Fuuhaku's Room, Hibari Residence
"What do you want? Calling me this late?" Shinogu crossed his arms as he was looking at his older brother, who was sitting on his desk with his attention on the laptop, with annoyance.
"Sorry. But I won't call you this late if it's not an important request." Fuuhaku turned around, facing his younger brother without his usual smile, showing clearly that he is serious about this one.
"What do you want?" Shinogu asked, hiding his surprise to see a rare seriousness in his brother's eyes.
"I need you in my plan for the school festival tomorrow…"
Class 3-A, 3rd Year Building, Namimori-Middle
It was noisy everywhere, with outsiders, families and students walking everywhere. The school was filled with laugher it was a perfect sunny day for the Cultural Festival.
Ryou was sitting at the corner near the window of his classroom, where it was transformed into a Café with cushions on the floor and coffee tables arranged. The male students including himself and Kouhei wore a butler outfit while the female students including Arisa wore a maid outfit. He was looking down the aisles of booths at the school field purposelessly – day dreaming
"Ryou?" Ryou glanced up to see his younger twin with concern face. "Are you okay? You didn't respond when I called you and shouldn't you be working?" Arisa pointed at the long queue and crowds of fan girls (and fan boys of Arisa), waiting to be serve by him (and her). Thanks to the twins' popularities amongst the students, the café is a big success and currently on the 1st place with the highest votes by the visitors.
"Well…It is Cultural Festival. I should give myself a break today." Ryou answered nonchalantly. He was rather annoyed by the regular visits of his fans, surrounding him with the yelling and cheering noise, making his ears echoed. His eyes perked when he overhears several male students chit-chat with topic and way of talk that he hated.
"Wooooow…Arisa-chan is just so adorable today. How long do we have to wait…?" One of the guys said.
"Well…I wouldn't mind waiting…I heard she's still single, we still have our chances….Just shut up and wait…cute girl like her is hard to come by…" His friend smirked.
"I actually prefer either Saki-san or Kusaka-san. But Sawada was so protective of his sister and Kareha already being taken by him too. Not to mention Gokudera always threatening every guy…, including me whenever we make our move to both of them…haaaah…"
"Whatever. Right now I want to be served by Arisa-chan!"
Ryou normally ignored gossips, but this was his twin sister, his only sister they were going to lay hands on. He wished to just teach them a lesson in the place but he knew that it would destroy his image, his façade persona in school. He had to do it friendly and calmly.
"Arisa, let's go to Hide's classroom." Ryou suggested as he pulled Arisa outside. "Sorry ladies but we have to go now. I will be back soon if you all enjoy our café menus here. Buon appetito." Ryou said in Italian with his charming accent and winked at the girls, making them squealed yes in return with sparkling eyes and ready to faint at the moment.
"Where are you going?" Roa asked.
"We decided to take some rest since we haven't get chance to rest. We leave the rest to you and the others." Ryou answered.
"I see…if that's the case then I think you should go to 1st floor hallway. I heard there's an announcement about tonight event." He suggested before walked to Ryou's side and leaned to him to whisper that enough to be heard by Ryou only. "You better not so protective of your sister…or else it might turn bad on you."
Ryou narrowed his eyes at the white haired transfer student. Roa only smiled in response before walked back to the classroom to serve the guests.
"Ryou, what's wrong?"
"…No, it was nothing. Let's go." Ryou assured her and they went to Hide's classroom.
Class 2-E, 2nd Year Building, Namimori-Middle School
"Welcome to class 2-E flower shop. We sell various flowers with many meanings in which various flowers and floral arrangements were used to send coded messages, allowing individuals to express feelings which otherwise could not be spoken. We also sell some cute merchandise as gift and souvenir for those who you wish to give after this festival over."
Kareha Kusaka smiled at the student who was the next in line and gestured towards the various flowers to her right and then gestured at the various stuffed animals sitting on a shelf. Everyone lined up to buy flowers, especially girls and mothers that came with their children. There were also some male students who nervously bought flowers either for their girlfriend or declaring their love for someone.
