A/N:

@rozielrie: We'll see. But sorry tho, I don't think I'll be able to put Ieyasu's inheritance ceremony here. We'll be following Shokugeki no Soma's timeline, and the inheritance ceremony usually holds when the heir is ready for the job. Ieyasu is still on training under Iemitsu, so yeah. I don't think we'll be able to see that. Gomen.

@CAD270895: I hope so too. But he'll see. :)

Anyway, thank you for all the reviews! And follows and hearts. Haha. Here is another chapter. Hope you like... it?

Source:

Blood orange panna cotta - https//2015/02/blood-orange-panna-cotta/

Anyway, go on! Shoo! Hahaha!


Chapter Four

"Reborn-kun!" The hitman perked up and went out of his hiding place to see the Sawada matriarch by the door. The lady smiled at him excitedly. "Delivery for you!"

He blinked his eyes and strode towards the door. A man in delivery clothes was standing there with a plastic container in hand and a clipboard in the other. He took the clipboard and signed his signature as an assurance that he got the delivery before taking the container in hand. The delivery man bowed before running to his motor.

Reborn walked back inside with Nana. They went for the dining room and placed the container on the table. There was no note or anything. He opened the lid and stared at the food inside. It was a beef bourguignon. He inspected it with eyes and nose. His eyes blinked before a smirk graced his lips at the familiar distinction.

"It's safe, Mama." Reborn said.

"Who is it from?" The lady asked in a teasing manner as she placed the kitchenwares on the table.

The hitman chuckled. "A friend."

Nana nodded before passing him a plate and a pair of cutlery. Reborn took a seat and used a spare spoon to take some of the food. He cut a piece and put it on his mouth. He stopped himself from moaning at how delicious it was. He already knew who made this, and had eaten a lot of it, but it will never deter the taste. As much, he wanted more of it.

But he won't tell him. Nope. Nah-uh. Never. Even if his hand itches to take Leon and send a text message, he'll control. Because he deserves to be anonymous. And he'll give him that.

"My. It's delicious." Nana praised with a thoughtful smile.

Reborn kept his smirk.


Tsuna looked over Soma's shoulder to see the map they were given. It wasn't that complicated to see where it goes. It's just that the two clerks in the information station told them that they don't know that such dormitory exist. Sighing inaudibly, he tapped Soma on the shoulder to gave their salutation to the clerks before going out of the information center.

Since both of them don't want to go home (which Soma doesn't want to take a train to go home, while the brunet doesn't know where his home now except with the redhead), they agreed on staying in the dorm inside the campus. And just awhile ago, they asked where it was since it said in their notice of admission that there is an existing building, but no one recognizes it. So here they are, following the direction written on the paper to get to the Polar Star Dormitory.

Talk about odd luck.

"You know..." Tsuna looked over to his friend who is already out of breath. Soma is all definition of tired and cranky. "I forgot that... This academy is... freaking huge..."

The brunet chortled a little before taking the heavy brazier. "I know you're cold and hungry, but we need to go. It's getting dark."

"But I'm hungry! I can't go on with dried squids anymore!" The redhead whined, and Tsuna doesn't know if he wants to feel honored or not that Soma only shows his childish side to him.

Tsuna put the grill down before opening his bag. "I have an orange here. You want some? At least you can munch on them while we walk."

Yellow eyes twinkled in delight. "Yes!"

The brunet gave the orange, closed his bag, took the heater from its spot and started to walk again, with an energized redhead at his side.

"This academy has a lot of exaggerated buildings." Soma pointed out while looking around, munching on a piece of orange. "I mean they even have a dome. Do they do basketball or something?"

Tsuna glanced at the said building. "A cooking ground probably. Like a tournament site?"

"Hmm. You're right." Then the ranga pointed at something with his lips. "That one. A windmill. What's that for?"

Sawada looked at the building. "Dunno. For flour? Wanna ask the teachers sometimes?"

"Sure sure." Then Soma hovered a piece in front of the brunet's mouth. "Ah."

Blushing, Tsuna took the end of the orange with his teeth before moving it inside his mouth with the use of his lips. "That was uncalled for."

"Nah. You're too cute." Yukihira teased, making the brunet blush more. "Let's buy a bike next time? So we won't have any trouble walking back and forth here."

"Or I can help you with the money to buy one and I'll ride at the back?"

"Isn't that dangerous?"

A shrug. "Kinda."

"And why do it?"

"Because it's dangerous?"

