Catherine was right. The sealing of Tsuna's innate nature had turned the curious, outgoing boy into someone tentative, far more clumsy and slower in processing things than he should have been.
She has no idea what Iemitsu was thinking. Five years into this new life, the man came back home a couple more times, and each moment he was there, he overwhelmingly doted on Tsuna and Yuki. That's why it's so weird. If he actually cares about them that much, then why sealed Tsuna's flame now only to drag him into the mafia world later, after he turns too timid and distrustful of his own self-worth? It's pure miracle that his counterpart survived everything the world threw at him. Or maybe it's luck, like the meaning tied to their names.
It's painful for her to watch him struggle as he grows. She watched him cry one time, when he realized that he wasn't as good as the other children, when the kids in the park avoided him because he was too slow and too careless. She hugged him, to make sure he knew that she and their mother would never leave him, ever.
Yuki herself has finally settled into her new identity, two or three years since she was reborn. She could finally start thinking of herself as Fukuyuki, not Catherine, when it's around her new family. Her Japanese also got better. She began to think in the new language, keeping English in the back of her mind for when she couldn't find a word that could express her thought and looked it up inside a dictionary.
When primary school started, she was a couple miles ahead in her study. She always loved reading, even in the far, distant past where books were a rarity. Actually, maybe that was the reason why she got so into it-turning knowledge into another rebellion she can clutched on in the middle of the oppressive world war.
She wasn't so diligent anymore, once she had grandchildren and turned too old to push her eyes as such. She grew to like her down days, when the world was peaceful and she could relax, sitting in a garden with a smile as the sun shone with warmth over her face.
That wish for contentment is now pushed aside, though. She has to be smarter so she can help Tsuna catch up step by step. Nana tried, but she never could understand why her bright little boy suddenly chose to keep running away from the lessons she wanted to teach them. Despite all the reassurances Yuki gave him, Tsuna was still deeply hurt when his mother's gaze filled with disappointment as he failed again in a task she had assigned to him. He thought she would give up once she sees how hopeless he was, become like one of the kids in the park who didn't want to have anything to do with him.
So, Yuki took it onto herself to teach him. Even if it required hours upon hours for him to understand or memorize something new, she wouldn't rush him. She knew how it feels to be helpless. It's the determination inside their eyes that would help pull them through.
Time passed by them steadily. They celebrated their six birthday without Iemitsu-thank goodness, because she didn't think she could handle seeing him fawning over their family, when she knew very well that he prized his job more than he cherished them. April rolled around, accompanied by blooming greenery and bright cherry blossoms all over Namimori.
Nana holds each of their hands as she walks them to their first day in primary school. Yuki hasn't seen that many children in one place, buzzing with relentless energy and nervousness, since Catherine picked up her own grandson for the last time in his middle school's graduation day. That was probably when Chris began to hate her, when she tried to console him for failing his year in front of everybody's eyes. She always forgot how fragile a youth's heart could be.
Shaking the morose thought away, she glanced around, taking in the concern shining inside her mother's eyes and the awe radiating from Tsuna's gaping face. Seems like he never see this much kids his age at the same time, too.
Unlike the excitement shown by various fresh students, Tsuna shrinks away, shifting closer to hide behind his mother's skirt. Fear dances in his expression. It's the same worry he had when he thought he was going to be shunned by everyone again.
Before Yuki could move to reassure him, Nana crouches down so their sights are more aligned. She has each hand around their shoulders, looking from Tsuna to Yuki, then back again.
"Will you guys be okay?" She asks, her own anxiety finally escapes the confine of her mind.
Yuki has no trouble nodding, but Tsuna hesitates, looking around for a while before he answers with a smaller nod. It's clear that he doesn't want to disappoint their mother again.
Yuki is proud of his courage. She takes her brother's hand, reminding him that she will be there, no matter what. "We're good, mamma."
Mamma. Italian for mom. Another thing hanging over them like an omen for the future; Iemitsu's influence that sticks on their family like a leech.
