All characters © Amano Akira

Excerpt from Seven Times Tsuna Spoke his Mind by Gokudera Hayato

6. Weighing Options

The author's note: this riles me every time I think about it. Granted, over the years Chrome and I have become closer, but I used to keep her at a distance back in the old days (partially because I felt uncomfortable with her ties to Mukuro). But even then, I protested that the Tenth let me come with him. He insisted it was something he wanted to do alone, though. Believe me, I would have talked some sense into those buffoons.

He supposed it was partially Mukuro's doing that the Namimori Health Inspectors hadn't shut down Kokuyo Land for good. For all he knew this place was invisible to the outside world.

That didn't change Tsuna's dislike for the building. As always, it smelled of old dust, rubber, and the faint coppery odor of long dried blood. The dankness and musty stench of rotting upholstery made Tsuna think of abandoned circuses and haunted Victorian homes. There were no lights, and he told himself that those were just insects he heard scratching away across the floorboards, even if they sounded more like rats and...other things.

Luckily Tsuna's thoughts were interrupted before they could stray into more disturbing waters with an "Eh? What's the Vongola brat doing here?"

Kokuyo's nosiest inhabitant had caught a whiff of the homemade bento Tsuna was carrying, and thus decided it was appropriate to make his entrance. Tsuna wasn't startled; after a while of coming to this place the fear had begun to dwindle. It was merely a decrepit edifice, the house on reverie corner: home to the lost dreams and childhood pasts of those who inhabited it. His dull anger at the moment also acted as a successful curb to any fear he might have still had. "Hello, Ken."

"What do you want?" Ken asked, eyeing the bento and trying his best not to drool at the thought of warm, white rice and sweet meat. Tsuna saw where his gaze was fixed, and hid the bento out of sight.

"This isn't for you," he said, "It's for Chrome." Ken hid his disappointment poorly.

"I don't know where she is right now, but I'll take it for her—"

"Chrome was at my house the other day," Tsuna interrupted. His tone was weary, and he fixed Ken with a mournful stare that reminded Ken of Chrome herself. "My mom took one look at her and asked her to step on our scale." He looked pointedly at Ken. "Do you know how much she weighed?"

"Cheh. How the hell should I know?"

"40 kilos," Tsuna answered, and was grateful to see Ken wince. Even someone like him realized that 40 kilograms was dangerously low for a tall, teenage girl. Now getting a closer look at Ken, Tsuna observed that he was a little on the thin side too. He wondered how they paid for food among other necessities, or if Mukuro even bothered to pay their meals for them. Tsuna didn't yet have the gumption to take it up with Mukuro, but he supposed it was an issue he would have to address once he officially became the Vongola Decimo.

"I weighed 40 kilos when I was in elementary school," Tsuna remarked. "Chrome is fifteen. Have you noticed that you can see her ribs right through her uniform, Ken?"

Ken averted his eyes, looking uncomfortable and more than a little guilty. "We thought she liked the choco-bits," he mumbled.

Sometimes Tsuna thought he was the only one around with some common sense. "You can't live on choco-bits!" he protested, throwing up his hands, as if the point was painfully obvious (which it was). the bag with the bento in it swished in the air. "Maybe you guys can, but if Chrome doesn't get a decent meal soon she'll have to be hospitalized!"

Ken bristled. You could almost imagine his hackles raising, tasting flavorful threat in the air. "You're saying you'll take her away?"

"Ken." Chikusa had appeared without a sound, as was per usual with him, and he lay a pale hand on Ken's shoulder. Chikusa was the final straw; it was too much for Tsuna.

"Look at you guys," he moaned. "All of you, you're underweight and malnourished. You live in a place with no beds, no shower, no decent lighting, even. Doesn't Mukuro-san feed you? Can't you take care of yourselves?"

Chikusa looked at Ken, who brusquely retorted, "We've never had a problem before. And why should you care, Vongola brat?"

Tsuna sighed in defeat, shoulders slumping. "How can I not?" he asked, limply. "Come over to my house for dinner tonight, and let me show you what a real meal should be."

There was a silence in the air, broken only by the sporadic plip, plip of a leaky pipe somewhere. The two looked at each other, deliberated wordlessly, and to Tsuna's surprise, agreed.

end.