Yo. C8 yay for fem!27? Gah just had this idea in my head, and fem!27 is too hard to resist. This chapter might be all over the place, because I took several days off in between writing it. Haha! Well, I'll see where this fic goes. It's the first one I managed to write over 3K words for a chapter.
"Dame-Tsuna." The debonair hitman stroked his Beretta absentmindedly, his obsidian gaze almost burning a hole in the back of Tsuna's head.
"D-Don't shoot me. I'm listening." The brunette slowly turned around, her hands placed above her head in mock surrender. But then again, anything could happen with Reborn. And what's with that nickname? I outgrew Dame-Tsuna 2 years ago! Unreasonable Reborn! But she didn't voice her thoughts out loud—this day was much too important for her tutor to dampen.
"Don't even think about arriving late for the opening ceremony." The man tilts his orange-striped fedora until its brim casts a shadow over his eyes. "I heard that the Namimori Disciplinary Committee's chairman has a zero tolerance policy for tardiness."
"Mou, Reborn. I won't be late." She gestures to her head. "Built in GPS. Besides, Hayato's house is near the school premises." Her uncle snorts, but allows her to continue on her way.
"If you don't return by 6 tonight, I'll assume you're dead."
Reborn was also a strict enforcer on curfews.
"I know, I know~" Tsuna was already rounding the corner of the street, her navy blue uniform skirt fluttering a goodbye as she disappeared from his view. The dark-haired male pinched the bridge of his nose.
"I swear, if I become anything like Giotto..." I'll shoot myself.
"For the sky's sake, Tsuna, stay still!" The brunette pouted as the silver-haired girl straightened her bow and pulled down her skirt.
"Hayato, people will think I'm old-fashioned if my skirt is that low," Tsuna complained, hiking her skirt up again.
"Don't you know how fucking lecherous men can be?" A none too discreet look was shot at the dark-haired Japanese that stood by the door cheerfully.
"Maa, maa, Hayato. You're still mad from yesterday?"
"Of course I am, yakyu-baka! How dare you—"
"Hayato, aren't you breaking the dress code?" A pink-haired female ascended down the stairs, holding a plate of what seemed to be inedible food. Both girls blanched, hurriedly joining the baseball player out the door.
"It was nice seeing you, Bianchi!" Tsuna called behind her shoulder before she was whisked away by Hayato.
"Damn it..." The silverette was looking a bit pale as she clutched her stomach. "Go...without me guys..." She flopped lifelessly against Tsuna's shoulder, which showed just how far gone she was. The proud ¾ Japanese, ¼ Italian girl would've never leaned on anyone's shoulder for support if she was sober.
"Y-Yama-kun..." The brunette transferred her unconscious load to the baseball player, who scooped her up into a princess hold.
"Don't worry, I've got it Tsuna!" The taller male smiled brightly, as he walked side by side with the considerably shorter girl.
"She's going to kill you when she wakes up..." The two nodded in agreement, their faces wearing mirroring grimaces.
"I was just thinking that it was a good thing that we're all in the same classes, haha!" Yamamoto said after he shifted the lithe body in his arms to a more comfortable position.
"We're g-going to have to i-introduce ourselves though." Tsuna tugged nervously on a strand of her hair as her brows furrowed. "Do you think we'll make any friends?" she asked worriedly.
"Of course! Hayato would kill you if she heard you say that. Maa, maa, Tsuna, you just need to see the bright side of things!" Yamamoto smiled, his cheerfulness reassuring the brunette.
"E-Eh?" Tsuna's jaw dropped as they neared the school. Chairs were positioned in orderly rows, a raised platform near the front indicated where the principal was going to make his speech. "Wow, they're holding the opening ceremony outside!" Sakura blossoms littered the floor, their soft petals grazing Tsuna's skin as a breeze blew them towards her. A crash to her right alerted her that something was wrong.
"Y-Yakyu-baka! What the hell were you doing!" The silver-haired girl sputtered, her face flustered as she righted herself.
"A-Ano, Hayato, you fainted and I couldn't carry you so I gave you to Yama-kun!" The brunette said hurriedly all in one breath before another misunderstanding could occur. A red blush dusted the silverette's face as she stuck out her hand to her fallen friend.
