3 Preliminary Interview
"Don't you have class, Nozomi?" Bianchi asked after the three left.
"I don't," Nozomi answered confidently. "I graduated early."
"Hey, Amenaka, right?" Reborn asked.
"Yes?" Nozomi responded.
"Lemme see your ring." he requested.
"Uh… Sure." Nozomi agreed and gave her hand to him.
Reborn analyzed the ring on her finger over and over.
Her hand's dead cold… Reborn thought. I know the weather here in Japan is cool but… Something's really up with her.
"So?" Bianchi asked.
"It's real," Reborn affirmed.
"What…" Bianchi replied in awe. "But there are only seven rings…"
"It's the real deal," Reborn said. "It's definitely not a fake. It even works, as you may have seen the portal she made earlier."
Bianchi was speechless.
Reborn had another look at the ring. It was similar from the rest of the Vongola rings, except for the snowflake insignia. He then let go of her hand.
"What else did you see, Amenaka-san?" Reborn asked.
"Besides the vision of me marrying Takeshi… I saw you, Tsuna-kun being boss, Bianchi-neesan, Mr. and Mrs. Sawada, Ryohei-san, Gokudera-san, Lambo-chan, Ipin-chan…" she paused. "Is this what they refer to as 'family'?"
"Yes." Reborn answered casually. Then Leon came to his hand, as a gun. He immediately pointed it towards Nozomi.
"Reborn!" Bianchi exclaimed in shock.
"You sure can name them all, can't you?" Reborn derided. "But trusting you? You come here pleading and you have yet to prove yourself."
"Wait Reborn," Bianchi pleaded. "The girl…"
"The flame you showed earlier, with all the light you used to send the boys to school," Reborn said. "It's unique. In fact, it's too unique. Too unique it looks like you're pretending."
This is it. Reborn thought. I've got to know.
"I see…" Nozomi felt heavy-hearted. "I'm very sure that later, those guys will come for me, just like what happened to Fuuta-kun."
So she also knows about Fuuta being in the family. Reborn thought. This is really something. There's something I'm really missing here…
I see. She learned from her visions. Bianchi thought. Reborn must be so worked up about her.
"I know doubting a stranger can't be helped." Nozomi said. "But, I myself too, am not so sure anymore. I don't know whether I travelled time or simply teleported. I'm so confused I don't even know who to trust. So I just relied on my visions, to lead me… somewhere."
Teleportation… Seeing the future…. Reborn reviewed. What more does this girl have to offer?
"But hey," Nozomi interjected. "I'm sure I sent the three to Namimori High. They're definitely not in some other time plane or dimension."
So she's real. No other intentions. Reborn concluded. She's risked so much just to evade the guys after her. And with no other option, she used the power from her ring... even though she has no idea what she's holding onto.
"Let's continue this discussion at Mama's house." Reborn said.
Oh, this will be my first visit at Tsuna-san's house. I wonder what it's like. Nozomi wondered.
Bianchi, Nozomi and Reborn then went to the Sawada residence.
"Mama, we're home!" Reborn and Bianchi said, entering the house.
"Ojyamashimasu!" Nozomi said.
"Oh my!" Mrs. Sawada came. "Welcome back, Reborn-chan, Bianchi-chan."
"Mrs. Sawada!" Nozomi blurted out excitedly, seeing another familiar face. "It is you! I can't believe it! D-do you recognize me?"
She has to know me in the least… Nozomi hoped.
Mrs. Sawada looked at the new girl. "Are you Tsu-kun's new friend? Oh my! He hasn't introduced you to me." she giggled. "Oh my, if so, may I know your name?"
Nozomi blushed. "N-Nozomi Amenaka, ma'am. Nice to meet you."
No… Not EVEN her! Nozomi thought, very disappointed. I've got to stop pouncing on people and asking them if they know me… I always end up the one embarrassed.
"Mama," Reborn said. "We'll be in the living room."
"Yes, yes." Mrs. Sawada replied. "I'll be in the kitchen if you need anything."
"Mama," Bianchi called. "Would you mind putting these in the refrigerator?" she passed on the bag containing all her ingredients.
"Not at all, Bianchi-chan." Mrs. Sawada gladly accepted the bag and left.
"Now," Reborn settled. "Tell me about the Nozomi before you had that ring."
Nozomi's eyes narrowed. "Well, a lot has changed, Reborn-san; so much so I don't even know where to start."
"Just imagine you're in a new school." Bianchi cut in. "Say your likes, dislikes and all that stuff."
"Ah, I see." Nozomi responded. "Uhm, my name is Nozomi Amenaka. I'm sixteen. You could say I was brought up with two cultures. And so, I have dual nationality. I am Japanese and a Pilipino."
Firipin-jin? Reborn thought. There's something about her…
Nozomi continued spilling. "With that I can speak three languages, English, Japanese and Filipino. I studied pre-school here in Japan. But then my father had business in the Philippines, so we had to move there. And so I finished my studies all the way there and all that's waiting for me is college. My father is Satoshi Amenaka. My mother is Mayumi Penoña. My dad's a very influential businessman while my mother is an excellent cook. I like sketching, reading and math. My favourite sports are Arnis and Kendo. My favourite Japanese artists are B*A, YU*, and Ayumi Ha**saki. My favourite Filipino artists are-"
"You've got a familiar looking face." Reborn said. "And that mole under your eye… It really reminds me of someone I can't recall so well."
"Eh… This mole," Nozomi felt irritated. "If I could, I would do any means to remove this mole."
"Why is that?" Reborn inquired, curious.
"Because mama says that it means I'll be sad for the rest for the rest of my life or I'll have a very sad life." Nozomi answered. "When I asked papa if I could have my mole removed, he said no as well, even if I was above 18. He said it made me resemble someone important from his side of the family."
"Well I'm with them." Bianchi said, picking up a newspaper. "That's a beauty mark you know. It works as a signature, like a trademark or something."
"Everything has its reason, Nozomi." Reborn said. "You never know where things will bring you."
Nozomi smiled. "I'll think about it."
"Look," Bianchi said, showing the sports newspaper page. "Namimori High's baseball team is going to have a match against Wateseyo's baseball team. You know, it's the school nearby."
"Come on, let's watch." Reborn invited.
Mrs. Sawada came in, hearing the news about the Baseball match. "Oh my? Tsu-kun didn't tell you? His friend Takeshi will be having a game today and he'll be watching."
That boy… He'll pay… Reborn gritted his teeth.
Takeshi really is into Baseball… Nozomi thought.
"I'll get my goggles." Bianchi said.
"Before that," Mrs. Sawada interjected. "You should all eat up. I prepared something in the kitchen. Especially you," she said, looking at Nozomi. "You look so tired and hungry like you've been chased by goons. Haha. Come on to the kitchen."
Nozomi just laughed along, although the joke was actually true.
Mrs. Sawada is really a kind person… Nozomi thought.