A/N:

@CAD270895: Ek. You want them to know his past? Won't that like endanger the omerta or something?

Anyway, go on.


Chapter Seven

The battle started. Tsuna blinked when Mito pulled out a skinned cow hanging on some bar. She started to butcher it with her big knife, causing a lot of his fellow students cry in awe. Well, it is impressive. She's showing her talent and specialty with trained movements. He shrugged and looked at Soma's station.

Brown eyes met yellow ones. He blinked and grinned when the redhead gave him a playful wink before continuing what he was doing with a sedate pace. It's like he was back in the Yukihira diner, preparing food for the locals. At any place, as long as there is a kitchen, Soma will feel at home.

He cracked a laughter when they focused their attention on the ranga who brought out his ingredients that was bought at some market place. Soma did take some of his money, albeit reluctant and shy. He didn't really mind since he has more saved (and some are back in Namimori). It was Kanichi who brought all the ingredients the cook needed while he was shooed away to watch the competition.

In a sense, brought meat from the store doesn't compare well enough to the meat Mito has. But it's all in plate. As long as you have the right healthy ingredients, right tools and right mind, there is no danger in it.

Sitting back, Tsuna enjoyed the mouth watering aroma that's drifting around the stadium. It was a mixture, and he likes the smell of meat. Good thing he ate breakfast (Not that Fumio and Isshiki will permit anyone to go out without a proper breakfast).

He watched everything play out after the bell rang, indicating that the time's up. He watched as the judges evaluated Mito's donburi, negatively mouthed Soma's dish only to eat their words and ask for seconds after they tasted it. He grinned when Soma teased the blondie before thrusting a bowl of donburi in her hands. Tsuna questions though why they go all moaning and spasming sometimes whenever they eat something delicious. He does moan when the food is delicious, especially when he's really hungry, but not that loud. Even Soma doesn't do that.

In the end, Soma won the Shokugeki. Taking out his phone, Tsuna took a quick snap for a picture and contemplated on sending it to Nana. He shrugged and sent it to both her and Reborn. He wants Nana to meet Soma, so achievements are a must to show; and Reborn did say occasional updates, so that's occasional then?

"Tsuna!" He looked up to the familiar voice that called him. Soma waved him over. "Come on! I'll give you your don!"

He stood back up. "Now?"

"When else?" The ranga rolled his eyes on him playfully.

Tsuna went over the railing and landed on his legs. His stunt elicited some surprised gaps, but he didn't really hear. He was focused on Soma's smiling face. The redhead is really happy.

"Congratulations." He greeted as he took a sit on the stoll. "You were so cool."

Yellow eyes flickered to his way, amused and grateful. "Yeah?"

"Yup! And they were all shouting when you pulled out your meat. But you didn't mind. I think you even wanted to rile them up." Tsuna looked down on his hands that are between his open legs, gripping the seat to the point they're white. "You're so awesome, Soma."

"You're awesome too." A bowl was placed in front of him. "Wash up and eat. Wait for me to finish up cleaning."

He went out of his seat, washed his hands on the tap before returning, taking his lunch. "Sure. Thanks, Soma."

"Nah." The ranga dismissed and smiled at him. "Thank you for cheering for me even though their boos were louder."

"What are friends for?" The brunet smiled before he started to eat.

The other only smiled back.

"You're really an amazing man, Yukihira." The two looked at Kanichi who put a hand on Soma's right shoulder. "You're the only one who can carry on the Don RS."

Tsuna blinked and muffled his laughter when Kanichi went on with a serious look.

"The next don of Don RS is you, Yukihira." Kanichi continued.

Silence.

"But I won't join the club." Soma said with a blink of his eyes.

"Eh?!" The chef of Don RS blurted.

"Eh? I mean I just went to see what it was like. And thanks to that, I was able to make a new Don dish." Then Soma put a hand on Kanichi's shoulder and smiled brightly. "Good work, Kanichi-san. I'll visit you sometimes."

Tsuna ate the last of his Don and drank his water, a smile on his lips while watching Kanichi walk away with a shocked aura. "You should've clarified it to him in the first place."

"I thought he knew." Soma uttered while cleaning the bowl and the glass under the water tap.

"Of course he'll misinterpret. You took the Shokugeki he was about to do." The brunet leaned back, brown eyes flashing orange as his intuition takes on every variable. "If I knew, you took this Shokugeki to try it out."

A cheeky grin was shot on his way. "Am I that obvious?"

"Idiot." Tsuna jabbed that Soma only laughed at.

"Tsuna-kun!" He looked back to Tadokoro who was walking towards them. "You were really loud awhile ago."

"I was cheering." He shrugged and offered his hand. "Give me five for helping Soma and being with him until the end."

The bluenette giggled and lightly slapped her hand on his.

"Oi oi. Why am I not included in there?" Soma demanded with fists on his hips.

