Thank you to Yeoui, To The EXTREME Khr EnmaFan, Animelover0115, Sonata Fuling, FlyWithMeToNeverland09, Fox Princess, DragonClanMaster and Seere Klein for your reviews! I will take your input of your ships into what my final decision for the pairing will be.

Remember, you readers are never too late to input who you'd like for your ship~

I mean, unless it's after I announce the official pairing, but I doubt I will soon.

Anyway, it's been like years, but I hope you enjoy fellow readers~


Forgiveness

1. the action or process of stopping the feeling of resentment or anger towards someone who made a flaw, mistake, or offense

2. the action or process of being forgiven


Thirteen Years Old

January 21, 20XX

.

.

.

Yukino's glares were so intense they could burn right through the snow.

At least, that's how it appeared to her sister, once Yukino discovered that it was snowing outside.

Though the Italian was more fond of Japan than her home country, one thing she absolutely grew to hate about Japan was how the weather got in the winter.

Fucking. Cold.

"So you're telling me, that going to school in this weather is normal?!" she asked, shivering.

Kyoko offered a smile. "The snow hasn't piled up enough to prove much of a danger to be outside. Really, Yukki-chan," She laughed. "You've lived here long enough, but you always end up asking that question again and again!"

"Well I can't help it!" Yukino sighed. "I hate this."

She smiled brightly. "I know you do, but let's be positive, Yukki-chan! It's snowing! It's so pretty, don't you think?"

"Nope."

Kyoko just laughed at her sister, and the Sasagawa duo continued to walk to school, Yukino complaining and Kyoko countering optimistically.


{First Person POV}

Covering my mouth to yawn, I continued reading the book Reborn had told me to review, but found myself dozing off.

Reborn put my midnight training sessions on hold(for unknown reasons), so there really was no reason for me to be so sleepy. Yesterday was the first time in awhile since I got a sufficient amount of sleep, yet I was more tired than usual.

Before my face crashed into my book, I was jolted awake from the loud conversations of now-entering Kishimoto-kun and Okumura-kun.

Sighing, I closed my book and stood to leave, only to get the attention of the two jocks.

I frowned. "Do you need something?"

Kishimoto-kun blinked. "E-eh? Oh, no, sorry, um, Sasagawa-san."

My frown only deepened at the sight of Okumura-kun biting his lip and staring at the ground. "Are you sure you don't need anything from me?"

"U-um..." Okumura-kun smiled awkwardly and handed me a can of coffee. "Here, Sasagawa-san. I bought it for myself, but it seems like you need it more than I do."

Staring at the coffee in his hand, I felt glares directed to me from behind me, and figured it must be their fan club. It wasn't like Yamamoto was the only one who was popular, after all.

"I'll take it, but..." I went and rummaged through my bag. "How much was it? I'll pay you back, you did buy it for yourself, after all."

"H-huh? Oh, no no, you don't necessarily have to pay me ba-"

I took out a 100 yen coin, and replaced the can with it. "Well, this should be enough, right? Anyway, I should get going." Opening the can, I took a sip and started walking off. "Thanks."

Stepping into the glare-free hallways, I took another sip of the coffee, suddenly recalling something Yamamoto said.

"I'm pretty sure they've already forgiven you."

I found myself scoffing in disbelief.

How could they forgive someone who avoids contact with them every single day?

Heck... Do they even need me anymore?

Reborn said Yamamoto took over my position, so why would they take back someone who abandoned them when they needed help?

Was I... even much of a help to them in the first place?

"HEY! Are you deaf?! I said move!"

I frowned. "What?"

A girl and her posse were glowering down at me, and I realized they were the Gokudera Hayato fan club.

So much for the "glare-free hallways."

Feeling annoyed, I sighed in exasperation. "What's the big deal? You can just move around me, can't you?"

The girl frowned. "What?"

Another girl rolled her eyes. "Why can't you move? Think you're so cocky, it's not that hard to move out of the way, deaf girl!"

"Then it shouldn't be that hard for you to move, right?"

The fan club jumped, and they all instantly changed personalities. "G-Gokudera-kun...!"

He glared at them. "People who think they're all that disgust me. What right do you think you have to order people around, you ugly bitches?"

They didn't falter, and only protested. "But she broke the rule! Therefore she deserves to be socially isolated and has no status!"

Hayato's scowl deepened, and his glare turned murderous. "What the fuck are you-"

"Hayato."

