CHAPTER 15:
WELCOME TO ANOTHER CHAPTER!
Thank you for reading A Not So Ordinary Life of a Background Character!
Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn
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Natsumi had prepared for this day. She had finished her homework last night. She had also bought five slices of cakes from Hibari-san's patisserie and had called the orphanage that she wouldn't be volunteering that Sunday. She has a series lined up to binge-watch with enough episodes to last her the whole day (and night), and snacks were stocked.
Today is Natsumi's "Self-Care Day." Editor-san had recommended that Natsumi have one at least once a month when the female Emiya had gotten too stressed and decided to kill off a popular character in the saddest way she could imagine.
(Editor-san had quickly rejected that particular draft without reading the whole way.)
And yes, Natsumi is aware that most call it "Mental Health Day," but she rather liked the term "Self-Care Day" more.
Whatever it was called, it's still a day when one could recharge and lower that entirely too high stress-levels. Natsumi believed she deserves this day. She will have this day.
Natsumi felt entirely recharged from her "Self-Care Day" yesterday.
…is what she wanted to say, but it only made her regret that "Self-Care Day" is, indeed, only a single day.
Still, school is school. Education is education. Life goes on. Natsumi's detention was still spent tutoring the firsties. She still secretly laugh at the stiff goodbyes when she was escorted out by either Hibari-sensei or Hibari-sempai. It was mean of her, but she had repeatedly reassured them that neither Hibari would harm them if they behave themselves.
A new routine was established.
This brought her to Thursday, where Friday is just one day away, and Friday meant Saturday is only one day away. Those who anticipate the weekend weekly could understand this feeling. "Just a few more crawls, and you'll make it," was how Tatsu-nii put it. It was a very apt description.
Natsumi had decided to take a break from tutoring, leaving her ducklings with exercises to finish because she needed to go to the bathroom badly. She had timed it so that Hibari-sempai should be out in patrol that he wouldn't pass their way for at least 30 more minutes. It took her a while to be confident she had timed his patrol correctly. Verifying three times was minimum required when it involved the Demon Prefect after all.
The sophomore had just flushed the toilet when she heard a rather noisy group enter that particular restroom.
"Ugh, how many weeks has it been? How long do we have to do this?" one complained.
"Stop complaining, just start cleaning," another snapped.
"Why do we need to clean?! My hands are ruined no matter how many times I go to the spa. I even use the most expensive hand lotion available!" a third voice whined.
"At least this is one of the cleanest ones," the second voice pointed out.
"Not since those little b*tches decided to have study sessions at the library, it's not," the first voice corrected, sounding miffed.
That last statement had Natsumi bristling in anger because how dare they?! To her adorable little firsties! But before she could open the stall to show them just who the little b*tch was, she finally realized just who were the ones outside.
"F*ck, I knew there was a reason why there's three of us here and only two on the other wing," the third voice muttered.
There was a sound of something falling and clattering on the floor. Natsumi is going to guess it was a mop. The first voice then whined even louder, "We already apologized! Punishing us more is abuse!"
"Just shut up and clean!" the second voice snapped again, this time almost yelling.
"Aren't you angry?! I'm betting this sh*t is that Emiya's idea!" the third voice yelled back.
Natsumi winced because it kinda is.
"Of course I'm angry! But I'm not about to say anything inside the school! You're both lucky Rossi-sensei went to check on the other two! What if someone heard you complaining?! We need plausible deniability, you stupid b*tches! Just lay low for a while until they look away! " the second voice practically screeched. At least, the other two seemed to have fallen silent after that confession.
If only Natsumi didn't hear a plot against her, she would have been relieved the screech fest was over. Instead, it just filled her with fear and dread. Natsumi stayed inside her stall as the three cleaned away, but she knew it was only a matter of time before they reached said stall for cleaning.
Natsumi's heart practically jumped when someone tried to open the door.
"What the-? Someone's inside? Oi! How did you get in? I didn't see you enter?" the third voice asked as she repeatedly knocked on the door.
"Wait, were you inside all this time?" the first voice asked, sounding a bit panicked.
