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4 Sawada & Friends

10 years later

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"Tetsuya-kun?"

A grunt.

"...I'm pretty sure I was in the past just for 5 minutes?"

Another grunt.

"Well basically I just wanted to ask..." TYL Suzume took a deep breath as she gripped on the window ledge tightly. A single bead of sweat dropped from the side of her forehead. Kusakabe Tetsuya had his brows furrowed in concentration.

Kyo-sama's going to kill me if she slips. Kyo-sama's going to kill me if she slips. Kyo-sama's going to kill me-

"...Why the hell am I hanging from my office window?!"

Present Time

"Ack! That darned woman's awake, Tenth!"

"H-hie, Gokudera, d-don't be too loud..."

"O-Of course, Tenth! I apologize-"

"Maa maa, Gokudera-kun. You're still shouting."

"Sh-shut up, Rainfreak!"

I winced as I held the side of my head. My head was throbbing, and Gokudera's shouting only made it worse. I sat up dizzily.

"Wha... Where... I... uh?"

Tsunayoshi Sawada, as he introduced himself later on, almost guffawed at my expression. Gokudera didn't bother to conceal his snickering though.

"G-Good evening, Rikamori-san... we brought you to the clinic before H-Hibari-kun could notice... he was battling Dino-nii-san, you see... A-Ano, you're very... lucky?"

"Thank y-"

"Rikamori Suzume." My head snapped to the direction of a baby in a black suit and fedora. "Promising strategist. Bagged best defense in the latest International Defense Convention." I flushed. "Consistently honor roll. Just behind Gokudera in rankings. Overall, not too bad."

"Wait. You, uh, how do you know that?" I squinted at the baby. "And, uh, you look... familiar?"

"My name's Reborn. I'm the greatest hitman in the world. Of course I look familiar." He tipped his hat. "As for how I know... well, I know many things."

I snorted. Uh huh.

"...Anyway I just wanted to get this over with." Reborn said slowly. "You went to the future. Where did you find yourself?"

I winced at the memory. "At an office. Mine, I think. I recognized perimeter outputs, building blueprints, invasion plans- erm, strategist stuff..." I shifted uneasily as I realized there were more people in the room. I nodded to Yamamoto-kun who sent a comforting smile in my direction. "K-Kusakabe-san was also there! It was like a dream, to be honest."

"Don't mistake it for a dream! You really were ten years into the future!" Yamamoto said happily as he held out a Pocari. I quietly took sips as the Sawada spoke.

"So what was it l-like? Y-Your future job, I mean?" Sawada asked carefully. "Military? Government strategist?"

I frowned as I fiddled with the water bottle. "Well, uh. Kusakabe-san from the future said mafia, but I don't believe him."

"But why? Surely your office was proof enough." Reborn's voice squeaked. I giggled.

"Well, Kusakabe-kun from the future also said I'd been married to Hibari-san for three years. I don't think that'll ever happen?"

Sawada fainted so quickly Gokudera could only panic. Yamamoto bursted out laughing and had to excuse himself out of the room.

I flushed. "Th-that's why I'm saying it was probably a joke, I mean- wait..." I faced the baby again, only to stop abruptly. "...what's with that face? I don't like how you're looking at me right now..."

Reborn's eyes shone so bright with... mischief? Interest? Malice? His hands slowly braced his sides before I realized he was silently shaking with laughter.

If it were possible, I flushed even more. "Stop laughing at me!"

"I see, I see." His eyes twinkled as he looked at me again. "It's about time you went home, Suzume. Unless you want to come with me to the Reception Office?"

My eyes widened in realization. "N-No!"

"Are you sure? I don't think you've fulfilled your revenge yet?" Reborn's eyes sharpened for a split second.

I flinched. How much does this baby know?

I threw myself off the bed hurriedly and into the corridor. "I'm very sure! Bye! Thanks for saving me, S-Sawada!"

"Ah- wait!" Sawada had just started to regain consciousness.

"No, I'm okay!" I squeaked when I saw Reborn head toward me. "Really! Thank you! Bye!"

As I ran home, I looked back at the school. The sound of two metals clashing led my eyes toward the rooftop. I couldn't see clearly, but one of them sure looked like the demon prefect.

"...married for three years..."

"...should call Kyo-san..."

I shook my head and headed home faster.

3 Days Later

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"So you're telling me, you jumped off the fourth floor to save some baby, dropped unto the demon prefect instead, got hospitalized for almost a month, attempted to exact revenge on said demon prefect to appease your ego, got saved by Sawada & Friends, only to find yourself in this situation?"

I nodded.

Kiriri Miyazaki was not only my high school best friend, but she was also... well, not impressed. At the moment, anyway.

"For a supposed strategist, you're an idiot." She deadpanned as she took a big bite out of her melon bread. I pouted.

"I was mad!" I huffed. "I literally could not feel my face for two weeks. I lost three teeth!" I pointed to my newly-implanted molars.

