uploaded on September 19, 2015

Thank you so much for the wonderful response to the interlude! I had wanted to put a bit of backstory to the characters but I guess that only raised a few more questions. Oh and Kyouya had his flashback scene in the "Research" chapter (11).

Since the previous chapter wasn't really a chapter (I think?) here's the actual story continuation.

Please enjoy!

Battles

Tsuna was busy wiping the silverware when the store entrance slammed open. Why did people love doing that? Tsuna would never know. He was positive one of these days that door would fall over from all the abuse.

"I'm looking for a man named Reborn, kora," the man who entered the shop exclaimed, going straight for Tsuna's counter. Tsuna instantly noticed his "wild" persona as the guy ran a hand through his blond hair; to think such a person was friendly with a sophisticated man like Reborn, it made Tsuna giggle a little.

"He stepped out for lunch," Tsuna explained, going back to his spoons.

The man stayed rooted on his spot for several seconds without saying anything. Tsuna was about to ask if he wanted to wait for Reborn when the man placed a hand on the counter.

"Hey, answer me this, Tsuna," Tsuna then noticed his blue eyes glance at his name tag, which was weird, because the guy said his name then looked at the tag? "Do you own this place?"

Tsuna shook his head meekly. "I'm just a cashier."

The guy nodded, placing his fingers under his chin in contemplation. "And Reborn works here? As?"

Tsuna stared at him in disbelief. He just looked for Reborn and now he wasn't sure about that? Clearly he was in the right place since Tsuna was able to answer him about Reborn's whereabouts and — it was futile to think about this. Tsuna sighed in his head. "Yes, Reborn is a barista."

Tsuna saw the widest smirk on this man's face. "A barista?!" Then he laughed. He laughed so hard it was echoing inside the shop. Tsuna didn't know what was funny about being a barista. "Sorry, sorry," the man apologized as soon as he calmed down and reduced to snickering, cradling his head with one hand, "It's just, Reborn, a barista, it's just a funny image kora!"

"Okay," Tsuna deposited the spoons back to their proper place before fully facing the guy. "I don't know how close you are with Reborn, but I would like you to know that he makes one of the best coffee I've ever tasted. I also don't know what's exactly funny about being a barista. Anyway, I don't prefer to talk about him behind his back, so please, if you want to wait for him when he gets back from lunch, let me know."

Well that certainly stopped the guy from laughing. When it sunk in for Tsuna, all the pent-up confidence went down the drain and he flushed in embarrassment. Did he just defend Reborn from some random guy? He couldn't explain it but with the way the man was laughing, he could tell it was in ridicule and that kind of pissed him off. Pissed him off a bit too much.

But the man wasn't mad or insulted or even irritated. Tsuna gauged the guy's reaction to his scolding and was met with a warm smile. Tsuna couldn't help but blush even brighter.

"I can see now why Reborn prefers to work here as a barista," the guy chuckled, watching Tsuna thoughtfully. "The name's Colonnello, kora."

"W-well then, Colonnello," Tsuna coughed into his fist, gesturing to the tables in the shop, "Would you like to wait for Reborn?"

Colonnello's smirk widened as he leaned over Tsuna's counter. "I changed my mind, kora."

Tsuna tentatively took a step back, face getting redder when the guy in front of him refused to break eye contact. If the guy wasn't leaving yet but he wouldn't wait for Reborn, then . . . "Would you like some cake?" Tsuna smiled, suddenly remembering he was here in Kawahira's Baked Goodies as a freaking cashier and his purpose was to sell stuff and not get intimidated with random good-looking guys.

Colonnello laughed again, but this time Tsuna knew he was trying his best not to when he covered the lower half of his face. "Oh man," he choked back a snicker, finally looking away, "I bet Reborn's having a hard time with you, huh."

This guy had no reservations at all. "What is that supposed to mean?" Tsuna pouted. "I know I'm a bit slow sometimes, but I'm always trying my best . . . Reborn's just a really strict guy. I think I'm improving well with my training!"

Colonnello was now clutching his stomach from too much laughing, leaning the rest of his weight on the counter. "Oh god, you, Reborn, everything is just too damn funny!" Tsuna watched him attempt to regain his composure and failing when he even just glanced at his face. His face wasn't that funny, was it?

As if Colonnello heard his unspoken question, he leaned closer to his face again, tapping a finger on his cheek. "Too cute, kora," the guy grinned when Tsuna's face shone like a bright red tomato. "And Reborn's keeping you all to himself. That sneaky bastard."

Tsuna frowned. "Nobody's keeping me."

"I would."

Tsuna's life-saving gut intuition suddenly flared to life, putting his awareness on high alert. Step back!