"Get out of the way!" The second voice hissed, and some shuffling was heard. "You know who I am, right?"
Natsumi really doesn't, but she was sure she shouldn't say that. Instead, Natsumi pinched her nose and made her voice more high-pitched before replying, "Yes."
"Then you know not to mess with me. Do keep silent about everything you heard…or you won't like what I'll do to you and your family. It might not be public, but we have nearly killed a student once…if it weren't for that meddling outsider," the second voice threatened.
Yes, of course, Natsumi knew. She was their victim. And can they not use the word "meddling"? It makes her think of Scooby-Doo.
"Now check the trashcan if it's empty," the second voice ordered.
Natsumi did as told and checked. "It's empty," she informed them in her fake voice.
"It better stay that way then," the second voice hissed threateningly.
Natsumi let them finish their cleaning. She made sure that Rossi-sensei had led the girls far, far away before she even left her stall.
The female Emiya then heaved a sigh. Great. Just what she needed. More trouble.
In Natsumi's second week of tutoring the first years, a rather timid girl approached her. A charming girl, really sweet too. Natsumi didn't need to know the girl's name to conclude she was related to Rokudo-san. Their appearance alone could already testify to that.
Rokudo Nagi was her name, but she liked being referred to as "Chrome." Natsumi had asked where the nickname came from. The shy response from the blushing girl was, "Nii-san gave me that name."
It nearly made Natsumi squeal. She didn't, though. The librarian was strict and would have kicked her out immediately, no questions asked.
Now Natsumi really didn't want to pick a favorite. They were all her precious little ducklings, after all. But…but Chrome-chan was just too adorable! So smart too! It was just hard, okay?
No judging!
Natsumi stared. The horse blandly stared back.
It still terrified Natsumi.
To answer the question, "why is Natsumi having a staring contest with a horse that terrifies her," she only needed to look back Friday after classes.
Natsumi was shoving her notes inside her bag hurriedly, knowing that she has a pack of firsties waiting for her in the library, when Tsuna approached her.
"Natsumi-chan!" The fluffy-haired brunette practically has sparkles and fruit slices surrounding her as she beamed with a refreshing smile.
"Tsuna-chan, I'm sorry, but I'm in a bit of a hurry," Natsumi smiled apologetically.
Tsuna-chan pouted, summoning flowers as her eyes widened even more, "But it's been a while since you hung out with us."
"Can't help it. I got detention from the shenanigans that happened during the school trip," the straight-haired brunette replied. Natsumi felt rather sorry about how she couldn't hang out with her friends.
"But I didn't get in trouble," Tsuna reasoned.
"You stayed with Hibari-sensei and Hibari-sempai," Natsumi argued.
"You already explained why you did it," Tsuna pointed out.
"I didn't go home immediately and panicked everyone," Natsumi shot back.
Tsuna's pout became even more pronounced, and Natsumi could see several of the fluffy-haired brunette's fanboys swoon. "Fine." Tsuna then grudgingly nodded before looking determined. "You must join us this Sunday then. Cavallone-sempai offered to let us go horseback riding on their property. They have fifty-four horses here in Namimori, but he said his family has hundreds more in Italy!"
Natsumi had heard that one of the lucrative businesses of the Cavallones was horse breeding, yes. Horseback riding sounded awesome and all but, "I don't know how to ride a horse." Natsumi sheepishly confessed.
"That's okay! Kyoko-chan doesn't, either. Cavallone-sempai said there'll be instructors teaching how to do it," Tsuna reassured her.
"Then I'll see if I'm free," Natsumi compromised. She needed to check the orphanage if she could skip two consecutive Sundays volunteering her help.
"Great! Inform me tomorrow afternoon at the latest if you can make it," Tsuna then happily skipped away.
As one could guess, the orphanage matron reassured her it was okay for her to skip another Sunday. It made Natsumi feel terrible, but it had been a while since she had time to hang out with her friends.
Now, if only they invited Natsumi to something much less intimidating, like going to the mall or something.