Tsuna raised his hands. The two did the same and with happy smiles, they gave high fives to each other.


Reborn took Leon from his spot when his partner turned to a phone and vibrated. A brow shot up in question when he saw a message from his runaway student. It was a picture when he opened it. His head inclined when he noticed the high facilities and the name 'Soma Yukihira' on the four monitors.

The hitman rocked his head for possible reasons why his student would send such a picture. Maybe to tell them who he's with and where he is? That he's doing fine? Maybe. It even looks like on impulse since this Soma Yukihira won something. Reborn can't help himself from humming in thoughts.

"Reborn-kun?" He looked up to see Nana smiling at him, her own phone in hand. "You received it too?"

He nodded. "Soma Yukihira?"

"His friend. A redhead. He was the one who took care of him while out for the entire stay." The matriarch answered before showing him a picture of a redhead smiling with a peace sign. "I haven't talked to him, but I think he's a good kid."

Reborn nodded, thinking how the lady never said any name for the case of secrecy. Huh. Sawada family is growing nicely except for the two idiots. "You reply to him, Mama. He'll be happy if you congratulate his friend."

"Okay." The lady cheered, already tapping her phone to reply.

Reborn walked away with a new thought. He mused how fond Tsuna is to redheads. Even Enma is a redhead. He decided to go on out and search for the heir. Who knows. Ieyasu might've died with all the assassins lurking around, and Tsuna can be the Decimo again.

He hopes though.


"Oh. Running again, Tsunayoshi-kun?"

Tsuna laid on the ground after his two hundredth sit up, and looked at Isshiki who's standing at the threshold of the main entrance. He nodded. "Yes, Isshiki-sempai."

"It has become your routine since two weeks ago." The upperclassman said while leaning on the doorjamb. "Is there something wrong, Tsunayoshi-kun?" A hint of worry in his tone.

He went off the ground and patted himself off dirt. Thinking a little of why his fellow brunet is worrying. He didn't come off as a weird one, did he? "Nothing at all, Sempai. Just bringing back some routine I stopped for awhile."

A reluctance. "Soma-kun knows this?"

"I told him since day one." The brunet smiled a little before nodding at the path he needs to run. "I'll be going, sempai. Be back in an hour or so."

"Sure." The upperclassman smiled with a wave.

Tsuna started to run, going outside of the dorm's premises. He inhaled some fresh air that the morning can only give as his feet pounded on the concrete. He exhaled it slowly, trying to calm himself. Running in the morning nowadays for him is a form of relaxation that could calm his nerves. Reborn will be so proud of him if he hears about this.

Speaking of Reborn, he got a response from his Mother about the picture he sent to them. Nana said congratulations to Soma (which he did convey, getting a bashful Yukihira in return) and told him that she told Reborn about his friend. He really didn't mind. He'd even like the hitman to see Soma personally. The ranga will probably believe him if Reborn does appear beside him.

He rounded a corner and waved at the usual staffs and teachers he sees early in the morning. They too waved at him with smiles. They become used to his presence in the streets. At some point, some staffs approach him to say thank you because he can brighten up their days. He could only blush and say they're welcome while Soma teased him about it.

The last two weeks weren't that hectic. They have been studying more about service and things. It was a good thing Reborn made him some kind of a sponge. (He can still feel the burn of the bombs whenever he studies.) He absorbs his lessons like he has been studying there for the past years. He's more surprised that he can pass his classes with good scores. He's pretty tempted to take some shots of those scores and pass it to his tutor, but he waved it off. Reborn will know one way or another.

He didn't know how long he ran. When he got back to the dorm, Shun was half way on cutting his logs for smoking his food with his usual chainsaw. The teen looked up to him and nodded when he was about to passby. He gave a wave in response. He removed the zipper of his jacket as he entered the dorm house to get to the kitchen. He was incredibly thirsty like any other. But his stamina is getting stronger and he doesn't feel out of breath whenever he and Soma chase around. It's like he's getting into shape again, which is good.

"Good morning, Sawada." Fumio greeted with a smile. The dorm Maria put a big glass of water in the counter. "Drink up. You're drenched."

Tsuna drank the water up to its last drop before chuckling. "Sorry. I didn't know how long I've been out so I don't know how much I ran."

"You've been out for an hour and forty-five minutes. Your dorm mates are out in the field behind the dorm. They're going to harvest some vegetables." The old lady informed as she put some seasonings on the food she's cooking.

"Thanks for the water, Fumio-san." The brunet expressed as he put the glassware in the counter again. "I'll help them out. Soma will kick me if I don't show up."

"Go." Fumio snickered. "He has been asking about you."

