A/N:

@Plew A.E: Yes. HAHAHA! Tsuna tackled him the next morning, right on the moment. Guess who got the same kind of scrape?

@Tenma Kirin: Here is the update

@qiaraz97: Hahaha! I'm so sorry for messing up your pokerface. Hahaha. And it's great you like their convo. That's a good relief.

@Mai lufi (Guest): They're like children sometimes. Hahaha.

Here is the Saturday (or Friday) update! A little messed up with the grammar errors and typos, but I hope you like it.

I really think I need to get started on those omakes. The end is nearing, I think. Hahaha.

Anyway, go on. Shoo~.

Chapter Forty-One

Tsuna put his bag away before slumping on the bed. He sighed, feeling all the excitement in his body fade. When he heard the 'ping' of his phone, he turned it up to see Reborn's reply before snickering.

'From: Reborn

Subject: Chaos.

Message: Should I be proud that you're driving a motor now without your license?'

'To: Reborn

Subject: We arrived!

Message: Bail me out if I get in jail.'

'From: Reborn

Subject: Chaos.

Message: Sure.'

He snickered at the response.

They just arrived in the Polar Star dorm. But before they got back, the two of them bought a scooter with the combined powers of their money. They had been snickering since they sent a selfie to their Dad and Reborn. Although they knew Jouichiro won't be able to reply, at least they updated him of what they had bought. Reborn, on the other hand...

"Tsuna!" He moved his eyes to see Soma barging in with an excited grin. "Come on! I'm taking on some Shokugeki! Watch me beat them all up!"

"I don't think I'll be able to eat all my shares in one go, Soma." He stood up and pocketed his phone as he followed the redhead to the hallway.

"You can't?" Soma gasped with a fake scandalous expression. "With that big stomach of yours?"

"Shut up." He can't help chuckling. The notion was true. He has a big stomach. "Don't get flustered if I asked some seconds."

"Since when did I get startled with that?" The ranga jabbed with a smile of his own.

The two kept on teasing each other about Tsuna's appetite and Soma's flustered moments around the brunet. They were laughing when they got to the lobby, where the Polar Star Maria was waiting for them to show up.

"You've been here, Sawada?" Fumio commented as her brows raised in surprise. "I didn't see you come in."

"I went in first before Soma." He smiled before giving a respectful bow to the old lady. "We're home, Fumio-san."

The ranga did the same. "We're home, Fumio-san."

"Oh shush! Still the same, you boys." The lady chided jokingly, making the two teens laugh. "Your hair is turning back to their colors, Sawada. Want me to trim the black ones?"

Tsuna ran a hand on his hair, humming in thoughts, before glancing at his friend's way. "What do you think?"

"Maybe stick with it a little longer? It looks weird to see a hair with black as a highlights." Soma opined. The brunet can't help himself from giving a deadpan as Fumio laughed. It caused the redhead to raise his hands in the air. "You asked for my opinion."

"I'll probably stick to it for awhile." He said to the lady who nodded. "But I'll be asking for your assistance one of these days for it, Fumio-san. Thank you in advance."

"No problem. Anyway, go. Yukihira's opponent is waiting." She bid.

"Right!" The two chorused before moving for the door.

"We'll be back before you know it, Fumio-san!" Soma bid with a wave of his hand, Tsuna did the same with a smile.

"Ah, Sawada!" Tsuna looked back to Fumio who called out for him again. The Polar Star Maria grinned mischievously. "You also have challenge letters, by the way. It will be rude to avoid them again."

The brunet can't help the grimace from forming on his lips before nodding. "Thanks. I'll keep that in mind."

"Don't worry. I'll remind him." Yukihira assured to their dorm mother, who shooed them away after.

Tsuna found himself torn between accepting the challenges or not. He admits that he's different now. More confident, competent and less clumsy. The past him would've been so boggled with all the changes. But, that's the thing. He didn't change entirely. There's still the Dame-Tsuna inside him. The cowardice, the uncertainty and the insecurities. Yes, he is confident with his dishes, but he's not that good. He lacks the refinements of techniques, and it will take time for that to be polished.

Looking up from his spot, he watched as Soma moved around his station to cook against his fourth opponent. The first three already lost, and he already ate his shares. (Causing another bout of teasing) Their dorm mates have arrived too, shocked that Soma already accepted a lot of Shokugekis and tried to provoke more students to challenge him.