The redhead snickered. "Your logic scares me, Tsuna."

"Really now." The brunet grinned, remembering how Reborn used to do that to him. "Anyway, according to the map, we should be near."

"I hope the dorm is as extravagant as these buildings." The ranga grumbled as he aggressively took a bite on an orange.

Minutes later, they found themselves standing in front of a gate of a three-story old western-style house. The gates are open, plant vines cover the posts and the fences, and in a way, it looked scary with lights lit on the gate's posts and the house's porch only. Heck. Even the yard looks scary with how dark it is, and he can see (cue imagination) thunders and lightnings coming in and out from the clouds above it.

Tsuna felt chills run through his body, making him step back. Soma may had the same thought as him but only stared at the house. The brunet slowly took sidesteps, towards the path they came from and tiptoed away, hugging the brazier in his arms. The whole estate screams all things that can be related to horror movies. He needs to get out of there.

"Tsuna. Where in heck are you going?"

Tsuna gulped and looked back to his companion with a sheepish smile. "I-I think w-we should g-go h-home, S-Soma."

"Huh." Yukihira stared at his friend before a sly smirk made its way to his mouth. "Heh."

"Wah!" Sawada shouted as he tried to escape, only to be pulled back using the back of his shirt. "Soma! I don't want to go!"

"You have to! We have to!"

Tsuna looked back to the house then to Soma and shook his head. "Please!"

The redhead shook his head with a sardonic cackle. "Nope. You're coming with me. If I die, you die with me."

Soma felt bad when he put his other arm around his friend's shoulder. The brunet is whimpering as he dragged him inside. He knew Tsuna has a bad scare on ghosts. The brunet had to wake him up almost every night to go to the bathroom during the brunet's stay at his house. At first, it was confusing, a little irritating. But then, he got the idea that maybe... Tsuna had no one to say to him that ghosts don't exist, that's why he's still scared of them. So he tolerated it, and eventually found it endearing and adorable.

He glanced at his captive when the latter stopped whimpering and struggling. He sweat dropped when he noticed the resigned and depressed expression. Regardless, he opened the door of the house and went in. Only to see a smoke coming out of one of the rooms on the second floor. Both him and Tsuna perked up at the sight, instinctively thinking of fire was erupting.

"Crap-"

"We need-"

"Hey! Room two-o-eight!" A gruff, high pitched voice called out.

The two of them looked back to the three speakers screwed on the post by the stairs with startled looks.

"You went and modified the lounge into a smoking room again! Shall I make you into smoked chips?!" The woman behind the mic threatened.

Brown eyes and yellow eyes widened when a nonchalant teen around their age, with auburn hair and bangs covering his eyes, stepped out of the room where the smoke erupted. "Yes yes. I'm reflecting on it."

"Usako! Kanosuke! Shikanoshin! Don't leave your cages!" A shout from the west side of the house was heard and then a herd of animals came running, and then stopped in front of the two when they saw the brunet.

"Shit." Tsuna cussed, going behind Soma, who covered his mouth to stop himself from laughing. "Ish! Soma! It's not funny!"

"I thought it was just the animals in our street, but to think even here?!" Yukihira guffawed.

"Don't keep gibier in your room, Room one-one-six!" The same voice in the speaker admonished. "If you do it again! I'll skin your body!"

"Yes!" A girl with orange hair in twin buns and light blue eyes shouted and beckoned the animals to go inside their cages again. "Come on. Off we go." But the animals didn't move.

The little sky went out of his little hiding place. He stared at the animals who were eyeing him expectantly. He gave them a small smile and a wave. He sadly watched them off before shaking his head. He just hopes that Natsu is okay with Ieyasu. He missed his little buddy already, and Leon too since that guy sleeps with him sometimes after learning the truth.

"You're the transfer students who want to enter this dorm, Soma Yukihira and Tsunayoshi Sawada, right?"

Both teens turned around to see an old woman with combed back grey hair that was held in place by a red headband. She looked stern and intimidating, wearing a light brown blouse under a black apron. Tsuna went out of his hiding and stood beside Soma, who glanced at him.

"We are, Ma'am." The brunet confirmed politely.

"Heh. I'm this dorm's mother. Call me Polar Star Maria, Fumio-san." The old lady introduced herself.

'We came into a weird place again.' The two thought, one in exasperation and the other is agitation.

"I'm sure you've prepared your ingredients." Fumio stated with an expectant smirk.

"Ha?!" Both exclaimed.

"What ingredients?!" Soma questioned, confused and panicked.