Thanks to Kareha's large knowledge of flowers, the shop had been well-received by guests and teachers. Kareha taught her classmates everything she knew from her experience selling flowers: kinds of flowers, language of Flowers, shop decorations, floral etc.
The boys in the class at first unease for selling flowers since it was so girly and afraid that other students will make fun of them. However, Hide able to assure and persuade them by saying that there will be many cute girls came to visit since girls love this kind of things. Haji also added that Fuuhaku became popular among the women during Kusaka Shop anniversary by selling and giving them flowers. Hearing this, the boys determined to work hard with resolve to get cute girls affections.
"May I help you? What kind of flower do you wish to buy?" Kareha approached a female student from outside school.
"No, not really…I heard there's a shop where they sell some charms or talisman around here. But it seems I enter the wrong shop." The girl said apologetically.
"No, there's here. Flowers symbolized our feelings and hope, so flowers also same as good charm depends on the flowers' meaning. What kind of charm do you wish to buy?" Kareha asked.
The student thought for a moment as she looked at Kareha with hesitation. But she finally answered. "I wish to buy a charm for my cousin sick cousin. She has been sick since we were children and it almost a year she stays in hospital. When I secretly read her diary, every page is full of her dreams to get married and having her own family and hopes for getting better." The student said in quite sad tone.
Kareha tapped the girl's shoulders with assuring smile. "I understand. I have a perfect flower for your cousin then." Kareha took several pink colored peach blossoms and make a bouquet of it.
"Peach flower means Long-life, generosity, and bridal hope. This flower reflected and represented your cousin's wish. Put this inside the vase in your cousin's hospital room and make sure to keep it until its bloom into fruits. As the fruits begin to bloom, your cousin's health will getting better. Once it blooms I'm sure your cousin's sickness was healed already."
The girl's face brightened as she accepted the bouquet. "Thank you very much!" She hugged her and paid the flowers. Kareha gave the girl her family flower shop address and told her to call whenever she needs flowers.
"Miss cute over there, would you please accept this flower?" Haji teasingly gave her a single Anemone flower.
"Secret love, huh…" Kareha stomped Haji's foot, making him winced in pain and jumped as he held his foot. "You're such a bad boy." Kareha knew well what reason Haji gave the flower. It must be none other than to tease her about Hide especially after the drama performance.
"Come on, you talk less with Hide ever since the accidental kiss so I'm just trying to help."
"That is NOT a kiss." Kareha said in scary tone with a kunai hidden behind her sleeve that seemingly ready to be thrown to the red haired boy. Haji gulped as he raised his hands in defeat.
Haji noticed Hide walked to his direction and smirked triumphantly. "Oops, your boyfriend is coming, bye." Haji pushed her and runaway as Kareha bumped onto Hide behind her, ignoring her shouts at him. Once he was outside classroom, he watched them from afar. "…secret love…" He then looked at another Anemone flower in his hand before looking at Hide. "… Because it is you that I could give up on her…"
"…" Hide and Kareha stood next to each other but didn't face one another. Their face flustered at the thought of what happened during the end of drama performance. No matter how hard they try to forget it, it still stuck in their mind.
"Umm-" Both uttered and faced each other at the same time, making them flustered even more. "You said first. No you first. I'll say after you." Both continued to say the same thing at the same time with the same tone. They were late to realize that what they were doing attracted more customers that watching them like some kind of comedic show. Both blinked when they finally realized this and the customers clapped like the show has finished before both teens burst into soft laughter.
"What are we doing?" Hide questioned to himself and Kareha. "We should just ignore them like we always do…it was an accident and that's all."
"…yeah. Though, I'm…actually don't mind about it…" Kareha added.
"Eh…?"
"I-I mean, I don't really think about it into heart. It was just everyone's gossips and all. I don't really care about it…ahahaha…" Kareha continued. Hide nodded, understand what she meant…or perhaps not.
"Kareha-chan!" Albert approached Kareha. "Why don't we go to watch the concert together? You need rest too." Albert offered expectantly.
