Can't stop won't stop :D
-Fish-
Tsuna doesn't belong in a classroom.
Kahiro realizes this practically the first day she becomes aware of his existence in the world. He just doesn't fit in like everyone else does, hasn't got the whole system of school life figured out in that brain of his.
It's not like her with how she feels in her element running around outside instead of sitting in a desk for hours on end; she understands and endures the whole thing making it a mere preference of environments rather than not belonging. But for Tsuna it's less of a preference, more a complete inability to live how students were meant to live.
It isn't just the lessons he can't navigate through like everyone else does, it's the rest of social requirements that come along with school life too. He's shy, somewhat socially awkward and easily beaten down by the mocking sneers of classmates. Of course, his friends of his lessen the blow a little, almost forming a protective shield around the boy to shield him from his forthcomings, but it doesn't work entirely.
She can't quite sympathise with his lacking social life. Kahiro's always managed to slip into friendship groups with startling ease, always been able to read social cues and react accordingly. Her smiles and genuine laughter only serve to make people even more fond of her and she's got friends spanning all three year groups of both genders. She's a social creature if there ever was one.
Completely different to Tsuna.
It's one afternoon after school that she really sees the real difference between herself and the boy however. She's stood outside, hands in her pockets and PE kit thrown on scruffily. The football team is clearing up the field (she's meant to be helping but her muscles are aching a little from having not played football for a while) and it's then that she looks over to see a group of people walking out of the school building.
She recognizes most of them at a single glance but instead of just looking at what is before her of a surface level, she internalizes it.
On the very edge of the group walks the demon prefect with his henchman Kusakabe-the latter is actually quite the sweetheart despite the rough expressions as Kahiro found out during a detention where she was meant to be quiet but couldn't help striking up a conversation. A little further in walks an extremely pretty woman, who Kahiro's noticed showing up randomly in their food classes, and by her side walks a two girls. She identifies one as Kyoko, the beautiful school idol, but the other is unfamiliar with brown hair pulled into a ponytail and a bright smile on her face.
At the very front of the group two toddlers run around, the boxing club captain Ryohei firing off some punches at mid air, which makes the children scream with glee. Just behind them walks a toddler wearing a fedora, looking clearly disinterested by the other children's game. Then there's Gokudera and Yamamoto, both standing on the respective right and left of the boy situated slap bang in the middle of this crowd.
Sawada Tsunayoshi.
He seems to be speaking animatedly with the two boys flanking him, brows furrowed slightly with concern. Gokudera makes enthusiastic hand gestures, proud smile fixed on his face, to which Tsuna looks a little exasperated but smiling all the same. Yamamoto laughs and the silver haired boy and him seem to begin to have a one-sided argument.
They get close enough at this point for Kahiro to hear Tsuna's tired sigh and request for them to stop arguing and-
And then it gets strange.
Because Tsuna turns and makes eye contact with Hibari, opening his mouth to speak. "Hibari-san, I'm really sorry…"
Kahiro listens attentively now, somewhat surprised by Tsuna's words as, even if you can hear the nervous edge to his voice, he speaks to Hibari as though it is almost a normal occurrence.
Hibari who tends to hate anyone who tries to speak to him.
(She hasn't tried that herself-she isn't stupid enough to incur his wrath.)
"Hn. I expect him to be there." Hibari's tone is clipped and hostile, but it's a verbal response all the time. A verbal response not involving a threat.
It's insane, Kahiro realizes as she watches them walk away. Tsuna, socially awkward Tsuna who struggles in the classroom to understand the society that is their class, somehow looks almost like a...leader in this group of his.
He's always been a fish out of water in the classroom.
She's understood this for so long. But it's only now that she's seen where his water is. And, upon witnessing it, Kahiro can't help but wish she had somewhere more interesting than a classroom to thrive in.