A/N: Readers used REVIEWS. It is super effective! Author is STUNNED. Lunakatsuma used AMAZING REPLY. Author has FAINTED.
(Enjoy, reader-samas. You may poke the unconscious author with a stick if it's bad.)
"Midori tanabiku, namimori no…"
The Academy's anthem was admittedly catchy, Yukimura mused, as she wandered the empty high school division halls, list of detention ditchers in hand. She hummed it lightly as she walked, playing around with the melody, coming up with variations and harmonies as she scanned the classroom number plates for the hiding place of her unfortunate vic- detainee.
It had been a week or so since the incident with Midori, and as the ever-busy Student Council they were, Tsuna, Hibari and company had gone back to their regular routines as if nothing had happened and there weren't a school of mafiosi a ten-minute walk away.
"Kokawa Yurie-chan, huh? Poor girl, it's only her first year in Namigaku... Must be a pretty reckless one though if she went through both Suzuki-san and Hibari-san…"
The lightest of buzzes was heard, and Yukimura fished her mobile from the inside of her blazer, having received a message from one of her Wardens. Another three detention-ditchers had been captured.
"Mm, we're having a smooth morning…"
"Yukimura Suzume. Fight me."
Yukimura stared at the smirking prefect that was blocking her progress down the hallway in exasperation for a moment, and then tucked the list she was holding into her jacket and sent a quick message to Aoshima.
'Cover for me, I'll be busy today.'
Yukimura was unable to reply when Aoshima sent back the word 'Again?'.
"Run faster, kora!"
Tsuna winced as he narrowly dodged a frighteningly accurate rifle shot at his feet. For goodness sakes, why was there such a thing as school athletics days? And as if planning, budgeting, and hosting the dreaded event wasn't enough work for poor Tsuna-chan, he had to prepare for it with his classmates as well.
"Jyuudaime, it's fine! We've got you!"
Before he knew what was happening, Tsuna was lifted off his feet by both of his arms, Gokudera on his left and Yamamoto on his right. They continued to run while carrying their President in this manner, either blatantly ignoring Tsuna's protests, or defying him for once.
"Kyaa! That's so cute! Keep up the good work, Yamamoto-kun, Gokudera-kun!"
"We should try our best to help Sawada-kaichou as well! Let's work hard so he can focus on his paperwork!"
"HAI!"
Tsuna didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Laugh, because he was finally no longer called 'Dame-Tsuna'.
Or cry, because he was now 'Sawada-kaichou' instead.
"You two! Put down the kid, kora! He has legs!" Colonello yelled, firing shots randomly.
Since when did Reborn become the sane one out of the faculty's two ex-Arcobaleno?
"INCOMING!" a student yelled, face pale as he pointed out the window, before ducking under his desk like everyone else. Including the teacher.
Through the open window flew in Yukimura Suzume, their not-so-loved Detention Chairman.
Yukimura crashed harshly against the opposite wall to the window and winced as she got up, brushing herself off.
Following through the window with a graceful leap was their very-much-so feared Disciplinary Chairman Hibari Kyouya.
"Sorry for the intrusion. Woman, move."
"Hai, hai," Yukimura sighed, shuffling out the door lethargically.
The class sat stock still as the noises of a battle started up outside, and stayed as silent as they could until they faded away to terrorize another wing.
The new English teacher, that was only starting that week, got up slowly from under her desk, looking around at the relieved faces of her students. It seemed this was a normal occurrence.
Well, that explained the unusually high pay.
And Reborn-sensei warning her to be wary of any students wearing striped jackets.
"…Thank you for the warning, Nakayama-kun."
"I don't even… You know what? I give up. You can explain yourselves to Kyoko-chan and Enma-kun yourself. You're willing to spend all that energy fighting nonstop through school day, disrupting everyone's classes, but when asked to participate in something as simple as an athletics day you refuse?"
"Simply because my father would then have another excuse to come wreak havoc. You do remember what happened on Parent's day, don't you, Sawada-kaichou?" Yukimura smiled gently.
"It's not worth my time," Hibari said plainly.
Tsuna buried his face in his left palm, his right hand still signing off random papers. "Fine, fine, just go tell Kyoko-chan. Chrome will take it from there." It had been a long shot to hope that Hibari might participate anyway.