"Uh? But…I…umm…"
"Come on, it won't be long." Albert held Kareha's hand and dragged her with him but Hide stopped them by let go Kareha's hand away from Albert's grip. The two gave him a surprise look. Hide himself was surprised and confused with his own action.
"S-sorry, I just want to say that you shouldn't drag her like that. Everyone might think you're dating or so. Recently both of you are always together."
Apparently ever since the drama performance, the transfer student declared himself as Kareha's biggest fan and started to invited her hang out together with other classmates that also a fan of her. The reasons Kareha agreed on his every invitation were because she didn't want to meet Hide for a while and she wanted to forget about what happened during the end of performance by relaxing herself.
"I don't mind at all! In fact, I'm happy if everyone thinks like that!" Albert laughed while Hide and Kareha sweat dropped and laughed nervously.
"…I guess I'll watch the concert. I heard Saki's class open a delicious takoyaki stand and Takashi-kun's class open sushi stand near there. "I'll be back soon. We do doing some kind of dates recently. Don't worry I will bring takoyaki for you and Hajime when I'm back." Kareha said jokingly.
"I see…I'll be waiting then." Hide waved at her as she went outside with Albert. Once he was sure that Kareha was gone, Hide hit himself with pot of petunia flower several times as he said to himself that he had gone nuts until Haji stopped him.
"What's wrong with you, buddy? Do you wanna die? Pull yourself together!" Haji shook his best friend.
"Haji please hit me as hard as you could… I think…I think I became crazy!" Hide sulked.
"No, I think it's just another one of your fits again…what's wrong this time?"
Hearing this question, Hide immediately looked away with hand that motioned to just forget about it and don't ask again. "Whenever I saw them together this recently…it somehow irritating... What's wrong with me really? I'm usually didn't feel like this about her…" Hide said in his mind. "But after-"
"If Kareha likes me, how do I feel for her?"
Hide's face instantly blushed entirely as he remembered the question he had asked himself yesterday and Kareha's smiling face was all over his head and this embarrassed him even more.
"AH! WHAT'S WRONG WITH ME! WE'RE JUST FRIENDS SO WHY I FEEL THIS WAY?" Hide kneeled as he ducked his head onto floor, not caring the stares that he got and just proceed.
His classmates immediately tried to calm him down before the customers feel unease and leave the shop. All students of second grade already get use with Hide's constant fits and it was usually entertaining for them. However, if other people saw it, it would be the exact opposite.
"Since when this shop became a street entertainment class?" Ryou chuckled in mild amusement whilst his younger twin blinked owlishly at the brunet. "If you feel stressed out, your brother here knows a place where you could let out that stress as much as you want. That goes for you too, Hajime Gokudera." Ryou motioned the two to follow him.
"Huh?"
Boxing Club Camp, Outside Field, Namimori-Middle School
"Hidetada, Hajime, Rokudo twins, you all want to try our games too?" Kouhei welcomed his four friends.
"THIS is the place where we could let out our stress?" Haji glared at Ryou with doubts.
"Sasagawa, our two stressed and frustrated fellow here," Ryou gestured to the brunet and red head. "Want to try that game over there to satisfy their stress."
"Stress and frustrate? You have picked the right place to come!" Kouhei rounded his arms around Hide and Haji tightly. "Let's go inside then!"
"We understand! Let us go! We cannot breathe!" Haji struggled.
"CAPTAIN!" The boxing club's members greeted the captain at the camp then bowed an orderly way, shortly after they spotted the captain's appearance. They had good disciplines indeed, expecting no less from Kouhei's coaching. Their sudden loud tones startled Hide, Arisa and Haji a little.
"Oh…It's good to see you too, Sawada, Gokudera, Rokudo…" One of the members with black hair greeted Kouhei's companion with smile.
"N-Nice to meet you…" Arisa bowed shyly while the three boys beside her only nodded.
"It's nice to meet you too." The other members bowed before them.
"…" Arisa was nervous. She felt all eyes were bent on her even though they were actually bent on the rest as well. She hid behind her brother once she cannot hold it any longer.
