After ten minutes, Kyoya was - admittedly - starting to get tired of waiting for the boy; and it'd only just occured to him the tone he used while he'd called the boy. He probably sounded hostile - no, demanding. Maybe he'd scared Tsuna off. Maybe he wouldn't come.

Frowning, he tried to recall Tsuna's voice over the phone. It sounded slightly husky - like he'd just gotten out of bed. Maybe he had to get ready before he came over. He sighed, dully spinning himself around on his chair. He was doubting the boy too much.

It wasn't as if he didn't trust Tsuna, but there were a lot of things he had to consider about him and the situation before he had a clear overview of the plan. Also, accidents could occur - he sighed again, shaking the thoughts out of his head. It was starting to become bothersome; worrying about somebody else so much.

He had barely started tutoring the boy, but it still seemed like there was an ever-expanding gap between the two. Whenever Kyoya would try to come to terms to Tsuna, there was another obstacle he would come across, which was trying to come to terms with himself.

Maybe they just weren't suitable for each other. After all, trying to even imagine Namimori's strongest delinquent and the weakest, laziest student ever to be enrolled into their high school together was a mental struggle for any other person. However, he'd grown too attached to the boy, and the idea didn't seem as strange as it should've. In truth, it'd even sounded pleasant.

Kyoya idly rolled his eyes back, groaning. 'Attached'? Since when had he become attached? Was there even any reason for him to be attached to a slob like him?

Why was he taking such a long time just to get to his house? 'Someone like me shouldn't be left alone,' he thought sullenly, staring at the ceiling with flat eyes. Maybe that was why - even though Kyoya had spent most of his life alone (apart from the rest of the disciplinary council, but even so, he'd never seen them to be as close to himself as he saw Tsuna), Tsuna so easily broke that. Or maybe it was Kyoya. That day during the weekend, at the library. He was the one who started a conversation. It was all him.

The doorbell rang. His eyes widening, he started to somewhat-scramble towards the door, then realised what a fool he was making himself out to be. Inhaling, then exhaling deeply, he made his way over, but once he reached the door and swung it open, he was bitterly greeted by Mukuro.

He grinned. "A release from your favourite novelist came today. I came to personally deliver it."

He'd came dressed in casual, loose clothes - obviously, he'd had a day-off from the store. Kyoya never recalled Mukuro ever opening the store after school, anyway - only during late nights at around seven in the evening, during the occasional patrol around town and grocery trips for his mother.

Kyoya deadpanned, then sighed, seeming exasperated. "If he had a new novel out, I would've known."

Mukuro kept up the façade a little longer, then dropped it, his eyes seeming sunken and his mouth in a faint pout. "OK, fine. I came because I wanted to ask you about something."

"Alright."

Mukuro stared, his arms propping himself up against either sides of the house's door frame. "Let me in, you shitty-"

"You can ask me out here."

Gritting his teeth, Mukuro insisted. "It's not something I can ask out in the open."

"There's nobody outside besides us."

Mukuro stared apathetically at Kyoya - he really was stubborn - and glanced around the street quickly. There really was nobody outside, and he was about to begrudgingly obey to his orders when he realised there was a small tuft of brown hair poking out behind a hedge. It seemed too far away for them both to be heard clearly, but he didn't want to take any chances.

He turned back around at Kyoya, and gave an accusing stare.

"What?" he said, crossing his arms.

"Fine, not today. I'll come back later."

Kyoya frowned as he watched Mukuro leave. "Don't come back at all!"

Mukuro, his back turned, waved his hand in a nonchalant manner, as if he were to say, "Yeah, I got it." On his way down the street, he bent down behind the same hedge, and found Tsuna, to his surprise.

Kyoya, confused at his actions, stepped outside of his house slightly, then quickly stepped back in when he saw Tsuna staring towards him. He could hear the two talking, but he was too far away to actually distinguish what they were saying.

When he decided they were taking too long, he gave a pointed look at Mukuro. The man shrugged and patted Tsuna on the head before pacing off.

"Is now a good time?!" Tsuna yelled from a considerable distance.

Kyoya made a small beckoning gesture and Tsuna, at first, cautiously walked over. Without a word, Kyoya stepped to the side to allow the boy to walk in and then closed the door after him.

It wasn't the first time Tsuna had been to his house - and it still sounded slightly absurd once he thought the situation over - but he still felt a little jittery.

Kyoya had remained silent upon his arrival, and even as he started going up to his room, didn't say a single word. Tsuna naturally followed, and once they entered his room, only then did Kyoya notice the heavy-seeming backpack Tsuna was wearing.

Kyoya stared incredulously as he started pulling numerous books out, one-by-one. Tsuna paused, noticing Kyoya's eyes. It was an abrupt stop, but he felt uncomfortable by his stare.

"What is it?" he asked, resting his hands in his lap.

"Did you think we were having a lesson? They don't start until next week. Didn't I tell you?"

Tsuna squirmed. "Well, I don't see why else you would call me over. Also, can we, please? Sorry if it's not what you had in mind, but I really failed on my maths test."

Kyoya felt as if an ice-cold bucket of water had been poured over his head, then was tossed into the ocean. The boy's absurd-sounding conclusion was cold enough, but more so, his tone of voice. He sounded robotic, almost. It seemed like he were talking to some stranger. Really, though - had they ever really been close at any one point? Maybe it was just Kyoya who'd thought that they would start becoming more familiar with each other.

Kyoya clenched his fist - that was it. No more being dishonest. Keeping his cool and calm demeanour was pointless at this point now, and not to mention, stupid. He'd done too much for the boy; he'd gotten too involved.

