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Ch. 10: Histories

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Haru was sitting on Hana's couch, sipping on green tea, while assessing Hana's apartment, while her friend ran around and finished tidying up.

It seemed as though fortune's hand had been tipped into Hana favor, as this was a far cry from the jobless, recently cut off, downtrodden girl she had seen a few weeks prior. Now Hana was a productive member of society, working a desk job at a local pharmacy.

Haru was rather pleased, it seemed life was looking up for both of them now. Still, as she sunk further into the slightly worn, but comfortable couch, she thought of how they became friends.

It was a sultry summer day and Haru, ever a confectionary enthusiast, often visited the local sweets shop to try free samples and, whenever she managed to scrap up enough money, buy a few sweets- and it just so happened that, that day in particular, she had been doing the latter.

Haru had saved weeks, having been hoping to buy a giant milk chocolate bar. But, just as she had been going to pay, to her horror, she came up a few yen short.

And that was when Hana came in. Coming from a wealthy family, the black haired teen was never short on money and had gone to the store to by some sweets for one of her friends.

Anyhow, as Hana browsed through the small store for a small basket of lollipops, she caught sight of Haru's utterly crestfallen expression, and something about it moved her sympathies.

What happened next is most obvious. Haru smiled at the thought as she took a sip of her tea, for that day she had not only left the store with a giant chocolate bar, but also with a new friend.

Haru set her teacup down and tuned back into her friend — whom was baring a bowl of chips and taking a seat in the recliner in front of her.

"So, you said you had a story to tell." Haru prompted, giving the girl her full attention now that she had been shaken out of her reminiscing.

Hana nodded, "Yeah, umm, well, I saw Ryohei today."

Haru leaped up from her seat: "What!? Y-you can't just lay that on me with no warning! E-Explain."

"He came to pick up some pain medications and apparently he studying to be a doctor."

"So, let me get this straight." Haru sighed heavily, trying to calm herself. "You not only saw Ryohei, but you spoke to him?"

Hana nodded.

"And you didn't tell me earlier because…"

"I didn't know how to handle it." Hana admitted, sheepishly. "I still don't know how to handle this. Royhei was such an integral part of my life, even before we started going out. We- we went through so much together and I-I don't, I can't- it just that this is so messed up. Our's wasn't the usual break up- we, I- Well, I still loved him and he said he still loved me. So it not like I- er- well, I don't have the closure needed to end these feelings."

"Hana..."

"I-damn it." Hana sighed, "Let stop talking about this please."

"Okay…"

It was quite for a moment, and then Hana abruptly asked, "How are you and your new boy toy?"

"B-Boy T-toy!? Hana!"

"I am just messing with you." The girl smiled slightly; pleased she had been able to change the topic. "But, really how are you and this mystery man?"

"It I-I. Well, he has been wonderful to me." Haru replied, knowing her friend needed a distraction. "And I got to meet two of his friends a few days ago. One of them was really nice, the other was really rude though."

"You don't say."

"Yeah, he…"

…

Tsuna did not know Hana very well – his crush on Kyōki made it hard for them to be friends as she had been terrifyingly protective of the then-School-Idol.

But, she was also kind of cool and Tsuna had kind of admired her. And once, he had gotten over his infatuation for the younger Sasagawa, they had been on their way to becoming friends, which naturally never came to pass as she and Ryohei broke up.

And then Hana left, Tsuna, upon find out the reason for the break up, didn't talk to Ryohei for over three months.

And now here he was, watching his sun Guardian pace the floor over that very girl.

"So you saw Hana today."

Ryohei turned to face his boss. "Yes."

"And you spoke to her, and at some point mentioned you are studying to be a doctor and she actually talked back and you think maybe she has gotten over you because she looked so calm and — this is stupid." Tsuna shook his head, "Look Ryohei, assuming things will get you nowhere — all it leads to is misunderstandings, which was, and is, what got you into this mess in the first place. So, if you want to know what Hana feels with certainty, you need to talk to her— not me, her. So, next time you see her, speak to her, and ask her: if she willing to let you back into her life. And, if she is still in love with you, I need you to promise me you will tell her the truth-"

"Tsuna-"

"Because she doesn't deserve one of your stupid lies." Tsuna gave his Sun Guardian a hard look. "Do not do the same thing my father did. That road will only lead to pain and not just for you and Hana. "

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"And he was like that the whole bus ride- absolutely terrible."

"What a jerk." Hana then asked: "So... what was this guys name?"

Haru hesitated for a brief second; then, deciding it would hurt, said: "Well, er, I'm not sure if it was his last name or first name but, they called him, Gokudera-"

"Silver hair, smokes, and looks a bit foreign." Hana interrupted, wide-eyed.

"Uh, yes?" Haru replied her tone full of confusion and wariness. "...Why?"

"Because I know him," Hana muttered than added in a louder tone: "Haru, I know him and his full name is: Gokudera Hayato."

"Really?"

"Yes, he was, is, one of Ryohei's friends."

"Ryohei's friends…" Haru looked thoughtful for a moment then asked, "Hana, do you happen to know anyone named Sawada Tsunayoshi?"

"You've met Dame-Tsuna?" Hana leaped up for her seat, "Where? When? Is he the man who has been helping you? Because that certainly sounds like something that softhearted idiot would do."

Haru latched on to the first part of Hana's tirade. "Dame-Tsuna? Why did you call Sawada-san a Dame, Hana?"

Hana blinked in confusion for a moment before flashing her a sheepish look, "Sorry, I keep forgetting you didn't go to Namimori."

"It's alright, but could you explain please?"

"Yeah, well, Sawada-san, as you called him, use to be sort of a loser. He was short, scrawny, socially awkward, and sort of slow. That is until his mom got him a tutor. I don't really know the details, just that this tutor of his whipped him into shape. His grades improved by leaps and bounds. His social skills improved greatly and you could see him hanging out with the most popular, attractive, and intelligent people in Namimori: like Yamamoto Takashi, Gokudera, Hibari Kyōya, Ryohei and his sister, my former best friend and school idol, Kyoko. Though despite this we weren't real close. I was very protective of Kyoko and Tsuna use to have a crush on her, of which I did not approve of." Hana paused for a moment, "He crushed on her for years. It took until the end of high school for him to move on, and that when we started to become good friends, but then the whole mess with Ryohei happened. And you know, I left the town, and refused to talk to anyone who knew him so we never did fully become friends. Though, Tsuna is a good guy, you know. He had been one of the few to defend me, when the whole mess happened."

Hana grew silent then, and Haru struggled desperately to come up with something to say.

"Hana, I- he, umm…" Haru sighed, "I don't what to say."

"You don't need to say anything. It's not entirely Ryohei's fault I lost all my friends. In fact that it was largely my doing. I could have stayed in touch." Hana shot Haru an apologetic look. "For goodness sake, I didn't even talk to you and you had nothing to with any of it. I was being stupid and there were a lot of things I could have done, but I was too much of coward, a fool."

…

Tsuna sighed heavily as he collapsed on his bed, but though he was tired he was also rather pleased with himself. It had taken a few years, but he had finally gotten through to his friend. Now, with any luck, nothing would happen to reverse all of his work and Ryohei would finally fix things up with Hana.

For his part, Tsuna hoped so. He hated the man his Sun Guardian had become. It depressed him to see his friend, who should be energetic and upbeat, look and be so down all the time. It would be a relief to see Ryohei regain his spirit and it would take a weight huge off him.

Because, really, one Sasagawa related problem was bad enough; Tsuna did not need two of them.

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