The brunet propped an elbow on his knee and let his chin rest on his palm as he thinks of things, while still keeping his eyes on the ranga. On his last day as a trainee, a woman from the stagiaire committee told him that he passed in all restaurants he was assigned. Although he was happy, he can't help feeling a little unbelieving with how far he reached. No wonder he experienced a nightmare on that night.

He dreamed of losing Soma, being taken away from the things he loves and get shackled in a dark place. It felt so painful for him to experience that. To see Soma shouting for him as he gets dragged away. There was no salvation. All he could do was just sit there quietly as if that was his end. Even at that moment, he can't help shuddering whenever he remembered that feeling, heedless of how vague the dream is in his mind.

"You okay, Tsuna?" He snapped out of reverie and stared at Soma who's eyeing him with furrowed brows. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"If I don't sleep well tonight, I'm gonna blame you." He threatened before taking the plate from the redhead's hand. "Congrats winning another Shokugeki."

"Don't divert the subject." The ranga admonished.

"But you're needed there already." He pointed out as he glanced at the next challenger. "You can't keep him waiting."

"He can wait. Tell me what's wrong." Soma persisted.

Tsuna looked down to the plate on his hands, contemplating whether to tell the truth or not.

"You're not a good liar, Tsuna." He winced at that fact. "Tell me."

"I'm just thinking of the nightmare I had last night." He shrugged as he took the fork on the side of the plate. "And whether to accept the Shokugekis."

"What was your dream about?" The redhead queried. He doesn't know what kind of expression did he make in front Soma to make the latter back away. "Okay. I'll ask about it later. When you're ready."

"Maybe next time." He corrected with a smile. "Go now."

Soma reluctantly turned around. Tsuna was about to put some food on his mouth when the redhead turned back to him.

"I know I don't have rights to dictate what you must do and don't, Tsuna." Yukihira said a calm voice, yellow eyes staring at him directly to his own. "But, I think you should remember about your resolve. Of why you're here and why you're still here. I mean, that will be one of the things Reborn will tell you right?"

Sawada gawked at the ranga who rubbed his nape with a hand, eyes looking away as red crept to his cheeks.

"Uh... That's all." Soma uttered hurriedly before turning around to walk for his station.

Tsuna shut his mouth, mind running and processing his best friend's words. He blinked and opened his mouth to call out the other's name. "Soma!"

The redhead looked back after halting. "Ha?"

"Thank you." He expressed with sincerity and gratefulness.

Tsuna chuckled when Soma blushed redder, before turning around to continue his journey to his station. The brunet murmured 'red pepper' under his breath and started to eat more, watching the redhead smirk at his fifth opponent of the day. He should probably cook something special to Soma after they get back to the dorm. A thank you gift. Then message Reborn about his nightmare.

He just hopes his tutor doesn't get mad. Reborn will scold him again for not saying things again, unless urged. It's not like he's keeping secrets from his tutor. Heck, he won't even dream of doing so, after Reborn threatened him while cutting his hair. Reborn and any sharp object are not a good combination.

(He always wondered if Reborn can kill someone with anything useless, like a plastic container or a spoon. Even a paper.)

(Wait. Never mind.)

The only reason he doesn't want to tell things to the hitman is because he doesn't want to trouble Reborn. He had been stressing Reborn since the first time he left, leaving him to hold the fort for him instead of doing it himself. Even after he came back, he left as soon as possible, not even minding how much of headache he caused his family with all his suspicions on Iemitsu. But this time, it's an exception. He doesn't want to worry Soma, but if he's doing it even in an unconscious way, then he needs to talk to Reborn.

"Tsunayoshi-kun." He looked back to see Isshiki walking towards him with nine other people including Erina and Eizan. "Why are you alone?"

"I'm with my food." He answered with a raise of his plate. He eyed Erina and smiled. "Hi, Erina-chan. Good to see you again."

The blondie smiled back. "Good to see you too, Tsuna-kun. How is your mother?"

"She's fine." He replied and looked back to Soma who is cooking. "Are you going to estimate Soma's skills? Feel free. He's the only first year who's doing Shokugekis today." He looked back to the other before giving a curt nod to Eizan. "Eizan-sempai."