Tsuna stepped back. At the next second, Colonnello fell over the counter.

"W-what are you doing? This area's for employees only!" Tsuna panicked, moving to pull the guy up from the floor and ultimately push him back to the other side of the counter.

As soon as Tsuna's hand touched Colonnello's, everything went in a blur; the guy pulled him down on the floor and he landed straight on the guy's lap. When did he even sit up?! "Got ya, kora."

"C-Colonnello —

"I just had my lunch and I would hate to lose it," Reborn's voice came from behind them while Tsuna felt Colonnello's body freeze. "What the hell are you doing here, Colonnello?"

"Reborn!" The guy laughed, his hold on Tsuna getting a little tighter. "Look what I got!"

"Let go of the cashier, idiot."

"The cashier? Oh man. Tsuna has you whipped kora!"

"Nobody's whipped!" Tsuna interrupted, face getting redder even more. He was sure the term "whipped" didn't even apply in this context. "Please let me go, Colonnello."

The guy didn't need another telling when he put both of his arms up, releasing Tsuna. Tsuna immediately scampered away while he found Reborn crouched behind Colonnello, holding a thing that looked dangerously like a freaking gun that was pressed against Colonnello's nape.

Tsuna pointed a shaky finger at the thing. "I-i-is that a gun?!"

Reborn glanced at him calmly. "It's something of an effective bargaining tool."

Everyone's crazy! Tsuna backed himself up against the wall, as close as possible to the kitchen door just in case he needed to shout out for Uncle Kawahira.

"I'm leaving," Colonnello announced, his arms still up as he stood up from the floor. Reborn followed suit to keep the thing trained on his neck. "Stop pointing that thing at me, kora."

"Ah, you're right. I'm overestimating you," Reborn quipped, stashing the thing somewhere within his clothes when Colonnello reached out to punch Reborn, but the man was fast enough to dodge the attack. "Too slow, Colonnello."

"NO FIGHTING!" Tsuna yelled from his little spot, but when the two men glanced at him he quickly bowed down his head in embarrassment.

Reborn pointed at the door. "You heard him. No fighting in the shop. So let's take this outside."

"No! Reborn! You're an employee, don't engage in fights with the customers!"

"This idiot is not a customer, Tsuna."

"AH!" the guy exclaimed, grinning all the while. "I remembered! I need to order one whole Heavenly Sky cake!" He glanced at Reborn who was now glaring at him with murderous intent. "Orders from Lal, Reborn," Colonnello smirked.

Reborn sneered. "Get your cake and get out."

"So . . . Reborn."

"Hm."

"That Colonnello guy."

"Hm."

"I don't really get it. Is he your friend?"

"Huh. Friends."

"Okay, well, you tried to kill each other so I guess not?"

"He won't be able to kill me even in a different universe."

"Uh, okay. That's a strange way to put it. Shouldn't it be, 'even in a thousand years'?"

"Pedantic."

"Fine. Whatever. Just don't pull out weapons in the shop. It reflects badly on us."

"Tsuna."

"Yes?"

"You seem to have forgotten. The guy assaulted you."

"Yeah but I could have taken care of it by myself —

"You couldn't even brew a passable espresso."

"Making coffee and defending myself are different!"

"I think making horrible coffee would reflect worse on you since you work for a cake shop that sells coffee. Combat skills are irrelevant."

"You . . . I hate you."

"You hate me? For pointing out your flawed thinking?"

"No, no. You're right. I agree. But I still hate you."

"What are you waiting for then? Make me an espresso."

"G-good evening," Enma's voice sounded through the door.

Tsuna was all smiles when he saw the guy waiting by the door, as if he was hesitant to enter the shop. "Enma! Come in!"

Enma carefully made his way to the counter, his eyes wandering around the shop before they landed on Tsuna. "This is a very strange place."

"Most people say that," Tsuna laughed, scratching the back of his head. "What would you like?"

Enma turned to the display case next to the counter, but he suddenly froze when his eyes focused at Tsuna's side. Curious, Tsuna glanced at the same direction and he found Reborn standing next to him, observing Enma.

"Ah! This is Reborn," Tsuna gestured to the man, who nodded at Enma. "Reborn, this is Enma. He's my friend."

"H-he works here?" Enma stuttered, glancing back and forth between Tsuna and Reborn.

Tsuna raised en eyebrow. "Yes . . . he's the barista. Is there something wrong?"

"Nothing . . . oh, can I have this one?"

Tsuna's feelings were still disturbed even as he tried to ignore Enma's reaction to Reborn, and Reborn's extra careful observation of Enma.