Tsuna was already using one of the easier courses while Hana-chan and Haru-chan leisurely trotted their own horses in a field without any obstacles. Kyoko-chan was already learning how to steady herself on a horse while it walked.
And then there's Natsumi.
"Don't be scared of Hera, Emiya-san," Chianu Michael-san, her assigned instructor, told her.
"Hera-san is taller than me, Chianu-san, and probably at least ten times heavier than me too," Natsumi shot back.
"She's one of our gentlest," Chianu-san reassured her.
Chianu-san had to coax Natsumi into petting and feeding Hera the horse. The straight-haired brunette was then given details about Hera. Hera is an American Quarter Horse and a retired breeding mare. Natsumi could vaguely remember reading something about how the said breed was even-tempered. It took quite a bit of time until her assigned instructor deemed the female Emiya comfortable enough with the horse. With the help of a footstool, Natsumi mounted Hera.
It apparently required some thigh-power to stay upright on a walking horse.
"Relax, Emiya-san, Hera could feel your nervousness," the instructor said.
"So…are you a professional horseback rider, Chianu-san?" Natsumi asked instead of addressing her apparent nervousness.
"Oh no, I'm a professional tennis player," Chianu-san replied without a thought.
"Wait, haha, you don't have any experience in professional horseback riding? You at least have a certification to teach from a recognized organization, yes?" Natsumi asked with a fake smile, nervousness dialed up to ten.
"Don't worry, Emiya-san, I have a lot of experience with riding and caring for a horse," Chianu-san reassured her.
Natsumi was not reassured. She was on top of an animal that could trample her to death if she ever fell off it, and she's not with a qualified instructor. She plastered a hopefully more convincing smile before saying, "I think this is enough for today, Chianu-san. Can I dismount now?"
The professional tennis player opened his mouth but closed it again with a blink. He then reached for his pocket and took out a phone. He read something that made him furrow his eyebrows. He then looked back at her and said with a grim tone, "It seems like I am needed somewhere else."
"So lesson over?" Natsumi asked hopefully.
"It's okay." Chianu-san gave her a reassuring smile as he pocketed his phone. "I'll call young boss instead to teach you."
"Oh no, it's fine–"
Chianu-san had already yelled in what Natsumi assumed was Italian. It caught not just Cavallone-sempai's attention but nearly everyone.
Cavallone-sempai looked regretful as he separated from Tsuna-chan but obligingly jogged towards Chianu-san and Natsumi. Surprisingly, he didn't trip even once.
Wow. Is this the advantage of home territory?
Chianu-san and Cavallone-sempai exchanged a few more words, still in Italian and not giving Natsumi enough pause to interject. The tennis player eventually left after executing a rather formal bow.
Cavallone-sempai then turned to Natsumi and gave her a charming smile, "Now, let's resume your horseback riding lessons, shall we?"
Natsumi blinked at him and asked, "Do you have a certification in teaching horseback riding?"
Cavallone-sempai tilted his head and blinked, "No?"
"Maybe we should stop here for today," she said with an implying tone.
Cavallone-sempai's charming smile was back as he said, "You have nothing to worry about, Emiya-san. I've been riding a horse even before I could walk!"
"Yet you trip a lot," Natsumi reminded him in a flat tone.
Cavallone laughed though it sounded a bit forced, "I said 'no worries,' Emiya-san. Tsuna-chan's friends came here either to learn or to be better at horseback riding. They will leave with enough proficiency to shame other beginners!" A smile appeared on his face. "Or they wouldn't be leaving at all."
There was something about the blond-haired sempai's smile and how his eyes glinted that had Natsumi feeling afraid of refusing.
Cavallone-sempai! You were supposed to be the pure sempai! The fluffy one! Not this…this secretly-evil-thing you are doing right now!
Long story short, Natsumi became proficient enough in horseback riding to shame other beginners.
She just wouldn't be able to walk right for a while.
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Anyone that read this chapter early would remember *Please put a line here* and yes, that was how I remind myself to put a horizontal line. Unfortunately, I didn't manage to edit that one. Whoops.
END OF CHAPTER!