"How are things? Is it going well?" Kouhei asked the members.
"Yes. Everyone enjoyed the games here." The black-haired member responded politely. "You want to try this game, right? This is called strength reader."
"Is it the game that similar with the ones in the game center?" Haji asked.
"You punch on the cushion in the centre, it then measure your power level by score from 0 to 400. You can then claim your gift according to your points…it is very in line with our Club, boxing is all about power after all…isn't it right?" The black-haired member explained.
"YUP! That's true!" Kouhei answered. "Try now, I'm sure it would relieve all of your stress!" Kouhei handed his childhood friends pairs of boxing gloves.
"Me first." Haji said excitedly.
Haji then punched into the cushion…
BANG…!
DING! DING! SCORE: 345
"Wow! Awesome! You're quite good, Hajime!" Kouhei praised.
"Whaddya mean by "quite"? It was supposed to be great you idiot!" Haji protested but Kouhei didn't hear him as his attention focus on his members. Haji decided not to waste his voice again at him and turned to Hide. "Your turn."
"Okay…"
"Just focus on the stress that you wish to let out." Ryou suggested.
Hide started to mumble. "…stress…stress…here we go… TAKE THIS!" Hide punched the cushion. The force was formidable when his bare fist landed on the cushion, creating a thunderous rumble…
BBBAAAAAAAANG
DING! DING! SCORE: 400
"How the heck…did you?" The black-haired member was in a shock, looking at the monitor doubtfully, so were the other members.
Everyone seemed surprised. A skinny boy like Hide couldn't possibly scored 400. His score was even higher than all the members of the team. Kouhei, Haji, Ryou, and Arisa knew how strong Hide was, since he's been fighting and training alongside with Hide to become the next Vongola Boss, seemed satisfactory with Hide's punch.
"All right! Me next! ULTIMATE!" Kouhei punched the cushion.
BBBAAAAAAAAANG
DING! DING! SCORE: 400
"What? Same as Hidetada! NO! I won't lose!" Kouhei begun to punch the cushion and increased the force in his every punch.
"Captain…please, don't…! We just leased this thing…please…please don't break it…! I think it needs to rest after you, Sawada, and Gokudera played." Few of the members grabbed Kouhei's hand, restraining him from pummeling again.
They were indeed MONSTERS. The crowd was looking at them amusedly, including the other members of the boxing team. The general impressions on Hide had just been extended from a simply good-looking student excelled in both studies and behavior to a multi-talented master of everything as well.
"E-everyone, how about we go for lunch? You must be hungry." Arisa's stomach growled as she suggested. Her cheeks flushed red in embarrassment and she hid behind nearby wall to hide her face.
"You don't need to be embarrassed, let's go to 3-F's café class." Hide tried to hold his chuckle so it won't be sound rude to the girl.
Takoyaki Stand, Outside Field, Namimori-Middle School
Shortly after the concert ended, like she had said, Kareha went to Saki's class' Takoyaki stand with Albert following her. He had suggested to going somewhere else but she declined. When they arrived, the stall was undoubtedly busy. The queue extended all the way few booths down.
"Such a long queue…" Albert sighed, standing next to Kareha.
"It won't be long. Be patient." Kareha said.
"Say, Kareha-chan, how about you go out with me? You don't have a boyfriend yet, right?" Albert professed.
Kareha bowed apologetically. "Sorry, but I already have some that I like." Kareha rejected softly.
"You mean Hide? Hmm?" Albert gave her a look. He chuckled once she blushed. "So the rumor was true after all. But I won't give up! I will make you fall for me!" Albert tapped his chest with huge confidence.
Kareha chuckled and laugh softly. "A-Albert-kun, when you say it like that, you're just like a little kid you know."
A large vein had popped in Albert's face. Albert-Volvo looked so angry and hurt. That very statement reminded him of a certain annoying brat that he fought several days ago who constantly called him a kid, kid, and kid plus along with Fuuhaku Hibari. To compare him with those immature creatures was the biggest sin for him.