"I thought I told you two to go without me." Yamamoto accepted her hand, hauling himself up, the cheerful smile still present on his handsome features.
"Didn't we say we would spend our first day at Namimori together?" He replied easily, smiling in amusement as Hayato brushed the nonexistent dust off of her uniform. Tsuna could tell that the silver-haired girl was touched.
"It is a great pleasure to be here at Namimori High School today to welcome you students, Namimori's pride, back."
"Oh shit, we're late!" Hayato yelled, dragging the two behind her as she sprinted to the area. The three hastily sat down in empty seats near the front, relieved as the principal seemed not to notice their abrupt entrance.
"Over the next year, let's study more, practice harder, speak louder!" The last bit was shouted enthusiastically, and surprisingly, the students shouted back.
"NAMIMORI! NAMIMORI!"
"As you know, our rivalry with Shimon High School and Kokuyo High School dates a long way back. This year, we will participate in a sports festival with them—and the winner will obtain funding for all of their clubs and activities for the following year."
"ALRIGHT!" At one point, Tsuna could've swore she heard someone say 'THE BOXING CLUB WILL WIN TO THE EXTREME,' but she waved it away as her imagination.
"This year's graduating ceremony is held on March 15. Year 1 students will be in charge of the refreshments." The new batch of high-school students groaned.
"Now, let us join together in song." The school anthem started to play. The melody was familiar to the trio—Reborn had spent a whole afternoon drilling the words into their heads. His methods were far too efficient to forget.
"The green that trails Namimori,
Not large not small, Nami is best
Always unchanging
Vigorous and gallant
Let's sing together
Namimori High School." The low timbre of Yamamoto's voice paired with Hayato's talented vocals made Tsuna feel secure as she softly sang along.
"Shining like the morning dew, the Namimori
Ordinary and usual, Nami is best
Always fighting
Vigorous and gallant
Let's smile together
Namimori High School." Tsuna felt an odd feeling prickle at the nape of her neck. Unconsciously, her eyes were drawn to a dark-haired male student with piercing slate blue eyes. Their gazes met, the brunette feeling an automatic blush tinging her cheeks as she turned away.
"Your and my Namimori
Common and enough, Nami is best
Always together
Vigorous and gallant
Let's walk together
Namimori High School." The last note hung in the air. Hayato nudged Tsuna.
"What's wrong?" The brunette jumped at the sudden movement.
"What do you mean?" Her eyes are riveted to the male student that is currently replacing the principal at the podium.
"Your face looks like a tomato—" Yamamoto's sentence was discontinued by Hayato's elbow, but the damage had already been done.
"Hieee?" The girl pressed her hands to her flaming cheeks, willing them to cool down. "Ah, it's nothing..."
"Welcome to Namimori High School." The speaker's voice was apathetic, his words containing no emotion at all—but yet, he still managed to draw squeals from the crowd, most of them feminine. "Abide by the rules. If you don't..." Gleaming silver rods were produced from what seemed to be out of thin air. "I'll bite you to death." His eyes seemed to connect with Tsuna's before he leapt deftly off the podium, disappearing from her view as he took a shortcut away from the students.
"What kind of sick catchphrase is that?" Hayato spat, tossing her head disdainfully. "And tonfas...how old-fashioned," she sniffed.
"But effective." The silverette raised her eyebrows at the baseball player. "Before my old man taught me kendo, I tried my hand at tonfas, haha! I wasn't very good at them though," Yamamoto explained.
"Tch, I remember. You still managed to destroy half the house," Hayato grumbled.
"Following this announcement, you will continue on with your normal schedule. There will be an extended homeroom today. Please report to your respective rooms. Have a wonderful day!" Students began to file out as the announcements ended.
"Hey, Tsuna. Tsuna? Earth to Tsuna." Hayato's shaking snapped the petite girl out of her starry-eyed daze.
"Hie?" She shook her head in an attempt to clear her thoughts.
"We're supposed to go to homerooms now. Are you sick?" The silverette worriedly brushed Tsuna's bangs aside so she could place a cool hand against her forehead. "Nothing seems wrong with your temperature, but do you need to go see a nurse?" The brunette quickly shook her head.