Tsuna tried to remember if he read anything about ingredients needing to be brought. But he remembers nothing. (And believe him when he says none because his memory never failed him except for exams.)

"That's obvious! The Polar Star specialty skill test!" Fumio replied like they're asking about the weather. "Didn't you read the mechanics? Before you get admitted here, you have to have a dish, and the flavor must be acceptable before you get admitted. It has to be judged by the dorm leader, which is me. And you're free to bring any ingredient you wish to cook."

"We didn't hear about this!" The redhead exclaimed for the both of them. Tsuna only winced.

"Then you lose by default. You can't enter Polar Star dorm without having your skills tested." The dorm mother responded.

"That means-" The two teens looked at each other in horror.

"You'll have to camp." Fumio supplied.

"Don't screw with us! Don't underestimate how cold the April night is!" Soma stated in panic before deflating.

"Soma." Tsuna called, voice soothing and dripped with concern of how down the other. "It's okay. Maybe we can survive with my oranges? And you have your squids and the brazier. I can give you my jackets."

The ranga looked at his friend and smiled weakly, a little amused. "You're a sunshine, Tsuna."

"Well. There's only left overs, so you have to give up. It's not like you can make something out of those." The Polar Star Maria waved off.

The two's eyes glinted at the term 'left over'.

"So we could use those left overs?" Soma queried, making the old lady snap her eyes towards them.

"My Kaasan did say never waste food. It causes bad luck." The brunet chimed in.

The redhead grinned. "We'll take the skill test."

Tsuna nodded. "Yeah. Can you direct us where the kitchen is, Fumio-san?"

"Alright." The dorm mother resigned after staring at them. "Follow me."

The two looked at each other and grinned.


Tsuna watched the evaluation from the side as Soma explained to Fumio how he managed to create a hamburger meal with an egg soup. He observed them as he kept track of the time. It takes a lot of time to evaluate the redhead's dish since it's that eccentric and delish. He wondered if Reborn will find his friend interesting.

The brunet wasn't really wrong when he said that the ranga's name was artistic. When he saw how it was written in kanji, he refrained himself from teasing. The kanji of 'So' means 'True', and the kanji 'Ma' is 'Creation'. The redhead is literally a living human of boundless creation. Maa... Not like he wants to tease the other. Maybe just point it out? He doesn't want to see that heartbreaking sulk.

(They just see each other that adorable.)

"What about you, Tsuna? You made something for Fumio-san, right?" Soma called out, shaking him out of his musing. "You're brooding again."

Tsuna sheepishly smiled before opening the fridge and took two cups from there. "I'm not really confident about this."

"Don't say that." The other scolded, helping him place the food on the table where the dorm mother is sitting. "I don't want you to sleep outside."

"You like me that much?"

"I adore you that much." The other cheekily corrected as he took his own cup, knowing Tsuna will never serve anything without making one for the audience.

"Here you go." The brunet presented with a smile, glancing at his friend. "Blood orange panna cotta. Please dig in."

"This is an Italian dessert." Fumio remarked, inspecting the content of the cup. "It looks simple. The pudding is wobbly but compact. No air is seen."

"But good." Soma added. "Tsuna never makes something that isn't good. It's like he has magic."

"Don't say that. You'll make people think I'm great or something." The brunet admonished.

"But why make a dessert?" The old lady queried, quirking an eyebrow. "Do you think I'll be able to like this just because it's sweet?"

"Soma made a meal. If I make another one, the left overs won't suffice the amount of ingredients I need. In addition to that, I wanted to make something different. Something you'll enjoy after a good dinner." Tsuna reasoned out. "Besides, no one can resist sweets."

The two nodded, accepting his reason. The sky watched as both testers took their first taste. Soma made a delighted sigh while Fumio moaned. The brunet grinned a little. The two made the same expression of the kids when they first tasted his panna cotta. But that wasn't orange flavor. It was his first time since he only saw the dessert on the TV while studying Italian (he did say Reborn drilled the languages into his brain), so he didn't get to add anything. He got interested and wanted to surprise the hitman, but when he remembered that his tutor doesn't like sweet stuffs, he gave his first perfectly made piece to the kids.

"Light and creamy." Fumio uttered with a slump of her shoulders, as if finally relaxing. "The gelatin melted in my mouth on first touch, unlike any other. You did a perfect ratio between the gelatin and fats. And it has something in it. Something powerful but I couldn't name."

