Dino was still chugging down his milk when someone's phone rang. There was a sudden beep and then the metal of heavy metal blasted out, earning dirty looks from annoyed passerby. His men looked all around, wondering who would have such an obnoxious ringtone. It took them a moment for them to realise it was coming from within their area.

"Ah, sorry." The sister of the Vongola Decimo candidate flipped open her phone with a deft flick and silenced it with a the press of a button. She placed it back into her bag.

"Aren't... you going to answer that?" Dino found himself asking, wiping his mouth.

"Nah. I have that ringtone set for only the most annoying of my contacts. They'll probably call again. And if they don't," she shrugged, "then it can't have been all that important in the first place."

"Okay..."

True to the brunette's prediction, the song started up again a few moments later, and she answered it.

"If you'll excuse me," she nodded to the rest of them and walked a few steps away. Dino and his men could still hear her though.

"What do you want, Shibaguchi Jou? Why are you calling me?"

Okay, that wasn't a very polite greeting, but she had said she reserved that ringtone for people she didn't particularly like, so it was to be expected.

"You want me to what?"

"No."

"Why? I should be the one asking you that. First off, who gets wasted in the middle of the day?"

Wasted? That had to mean that whoever was calling was an adult, or at least someone who looked like one.

"The break-up was your entirely your own fault and you know it."

B-break-up? She can't possibly mean-?!

"Seriously? You were cheating on her in her own home. She had every right to slap you both and order you out. Just count yourself lucky she didn't just toss you out the window instead."

Oh, thank god. ...Wait, what?! Just what kind of man has the girl given her number to?!

"You are a pathetic person. Stop trying to use polyamory as an excuse. That's not the type of relationship you entered with her. Secondly, who calls a young teenage girl to pick them up from whatever bar they're in? Don't you have any friends? Actually, are bars even open at this time of day?"

...Dino had no idea what to think of that.

"No, I refuse to be associated with you in that way. And so you're saying, you just up and went to the liquor store, spent most of your cash on alcohol, spent the rest on a taxi to drive you to wherever, and then just started wander-drinking?"

"Oh my god." The brunette's free hand twitched and closed around the air as if strangling an imaginary neck. Given what had just been said, it was a very understandable gesture.

"Well, I'm at the airport, so I can't do anything..." She deliberated for a moment here, seemingly weighing the pros and cons of something in her mind, before heavily exhaling through her nose. "But depending on where you are, I can probably call in a favour and get someone to drive you home."

A favour, huh? Dino didn't think a 14 year old civilian was supposed to have a network like this, but hey, what did he know? He had been raised in the underworld after all. The mafia don noticed that his men had fallen silent and were eavesdropping on the rather strange conversation as well.

"This is ridiculous. I have no idea how you got that far either. You know, I should just block you."

Yes, yes you should, Dino thought.

"...I'm hanging up." The brunette ended the call to audible protesting on the other end of the line. She shook her head and turned around. Dino and his men immediately pretended that they hadn't just been listening in. Judging by her flat stare, however, they weren't very good at that.

"Sorry," she said. "I'll take just a minute longer."

"Take all the time you want," Dino laughed nervously. "We'll just go check our luggage in in the meantime."

"Alright, thanks. Sorry for holding you all up."

"It's fine, it's fine." Well, it was interesting at least.

I pinched the bridge of my nose and called someone else.

"Hello?"

"Ishio-san, I need your help."

"Anything for you, dear."

"A... acquaintance of mine decided destroying his liver was the quickest path to happiness and somehow ended up near your place. He apparently has no friends, and also no money, so he can't get home."

"Oh no, that sounds terrible. Do you want me to send him home?"

"Yes please, that would be great. It would be even better if you could convince him to stop making terrible life decisions, but that's definitely asking for too much."

"Come on, Sawada-kun, he can't be that bad."

"Oh, believe me; he's worse."

"Aw, don't be that way. Where is he right now?"

I told the kindly woman his location and she responded with a thoughtful 'mm-hm'.

"If that's inconvenient though, we can leave his ass right where it is to teach him a lesson."

"No, I actually pass there on my way home. It's no trouble."

"Alright then, thanks. Don't be too nice towards him though, he got into this mess himself and deserves whatever discomfort he's in right now. Then again, you're too nice to everyone no matter what, aren't you, Ishio-san?"

"Ahaha, I wouldn't say that."

"And modest to boot."

"You flatter me."

"It's all facts. Alright, thanks for helping me then."

"Think nothing of it."

We ended the call and I thanked whatever deity was up there that I knew such a nice person.

"You done?" Yamamoto asked.

"Yeah, I am."

"Let's go check our luggage in then."

"Let's."

This chapter? is pointless? and also uninteresting? i'm sorry

it's australia day and i feel somewhat motivated but not inspired

on another note, i'm pleased that so many of you liked the riceball switch last chapter

HawthornShadow: Money makes the world go 'round.

LadyDream3512: I really glad you love it. 'Cause I sure don't.

Maiokoe: Who knows? (haha i'm supposed to)

hieveryone101: I really hope it does.

Review?