He blinked, and then stared at me with his permanent scowl. "What, Yukino?"

I couldn't hold back the wide grin on my face. "Did you just stick up for me?~ Despite what happened in our last encounter, you're still so loyal, huh? ...Kinda like a dog."

"What kind of lunatic thinks of that when they're being bullied?!" Hayato deadpanned. "Wait... did you just call me a dog?! OI!"

Staring directly at the fan club, I blinked. "I was being bullied?"

The group of girls were so mad that their faces were as red as tomatoes. I couldn't stop my burst of laughter. Sending another smile, I tilted my head at them. "Welp, at least you tried your best."

They all stomped off in annoyance, and I flipped my hair with my middle finger directed at their receding figures.

Hayato pretended not to see what I did.

After staring at Hayato for a long period of time, he frowned at me. "What do you want?"

"Y'know Hayato, you're such a hypocrite. Telling me to leave you alone when you can't even do the same to me."

Blinking, he flushed in realization and protested immediately. "T-that's because you're an idiot and got in that situation and you looked like-"

"There's no way you didn't know I'd be able to handle myself in a situation like that. C'mon, I've been through worse, being called a bitch at age three."

"H-hey, I apologized for that-!"

I laughed, and smiled. "See? This is what I was talking about, Hayato. Whatever the mafia did to you and me, it did nothing in stopping us to converse like before. That's all I was asking for, and yet you went all tsundere on me and brought back my dark dark past..."

"Oh come on, I apologized for that too-"

"And so! I will officially offer you this can of coffee as proof of our reconciliation! Will you accept?"

He stared at me like I was insane, which I probably was, and just sighed, taking the can. "You're an idiot."

Smiling, I stared as he took a sip of the coffee and blinked. "Wait, why is this half-empty?"

"Obviously because I drank from it first."

Spitting out the coffee he drank at that moment, his deep red face was directed towards me and he glared. "What the fuck Yukino?! That means I just...!"

"It's not that big of a deal, chill down Hayato."

"How could I when you and I just...!"

"I was suspecting it when she asked me first, but it really is true, huh?" a new voice spoke up.

"How could it not be when we just saw with our own eyes! She just smiled and laughed while talking with him!"

Blinking, I turned to the new voices and spotted my two classmates, Kishimoto-kun and Okumura-kun once more, with disbelief on their faces.

"What the hell, Manager?! Why do you treat the transfer student so familiarly and treat us so coldly?!"

"This is unfair treatment, you know!"

Confused at the two, I remembered once more what Yamamoto had told me, and realization dawned on me.

"...You two really are idiots."

"W-what?!" the two protested.

"Hayato's my childhood friend from Italy, so it's not very strange for me to be familiar with him, no? My so-called "cold" treatment is because I was your manager who strictly wanted you to improve and didn't really care for a friendship. Since I'm no longer a manager, I may as well just treat you like a classmate."

"B-but-!"

"But you guys considered me your friend. Despite what I did, you still wanted me to return to the club, and refused to treat me like a stranger. Therefore, you two are idiots."

Kishimoto-kun rubbed the back of his head awkwardly. "You say 'despite what I did,' but it's not like you did anything terrible, Manager. We shouldn't be mad at you for leaving, it's your life and we have no say in it."

"But we really wanted you to return, so we thought maybe you'd come back once you realize what you're missing out on," Okumura-kun chimed in. "Though, your cold personality does scare us. Yet, here you are, cold personality destructed!"

"I wouldn't consider you an idiot if you knew how to use your words properly..." I murmured. "Anyway, if you want, I can treat you like Hayato. This idiot is a huge tsundere, though, so he might get jealous, right, Haya...to?" Turning to the spot where he once was, I found that he was gone. Frowning, I turned back to the idiots. "When did he leave?"

"As soon as we started talking to you."

Groaning, I dropped to a crouch. Looking around for any signs of him, all I found were other students conversing with each other and an empty coffee can resting on a windowsill.


January 30, 20XX

.

.

.

Probably because my cold personality was something I had built up from the beginning of the school year, my newfound cheery behavior weirded out a majority of my classmates, including Okumura and Kishimoto.

Naturally, I reverted back to my cold state, relieving not only just my classmates, but myself as well.

During the short time period of my personality change, I felt like I was forcing myself to keep on the act, while with Hayato it all just came out naturally.