"Why can't we just go straight to Chrome-san?" Yukimura queried, earning her the sight of a vein throbbing at her President's forehead.
"Don't make me drag you there by your collars…"
"We're going," Hibari interrupted, almost hastily. "Come, woman. He's in a bad mood."
"What am I, your dog?" she muttered as she followed him out the door to the neighboring Social Chairperson's office.
"Herbivore. We're not participating in the athletics day."
Kyoko simply tilted her head at this abrupt intrusion and smiled. "Why not? It's going to be so much fun!"
Yukimura made a quiet snort at the back of her throat as she watched Hibari reacting to the ball of sunshine that was Sasagawa Kyoko. As the Social Chair went on about how the athletics day strengthened school bonds and that showing off the prowess of the disciplinarians of the school was beneficial for everyone, Hibari was silent under her warm smile, a small bead of sweat at the side of his head. Like he was melting in sunlight like a vampire or something.
Just that image alone made Yukimura snort again. Quietly, of course, in case he heard.
"Alright, Sasagawa-san, Hibari-san will participate. I'm afraid that I have reasons to sit out, however, and will have to ask you to schedule me out of the Student Council events."
"Ah, that's fine! Wonderful! As long as at least one of you can participate in a spar with Suzuki-san, it'll be enough!"
This time it was Hibari's turn to almost burst a vein. "Woman…"
"What? You were going to agree anyway. I saved you the trouble of melting further."
"…After school, rooftop. It turns out my mood today won't be stellar either." And with that the Disciplinary Chairman stalked out of the room.
As soon as he was out of earshot, Haru giggled. Yukimura raised an eyebrow.
"You two are so… so… CUTE desu!"
The Detention Chairman blinked. "Ha… Hah?"
"I know, right?" Kyoko joined in, giggling as well. "So, has he asked you out? Or are you doing that adorable both-waiting-for-the-other thing?"
Growing up with two brothers, Yukimura Suzume was overwhelmed momentarily by the sheer… power of the teenage females' squeals and smiles. There was way too much estrogen in the room for her own good.
Where the hell was that damn Historian when you needed him at his desk? At least with him around there would be less open… squealing… and someone's head to smash into the wall.
"Oh, you don't know, Yukimura-san? We think that Hibari might like you! He's never liked anyone before! EXCITING desu!"
Yukimura suddenly felt woozy. "Is… it hot in here?"
"Ara, ara, she's blushing!"
Yukimura could feel herself on the edge of fainting from their radiant grins.
She was going to murder Rokudo Mukuro when she found him.
Down in the primary school division, Bovino Lambo was somewhat of a big deal. The only Student Council member coming from the youngest division, the curly-haired, pre-pubescent ladies' man was a smooth talker and, surprisingly enough, an efficient worker.
"Lambo-kun! You're heading over to the high-school division, right?" one girl from his class asked when the ending bell rung.
"Aa. I have some paperwork to hand in. Why?"
"A-ano… would you mind taking this set of house keys to my brother? I'm going to be sleeping over at Honoka-chan's tonight and he lost his a week ago, so…"
Lambo smiled, as Fuuta had taught him to when dealing with younger kids and girls. "Sure, Mitsuki-san. Who's your brother?"
"A-Akiyama Mitsuya. He's a first-year in the high school division."
"Alright. He has club activities after school, right? Then I'll just ask Tsuna-nii and have them delivered."
"A-Arigato, Lambo-kun!"
"Tsuki-chan! Let's go!"
"Ah! See you tomorrow, Lambo-kun!
Lambo nodded, replied, and went on his way, putting the ring of jingling keys carefully into his pocket.
When he arrived at the Student Council office, Lambo peered into Tsuna's office carefully before entering. It was nearing the time of the athletics' day, and no doubt Tsuna would be in a bad mood.
"Ahoushi? Here to deliver the attendance records?"
"Will you ever stop calling me that?" Lambo sighed as he dropped the file on Gokudera's desk. Tsuna was working silently in the background, the scratching of his pen continuous and insistent.
"Anyway, I have another thing to ask. Do you know anyone named Akiyama Mitsuya? First-year in the high school division?"
The scratching stopped.
"Hah? No, I don't think so… Why're you looking for someone in the high school division?"