"Don't call me a kid like that boxing brat did that time!" Albert shouted angrily at the green-eyed girl who was surprised and taken aback by his sudden change of attitude. Volvo realized that he just snapped and showed his true nature.
He coughed and regained his façade. "I-I mean, I'm already at the same age as you so don't compare me with some children. It's kind of embarrassing! Ahahaha…" Albert smiled nervously, hoping that would cover it up.
"I see…I'm sorry then." Kareha smiled brightly, oblivious of his façade. Volvo sighed that he had successfully fooled her.
"I-I just remembered I have something to do so, I'm going back first! Bye!"
"But it's our turn now…" Kareha uttered as Albert's figure gone from view.
"What's wrong with Albert-senpai?" Saki asked while she spread the sauces on takoyaki. "You're not with brother and the others today?"
"No. Albert-kun just asked me to watch the concert together so I accepted it. Hide and Hajime still busy with the shop and let me rest. I promised them to bring the takoyaki that you made when I get back."
"You…haven't talked with my brother again…?"
"Well, we just…reconciled before I went to the concert so everything is turn back to normal. Don't worry."
"You must tell him how you feel. I'm sure everything would be all right."
"No. It better stay this way. I don't want to change our relationship. Just stay by his side with you and everyone is enough for me."
School Gate, Namimori-Middle School
Albert ran from the long queue to anywhere that far from there and where he could talk privately with Azarel. His cell phone rang in the middle of his thought and he shouted at the caller without looking at whose number it belongs to.
"WHAT IS IT? I'M BUSY!"
"My, you seem in a bad mood, Volvo."
Volvo paled when it turned out his boss was the one who is in call. "B-boss…"
"I understand Volvo so you don't need to be afraid. More importantly, I want you and Azarel to go to the backyard of Namimori-Middle School. Azzo will be there as well. Do not protest or arguing with Azzo. Are we clear?"
"Y-yes, boss…" Volvo reluctantly agreed. He could hear all too well that his boss was displeased by his shouts. Refusing not to argue would be a big mistake.
"An order from the boss?" Azarel suddenly materialized beside Volvo.
"Yeah. Let's head to backyard now."
Takoyaki Stand, Namimori-Middle School
Kareha and Saki were enjoying the takoyaki they have bought together while waiting for the transfer student to return, but ten minutes has passed since he left. He was the one who invited her to eat together, and now he left her because of his business.
"I wonder where Sonohara-kun is… The takoyaki is starting to get cold." Kareha looked at the plastic bag in her hand, a box of takoyaki that she has bought for Albert's portion.
"You don't have his phone number?" Saki asked.
"No. He usually approaches me directly if he needs something."
"Kusaka! Saki!" Takashi called them out, approaching them with plastic of snacks in his hand while his other hand waving at them to get their attention. "Oh, eating takoyaki? Where are the others? You're not with them?"
Kareha shook her head. "They're still helping with the class. How about you, Takashi-kun? I thought you're helping Fuuhaku-sensei."
Takashi presented them the bag. "I'm already finished. Those two suddenly go out after having an argument big enough that Shinogu was all like destroying the fourth wall."
Kareha softly tapped Takashi's chest. "That is not something you can say so cheerfully, Takashi-kun." Kareha stared at the takoyaki in her hand. Seeing that Albert still not coming back, she handed the bag to Takashi. "Here. I was supposed to give this to Sonohara-kun, but I'll just buy it again later. It's getting cold anyway."
"Really? Thanks, Kusaka!" Takashi accepted the takoyaki without a second thought, munching the octopus filled ball delightedly.
"Where are Shinogu-san and Fuuhaku-san now?" Saki asked the Rain Guardian Candidate.
Takashi shrugged. "Beats me. They only told me to leave and left without saying anything further. But from the look of their face, I think it's very important."
Backyard, Namimori-Middle School
"Hi…Azzo…" Volvo twitched, greeting the green-haired young man with a forceful smile. "So, why Boss told us to come here and meet you?"
"…I don't know…" He answered.
"What? What do you mean you don't know? Didn't he tell you to come here?!" Volvo snapped.