"Salt." Soma pointed out before looking at Tsuna. "Why did you put salt in it?"

"Too much sugar will kill the body." The brunet replied as he shuffled to the tap and filled up two glasses of water. "I had to put a pinch of salt to at least balance it out. I don't want anyone to suffer diabetes under my watch."

"Thanks." The dorm mother expressed before drinking the liquid. The two waited for her to settle in a little. "I didn't expect it to be salt."

"According to my tutor," Tsuna smiled a little as he remembered what Reborn told him about spices. "Salt is something that can battle hundred different spices. With just a pinch of it, it will be enough to color a food with flavor."

"Oh. I didn't know that." The ranga awed.

"I didn't also. And it did save me from a pinch." He dismissed before the two of them glanced at each other and snickered at the lame pun, even Fumio smiled at how lame it was.

"You two did great jobs. You were able to make a dish out of left overs." The dorm mother praised before smirking. "You pass. I accept your admission in the Polar Star Dormitory."

"It wasn't much." Soma humbled as he removed his bandana.

"Now. Your room will be three-o-three, Yukihira." Fumio said as she pulled out a key in a string. "You're twenty-seven, Sawada."

"Nice room." The ranga whistled teasingly, earning a playful glare from the brunet. "What?"

"Whatever." Tsuna dismissed, taking his bag from the door. He faced the two again and gave a small bow. "Thank you, Fumio-san. Have a good night."

"Right."

Tsuna walked out of the kitchen, twirling the key in his finger. He navigated his room and was about to enter when he noticed a brown bunny hopping towards him. He crouched down tiredly and let the little animal jump on him. He caught him, stood up and continued his way to his room. He opened the door with the key and closed it after entering. Sighing, he slid down and let the back of his head hit the door lightly.

This was his sixth out of home place. He missed his home already. He missed his family. His friends, his mother, his bed, his tutor (hate to admit, but he does miss Reborn). He felt like he's in the future again, but instead of hiding from his enemies, he's hiding away from his family. It wasn't to protect them, but to protect himself.

He looked at the bunny that was staring at him. He smiled at the little creature, reminding him of Hibari calling him a little animal because of his determination to survive the wild life.

"Do you think I'm selfish?" He whispered before taking a deep breath to calm himself. "I'm selfish, right? Only thinking about myself when they might be suffering right now with all the attacks on them in different angles."

The bunny tilted his head.

"I'm sorry." Tsuna apologized, patting the little one's head. "I'll just get some new clothes then I'll return you to your owner."

The bunny's ears dropped.

The brunet chuckled. "Okay. I'll excuse you from her so we can play."

The little creature perked up and nodded.

"Okay. That's a plan. Wait here for a bit."

Deciding to arrange his clothes later, he only took those he needed before scooping the little bunny to his arms and went out. He kept talking to the bunny in a small voice, and the latter listened, as if he understands what the brunet is saying. When they got to the lobby, the orange haired girl he saw with Soma awhile ago was there, face shows extreme worry. Tsuna suddenly felt bad and gave the little creature in his arms a scolding stare. The creature pouted before nodding.

"Excuse me." The brunet queried. The girl looked at him. "I think he's yours."

"Usa-chan!" She called and jog towards him. "I thought I lost you." Then took the bunny from his arms. "Thank you..."

"Tsuna. You can call me Tsuna." He offered with a smile.

"I'm Yuki Yoshino! You can call me Yuki too!" She beamed.

"Okay, Yuki-chan." Then he looked at the little bunny. "Can I play with him later?"

"Oh? Usa-chan? Sure. I'll be at room one-one-six. Feel free to knock." Yuki assured.

"Hear that, buddy? I'll take you later." He smiled at the bunny who's eyes lit up in excitement.

Tsuna excused himself and went for the baths. When he opened the door, he stared at the nude form of Soma. The redhead stared at him too and smiled. His intuition nudged him. He immediately put his clothes in a basket before taking a towel from the racks and wrapped it around the redhead's waist, just in time for his friend to open the door.

He refrained himself from facepalming when he saw Tadokoro inside the tub. Saying a small apology, he closed the door and gently bonked the redhead's upside.

"I didn't know." Soma pouted.

"It's fine." Tsuna smiled before unbuttoning his shirt. "Let's just wait for Tadokoro to finish, yeah? You go have the tub, I'll only shower."

"I'll scrub your back." The redhead offered.

The brunet's face faltered, remembering his scars. "Nah. It's okay. Don't worry about me."

"Okay." The ranga grinned.