Tsuna paled and went out to go for the fields. Just when he got there, Sakaki and Shun were walking towards the others too. He was greeted by Tadokoro who's wearing a farmer's clothes, complete with the straw hat, checkered shirt and white apron. She looks so comfortable in them that he couldn't resist pointing it out. He evaded Soma's eyes while discreetly greeting Yuki and Sakaki.

"Why are you avoiding, Yukihira?" Shun asked while helping him pull out a radish.

"Not necessarily avoiding. Just don't want him to scold me for being late again." Tsuna answered with a sheepish smile. "We agreed for one hour run because too much will tire me and will make me fall asleep in class."

"Well, you are the only one who run in the morning among us." The auburn commented.

"It's really a routine I almost abandoned three months ago." He explained as he slowly pulled the radish out. "I can't get out of shape because my tutor will kill me."

"That should be instructor."

"Nope. Tutor." He smiled as Shun put the vegetable to the cart beside them. "He teaches me things my school teachers will never teach me and he keeps me alive. So tutor."

"Tsunayoshi-kun!" Isshiki called with a sunny smile. "How was the jog?"

Tsuna didn't mind the fundoshi the upperclassman is wearing and answered brightly. It's already an everyday occurrence to him now even if he saw the latter this morning in his full clothes. "Same old."

"Tsuna!" A familiar voice rang out and Soma jogged towards him, bright and excited. "Since when did you come in?"

The brunet looked at Shun who huffed in amusement. The latter knew how bad of a liar he is. Tried and tested. (It was just one time. Really. He was asked by the others to lie about stealing some cookies from Fumio. But he couldn't because he fidgeted and looked away. In other words, Fumio gave him a karate chop on the head and scolded him for covering someone. He did take on the punishment for the others because he never said a name. They respected him for that in return.)

"Since an hour ago, Yukihira." The smoke chef lied for him while putting away the tools they used. "He has been with me before we came to help."

"Oh. Good good." The redhead praised with a beam. "You drank water?"

"Yup." Tsuna nodded. "Fumio-san can justify to that."

"Then have you tried their vegetables here? Isshiki-sempai cultivated most of them! He even-"

Tsuna let the redhead pull him around while saying things about the garden. He enjoyed Soma's childlike expression. The way those yellow eyes twinkle in wonder. He suddenly missed the kids. He badly wants to hear Lambo's obnoxious laughter, Ipin's scoldings and Chinese gibbering, and Fuuta's ideas to placate the two.

After roaming around the garden, helping here and there, Tsuna slumped on the ground with an exhausted sigh. He can already feel the soft mattress of his bed on his back, the warmth of his blanket around him and the bounce of his pillow. He could already close his eyes if his tummy didn't grumble in hunger and a shadow loomed over his head. He took a peak to see Shun standing over his head. He gave a small wave before closing his eyes again.

"Yukihira! Tsuna is going to sleep!" Shun shouted.

"Huh?! No way! He needs to eat first!" Tsuna felt a hand on his wrist, tugging him up. "Up, Tsuna!"

"'m tired." He mumbled.

"And my hips hurt!" Soma complained.

"I'm hungry!" Yuki exclaimed, joining them.

It caused Tsuna to laugh before he let himself up. "Alright, alright."

"Everyone." They looked at Tadokoro who was holding a wrapped lunchbox with a smile. "Lunch is here."

"Oh. You made it Tadokoro?" Soma asked, surprised.

Tsuna waved off Soma so the latter could crowd around the bluenette. He sat beside the redhead and took one of the rice balls that was offered to him by Yuki and ate. Feeling that he wants to lean on something, he adjusted his position and rested his back against Soma's back, head on the redhead's shoulder. He listened to the others dissect the flavor in Tadokoro's cooking, as if they're lulling him to sleep.

He looked back to Soma when the latter nudged him to take the cup of tea. He sipped some and sighed in relief. He felt a little energized. Good enough to go back to his room, take some clothes to wear after a bath and sleep.

For some reasons too, he compared Tadokoro to a rain for giving him that kind of peace.

"You okay there, Sawada?" Sakaki questioned. She was answered by a soft grunt.

"He'll be fine." Yukihira assured, patting the brunet's head on his shoulder. "He's probably tired from his run. He usually goes straight to bed again."

"Aw. Poor Tsuna." Yuki coddled as she poke Tsuna's cheeks, but the latter didn't budge. "He's asleep already."

"He looks peaceful." Sakaki giggled. "And cute."

"You know, you pass on as brothers, Yukihira-kun." Tadokoro observed. "Almost like fraternal twins with the same personalities and vibes."

Soma's eyes brightened at the comment as he gazed at the brunet who's resting on him, and surely muting all the noises he could hear. "Really? My neighbors say the same. I can't wait for my old man to meet Tsuna."

"He also likes your squids." Shun pointed out before sipping the tea in his cup.

"He does." Soma agrees while Tadokoro shuddered at the memory of eating such.