"…yeah…and he said nothing but that afterwards…"
"You-"
Azarel was quick to cover Volvo's mouth. He had enough with his loud voice. "I might as well report here, Fuuhaku Hibari has found out our identities." Azarel reported.
"Figures. When I met him at Kusaka café, he immediately separated me from Vongola Candidates and their friends. Whenever I walked into him at school, he gave me an interesting look. He's clearly suspicious of us." Volvo added. "But he doesn't have any proof so he won't make a move yet."
"Unfortunately, I already have enough proof."
Three Disscordo Guardians assumed combat position after hearing the familiar voice from behind shadow of trees.
"Now that we gain a proof, we could drop you out from school," Fuuhaku revealed himself with another person beside him. "I could bite you to death." Shinogu continued Fuuhaku's words with his batons ready in his hands.
"Shouldn't it suppose to be 'we' instead of 'I'." Fuuhaku corrected.
"I have no intention to work together with you." Shinogu answered without a hitch.
"Whoever thought that I would fight you again this fast. If I may know since when you became suspicious of us?" Azarel questioned.
"From the very beginning when I read your files that you submit into our school." Fuuhaku pointed his blades.
"You're really intelligent, aren't you? You never cease to surprise me." Azarel materialized his fans. Beside him, Volvo pushed the Lightning Guardian to one side, wordlessly telling him to back off from the fight. The Lightning Guardian, not really minding about it, just retracted his lance and leaned on the tree nearby.
"Don't do anything flashy you two." Azzo reminded them.
"Yeah, yeah, whatever. You won't get your turn." Volvo licked his lips, eyeing Shinogu who has already eager to execute him.
"Let the game begins."
Courtyard, Namimori-Middle School
Hide dropped his dango as uncomfortable feeling filled his chest. He clutched his chest and stopped his track, making the others to stop as well and looked at him confusingly. Hide was looking at the direction of the school backyard.
"What's up Hide?" Takashi asked, following Hide's gaze. But Hide didn't answer and instead kept looking towards the backyard.
Impatient, Ryou stepped on Hide's foot, making Hide winced in pain and jumped on his feet. The blue haired teen ignored the brunet's protest and also looking towards the backyard. He placed back his glasses and narrowed his eyes towards the place. After a second, he looked back at Hide then back at the backyard.
"I see…" Ryou turned to Hide again and pointed his thumb towards the backyard. "Your intuition feel it, right?"
Glad that Ryou understood what he meant, he nodded. Haji, Kouhei, Takashi, and Arisa, however, only get even more confused.
"Hello, can someone tell us what's going on here? What's wrong with your intuition this time, Hide?" Haji interrupted the two.
Before Hide could answer, Ryou flicked Haji's cheek with a small rock, angering the latter as Ryou took out his phone and made a quick call. "Kusaka? Is Saki with you? Or Fuuhaku and Shinogu Hibari?"
"I see. That clears up everything. Go immediately to the backyard and prepare your weapons. That's all for now, we'll meet you two there." Ryou closed his phone, ending his call.
"Explain already hypnosis freak!" Haji throw back the rock that Ryou used to hit him, but unfortunately, Ryou easily caught the rock into his palm.
"Shut up and get ready for a battle." Ryou said simply, taking out his deck cards. "Hide, explain everything to that idiot."
"Who are you calling an-"
Hide cut him off before there'll be any further pointless argument. "H-Haji, I sensed something is not right at the backyard. Or to be precise…something bad is happening there and we need to hurry to go there."
Haji stopped his ranting and looked seriously at his best friend. He looked back to the remaining three candidates and each of them nodded in understanding.
"Let's go."
Backyard, Namimori-Middle School
A furious, rapid and direct approach of a known killer is something that would trigger immediate caution or even fear in anyone, even a trained mafioso. Azzo Yakumo felt it too; the moment he saw Shinogu Hibari's massive form charging at him, all focused on offense and ignoring his own defense altogether, he knew that the silver haired teen is set on killing him. Panic rise in his heart; but he forced himself to swallow it. Right now, he won't let it take over. No matter how great the panic is he has to stand tall and face it—like how he's going to face the Vongola Cloud Guardian candidate now. He needs to find a way to make him listen and clear up the misunderstanding.
