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Disclaimer: khr isn't mine but the story is


Chapter 2

The birth of an innocent devil

Sawada Tsunayoshi's world felt like they expanded their horizons when he, on his way back from school, noticed someone walking his streets that seemed very familiar. There was a ginger-haired boy with greyish eyes who looked awfully discouraged by something. That did not bother him, in fact, he was almost desperate to verify if that person was really who he seemed to be.

"Irie Shoichi"

Grey eyes turned to look at him as a response to being called and then changed to a look of confusion as they did not recognize the brunette- that was true.

Sawada Tsunayoshi shouldn't have known Irie Shoichi, but he did- through his dream- even if that defied common sense. That was what caught his interest. It was supposed to be mere fantasy...

"Have you decided to be a scientist?"

Confusion shifted to incredulity and then changed into fury. It seemed to be a sensitive spot for some reason.

"That's none of your business. It doesn't affect you in any way, does it? I don't know where you got this information and it's even worse that you've been stalking me for some sick reason-"

"It does matter to me. The fact that you've responded back is a huge deal to me."

The vigor with which he refuted the redhead's points shocked him into silence. Irie did not want to stay in that silence since this encounter was beginning to creep him out.

"Look I don't know about what expectations you've selfishly put on to me when you decided to approach me-"

Honestly, the sheer amount of expectations and that stupid disappointment that came along when they heard his dreams for the future was exhausting.

"I was just curious. The Irie Shoichi I've seen was analytical and could make amazing things."

"Those were for convenience! Just because I've tinkered out with some stuff doesn't mean my path as an engineer or a scientist was fixed! I made a midi mixer with the microchip for musical accompaniment and the drones for reverberation control and lighting! I want to be a musician! Is that so bad!? I'm still 17 so even if my music is bad currently, I have room for improvement!"

He had just been lectured on his future goals an hour ago. He did not want a repeat of it. His music skills were atrocity just touching normalcy, they said. It infuriated him. They only knew to discourage someone. If they were going to say something about it, how about they say something constructive? They were his life's very own adversarial attack, his generator to their discriminator!

"It's fine. There's a niche for every ability anyway. Besides, isn't music subjective?"

"I'm not tone-deaf. I can tell that I need improvement. That's why I'm working towards that future."

Tsuna looked towards his fingers. There were band-aids at the fingertips, a proof of his efforts. Irie noticed his line of sight and hurriedly hid his hands behind his back. He coughed embarrassedly as the current situation finally caught on to him. He'd been venting out his frustrations on a complete stranger, a one-sided stranger maybe.

"So... uh, not to be rude or anything- it was just that the blood just flew into my head. I'll stop rambling.

...What's your name? It's kind of unfair that only you know about me."

"...Sawada Tsunayoshi"

The brunette replied, slightly bewildered. He never thought that the other would express cordiality with him of all people. It seemed like his dreams were the north star, Polaris and he was going to milk them for all their worth.

"Sawada, did you call me out for something?" curiosity shone in those grey eyes as they gave him a once over to analyze him and his motives.

"Like I've said, I wanted to see if you would respond."

"You called out to me, of course I would respond. What was the point of that? It can't even hold out as a social experiment. That's completely pointless" he grumbled.

"It helped me out quite a bit. Now I can decide to be a mafia boss."

"How did you reach that conclusion?! There was no relation between the two! Besides, you might want to quit joking because Hibari would take even the most ludicrous threat to the town seriously!"

Well, if the dream was his guide, he should aim towards being a Mafia boss. The brunette wouldn't be a candidate for the Vongola even if it exists because he was incredibly wimpy and unskilled in any field. His alternate ego had the privilege to say he wanted to bring the Vongola back to its roots and become a vigilante, even if it was because he became a mafia boss he had friends, ability, acknowledgment, and happiness. He didn't know what made that Hibari choose to be a part of his famiglia, maybe it was the other's charisma. It was undoubtedly because of something he did not possess.

"I've given up on bringing Hibari to that cause."

"Of course that guy wouldn't join a crime syndicate! How are you even going to start one?!"

"I'm not starting one, I'm planning on utilizing one that already exists. There exists a Japanese mafia branch called Momokyokai right here in Namimori."

Irie turned pale when he realized the other was serious enough to do in-depth research to find a yakuza branch in the cleanest town he'd ever seen- Namimori. Tsuna failed to recognize this, as a seeming light bulb moment came to him.

"How about you join me? If we make proper use of the opportunity, you can use this to kickstart your life as a musician. There is strength in numbers, so they can be the mock audience in a concert and can spread hype. They can accentuate your appearance and start brands especially since they would get and generate capital out of your debut and further performances."

"What are you, crazy? I told you that I need to work on my ability. More importantly, you're saying that I need to collaborate with the yakuza to make this come true. I don't know if the yakuza or Hibari would rip me to shreds first!"

"You say you need work, but until when will you keep on polishing your work? Do you think with continuous hard work, you'd become a musician in ten years? What if you were still considered incompetent? Will you spend another ten years? Or maybe even a lifetime?

The ones who get popular and have that beautiful voice but are scandal free fade into oblivion and the others that are scandalously outrageous get bullied out off the spotlight or whimsically thrown out off their minds. There are stars that make sexual favors or kiss up their bosses to get an opportunity for a shot at the stage.

There are more than a billion people that aim to be uniquely appealing and the ones that are considered so, pass through the filter of what society considers an amazing kind of strange that simultaneously conforms and stands out. People change minds like they change clothes. You won't ever reach that arbitrary standard if you muck around statically.

Isn't music a harsh world of subjectivity where talent and connections come first and hard work comes second? Even if it starts out as a lie, you can make it the truth later right? It would especially be beneficial for you and quicker to develop once you become part of the musical community.

Unfortunately, you need to be a genius with a lot of luck, persistence, and backing to reach a goal righteously. I think you should not squander an opportunity just because society says that's wrong."

Irie appeared to be conflicted about his words as he frowned deeply, his hands turned into fists by his side. Tsuna thought about what could be the problem and then added on a statement,

"What? It's fine. I won't drag you along for the ride when I try to enlist their help."

Tsuna seemed to be unnervingly carefree to be talking casually about subjugating the base of grown, shrewd, and bulky men who have a deep history with violence and drugs. Irie partially thought the other was joking, but the off chance that he was being serious worried him. He felt their abrupt and spontaneous meeting brought a sense of camaraderie between them, especially because the brunette was the only one who had sincerely thought about the redhead's dream -even if the result came out as a bit twisted.

"Sawada... I don't know why you want to get acquainted with the mafia instead of reporting them to Hibari... But still, don't get involved! You might not even come out alive by the end of it!"

Sawada looked cheerfully blank at the fretting Irie as he replied,

"I've got nothing to lose."