"Sawada." The other drawled.

Then his eyes gazed the others before giving a nod again. "Sempai."

Some nodded back to him.

"Tsuna!" He heard Soma called out.

He shifted a little. "I must go. See you later then." He bid before walking to the redhead. "What?"

"Another serving. Dessert this time." Soma said with a proud gesture to the plate by the counter.

Tsuna eyed the dessert before sitting on the provided stool. "Did you eat some?"

"Not yet." The ranga replied while taking his empty plate. "Who were they?"

The brunet took the provided fork and took a forkful of the dessert, "Sempai." Then he raised the cutlery for the redhead. "Ah."

"Ah-m!" Soma took the dessert in his mouth and started to eat it. Yukihira gave a grin. "Your kind of sweet then."

Tsuna chuckled before taking his own piece. He moaned a little at how nice it melts and tingles his tongue.

"I should probably polish my skills on dessert making if that's the only thing that will make you react that like." The redhead muttered under his breath while moving away to clean.

Sawada can't help laughing at that.

"Wow." Tsuna interjected as he stared at the pamphlet Soma has in his hand from the latter's shoulder. "That looks really warm."

"Like your eyes?" Soma commented, looking back to him.

"Yeah. Like Tsuna-kun's eyes." Megumi agreed, staring at the brunet's eyes before smiling softly. "You're really warm, Tsuna-kun."

He hid behind Soma, who snickered, as a blush blossomed on his cheeks before he cleared his throat and stood straight again. "Thanks."

Isshiki chuckled at how cute they were. "Anyway, you're invited to the Autumn-leaf viewing with the Elite Ten."

"Autumn-leaf viewing?" Soma uttered in confusion.

"With the Elite Ten?!" Megumi gasped.

"Exactly! The current Elite Ten members and all of you first years, who made it to the main tournament of the Election, are invited." Their upperclassman elaborated.

Tsuna nodded in understanding as Soma raised a question, "So why is it called Autumn-leaf viewing?"

"U-Umm. That means that like in the training camp and stagiaire that if we mess up, we'll get expelled?" Megumi nervously questioned.

"More like do we have to cook against you? I mean it says that it's only leaf viewing, but the mascot is like the one in the training lodge pamphlet." Tsuna queried, making the bluenette more nervous. He can't help sweat dropping before putting a hand on the lady's shoulder. "Sorry, Megumi-chan."

Isshiki chuckled in amusement. "That won't happen, Tadokoro-chan, Tsunayoshi-kun. The notice comes directly from the academy's director." Then the upperclassman spread his arms in an excited manner and adorned this happy expression. "The goal of this event is to let you meet the upperclassmen and have stronger ties with them. All while elegantly watching the maple leaves!"

"We-We're actually watching the maple leaves." Megumi sighed in relief.

Tsuna looked down to the flier and made some thinking. "I may have to bail out."

"Ha? Why?" Soma inquired, surprised. "This is an opportunity."

"I have a Shokugeki scheduled that day. And besides, you won't even notice me being absent with all those people in there." He waved off as he dislodge himself from the redhead.

"But we're going to meet the Elite Ten." Yukihira reasoned, getting excited, eyes glinting with something that made Tsuna chuckle.

"Soma-kun?! Ain't you thinking of something bad?" Megumi exclaimed.

"Nah. I was just thinking that one of the sempai might have a Shokugeki with me." The redhead shrugged.

"So you were! You can't do that!" Megumi stated in horror.

"Tsunayoshi-kun." Isshiki said, gaining his attention. "This will be unfair, but you were chosen by the Elite Ten to come."

Tsuna's brows furrowed in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"Marui, Ibusaki and Houjou aren't invited. We have deliberated this decision since the start of your stagiaire." Isshiki sighed. "I have already told them this and they kinda agreed. The Elite Ten specifically wants you in there."

His intuition spiked painfully, making him flinch a little. 'Bad news, huh. No wonder Marui and Shun aren't here.' "Out of ten, how many voted for me to be present?"

"Seven." The upperclassmen replied.

Tsuna nodded slowly. "Okay. I understand."

Isshiki smiled at him before addressing the three of them. "So that's about it. I'll be waiting for you that day. Be careful on your way to the meeting place."