"There's nothing wrong with me, honestly!" Tsuna laughed, mock slapping Hayato in the shoulder. "I thought I saw someone I knew."
"Someone you knew?" Yamamoto cocked his head quizzically. It wasn't that Tsuna was bad at making friends—quite the opposite, actually. But everyone Tsuna knew, he and Hayato knew. The three had been together since they were five.
"Nothing important. I don't think it was him." But there was a slight mist of hope in her eyes even as she uttered the words. Hayato didn't bother to question her best friend—every once in a while, Tsuna would always stare all moony-eyed at a boy that she thought was from her past. They all looked the same—jet black hair, dark blue or grey eyes, somewhat taller than the average height. But after the first encounter with each boy, she had always waved them away apologetically like she had never been obsessed with them in the first place. Her large, caramel brown eyes would sadden and she would sulk for a few hours before returning back to normal. It was a phase that her two best friends were familiar with, but they still disliked it.
"Let's get to our homeroom before we make a bad first impression," Yamamoto said, his cheerful voice completely contrasting with the trouble they would get in with Reborn if he found out they were late for their for their first day of school. Tsuna linked arms with her childhood friends.
"Yeah, let's go."
The class stared at them like they were animals at a zoo. New, exotic animals. Namimori High School obviously didn't get transfers often.
"Gokudera Hayato." The silverette finished writing her name on the chalkboard, adding a flourish with a flick of her wrist. "I'm not saying it again." Her piercing green eyes dared her future classmates to question her why her name was of a boy's. "Mess with Tsuna, I'll kill you." Hayato curled a protective arm around the brunette's slim waist. She seemed to mull over a thought in her head before she added, "Mess with Takeshi, I'll kill you as well."
"Maa, maa, Hayato. You're scaring them." The silverette glared daggers at the Japanese, not noticing the admiring and not-so-innocent stares that were fixed on her.
"Tch. I take back what I said. You guys can have yakyu-baka." Yamamoto smiled cheerfully like he always did, but a small glint of possessiveness lurked in his eyes as he noticed the ogling stares.
"Haha, I'm Yamamoto Takeshi. I like playing baseball and eating sushi." The baseball fanatic etched his name on the blackboard with the dusty white chalk, right next to Hayato's elegant script. The silver-haired girl twitched as the majority of the feminine population in the classroom started to eye her handsome best friend like a piece of candy.
"A-Ano...I'm V-Vongola Tsunaruhime, but just call me Tsuna." The majority of the male half of the class that was formerly checking Hayato out switched their attention to the doe-eyed brunette, save but a single lone raven-haired student at the back of the classroom.
"Vongola? As in the clothing company?" A brave soul asked, causing Hayato to stare her down.
"I'm adopted..." Tsuna shyly ducked her head as her future classmates began to stare her in shock.
"Where did you attend school before you came here?" A blond girl with light orange tinges in her hair asked curiously as Tsuna finished chalking her name on the board.
"I had a home tutor..." The brunette shuddered unconsciously at the thought of Reborn. He was one hell of a sadistic tutor. One that continuously thought of tortuous games horrible training practices for her and unfortunately, just happened to be her adopted uncle.
"In Italy," Yamamoto filled in.
"Sicily," Hayato muttered. "Old man, can we sit down now?" The teacher, Mr. Nezu, twitched in annoyance.
"You will address me as Nezu-sensei," he snapped angrily. "You two, sit in the free seats besides Sasagawa. Tsuna, sit in front of Hibari." A collective gasp from the students made the brunette fidget nervously.
The girl who had earlier questioned them raised her hand, smiling friendly at them. Another hand was raised in the back, where Tsuna was supposed to sit.
"We're separated from Tsuna. Shit."
"Ne, it's okay Hayato! I still sit somewhere near you two." The brunette stood on her tip-toes to figure out where her seat was—the hand that was raised earlier was no longer in the air. Her cheeks flared self-consciously as several pairs of eyes followed her when she made her way down the aisle.
"I-It's you..." Slate blue eyes stared apathetically back at her. "A-Ah, sorry, I'm being rude. I'm Vongola Tsunaruhime, please take care of me...?"
"Hibari." Tsuna had to work to not to stare at his flawless face.