"He bought something from the convenience store once," Enma mumbled in between cake, careful to keep his voice down while Reborn tended the counter by himself. Tsuna was seated across him at his table. "I remember because during the whole transaction, he kept his eyes on me. Not on the thing I'm doing . . . but on me. It was . . . uncomfortable, to say the least."

Tsuna laughed quietly. "Yeah, he does have the tendency to do that. At this point I'd say it's normal behavior for him."

"You're a good guy, Tsuna," Enma smiled, taking another bite of his cake.

Tsuna was caught off-guard. "W-what's with the sudden compliment?"

Enma blushed as if he himself was caught off-guard with his own actions. "Um, I just, I needed to say it," he mumbled, bowing down his head.

Tsuna felt a warm string of fuzziness flutter inside him. "Thank you, Enma. I think you're a good person too."

"I'm not so sure about that myself . . ."

"What do you mean?"

"Um," Enma glanced away from him, his face now fully red. Tsuna suddenly felt the need to follow suit, so he turned his head as well and immediately regretted his decision when he found the rest of the room watching them.

"H-hey, what's up?" he smiled at the other customers.

"Just fine, Tsunayoshi. Thanks for asking," Shouichi smiled back.

"Fine for me too, cielo," Spanner nodded.

"I think we picked the wrong time, Kaki-pi," Ken grumbled at Chikusa who only glanced away in response. On another hand, Lancia was staring at Tsuna with strong intent while M.M. kept waving at him and blowing him kisses.

On one corner of the room, Kusakabe was writing down something on his little notebook.

Tsuna hid his face in his hand, looking away from the rest of the room to the window next to their table, and promptly blanched when he saw Fran — wearing his "Varia" office uniform rather than Cafe Illusione's — about to enter the shop. The Varia weren't around, were they? Tsuna was already dreading the chaos about to happen if they were around.

"Are you okay, Tsuna? You look pale," Enma reached out a hand to touch Tsuna's cheek.

For some reason, it felt really warm and comfy for Tsuna that he unconsciously leaned against it. "Yeah, I'm okay Enma. Just dreading the incoming chaos."

"Chaos —

Apparently the Varia weren't needed to incite one.

"I got rid of all of them," it was Reborn's voice who greeted him as soon as his eyes fluttered open. He found the staff room's ceiling first before his eyes settled on Reborn, who was looking down at him upside-down.

"What happened?" he groaned, his voice slightly creaky.

"There was a fight. It escalated. You panicked — you need to work on that, by the way — and tried to stop them, but you got hit on the head."

Tsuna almost cried. Didn't the very same thing happen before?!

"Long story short, I got rid of all of them."

"B-but the shop —

"Nothing was destroyed."

"I mean if we're both here, who's tending the register? Uncle Kawahira?"

"Tsuna . . ."

"Well? What time is it anyway?" Tsuna tried to look for a clock, then remembered he always had his phone in his pocket. He was about to reach for it when Reborn's larger hand held his wrist.

"You're a hardworker, Tsuna. Very impressive for a boss."

"I'm not a boss," Tsuna frowned.

"Though sometimes, there should be limitations. You fainted. I think it's defensible to say you need to rest and forget about the shop for a few hours."

Tsuna remained silent for a few moments before nodding. "Fine. You have a point."

Reborn nodded too. "That said, if you feel fine now, I would appreciate it if you could sit up. My legs feel numb."

That was when Tsuna realized he was lying down on the staff room couch and using Reborn's lap as his pillow. Panicking, he quickly sat up and quickly regretted it when vertigo hit him from the action.

As he held his head in his hand, he guessed he was still not one-hundred-percent recovered so he'd better be careful with his movements. He fished for his phone from his pocket to check the time and found it was ten-twenty-seven in the evening.

When Enma arrived it was around six . . . the shop closed at seven. So they were stuck at the staff room for maybe four hours now.

Tsuna turned around to thank Reborn for staying with him, but the guy already left.

That man was a complete enigma, Tsuna pouted as he made his way home. Did he intentionally leave at the last minute, knowing it was the last shift for the week so Tsuna would not be able to thank him until Monday, leaving Tsuna to wallow in guilt for the whole weekend? It was too farfetched but considering the events for the past month and so, Tsuna already believed anything was possible. Maybe even magic and time travel and alternate universes.

Sighing, he said hi to Bel who was leaning against a lone street lamp before turning at the corner.

As soon as he stepped in front of their gate, Tsuna could already hear a ruckus happening inside the house.

Tsuna paled when he heard "Tsuna-sama" and "hahahas" coming from inside. He knew those voices.

Maybe he would sleep in a hotel tonight.