Fifteen-year-old Gokudera was breathing heavily as he stared at the target. He has already fired about a hundred arrows and there are only a few left before he can pass his father's stupid test.
"Yes, this is the last one. Straight to the bull's-eye," the boy cried out joyfully, raising his hands in triumph. Finally, he can move to a new level of training to become stronger and protect Tsu. It was his dream since childhood, to become the right hand man of the Vongola boss.
"Nice work, Gattino *," the man ruffled Gokuder's hair, which he growled in displeasure.
"How many times to tell you, do not call me that stupid baby name!" The boy clenched his fists in anger and threw off the man's hand.
"You have not nearly changed, you're still the same pouty kitten," Gee chuckled, lighting a cigarette.
"I'm not a kitten, stop calling me that," Gokudera pouted his lips and hastened to pretend to be checking the equipment.
"Haha, okay, stop sulking. I have something for you," the man pushed the guy to the entrance to the mansion to take a shower and change, "we'll meet in the second living room in half an hour."
"I wonder what he wants from me?" Hayato asked himself while taking a cold shower.
"Well? And what did you want?" the boy opened the door to the living room and froze on the threshold.
"How do you like it? Surprised? Your face is simply priceless," the red-haired man laughed, but now the boy did not care at all. There was a piano in the middle of the living room, but it was unusual. All over the building there were children's drawings painted with multi-colored paint. The boy remembered very well how he sat with his dad and drew on the piano lid. Suddenly fond memories flooded over him.
"Dad, let's paint this piano, it's so boring," the boy suggested holding new colors in his hands.
"Of course, what do you want to draw?" asked the man, lifting his son in his arms.
"I don't know anything. I want it to be bright and not boring."
"Well, then let's think of something."
"Ha-ha, look at you, you are covered with paint all over."
"Dad, stop smearing paint on me. It's not funny!"
"As for me, it's quite fun, you are dirty anyway, it won't get any worse."
"Ah well? Then get it!"
"Hey, it was a new shirt, it's all in paint now because of you. Well wait, little devil, I'll arrange a fun life for you," they laughed for a very long time that day, this was one of the most vivid memories from the boy's childhood.
"But it's the same ..." the boy could no longer say a word and just look dumbfounded at the musical instrument.
"Yes, but as you can see I was able to fix it." Although it took a lot of effort, it looks like G was very pleased with the work done. Gokudera cautiously walked over to the piano and ran his hand over the lid. The feeling was the same as in childhood. There was a painted little cat and a gold engraving underneath: "For my little Gattino* from dad. I love you. Never forget about it."
"This is really amazing..."
"Great, then how about playing something together? You loved it as a kid, Gattino *. I remember how you got on my knees and asked me to teach you how to play and ..." before Ji had time to finish, Gokudera stopped him by waving his arms furiously.
"Don't you dare remember such embarrassing things, old man."
"Haha, then what do you say to that? Do you want to play together," Hayato thought for a while about his father's proposal, but then he decided.
"Okay, then what about your favorite song, Gattino *? As a child, you just adored her and constantly asked her to play," the man began to deftly move his fingers along the keys, playing a familiar melody.
"She is childish and too easy for the two of us, but there is still no choice," ostensibly reluctantly moving the keys, but in fact, he was a little happy. It has been a long time since he heard it, much less played it.
Gokudera did spend some good hours with his dad. The next time Ji came to the room was when Hayato went to bed.
"I came to wish you good night, Gattino*," G smiled, holding something in his hands that Gokudera could not see.
"I'm too old to be put to bed," the boy turned to the wall and closed his eyes, pretending to fall asleep. But that didn't work, as the silver-haired man felt his bed buckle under the weight of others.
"Are you sulking again? And I brought you something," the man proudly showed the boy what he brought. It was the same old book with fairy tales for children that was read to him as a child.
"You know I'm not a child anymore, right?" Gokudera sighed, turning to his father, "It's Uri!" the boy cried out, taking the toy of the little cat from the hands of the man.
"Haha, it looks like you still like this toy, right?" smiled, the man playing with his son's hair, he did not object, being too embarrassed by everything that was happening.
"Not! It's just that this toy is hanging over the memory. God, just read this stupid fairy tale to me and let's end there," Gokudera sighed irritably, clutching the toy to his chest. Uri really brought back pleasant memories from childhood. About fun days spent with friends and family.
"Okay, then move."
"What? Do you wanna lie down next to me?" the boy muttered with displeasure, but nevertheless pressed against the wall, giving way to dad.
"This is reminiscent of the old days, Gattino *, when you were still very small."
"Since you have decided to indulge in memories, why do you call me, Gattino*?" asked the boy and put his head on Gee's shoulder, and buried himself in the shoulder. The smell of whiskey and cigars soothed him, he decided that today he can be a child, only for the sake of his father.
"It happened when you were still very tiny. After I found you on the doorstep of the mansion and fed you, you fell asleep soundly. I'm not sure what happened then, perhaps you dreamed something, but you wrinkled your little nose so funny, like a newborn kitten. Therefore, I immediately decided that you are my little Gattino *," the man smiled, removed his naughty son's hair from his face and kissed him on the forehead.
"Stop doing it, it's so sudden, it's embarrassing! Hayato muttered into his father's neck, but didn't throw his hand off."
"It's time to go to bed, Gattino *," G said after he finished reading the story.
"At last!"
"Don't be so harmful. You liked it," the man touched the boy's forehead with the flame and he felt an incredible warmth spread throughout his body.
"Dad, I ..."
"Shh, I know. All right. Sleep well, Gattino *. Ti amo Gattino *. Remember this always. Always try to control your character. And remember, I will always be by your side, even if you don't notice me," the man smiled. The boy's eyes closed and he slowly plunged into darkness.
"I love you, kitten. I love you more than life."
Warning: Gattino is a kitten.
Ti amo - I love you.