Disclaimer: I don't own Katekyo Hitman Reborn!

Moltke

Written January First, 2009

In the middle of the summer heat, inside Tsuna's room with the shades drawn low, Gokudera's twisting his limbs and flailing as the coloured bubbles pop, the little cartoon dinosaurs - nothing like those ever really existed, and this game isn't exactly avant-garde for the modern times anyway, so how could he possibly have fun with - magically producing the next to be thrown. The handicap's on, seeing as it was the Italian's first time playing, and after a while the dashed lines become irrelevant and they just shoot in desperation to stay alive, the wall of cheery rainbow orbs turning into some kind of disturbing reminder of the end of vacation. Closing that last distance between the overdraw boundary and them, between class-free days and arrogant teachers and too-boring exams.

Hayato's screen turns to grey, and he shouts in despair, hits the button to play again. That's his twenty-third loss, after all. It's the character: its high-pitched exclamations hurt his ears and the bonus combos aren't doing him any good either, so he should definitely choose another one. Never mind that he's been grinning the entire time the game's been on. Although - Atmark-kun? What the hell kind of name is that?! - they had been planning to go outside today, it's not until Yamamoto calls them up that they remember. Nana's baking in the kitchen, so there's no need to lock the door, but the asphalt's so hot that Tsuna has to run back inside for sandals; and by the time he finds them Yamamoto's already down the block, waving at the two from the sidewalk.

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At the convenience store, the first thing they do is head for the ice cream - brightly coloured packages crinkling as they search through the shelves for missing flavours, trying to find a favourite brand. They dally - have a hard time deciding on soda, on candy and bags of chips, and by the time they pay and return to the sidewalk their ice cream has melted into something resembling a chocolate shake inside plastic wrapping. There's not enough money left to buy replacements, so they drink it from the package and enjoy it all the same, lukewarm-sweet and dribbling down their faces in a sticky mess. Yamamoto solves that problem by taking off his shirt and using it as a towel, and the others follow suit because it's too hot for clothes anyway, and it's sure lucky they're boys 'cause they don't know how girls can handle it.

They head to Namimori park, because Yamamoto's baseball practice is over for the day, and there's nothing better to do than fly paper airplanes and complain about the weather. Gokudera's are the best, while Yamamoto knows nothing but the basic design and Tsuna apparently fail at even that. His airplane flutters uselessly in the air, and eventually lands in the stagnant water fountain to the left of their bench, the drain clogged with gum and trash. He's not going to pick it back up.

All too soon and it's getting dark, so the three walk side-by-side until they have to part ways, Yamamoto leaving first and Gokudera not long after, sneakers dragging on the pavement as he shouts goodbye. And goodbye. And goodbye. Sawada Tsunayoshi smiles weakly and returns home, sighing, regretting the fact that he's been assigned an insurmountable pile of homework, due before school starts again. He's already given up on that, and Yamamoto probably has too, although he could bet Gokudera did it in half an hour and with time to spare. It looks like tomorrow, the foreigner's going to have to return and actually help him instead of getting himself distracted playing games, because the sooner his grades rise the sooner Reborn can get out of his house. [Although at this point he's beginning to think - ]

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Prompt:

Tsuna/Gokudera.
About trust and friendship and doing silly, simple things. 500+
For: ilye_aru