Tsuna bowed to Isshiki before jogging to match Soma's steps. As they walked, his mind started to think of what he could do. The unfairness of the situation doesn't settle nicely with him. Maybe he should talk to the three? It won't add salt to the injury, will it?

Parting ways with Soma, Tsuna brought out his phone and stared at the last message Reborn sent him. It was still about the scooter they bought. He told him about his nightmare on the same night, but Reborn hadn't sent a reply since then. And it has been five days. Those four days in between had been full of Shokugekis against those students who want to kick him out of the academy due to disgust. Some were nasty enough to keep on insulting him. At some point, one even kinda went out of line, so he sorta did something horrible? It was a good thing he's always distracted with worries of what happened to Reborn for him not to reply or if he'll reply any time of the day which will never happen. If he did pay attention, he must've cracked on the spot.

Closing his door and locking it, he went to cross the room to see the window and check on it. It was locked, like how he left it. He reached out for the lights and turned it off before going for his bed. He was going to put his phone to the side table when it lit up and started to ring. Out of surprise, he almost dropped it. Good thing he was able to catch it and read the name of the caller. With a simple click, he hurriedly put the phone by his ear and listened.

"Chaos, Tsuna."

"Reborn? Are you okay? You haven't sent a reply for five days." He shot off. He rested his back to the wall and gathered his knees to keep them close with his hand hidden between them and his chest as he waited for a reply.

"Vongola and CEDEF mafiosi are everywhere here in Namimori. We're planning for countermeasures. But don't worry about us. We're fine."

Tsuna sighed in relief. "How did you get a time to call?"

A smirk. "Mama got angry at Iemitsu for saying something stupid again. She kicked him out so I called since it's safe."

"She can be terrifying." He commented, remembering those times Nana went ballistic over something. "Did you get your birthday present?"

"The cupcakes?"

"Yeah. I made them myself." He clenched the hand that got a little burned from doing the cupcakes.

"Yeah. I did get them. Five though."

Tsuna can't stop himself from laughing. "You really have to rate that?"

"Of course. You cooked it. Your birthday though."

"It's alright." He closed his eyes. "I even forgot about it since I was busy and sleepy. I only had yours to remember."

"You're being impossible."

"Maybe cook for me as a late gift?" He bravely suggested.

"Fine."

He can't help smiling at that. "I miss being with you, Reborn. I miss Mama too."

"Is this about your nightmare?"

He pursed his lips. Always the one to go straight to the point. "Partly. It feels so real, you know. Seeing Soma crying my name and getting locked up in a dark place. I can still feel the heavy shackles on my wrists and ankles. I don't even know how to interpret that."

There was a bout of silence before the other side said anything again. "Iemitsu can lock you up anywhere."

"I know."

"But we'll come for you. Soma won't part with you. Mukuro, Chrome and Hibari will kill just to free you. Lambo will be adamant to be a help. And I'll kill Iemitsu if that will compensate everything he did to you."

"Reborn-"

"I'm going to say this once, Tsuna. I'm a hitman. I've had a sky who betrayed us in the end. Causing me to erase every memory I had before I become a baby. I regret doing that because if I still have those, I could teach you more. But then I met you. We know how much of a wimp you were. But you have that personality of a civilian. The compassion, the bravery and the heart. Even if you experienced a lot of things, got plunged to battles after battles to the point that you had to kill someone, to fight against your best friend to the extent that you got nightmares over them, and act as a leader due to necessity, you're still you. You never change. And that's what I like about you. I'll kill to keep you like that, Tsuna. You grow, you live, you survive. But you're still you. You're a sky that will encompass everyone within your range. Even me, who killed a lot yet you still want to live. So thank you."

Tsuna hid his eyes to his knees to keep them from watering. "Thank you, Reborn."

"Huh. The ring changed. It accepted my will."

He can't help laughing at how nonchalant his tutor about the ring changing. "You're so okay with this."

"What? I'm a guardian now. Your guardian. So I have to roll with things. While I create chaos, you invite them. Get it?"

"So what about Hibari and Mukuro? They execute them?"

"Maybe. Anyway, what did you say about those Shokugeki. Did you win all of them? I'll shot you if you didn't."

Tsuna smiled. "I did. I battled against-"