Yuki hasn't show her distaste for that nickname in a long time, though. It makes their mother happy, and it's far easier to pronounce than any of its Japanese counterpart anyway, so mini-Tsuna was happy, too, when he could pronounce it right.
Nana smiles, allowing herself a bit of relief that neither Yuki nor Tsuna begs to go home. Drawing them both into a quick hug, she bids them farewell. "I'll pick you up when the classes are over. Have fun, okay?"
They nod together. When Tsuna seems to be stuck where he stands, Yuki tugs at his hand to get him moving. He slowly follows her through Namimori Elementary's entrance gate, although he still glances back a couple times or hides his eyes behind the yellow cap everyone wears as their uniform.
The class they're assigned to is written in the same tag carrying their name. That tag is pinned over their shirt, so the teachers will be able to direct lost students to their proper homeroom.
Luckily, they're not separated. Yuki and Tsuna got 1-C as their designated classroom. They goes along with the trail of students that trickles all over the place under the teachers' frazzled guidance.
Apparently, this place is one of the most popular public school in the city, alongside Namimori Middle and Namimori High. It's so crowded. Inside 1-C alone contains up to 37 students. An unseen number in any classes in Catherine's former schools.
Since this is the first day, Miss Kyou, their teacher, leads everyone to introduce themselves. They are to offer at least their name and their hobby, maybe so those with similar interests can get to know each other better later.
Yuki gives her name and shares that she particularly loves baking. Her answer is normal, replied by the automatic greetings that echo from various other tables. Tsuna, though, when it's his turn right after her, stands up shyly and says that what he likes are spending time with his mother and his twin sister. Yuki has to cover her mouth to prevent a coo, because that answer is so adorable, but not everyone agrees apparently.
Several kids boo at Tsuna, who shrinks away under their mocking words. "Mummy's boy," one goes. They had sensed Tsuna's vulnerability and instinctively unable to leave him be.
Yuki shakes her head. She tugs Tsuna's hand again so he stop paying attention to their jeer. Ms. Kyou also claps her hands to regain order and tells the next student to continue their introduction, distracting everyone before they can see the hurt and resignation settling inside Tsuna's eyes.
Too worried about him, Yuki misses a handful of names and hobbies, until she hears someone who snaps her attention back to the classroom proper.
"My name is Sasagawa Kyoko! I like eating sweets and I like my mum, dad, and my big brother, too!"
The high-pitched voice announces brightly as warm colored eyes glance at Tsuna with a blinding smile. The entire class is stunned into silence. They mocked Tsuna before for loving his family, but nobody dares to say anything mean to this girl who shines like the sun itself.
Yuki knows Kyoko must've only spoken what she felt, but for Tsuna, it must've worth more than that. Someone agrees with him, supporting him. His cheeks are now dusted with red and his eyes are wide as he stares at her in awe.
Is this when his crush for her started, then?
Yuki doesn't have long to ponder on it, because a boy two seats away from Kyoko stands up, grinning even wider than Kyoko did before. "I'm Yamamoto Takeshi! Baseball and sushi are my favorite, but I like my ma and pa, too!"
Nobody dares to mock him, either, because despite being a mere six years old and super tiny in Yuki's eyes, Yamamoto is taller and looks stronger than normal kids his age. No wonder he's going to be popular.
Tsuna is now staring at him, too, but Yamamoto doesn't return the gesture, probably because he doesn't even notice it. Like Kyoko, it's pretty obvious that he just said what he felt was true.
Yamamoto is like the final trigger, the one who lets a handful more students after him to feel comfortable enough to admit that they love-or hate, as a scowling kid chooses to say-their family.
Tsuna finally relaxes back into his seat and Yuki can let him go and starts paying attention to their new classmates again. She definitely didn't expect to see Kyoko and Yamamoto in the same class as them-she actually has forgotten about them for a long time, before their miniature presences brought all of the animated memories back to the forefront of her mind.
Both of them are so small, right now. If she didn't hear their name, she wouldn't have recognized them at all with the yellow hat obscuring most of their features away.
Soon, the round of introduction is over and Ms. Kyou makes everyone applaud each other for their successful debut.