"No, I called you here because I wanted to talk to you."

Tsuna, who'd been fiddling with his fingers in his lap, looked up, his eyes clearly confused. "You... Talk to me? You wanted to talk to me-"

Kyoya laughed. "Yeah, I wanted to talk to you."

Tsuna felt a bit uneasy at his laugh. There didn't seem to be any clear reason for the prefect to laugh, and even more so, want to talk to him. He'd already made it clear the invitation to his house had nothing to do with the tutoring, so...?

Oh, but there was that incident earlier in the day. The one he cried himself to sleep to. A blank look on his face, he stared ahead of Kyoya, focusing on some vase, then looked at Kyoya's eyes sheepishly. "O-Oh. So should I put my books away?"

Kyoya cleared his throat. "No, leave them. We'll get back to them later if you really want to have a session. But I want to talk first."

Tsuna touched the back of his neck nervously. "Alright, then. But if it's too much trouble, we can talk and then I'll leave-"

"I told you, it's fine," he insisted, shaking his head, "but yeah, let's talk."

"Um, I'm not really sure-"

"I'm sorry for acting strange towards you for the whole day."

Well, that was fast. Tsuna opened his mouth to reassure him, that it was fine and it was a petty matter, but Kyoya continued to talk. He seemed so genuine, it was difficult to interrupt him at this stage.

"I'm really sorry. You didn't deserve that-"

"Hibari-san, stop degrading yourself to try to make me feel better! Frankly, it's a little awkward, and you don't suit it."

Kyoya was, needless to say, shocked at Tsuna's outburst. Then he started laughing under his breath, his shoulders shaking.

"Alright, then. I'll just say it simply."

"OK."

"I'm sorry for hurting you. I don't want to hurt you again."

Tsuna smiled lopsidedly, looking away from Kyoya's straightforward eye-contact. This was strange - no, strange wouldn't even begin to explain it. It was strange, yes, but it brought some sort of warm feeling. It was like light - you couldn't grab or make sense of it, but its presence was so clear and so obvious.

"It's fine." Tsuna said.

"No, it's not fine. I can't explain it! I might be acting selfish right now, but please just stay by my side from now on. I'm feeling really... I'm feeling really bad. I'm confused. I don't know anything.

"It's like you have to be next to me before I can even start feeling alright again. It's painful, and I inflicted this upon myself. But you must've felt even worse. I'm sorry."

"It's fine! It's really just fine! Stop making assumptions, Hibari-san. This isn't like you."

"I know this isn't like me. I know! I don't know what I'm saying- I..."

Kyoya faded off his words, then looked straight into Tsuna's eyes, wondering if he really was that dense. Apparently, he was, because he was met by an obviously confused stare.

Kyoya, keeping a straight expression, said, "I want to know you better."

"S-Same here."

"More than friends."

"U-Uh."

"I don't mean best friends."

"Uh..."

Damn it - he was really going to make him say it. Was Tsuna just toying with him, or was he being genuine? He really looked genuine. No, he could tell he was genuine. He knew he was genuine.

"Sawada, why do you think I spoke to you on that day?" No, he couldn't bring himself to say it at all.

Too many thoughts bombarded his head: 'Because you wanted to', 'You knew I wanted to talk to you', 'I caught you by surprise'... But he went ahead and replied with the absurdest sounding argument.

"B-Because you know me."

Kyoya stared apathetically, clenching his hands into fists. "I know a lot of people."

"That's right, huh..." he said in a small voice, then added, "W-Well, you also-"

"Sawada," he interrupted, "you're the only person who pisses me off this much. Honestly, you're the weakest herbivore I've ever met. There's no reason for me to be attracted to you, but I am. It's really just that simple. It's not hard to understand. That's it. That's all there is to it."

Tsuna bit his lips, then looked down, finding it semi-difficult to breathe and process his words despite what he'd just said. Even in situations like this, it seemed like his brain wouldn't cooperate. "O-Oh, what? You... Oh-"

Kyoya abruptly leaned forward, slamming his hand on his table. "I just said, clearly, 'I'm attracted to you.' Is that not enough? Or are you really finding it difficult to understand?"

Tsuna leaned back, wincing a little - it'd been just his eyes before, but now his entire face was most probably completely red. He didn't know whether Kyoya was just playing around or if he was really saying this, doing this; right now. After all, he was a sadist at heart - or more fittingly, a carnivore - and it was still hard to believe this was happening. Gulping, he said, "T-That's enough..."

Kyoya, giving a small, sharp breath, leaned back into his previous position. "OK then. ... OK."

Not sure how to respond, Tsuna said, "Y-Yeah."

Kyoya, closing his eyes, told himself to cool down in his head multiple times, repeating the phrase as if it were some spell or chant. Maybe the boy was just thick in the head - maybe he really was a sadist, and enjoyed messing around with his head. Maybe this was all just a dream - he almost scoffed at the thought.

It was stupid to confess everything so early. Maybe he could still pass it off as a joke. Kyoya was about to turn around and apologise for the confronting outburst, but stopped himself when Tsuna's fingers delicately slipped on top of his own. It was a slight, small gesture - they were barely touching.

Tsuna avoided eye contact, his cheeks flaming, and set his other hand on the workbook. "Uh, w-well. You talked to me, s-so we should get started on this now," he said.

So many things were racing through Kyoya's head that he didn't know for sure whether it was just Tsuna being quiet, or if the thoughts had just drowned him out.

A/N: wheeeeee new quick upload because i was excited to write this yoooooo ok no uh but this is the longest chapter of katekyo yet! it seemed fitting because it's the 10th chapter too heehaw