Title: The Unlikely Duo
Summary: No one ever thought that the shy, easily-scared, five-year old Sawada Tsunayoshi and the aloof, very scary, six-year old Hibari Kyoya could become friends—much less best friends. It was such an unlikely pair after all, a really unexpected duo. But to everyone's surprise, they still did, eventually.
Warnings: OCs, since they're kids and almost (or more than?) half of the crew is from Italy or is not from Japan, and of course, OOCness—but hey, since they're still young and all, their personalities have to yet develop to that of we know (that's what I would argue anyway).
... .. .
Chapter 34: Bitter & sweet
"Here," Masao, as the worker had introduced himself, said as he gave Tsuna and Kyoya's cup of green tea. The two took it quietly, blowing the hot steam off before sipping the drink.
Masao smiled, before he sat down and drank his own cup. They were now seated on the engawa of the tea house located within the farm, the far-off vines of purple grapes in full view with groups of children and one adult dotted here and there. And for a while, they lay there, in silence, as the two children don't even know what to say, while the only adult debated what he should.
"I'm sorry I dragged you two here," Masao finally began. "I don't even know why I did." Another smile crept to his lips then, this time apologetic, though the children only saw half of it—Masao's face was directed ahead all the time he spoke. "I... I really thought you were just some kid who looked a lot like senpai." The older brunette momentarily paused, to lower his head, to stare at his intertwined fingers. "Who would have thought that you were actually his son?"
A soft, gentle breeze passed by them. Tsuna picked a large grape from a bowl between him and Kyoya, stealing a worried glance at the skylark as he did so. Ever since Masao mentioned the name "Akihiro", which Tsuna presumed was Kyoya's father, the air around the older boy changed. It felt constricting, but sad at the same time.
There was also another thing bothering the younger brunette—the name "Akihiro", or going by Kyoya's full name, "Hibari Akihiro". Somehow, somewhere, Tsuna had heard the name before, but couldn't remember where. He wanted to try though—to search his young mind for the memory that mentioned that name—but the increasingly uncomfortable feeling Tsuna could sense from the skylark made him decide to let the memory-searching be for now. There were more urgent things that needed his attention.
"I was actually your father's kouhai at work," Masao continued. "You may not know me, but your father mentioned you a lot when we're not on duty. Actually, now that I think about it, he never failed to mention you and Yuuki-san every day." Masao then laughed as he remembered.
Kyoya only listened quietly.
"I really admired him," Masao said as he placed a hand on Kyoya's head. "You should too. He really was a great man." He began to absentmindedly caress the boy's head, the memories he had been reliving finally coming to an end on that incident. "...and about what happened to senpai, to your father, I think he was just at the wrong place at the wrong time. What the people saw and understood back then though... it really was cruel."
There was a look of regret in Masao's green eyes before it quickly disappeared. He then suddenly stood up and stretched his hands. "Ah, sorry, sorry. Why am I talking about such depressing things on a day when you should be having fun?" He said before he looked up at the blue sky, his green eyes reflecting the slow moving clouds. "I guess it's almost here, huh? That day..."
Without elaborating any further, Masao stepped down to the ground. He then looked back to the two, and gave them a bright smile. "Why don't we pick some more grapes?" He asked, but didn't wait for an answer. Instead, he turned around and began to walk towards the grape vines, taking a ladder and a basket with him. The two had no choice but to follow.
Tsuna stole another glance at Kyoya as they walked side by side behind Masao. The skylark's stoic face betrayed nothing, but his clenched hand said everything.
It was shaking.
"Kyoya-san—"
"Don't."
Tsuna's eyes immediately widened. Something—something was different, he could tell. Normally he would pry more, but something in Kyoya's tone just made him stop.
He halted in his tracks.
He could feel something was changing.
'Kyoya-san...' When he tried to clench his own hand, Tsuna remembered the purple grape he took but never ate.
He raised it to his mouth and took a bite.
It was bittersweet.