...Maybe it was because Hayato never wanted me to treat him that way...?

Not that I would stop, though.

Despite everything they complained about, the baseball-crazy classmates of mine stopped treating me like a stranger and started calling me Manager again, which I still wasn't and probably should've been by now.

"Oh c'mon, Manager, we need you back! Without you, we're fucked!"

"Language," commented Kishimoto.

"Oh whatever!" he waved his friend off. "Anyway, you don't know how shitty Nanase-senpai felt after what he said to you that day, Manager! We all know he really didn't mean it, so come on, come ba-!"

"Hah... and here I was, wondering where our cute little kouhais were, skipping practice and all, but here they were, lazing around and talking to their friend!"

"Jiri, c'mon, they were probably just trying to recruit people! Surely they wouldn't possibly skip without a reason, right?"

"Ah, you're right Ryouta, how could I possibly doubt our cute underclassmen, after all!"

Kishimoto smiled nervously at the third years. "S-senpai..."

Okumura laughed awkwardly. "Y-you see, uh..."

The two just stared at my classmates in annoyance, waiting.

"W-we um... forgot?"

"You what-?!"

"-I apologize for interrupting in advance, but..." Frowning, I looked up at the familiar upperclassman. "Do you allow girls to be recruited into our team now, senpais? I mean, I understand you were being sarcastic, but you guys didn't actually think I was a guy, did you?"

Their eyes widened at my familiar face, they jabbed their finger at my direction. "M-m-m-m-manager?!"

I blinked. "Ah. So you did mistake me for a guy."

Nanase-senpai only stuttered at the sight of me, and pointed to the top of my head. "Y-y-y-y-y-your h-hair...!"

A bit annoyed now, I scoffed and turned to Kishimoto and Okumura. "Any thought I had of returning just dissipated. How could I return to a club that can't even recognize a former manager because she had a haircut?"

"Um, Manager, t-to be fair..." Kishimoto smiled awkwardly. "I didn't recognize you either."

"...Same here."

"...Which proves my point." Whether it was from disbelief or annoyance, I stood and left the classroom without a word.

I really needed a certain Rain to rant to at the moment.


"Do I look like a guy to you?"

After blinking multiple times, the baseball idiot just stared at me. "Is this a trick question?"

I stared at Yamamoto in confusion. "What?"

He laughed, and just hung his arm over my shoulder. "Sorry, it's just... I didn't expect you to worry about this kind of stuff, Manager."

Brushing off his arm, I frowned at him. "Just answer my question."

"Alright, alright." Ruffling my hair, he grinned at me. "Don't worry so much about that! You look cute!"

Shocked, I blinked multiple times and looked at Yamamoto. "...What?"

He tilted his head. "Did I say that aloud?" Shrugging, his boyish grin grew. "It's true, though, haha. I like your hair like this, Manager!"

"...You... really are on a different level of idiocy, huh?"

He blinked this time. "Eh?"

Only he would say something like that without getting embarrassed...

Sighing, I fixed my hair, and felt Yamamoto's arm hang around my shoulder again.

"I don't get what you mean, but anyway, let's go! The baseball club awaits!"

"Baseball club? Why are we going there? Aren't we gonna go hang with Sawada and Co.?"

He frowned. "Manager, you said you wanted to join again. You can't keep putting it off to the side, we really need you back. We're at risk of losing this season."

"Why? They have you, the super ace. How could you possibly lose? I wasn't that much of a big help you know." Sighing, I flicked his forehead.

"Ow," he rubbed his now red forehead.

"Anyway, you guys got a new manager awhile ago. It wouldn't do to have two managers, so I'm probably just not going to join."

Still rubbing his forehead, he grinned at me. "Why not? The more the better, as they say!"

"It's 'the more the merrier,' stupid."

"Ah, right, that!" Yamamoto then smiled at me, almost endearingly. Almost. "See, Manager? I can't even imagine how I'd survive without you."

His statement made me do a double take and I ended up choking on my own saliva, throwing into a fit of coughing.

"E-eh Manager? Are you okay..?"

"Fine," I immediately interceded.

He really is an oblivious idiot.

If it wasn't Yamamoto saying that, I probably would've thought that a love confession.

"A-anyway, t-that's not gonna make me change my mind. I'm sure the new manager will be fine on her own. If you're not going to Sawada, I'll just go on my own." Quickly trying to escape, I was soon lifted into the air and with a squeak I realized what was going on.