Yuki stops thinking about the past because the lesson finally begins and she has to pay close attention so she can help Tsuna to keep up with their studies later. It doesn't matter if what they're taught are still basic mathematics or simple kanji or social and moral guidance. It's definitely important to learn them all.
Their first day in the new school ends without any fanfare. Tsuna and Yuki find Nana waiting amongst other parents, and she makes them share all of their experiences on the way home.
Tomorrow and most of the days that follow go pretty much the same way, with attendance call replacing the student's introduction. Lunch time is Tsuna's favorite, because he can relax and eat next to her in class. Break time, on the other hand . . .
Yuki stops on her way back from helping Ms. Kyou carries her paperwork to the teacher's lounge. She frowns in displeasure, watching as a boy named Mochida shoves Tsuna to the ground to get him away from his tag team.
She doesn't want to coddle Tsuna, but this has been happening three days in a row. By now, Tsuna doesn't even want to play with the other kids. He just wants to have a peaceful break. Yet, this still happens, anyway. It's bullying. There is no other words to describe it.
Yuki has had enough. Asking nicely to be left alone doesn't work. Calling the teachers only ends up with them being told to play nice. So, it's time to take action into her own hands.
Catherine doesn't know any martial arts, but heaven knows she needed to protect herself after she left Aldrich and made people think it was easy to pick on her. She can't fight, and the technique might not work on insane people like Reborn and the mafia, but on vandals and children bully? It's a sure fire way to get rid of them.
Yuki marches away to find the school's storage room. With a sweet smile, she ask to borrow a broom or a mop from the caretaker she meets. To clean up a little mess, she says.
Calling her a responsible girl who must've been raised well, he guilelessly gives her the broom. Silently delivering her apology, Yuki dashes back towards the yard.
Mochida and his gang is laughing down at Tsuna who's sprawled with teary eyes on the ground. From the edge of the yard, she stomps her feet and exclaims loudly to catch their attention. "HEY!"
When everyone turns their heads towards her, she lifts up her broom and makes sure all of them see as she dips the cleaning apparatus into the gutter surrounding the yard.
They stares blankly, unable to understand what she is planning, until Yuki lifts up the dirty, sodden broom and swings it in an arc, splattering the ground before them with nasty glops-waste that comes from the kitchen, bathroom, and who knows from what other places in the school.
Finally, her action sinks into their head.
Yuki swings the broom for the second time, and the elementary school children screams in horror, including her dear brother, little Tsuna.
She dips her broom again into the gunk that fills the school's gutter and brandishes the delightful mess like a sword. Everyone freezes, glancing back and forth between her and her brother, debating whether it's worth it to get Tsuna in exchange for catching the black goop that might haunt their nose and their clothes for the rest of the day.
It's never worth it.
"Le-let's go! We'll get them back later!" The bullies scatter with a feeble threat that doesn't scare Yuki at all.
For now, she manages to protect Tsuna, just like she protected her bakery during the hunger strike in the past. At least this wasn't as bad as back then.
You know, now that she thinks about it, she gets an idea. Maybe she should bake and share some cookies or cupcakes so everyone can get along. It worked before, after all.
But she leaves that thought for another day. She goes to help Tsuna up, but he flinches away from her. Blinking in surprise, she realizes that she still carries the smelly broom with her.
"Oh, sorry about that." She throws the broom away and offers her hand again. This time, Tsuna lets her help him stands. "Are you hurt?"
"I-I'm okay…" Tsuna replies, then adds more quietly, "I'm sorry, Yuki. You always need to help me."
"Hey, don't apologize," Yuki gently scolds him. "You did nothing wrong. Remember what I told you to say instead?"
Tsuna continues to look down for several more seconds, before he lifts his head and sincerely says, "Thank you, Yuki."
"There we go." Yuki affectionately pats his head. She thinks for a bit, before adding, "If you'd like, I can even teach you how to chase the others away."
"R-really?" Tsuna stares at her with wide eyes.
Yuki beams. "Of course!"
