Walking through the front door, she toes her shoes off before taking a deep breath, bracing herself for the upcoming argument.
"Auntie," she calls, voice raised, smiling at Hibari Hideko when the woman comes from the kitchen, a glass of wine clutched in one immaculately manicured hand.
"I've got good news. Well-I think it's good news," Tsuna amends, carefully watching her.
Hideko takes her words in stride, settling onto the couch before gesturing to go on.
"The others really should be here, but-I met Xanxus. I met Xanxus and he-he invited us to join the Varia." Tsuna can't contain it any longer, a grin wraps around her face as she throws herself onto the couch with a laugh.
Hideko opens her mouth to respond, but is abruptly cut off by the sound of footsteps. Both look up to see Kyoya deftly leap over the banister and off the staircase, Takeshi and Ryohei still standing there with wide eyes.
"Did you say the Varia?" Takeshi asks, voice hushed and almost reverent, and Tsuna nods, still grinning.
"The Varia want us." She responds, a gleeful note snaking through her voice.
"You can't be considering this," the woman responds, voice flat and cold, moving to speak before Takeshi interrupts her.
"The Varia second-in-command is the sword emperor, isn't he?" Takeshi asks, ever present smile back. "If I'm lucky I could-I could have Superbi Squalo teach me."
"The Varia is filled with carnivores," Kyoya adds approvingly, turning to look at her mother. "It's an excellent opportunity."
Ryohei is the only one not awestruck, shrugging awkwardly as she picks at the bandages wrapped around her hands. "It sounds most extreme. But we have responsibilities here."
"What responsibilities?" Tsuna asks bitingly, "Kyoko is fully capable of defending herself, Kyoya's already put the fear of god into Namimori, and if you're worried about school, there's online classes for a reason. This is the Varia," she insists, voice turning hard.
The other girl bites at her lip, clearly swayed, before Hideko clears her throat.
"Yes, the Varia is prestigious. And yes, you girls could easily join. But what about your father?" She asks, cold gaze turning to Tsuna. "Can you really keep yourself from attacking him? Can you really deal with the repercussions when your true identity comes out?"
"Yes," the answer comes easily, Tsuna staring at her adoptive mother. "I know he will eventually face justice. Just as I know that there will be consequences when Vongola finds out he's my father. But it's the Varia, auntie. I can't just let an opportunity like that pass by because I'm afraid. That's just-that would just be stupid."
A pause passes, Hideko staring at her with hard eyes and pursed lips, before Takeshi speaks again.
"I'm in."
"I am as well," Kyoya adds.
"Extremely!" Ryohei cheers then, throwing one fist into the air before jostling Kyoya, smiling when the other girl smacks her away.
Clearly aware the battle is lost, Hideko lets out a rueful sigh before draining her wine and delicately placing the glass down.
"We need to prepare, then. Takeshi and Ryohei-you need to brush up on your Italian. Kyoya, you need to practice your subtlety. And Tsuna-" she pauses, staring at her intently. "Xanxus is taking quite the gamble by accepting another sky into the Varia. You will need to be controlled at all times, more dangerous than ever but still respectful enough to make it clear you are a subordinate, to keep him from killing you in a bout of territorial anger. You will need to be the perfect sky."
"I understand," Tsuna responds, voice confident and calm, and Hideko finally smiles.
"Then, girls," she starts warmly, "it's time to pack."
Pressing a kiss to Kyoya's head and laughing when she snarls, the woman grins viciously.
"I know you'll make me proud."