The idiot was carrying me, bridal style.

Unable to stop the heat on my cheeks, I protested. "Y-Yamamoto! What the actual...?!"

Unfazed, he only sent a cheeky grin. "We have to make a grand entrance for the Queen of Baseball, am I right, Yuki-sama?~"

Muttering multiple Italian curses at once, I shut my eyes tight and covered my face. "...You... are the biggest idiot of them all."

"Haha, thanks! ...Wait, you're not going to throw anything at me, Manager? I used your name!"

Is that what you're most concerned about right now..?!


February 14, 20XX

.

.

.

"Say, Yukki-chan..." started Kyoko. She shifted a little and then smiled awkwardly. "Are you giving chocolate to someone today?"

I blinked, and stared at her, confused. "What?"

She averted her eyes, putting a stray hair around her ear. "Sorry, Yukki-chan, I'm just... curious."

"C'mon Kyoko, it's me we're talking about. When have I ever given someone chocolate?"

"I... I know, but..." She pursed her lips, and then stared up at me. "Don't you have a crush on Yamamoto-kun?"

Blinking multiple times, I frowned. "...What?"

She blinked back. "E-eh? Was I wrong? I just figured, because I saw Yamamoto-kun carrying you to the baseball club, and-"

"Stop stop stop right there!" Panicking, I held onto her shoulders. "Y-you knew it was me?!"

Kyoko frowned, hurt evident in her eyes. "If I can't recognize you without your face, what kind of sister would I be?"

I panicked even more. "N-no, Kyoko, that's not what I meant, it's just...!" I made a strangled noise, and crouched, burying my face in my knees. "Fucking Yamamoto Takeshi...!"

At this point, my sister was at the peak of her confusion. "So you do like Yamamoto-kun?"

"No! No no no no no, I don't, it's just..." Sighing, I rose to my full height again and smiled awkwardly. "He's super oblivious of the actions he takes, and a normal person would react the way I do. That's it. Yamamoto is just... a friend."

Pouting, Kyoko huffed. "Are you sure about that? I'm usually right about these things, Yukki-chan."

I couldn't help but whine. "W-why are you so bothered about it? Do you want me to like him?!"

She blinked, and she smiled awkwardly. "Is it bad of me to ship you guys?"

"You what?!" Exasperated, I turned to her. "Don't you like Yamamoto? If you didn't you wouldn't have had this much trouble asking me the question in the first place, am I right?"

"Eh? O-oh, no, I just wasn't sure how to bring it up, that's all."

"Is that so..." Suspicious of her, I narrowed my eyes at her. "If you don't like Yamamoto... then who is that chocolate for?"

Surprised, she jumped, and she looked around for the addressed chocolate before hiding it. "I... I don't know what you're talking about..."

"C'mon Kyoko, you can't hide this from me, I'm your sister. Who is that for?"

Squirming, she averted her eyes before flushing. "It's... for..."


"...you."

"Eh? You're giving this to me?"

"Yep. You see..."

The rest of the conversation was drowned out from Hayato's ears.

It didn't take a genius to figure out the sight before his eyes: Yukino was giving that baseball idiot her chocolate for Valentine's Day.

And that was a sight he definitely did not want to see today.

He wasn't sure if it was because of his horrible luck, but lately everywhere he went he's been seeing the frivolous acts of the couple, and he absolutely hated it.

Using the word couple to describe the two made him hate it even more.

If the two oblivious idiots weren't already, they should hurry up and get together, in Hayato's opinion.

At least once they were together they would stop the PDA and spare his sight.

...Yet at the same time, that would anger him as well.

Contradicting thoughts like these have been appearing in Hayato's mind.

Despite how much he hated to admit it, he realized he was stuck in a one-sided unrequited love with... her.

And with the low amount of patience he had, he wanted to tell her.

And yet, he didn't.

Most of it was due to fear of him lashing out again, most of it was from fear of rejection.

...It wasn't as if he was new to that in the thirteen years of his life.

Laughter interrupted his thoughts, and once again he saw that the two still hadn't left.

The baseball idiot had given his chocolate to her, and she had slapped him and called him an idiot.

That was the last straw, and Hayato quickly found anger breaking his fear and did what he did best.

Lash out.


February 15, 20XX

.

.

.

"Just get together already, will you?! Seeing you two everyday makes me sick!"

"I had to deal with so much shit today, I didn't need this either!"