After all, his all-out offense has proven something to him: his desperation. He is clearly wounded and exhausted, yet he refuses to back down. Probably it is fury that fuels him—right now, he's channeling all that rage into his limbs, eager to tear him to shreds. He has indeed become insanely powerful with such rage—but for a mafioso of Azzo's caliber, he knew that this means SHinogu possesses no defense. If he can parry his attack, there'll be nothing there to stop him from counterattacking and then stop him.
Resolutely, Azzo dashed forward to greet Shinogu's charge. A familiar yet foreign feeling sweeps through him… something he's always felt near the end of a life-threatening battle.
It is the knowledge that every simplest move he made would decide life or death. Every small decision, every reflex, every movement would count. There will be no mistake from his actions; only effects. Those effects would either push him towards death, or push him towards victory. This knowledge sent energy all over Azzo, exhausted as he is. Suddenly he saw everything a lot clearer, his reflexes got sharper, and he moves a lot faster. His heart pounded in his chest. Either a defiant declaration of his will to live, or a mere requiem before it stops beating completely. Whichever way it is, it pumped energy into his limbs.
Shinogu bellows. With great speed, his baton lurched towards Azzo. The Lightning Guardian has seen the attack coming—without hesitation, he jumped onto the blondish tan haired teen's outstretched arm and landed towards his back. He raised his lance, ready to stab at the back of Shinogu's neck to deliver the finishing blow–
"As if I'll let you!"
Unexpectedly, Volvo threw small grenade to behind Shinogu's back. Azzo inwardly cursed. He attempted to somersault away, but he didn't get any time for it. Before he can do anything else, the grenade exploded, blowing him and his opponent away from each other. His body has slammed hard to the ground, forcing all air out of his lungs.
Azzo looked at Volvo questioningly. "Volvo…what in the world were you-"
"I won't let you take the spotlight alone! I'll be the one to kill him!" Volvo spat out at the Lightning Guardian. He pointed his sai towards the green haired teen, emphasizing his statement. The asking person just gave the younger boy a blank look before standing and wiped the dust from his body.
"It doesn't matter who kill him, Boss' order comes first, yes? I almost got him yet you stopped me, won't he be angry?" Azzo retorted back.
Volvo only huffed in response. "Hmph! If I kill him, then everything is solved. As simple as that."
"That's not the issue here-"
"Shaddup! Once I'm playing a game, I'll do things with my own way and not even you will stop me!" Volvo turned his back on Azzo, having no intention to continue the argument. Speaking with the Lightning Guardian already disgusted him enough.
"…I give up… He's hopeless…" Azzo thought in his mind. Deciding to end the argument, he returned to his battle stance against Shinogu.
Shinogu coughed out loud. He tried to move his body, checking there's any of his bone broken. His body felt itchy, but fortunately, overall, his bones seemed to be doing just fine. He looked towards his opponent and realized that he is also doing the exact same thing as him. However, both knew they have no time for a rest.
Shinogu's attention then briefly shifted toward his older brother who was fighting the Mist Disscordo Guardian. From the look of it, the older man was about in the same condition as him.
In the last second, Fuuhaku swung his blade up to block Azarel's fan. Fuuhaku dashed forward and swung his blade. Azarel immediately raised his arms to block the weapon. The weapon is merely inches away from his face. His arms are the only things separating them. Azarel gritted his teeth under the exertion—his hands tremble heavily under the weight of Fuuhaku's blade, but he stubbornly refused to relent. He had to admit that he is surprised. Meanwhile, Fuuhaku was baring his fist in pain as well.
"You're faring much better than last time. Is it a fluke? Luck?" Azarel praised yet in mocking tone, smirking in amusement at their position.
"It's talent." Fuuhaku replied as he strengthened his blade. "Sometimes, there are cases that talent is fast to blossom at this kind of situations."