"Hibari-san then? I hope we will get along." Her quick bow was accompanied with a following smile before she sat down at her new desk. Something nagged at the back of her mind, but she couldn't quite figure out what it was.
"This year you will be learning about chemical equilibria, thermodynamics, reaction kinetics..." The teacher's droning voice was almost enough to put Tsuna to sleep.
"Tsuna?" The boy sitting next to her offered her a small folded piece of paper.
"Thank you," the brunette whispered back, her smile causing the boy to blush. She unfolded the paper, not knowing what to expect.
Haha, we sit right next to each other! —Takeshi
I would rather sit next to Tsuna. Tsuna, did you now that bastard sitting behind you is staring at you? I'd beat him up already but Reborn-san told me he'd...you wouldn't want to know. —Hayato
Sorry, the girl passed it to me by accident, haha! Send it back to Tsuna. —Takeshi
Stupid bitch. —Hayato
Now that she thought about it, she could definitely feel a gaze on her, and strangely, a strong, somewhat murderous aura—courtesy of Reborn's training. If she was brave enough, she would turn around and wave at him—but it would take her too long to gather her courage.
R-Really? Hie! —Tsuna
Tsuna smiled apologetically at the boy that sat next to her as she passed him the note. "Sorry, I hope it's not bothering you," she whispered. Suddenly, she felt a spike in the aura behind her, as if their power level just rocketed. She resisted the urge to look back.
Yeah, fucking lech. —Hayato
Haha, I don't actually think he's staring at her in that way. He seems kinda pissed. —Takeshi
I-It wouldn't be the passing notes, right? —Tsuna
Tch. Why the hell would he be mad at that? —Hayato
*Yawn* We already did this lesson... —Takeshi
Stop passing the note back to me. And yeah, I know. —Hayato
The girl keeps on passing the note back! —Takeshi
You guys...*sweat drop* By the way, did Reborn—
"What's this?" The science teacher sneered as he snatched the note from Tsuna's hands. "Passing notes?"
"A-Ano, I'm sorry?" Tsuna tried.
"Sorry doesn't cut it. I'm afraid I'll have to read it out loud to teach you three your lesson." The teacher was almost gloating as he opened up the note.
"Nezu-sensei, please don't—"
"What is this gibberish?" The teacher asked angrily after several moments of strained reading.
"It's Italian dumbass, I thought you were the teacher around here," Hayato said while casually inspecting her nails. Mr. Nezu's face started to turn an unsightly shade of red.
"You think my class is just a free period for you to fool around?" he shouted as he ripped apart the note, clutching the pieces in his hand tightly.
"Uh, yeah. Basically," Hayato said nonchalantly. "You gonna do anything about it, old man?" The science teacher was now almost rigid with fury.
"You three, report to the reception room! Hibari, you may go with them." Mr. Nezu was starting to smile evilly now, almost rubbing his hands together in delight. Hibari stared at the teacher in distaste, but he rose from his seat.
"Now they're really dead..." a student whispered. Tsuna gulped. It was just a note, wasn't it?
"Do you mind if you tell me where the reception room is?" Tsuna managed to ask, her voice wavering.
"Follow Hibari." The teacher was smirking now, which sent a shiver down the brunette's spine. Hayato forcibly closed the door shut behind her, the sound echoing in the hallways.
"Tch. Stupid teacher," the silverette muttered.
"Maa, you could've been a little nicer to him, don't you think?"
"No," Hayato replied tersely. Tsuna followed Hibari meekly, tugging on the strands of hair, a nervous habit she doubted she would ever break. What's a reception room anyways? Tsuna thought curiously.
"What the fuck are we supposed to do in here?" Hayato asked as they entered the room. A sleek desk stood further back in the room, and the furniture was nicely coordinated.
"You three lack discipline. I'll bite you to death." And again, he does that cool making-tonfas-appear-out-of-thin-air trick, but Tsuna barely has enough time to dodge his onslaught of uppercuts.
"Whoa, whoa, slow down there Hibari!" Yamamoto nimbly leapt out of the way of his attack, but took one in the arm as he shielded Hayato.
"Wait, Kyo-nii!" Tsuna's outburst made everyone freeze.
"What did you call me?"