Lambo lifted the keys into view. "Doing a favour."
"Lambo… What favour are you doing?"
"Delivering keys, Tsuna-nii. This Akiyama Mitsuya has a little sister in my class."
"…Leave them here. I'll have someone take them later."
The boy shrugged. "If you say so. Thanks a bunch."
When Lambo was out of sight, Gokudera cleared his throat. "Why not let him deliver it himself?"
Not hearing his Storm Guardian's query, Tsuna leaned back in his chair. "So they got out of hospital already… that's a relief. I wonder if they had to get new cloaks... then again they're black, so I guess they'd launder easily..."
Gokudera decided not to ask.
Hibari had Yukimura pinned to the side of the water tank, a foot holding the end of her braid in place.
"…Something's off. Your movements are sloppy. Was your face always this red?"
Yukimura made a dismissive sound. "I feel kind of sick."
Hibari leapt back.
"Yeah, I don't want to pass it onto you either."
Hibari suddenly leapt forward again to stop her from falling head-first down past the door onto the roof's floor. "What's wrong with you?" he growled.
"That's what I'd like to know…" she muttered, extricating herself from the support of his tonfas and making her way down to the main level of the roof with wobbly legs. "Let's call it a day…"
Aoshima was patrolling the halls of the Detention Centre when he got a text from the President to go up to the Student Council Office. He groaned. He grabbed the nearest free Warden.
"Frost, keep an eye on things while I'm gone. The kaichou wants something."
"Aa."
Aoshima ignored the sounds of Hibari and Yukimura shuffling around in the hallways, thinking they were probably grappling, as he swiftly made his way up to the Student Council's office.
On his way to the Student Council office, he passed Reborn-sensei yelling angrily into a phone, and after hearing "I'm going to skin you alive and use your damn catty eyes as paperweights!" Aoshima concluded that he was talking to Seiji.
He knocked on the open door before entering the President's office after Chrome. "So, Sawada-kaichou, what was it you wanted me to do?"
Reborn stared at the letter.
He blinked, rubbing his eyes.
Then he stared again.
'What do you do if a girl likes you?'
From the high school division.
The high school division.
Reborn was going to have to write an essay.
Dreading the work, he momentarily ditched his office to go get some coffee. At the staff kitchens he met Chrome preparing two cups of coffee at breakneck speed.
Reborn leaned on the doorframe and watched curiously.
He had to admit, to be able to make coffee that well that quickly, Chrome was a darn good Secretary.
"Ah! Reborn-san!"
"They're for Gokudera and Tsuna, right?"
Chrome nodded with a small smile, putting the mugs onto a tray.
Then one of her many phones rang. She retrieved the mobile from one of her many jacket pockets and looked at the number. "Ah, it's one of our fellow Academies…"
Reborn nodded. "Take it. I'll get the caffeine to Tsuna."
Chrome smiled gratefully and nodded, answering the call and stepping out onto the kitchen's balcony.
Reborn picked up the tray with ease single-handed, and made his way down the hallways to the Student Council's quarters. He knocked lightly on Tsuna's door before stepping into the room, giving Gokudera his coffee and holding Tsuna's under his nose to snap him out of his paperwork routine.
Yes, Tsuna had a paperwork routine.
"Ah. Thanks, Reborn."
A moment passed as Tsuna took hold of his coffee, before freezing and turning to look at his hitman tutor.
"…What's wrong with it?"
"Nothing. Chrome had to take a call, so I volunteered to deliver it."
Tsuna peered suspiciously at the mug, back at Reborn, and then took a sip. He sighed.
"This work is really getting to me. And I know, don't remind me, the day I take up the seat of Decimo I'll understand the true meaning of death by paperwork."
Reborn chuckled, fingering the gun at his hip almost absently.
"…You want to see Yukimura Seiji-san again, don't you?"
Reborn's expression immediately fell, his mouth twisted into an… almost childish scowl. "Why would I ever want to see his stupid grinning face a single extra time than need be?"
"You never did tell me the story of what happened between you two," Tsuna replied.
Reborn paused. "It's a long one," he sighed. "And you have paperwork."
As Reborn walked out, Tsuna said "Tonight?"
The hitman smirked, throwing a scary smile over his shoulder, fedora lowered. "That is, if you're done with that pile before its morning."