"Hahaha! I have to agree with that. That is precisely why I have survived to this day." Azarel laughed out loud, not even fazed by Fuuhaku's increased power and instead calmly kept his power.
"The same goes for me as well." Fuuhaku tightened his grip on his weapon that his knuckle turned white.
For a few painful seconds, neither of them managed to shove the other away. But finally, Azarel managed to get his feet under Fuuhaku's arm. He pressed them against his palm firmly—before giving a powerful shove along with his arms.
Azarel's sudden burst of power caught Fuuhaku off guard. He was too distracted by the fan's burning pain, and hence the tattooed man manages to shove him away. Fortunatley, he is quick to read the next move. Without wasting a second longer, Fuuhaku leaped back to his feet. He still has to end this battle.
Quickly, Fuuhaku swung his blade downwards at Azarel's shoulder. With his speed, the tattooed man managed to dodge Fuuhaku's sharp attack. However, the flames enveloping it still find their target. A tongue of flame engulfed part of Azarel's arm, extending all the way to the ground—and that's when Fuuhaku took away his metal fans.
"Impressive." Azarel clapped his hand momentarily, not panicked by the fact his only weapons were taken from him.
Jumping into the air with the broken pillar as the boost, the tattooed man attacked using the only weapons he can materialize. He never thought he needed to use this technique now of all times. From his right hand, three sharp indigo spears materialized and the Mist Guardian throw it towards the black haired man.
Fuuhaku's purple eyes widened in alarm at the sight. Without wasting any moment, he quickly dashed backwards and quickly shot up into the air to dodge them, but, to his surprise, the spears changed direction and aiming for him again.
BOOM!
A massive explosion shakes the entire area. Smoke billowing thickly from the crater formed by its destructive impact. This halted the fight between Shinogu against Volvo and Azzo, who was blown away by the impact of the explosion.
Azarel smirked in satisfaction as the spears exploded in front of where Fuuhaku was hovering, the smoke hiding everything from view.
"That wasn't so hard." Azarel commented.
Volvo's expression brightened at the sight. "You did it, Azarel! You killed Fuuhaku Hibari!" Volvo cheered. However, his cheer is interrupted by a punch on the back of his head by the Lightning Guardian.
"That's why you're such a child." Azzo commented lazily, ignoring the hateful look given by the younger one. Instead, he pointed towards where Fuuhaku supposed to be.
"If only… You didn't interfere…Wakamurasaki Sawada." Azarel continued, looking at the spot as the smoke dissipated, revealing Saki protecting Fuuhaku with her Sky Flame barrier. Saki helped Fuuhaku to stand up. Her eyes never left the Mist Guardian's figure. Her previous expression of shock was replaced by resolution. She pointed her crossbow towards the Mist Guardian, her fingers itching to shoot the tattooed man in front of her, but she didn't to be cautious.
"Fuuhaku-san!" Hide arrived in time with the other candidates, their respective weapons ready in their hands. "Albert-kun! Roa-san!" They all noticed the blades that pointed at both teens by Fuuhaku. "Don't tell me…both of you are…"
Volvo merely snorted at the reaction of the Vongola. "Good. No need to keep up this stupid façade any longer."
Jumping backwards from their opponents, Volvo and Azarel dropped their disguises, revealing themselves as the Guardians of Disscordo Family that they have fought several days ago.
"No way… Albert and Roa-senpai are…" Takashi uttered in disbelieve.
"My Guardians."
A deep voice that followed by murderous intent that sent shivers through Vongola side breaking the ruckus into silence. A gust of wind interrupted their visions. Once the wind stopped and they reopened their eyes, four more people appeared on the top of old school warehouse in front of their eyes.
The moment they saw the man with slicked black hair and a stern face with noticeable cheekbone wearing long black jacket with Disscordo Famiglia emblem on its pocket, the Vongola knew that he was the most formidable amongst the enemies and they doubt they could beat him with their current power.
"Pleased to meet you all Vongolas. I am Abele, the boss of Disscordo Family." Abele smiled and greeted politely at them.
"Now, I officially challenge you into a battle that would end this long-time war."