"Yeah, yeah." She waved her hand dismissively. "You should be thankful Sawada's inviting you over this Saturday. Thank them properly."

I grimaced. I didn't exactly tell her everything... I left out the whole "Hey! I went ten years into the future. Guess what? Married to the demon prefect!" part.

"Kiriri! You're not helpppiinnggg..." I whined. "I asked for a way to kindly turn down the offer."

Kiriri snapped her fingers in front of my face. "Girl, I love you and all, but I know better than to meddle with Sawada & Friends. I mean, even Kurokawa Hana couldn't escape them. As much as you don't want anything to do with them, they saved you!" She started shaking my shoulders. "And who are you kidding! Yamamoto-kun's in Dame-Tsuna's group! Even that senior Sasagawa-kun, if you're into that. It's the perfect excuse to ogle hot athletes!"

"Who hot athletes?" Yamamoto's voice suddenly popped from beside us. "Yo, Miyazaki, Rikamori."

Kiriri and I stiffened in our seats, before slowly facing the corridor window to reveal Namimori's Hot Athlete #1 Takeshi Yamamoto.

"You." Kiriri deadpanned as Yamamoto flashed her a grin. "You da hot athlete."

I guffawed at Kiriri's obvious weakness for the guy. "Hi, Yamamoto."

"Call me Takeshi!" He leaned on the window sill casually. "You're also going to play mafia with us this Saturday right?"

"Uh, actually, it's good you're here. I was just going to tell you I can't-"

"-wait! She can't wait. She's so excited she couldn't stop telling me about it." Kiriri interjected hurriedly as she clamped a hand over my mouth. Ew.

"That's great, Rikamori! See ya."

I could only look at helplesslt at Takeshi-kun's retreating back as he walked farther and farther away. Slowly facing Kiriri who looked unapologetic (and was onto her third melon bread), I said with conviction: "I hate you."

"Bah. You'll thank me in the future."

Saturday

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After almost fifteen minutes of pacing in front of Sawada's house, I finally gathered the courage to ring the doorbell. I was surprised to be ushered in by the familiar baby wearing a cow suit, a chinese toddler, and Sawada's overly-cheerful mother. I was led upstairs by a peculiar woman named Bianchi, who was kind enough only after I assured her I was no one important to the Reborn kid.

In Sawada's room, I officially met Sawada & Friends & Extended Friends. From Yamamoto and Chrome, to Chikusa and Fuuta, I can say I was pleasantly surprised by their hospitality. I would have never guessed that Dame-Tsuna had a big... family. There was no other way to describe them, honestly. I almost felt out of place, if not for Yamamoto's amiable conversation. I was waiting for the mafia talk, but... it never came.

After a couple of hours, it was time to go home, so Sawada had walked me back to the bus stop. I told him I had fun. He let out a strained smile.

I sighed knowingly. He breathed out.

"You don't have to walk on eggshells around me," I said simply when Sawada looked like he was unsure how to begin. "You've saved me a couple of times, so just... you know, out with it."

So he told me. About the Vongola. About how the family I saw wasn't always like that. About how he met Reborn, Chrome, Yamamoto, Fuuta. About how he was glad he had them. About how much they'd grown. About how he hoped Lambo wouldn't grow up too fast. And even after all that happened to them, about how he was so unsure of his capability to protect them. About how he hoped TYL Suzume calling him 'boss' wasn't a joke.

I smiled at him. "It probably wasn't."

He was surprised. "A-Are you saying..."

"Yes, boss, I'd love to be part of Vongola." I laughed at his stuttering. "Of course, I'm no-where near a professional strategist. I'm really just a highschooler-"

"No, no! Suzume-chan, thank you!" I blushed furiously as he peered into my eyes and held my hands. He called me Suzume-chan! "I just- I wanted to be the one to ask you. Reborn tends to force people into... the family. But, I just, I wanted to be the one to tell you all of this."

"Okay."

"Okay!" He stretched as the last bus headed towards our stop. "I'll see you at school on Monday! Don't forget to claim your badge!" He called out.

Boarding the bus, I reply: "What badge?"

The color suddenly drained from his face. I tensed. "...Reborn... didn't... tell you?" His voice was barely a whisper.

The doors close, and I take my seat next to the window. "Tell me... what?"

"Reborn, he... He signed you up for the Disciplinary Committee!"

I froze. He fumbled with his fingers, muttering, "He told me he told you but I should've known better..."

I closed my eyes and pinched the bridge of my nose. "...He's also in the Vongola, right?"

We both knew I was referring to the demon prefect.

"Well, yeah-"

I let out a determined breath and smiled at him. "Then he might not be too bad. Thanks for today, Tsuna-kun."

"Y-You're welcome! I'll see you, Suzume-chan!"

And the bus went off.

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"Tadaima, kaa-san."

"You're home late, for a change."

"You'll never guess!"

"Mm-hmm?"

"I joined the mafia and got forced into the Disciplinary Committee. I start on Monday!"

"Who are you and what did you do to my socially awkward daughter?"

"Okaa-san!"