"Maybe we should go inside? Tsunayoshi-kun could use some rest. I think he really needs it." Isshiki suggested.

"I'll wake him up." The ranga said as he shakes Tsuna awake. "Tsuna? Wake up. We're going in."

"... In?"

"Yup. Bed yeah?"

"... Bed."

"Up."

Shun helped him make the brunet stand. Both of them slung Tsuna's arms around their shoulders. The two had fun listening to Tsuna's mumblings, that were composed of 'guns', 'sadist', 'homework' and 'tutor'. They put him to bed after Shun fished the key of room twenty-seven from the brunet's pocket.

Soma was the last one to leave the room, although a little worried. When he tucked Tsuna to bed, he noticed the bags under his friend's eyes. It's like the brunet hadn't have any proper sleep at all. Shrugging it off as he plans a sleepover, he walked to the dining room where the others were gathering.


'Friendship and Rapport Training Lodging.' says the book that he was holding. Tsuna put the guidebook to the side after he finished reading it and looked upward to the ceiling. He wonders if he will get eliminated at the very first day.

His dorm mates have explained to him what it was while they ate dinner. This training lodging is the first hurdle the first years have to pass to stay in Tootsuki. According to Sakaki, it contains rigorous cooking trials everyday in a boarding house in the middle of the mountains. Those who can't get a passing mark will be expelled immediately. To Yuki, it's a cruel elimination training lodging because the batch will always get reduced to half of their numbers or less after the whole week. With all honesty, the information didn't help his anxiety.

Shun probably had seen his subtle reaction because the auburn pulled him aside and told him that as long as he could pass, it's okay. He could stay. Isshiki did the same, assuring him. He even pointed out how different he and Soma was. They said Yukihira was so optimistic that he said they'y just have to be on the passing side. He could only laugh at that.

It's not that he fears the challenges. Heck, they're just going to cook while serving people. He could use the training he did in Takesushi and Yukihira diner to practice. He could cook and he believes in his abilities as a 'chef' because he was taught by the greatest hitman to be one. The only problem is the security. There are a lot of possible scenarios that might happen in the middle of the mountains.

Who knows what will happen if assassins and hitmen suddenly get a hold of his newest location? Behind the walls of Tootsuki, he's safe. In the mountains with no visible walls? He's in danger. More like he's the walking danger for the whole ninety-second generation.

Tsuna sighed as he dropped himself on the bed, taking his pillow to hug. He needs to ready his bag too. Maybe a duffel bag is enough. No white shirts, though. He needs to cover up his scars here and there. He can't even afford Soma to look at them, what more if the whole dorm get to see it.

He perked up when he heard a series of knocks on his door. He went out of bed for the door. Removing the lock, he opened it to see a Soma holding his pillow and looked so determined about something. Tsuna didn't ask the redhead what's wrong and opened the door wider.

"No futon, Soma." He informed as he sat on the bed.

"We could share the bed." The redhead replied with a shrug as he locks the door and walked nearer. "You should be sleeping already."

He jammed a thumb on the book beside him. "Made me worried."

"What are you worried about that?" The ranga scoffed. He sat beside the brunet and took the book. "Shun already told you to be one of the half that will pass. Isshiki-sempai and Fumio-san have given us their wishes. You don't want to disappoint them, do you?"

"No." Then Tsuna relented. "I'll do my best."

"We could buy cards!" Yukihira mused, already thinking of having fun. "And some board games. They give us allowance for it, right?"

The brunet smiled at how enthusiastic the other is. "Sure sure. What's more to bring?"

"We could list them off here." Soma said while pointing on the cover of the book.

"Oh." He drawled and laughed as he got the gist. Going over his side table, he pulled a drawer and took two pens. "I'll do the dog."

"I get the mascot." The redhead cackled as he receives a colored pen and started to doodle on the book. "Have you been sleeping alright?"

Tsuna blinked as he halted on writing things above the picture of the dog. His brown eyes glanced at his friend as he continued. "No."

"For a month?"

"Sleeping patterns are hard to change, Soma. I've been sleeping every two in the morning."

"And waking up at four thirty to start exercising." The redhead mumbled. "You won't mind if we alternate overnight places, right? We should change that sleeping pattern of yours."

"No." He replied, smiling a little as he checked all the things he wrote. "I'll be grateful."

"When you were at home, was your sleeping pattern like that too?"

He shook his head. "It must be the environment. I don't really feel safe in big places."

"And here I thought you adjusted accordingly." The ranga pouted as he drew a speech bubble directed to the mascot. "You helped me adjust to everyone while you were having a hard time doing it too."

"Sorry, Soma."

"After this, we sleep."

Tsuna chuckled. "Then I'll draw slower."

"You will not."

"Hmm."

That night, Tsuna snuggled on Soma's side. And admittedly, he had a good night sleep.