Tsuna groaned and buried his face in his papers.
Chrome lifted the phone away from her ear to stare at it for a moment before putting it back to her ear. "Ano… I don't know if you're aware, Ootori-san, but we're quite far away from you, in Namimori, so… Really?"
She almost dropped her phone at the next words. "But we couldn't possibly- To be blunt, we realize you are rich, but… Oh, you flatter us, Ootori-san. But are you sure? In terms of size, compred to your Academy,we are miniscu-"
Chrome blushed. "I see. Alright, I'll tell the kaichou as soon as possible. I look forward to meeting you, Ootori-san."
Tsuna would probably dread having to make such a large diplomatic trip, but in reality, there was no way Namimori Academy could say no when this other school was involved.
Hibari was very startled when Yukimura fainted in front of him.
The woman was not the type to sporadically faint.
Even when she had been losing her footing the whole way down from the roof into the school's hallways, Hibari had not expected her to do something so herbivorous as to faint.
He nudged her with a toe, and when he deemed that she wasn't getting up, he sighed, looking around in an irritated manner. Really, where was Kusakabe when you needed him?
He debated leaving her there for someone else to discover, but figured that would make him look bad. So he grabbed her by her blazer and threw her over his shoulder, and made his way down to the Detention Centre.
To leave her there instead.
As he made his way down the spiral stairway, Hibari tried his best to ignore the screams and cries that always decorated the Centre's atmosphere after school. He made a beeline for the Chairman's office and dumped her on her couch, and was about to leave when he spotted her shivering slightly.
Damn his stupid conscience.
So then he spent another ten minutes in there looking for the blankets and covering her in one.
As he got closer to her face, Yukimura shifted uncomfortably and ducked under the blanket a bit. Hibari noted that she had a heavy blush on her cheeks, and her breathing was becoming labored.
Oh.
That was what was happening.
And then Aoshima returned from delivering house keys to one of the Wardens.
"Hibari? What are you- What'd you do to her!"
Aoshima rushed to kneel by his Chairman's side, as her eyes fluttered open.
Hibari shrugged. "Nothing. She just fainted."
Aoshima looked worriedly at Yukimura as she woke, and then a thought struck him.
Uh-oh. This wasn't good.
"Suzume… do you feel lightheaded and sweaty?"
"Yeah… why?"
"And can you hear your heart in your ears?"
"Mhm…"
Aoshima gave her a sympathetic look and then Yukimura's expression twisted to disbelief as she realized his implications.
"YOU'RE KIDDING!" She then glared at Hibari. "This is all your fault!"
Hibari, having come to the same logical conclusion, blinked. "I fail to see how."
"If you hadn't felt the need to drag me around so late that time, this would never have happened! It's a chain reaction!"
"Suzume, calm down, I'll go get you some medi-"
"And you, Kiyoshi! I CAN'T BELIEVE I CAUGHT YOUR STUPID FLU!"
"Chrome… you realize we have an athletics day next Friday…"
"...Yes, Boss."
"And the weekend after you want us to go visit those rich bastards?" Gokudera spat.
"You know we can't refuse, Gokudera-san."
"Che."
Tsuna buried both his hands in his hair. "I am not ready to see that blond leader of theirs again. Come on, we dealt with Midori the week before! Give me a break!" he moaned into his desk.
"Sorry, Boss, but I'm only the messenger."
"I know, I know."
"…Want me to get you some cookies, Boss?"
"…Yes, please."
"HIBARI KYOUYA! I STILL HOLD YOU RESPONSIBLE!"
Hibari blinked with Aoshima on the other side of the room. "Is it just me, or is she louder when she's sick?"
"Always has been. Though this is nothing. The time she got drugged up after an operation, she was a nightmare."
"Hn?"
"You don't want to know. Trust me."
They were in the infirmary, and Hibari was itching to leave, but with Yukimura yelling at him every time he moved and Aoshima giving him that damned guilt-tripping abandoned puppy look, even the head prefect had been swayed to stay.
"Midori tanabiku, namimori no! …Dainaku, shounaku, nami ga ii…"
"Oh great, she's started singing," Aoshima sighed.
Hibari huffed. At least she still had a decent taste in music.
