tsuna's surprise caused his mind to go blank.
'Wow, these two must see right through me' He thought.
"Is it a girl?" Yamamoto joked with a laugh. But at Tsuna's blush, he laughed even harder.
"The Tenth's business is the Tenth's! Don't go prying unnecessarily, baseball idiot!" Gokudera growled, angrily.
"Maa, maa, Gokudera, it was just a joke" Yamamoto said with another laugh. "Tsuna can tell us anything, if he feels he needs to."
"And since we know it's a girl..." Yamamoto continued with a grin at Tsuna's continuing blushes.
"So, Tsuna, who's the lucky girl?"
At this, Tsuna looked down sadly, with a sigh, causing Yamamoto's grin to falter slightly and Gokudera's glare to increase.
"I-It's, uh..." Tsuna began nervously, "It's Kyoko-chan"
Yamamoto's mouth made an O in surprise, before it was replaced once again with a toothy smile.
"I'm so proud, that the Tenth has found a woman that he considers worthy for his greatness!"
Gokudera bellowed joyfully, "I hope to see his love blossom!"
Tsuna simply stood there with an aghast expression, whilst Gokudera wiped joyful tears from his face.
"Tenth, I would be honoured if you would make me your best man at the wedding ceremony!"
"EH?" Tsuna yelled, "I haven't even told her I like her yet!"
"Oh" Yamamoto and Gokudera said in unison.
"But I'm sure that you'll have more than enough courage to tell her, right Tenth?" Gokudera grinned
"...Right?"
"Umm..." Tsuna began, "No... I'm really not good at that sort of thing, well, I-I actually haven't done anything like it before..."
'Except when I confessed to Kyoko-chan in my underwear' A rebellious part of Tsuna's mind recalled.
"Ah, that's okay, right Gokudera?" Yamamoto said, whilst putting his arm around Gokudera, who scowled at the action. "We can help you!"
"Hmph, I'm happy to help the Tenth get women." Gokudera grunted.
'These two do it naturally!' Tsuna thought.
"Yeah, I've learnt a lot of things from the movies!" Yamamoto admitted without shame.
'Neither of them have any real experience?' Tsuna thought desperately.
"You've got to just tell her Tenth!" Gokudera offered eagerly, "She can't deny someone as great as you!"
'That doesn't help...' Tsuna thought, whilst groaning inwardly.
"Well, in a way Gokudera is right, Tsuna" Yamamoto said.
"Of course I'm right, baseball idiot!" Gokudera scowled.
"Anyway Tsuna, think of all the great things you've done for her," Yamamoto continued, "You've always been kind to her and not to mention, you've protected her with your life and I'm sure she recognises that. Maybe once you actually tell her you like her, she'll realise all the things you've done for her and how much you care for her."
"T-That might work" Tsuna mumbled. What Yamamoto said was actually really helpful, it even boosted Tsuna's confidence somewhat. "Thanks Guys" Tsuna said warmly, with a smile breaking out on his face.
The three boys spent the rest of the walk to school chatting about everyday things, it was nice, Tsuna pondered. It was nice to not have to think about the mafia for a little while. It probably wouldn't last, but Tsuna would take any moments of peace he could get.
"Late herbivores tend to get bitten to death." The voice of Namimori Middle's feared head prefect rang out, in a dangerous tone.
"H-Hibari-san" Tsuna stammered in fear. Even after coming so close to danger in the future multiple times, Hibari still scared him. "W-We were just-"
"I have little time for your excuses" Hibari growled, "Hurry up and get inside."
"Wow, I guess Hibari is in a good mood today." Yamamoto grinned sheepishly.
"We'd better hurry, home-room starts in 5 minutes." Tsuna said as he lead the other two to their classroom.
"So, Tsuna," Yamamoto began with a grin. Tsuna didn't like that grin. It meant trouble. Yamamoto was really devious behind that smile of his. "When are you going to confess to Kyoko-san?"
'Gah! He's like a smiling demon!' Tsuna thought amidst floundering like a fish to try to avoid the question.
Yamamoto put his hand on Tsuna's shoulder and looked down at him with a warm smile, that made Tsuna feel slightly better, "If you don't do it now, will you ever do it?" Tsuna shook his head and sighed in resignation, Yamamoto was right.
The entirety of Tsuna's next few classes was spent stealing glances at Kyoko. Tsuna had purposely sat down as fast as possible to avoid having to talk to her. He sank down lower in his chair, in an attempt to hide himself. If he had spoken to her beforehand, he knew that he would have been too embarassed.
"Sawada" The teacher's voice brought him out of his thoughts, "Can you give me the solution to this problem, if you have nothing better to do?"
Giggles broke out among the class at Tsuna's misfortune. But Tsuna knew that he could do this, Reborn had been tutoring him in Math, he wouldn't get caught out today.
"Um... I-Is it 42?" Tsuna answered carefully. To his relief the teacher scowled slightly and nodded in grudging approval. Yamamoto gave Tsuna a quick smile and a thumbs up, whilst Gokudera beamed in pride.
Then Tsuna noticed the bright smile that Kyoko was giving him from the front of the class, he quickly looked away and sank back into his chair. The window was suddenly very interesting and it served as the only way to avoid blushing to death.
When lunch finally came, Tsuna was sweating slightly in anticipation and worry. He was really going to do this. He had already asked Kyoko to come up to the roof and eat lunch with him, whilst Yamamoto and Gokudera had made sudden excuses to leave the two alone.
Yamamoto's words rang in his ear, but it didn't ease how fast his heart was beating.
"If you don't do it now, will you ever do it?" It really was now or never.
Before opening the door to the rooftop, one last memory appeared in Tsuna's mind:
"You're here Tsu-kun."
Slowly, Tsuna reached out and opened the door.