"Stop trying to protest! You... have no reason to, Yukino."

Opening my eyes to the blinding sunlight, I tried to process the dreams I had, and felt myself laugh bitterly.

"Ah, right. Hayato was being a tsundere again."

Staring at the ceiling, I tried to recall the events from days before.

Kyoko had told me her chocolate was for Sawada, and had chickened out in her chance to give it to him. Despite my previous disapproval at the thought of the two together, I realized that I couldn't really stop the two. Determined to make it up to Sawada, I had tried to find him to give it to him in her stead, but could not find him. After spotting Yamamoto, I had planned to give it to him instead, since he was always with Sawada anyway, but then Hayato misinterpreted my actions, and...

He confessed to me.

Tsundere-style, though, my brain helpfully added.

If the purpose of his confession was for him to be stuck in my thoughts 24/7, well, it worked.

Thanks to Yamamoto, I was officially part of the baseball club again, but because of the incident, I haven't been able to focus.

...It didn't help that he started ignoring me again.

Hearing the familiar ping for a message, I scurried over to where my phone was, hoping it was Hayato.

...It wasn't.

To: Nemui-Yukki

Fr: currently absent tutor

Subject: Disappointed it wasn't Gokudera?

click for attachment

Sighing, I stared at my phone with narrowed eyes.

To: currently absent tutor

Fr: Nemui-Yukki

Subject: shut up

what do you want so early in the morning

He didn't respond, so I assumed he just wanted me to click the damn attachment.

Clicking it, I proceeded to start getting ready, leaving my cellphone at my desk.

My phone was pretty crappy, so it took awhile for pictures to load.

After returning from my morning routine, I saw that the picture was ready to open, and opened it.

If it wasn't for the tight grip on my phone, I probably would've dropped it in shock.

With no word to my siblings, I bolted out the door towards the Sawada residence.


"Y-Yukki-san?! W-what are you doing here...?"

"Futa."

Sawada blinked. "I'm sorry...?"

With panicked eyes, I stared at him. "Futa's here, isn't he?!"

He frowned. "Well, yeah, but why are you searching for him...?"

"Tsuna-nii? I heard my name being called... Ah! Is she another friend of yours, Tsuna-nii?"

My eyes widened. "...Futa."

"A-ah, Futa! She's well... uh, I guess she's...?"

There, on the stairs, was my little brother, Futa de la Stella.

However, he showed no signs of recognizing me, and frowned. "Do you know me, Nee-chan?"

Wincing at the name, I bit my lip, trying to push back the hurt.

Of course he wouldn't remember me... after all, he was three and I left him there...

Frowning, Futa tilted his head. "Huh? My ranking abilities won't work on you, Onee-chan. Why is that? Who are you?"

"Juudaime~ I've arrived to your house agai-" He froze. "Y-Yukino."

Turning around, I watched Hayato pale as he looked at me and Futa.

Forcing a smile, I looked at Futa and waved awkwardly. "Hi, Futa-kun. I'm Sasagawa Yukino, but feel free to call me Yukki."

He beamed. "Ah, I see! Nice to meet you, Yukki-nee! Are you one of Tsuna-nii's subordinates?"

"That's right." Looking up at Sawada, I smiled bitterly. "Take good care of Futa-kun, okay, Sawada?"

The poor brunette just stared at the whole interaction, extremely confused. "E-eh? Y-yeah..."

"You little..." Hayato glared at Futa with clenched fists. "How could you not remember your own older sister?! Do you know what she had to go through-"

"Hayato stop, it's alright-"

"Like hell it's alright! This little bastard doesn't deserve to be called your brother, why can't you understand...!"

"I said it's alright!" I bit my lip, and tugged his sleeve. "Drop it."

Hayato gritted his teeth.

"U-um... Yukki-san? Is what Gokudera-kun said... true?"

Blinking, I looked up at Sawada's confused expression, and I smiled awkwardly. "Y-yeah. Sorry for the ruckus. I'll leave, Sawada."

Making myself look up at Futa, I forced another smile. "Don't mind what Hayato said, Futa-kun. Listen to Sawada well, okay?"

"O-okay..."

Walking past the gate, I spotted Reborn on one of the walls surrounding Sawada's home.

His fedora was tilted, and it shadowed his eyes. "Nemui-Yukki. Why can't Futa rank your abilities?"

I smiled. "Maybe because my existence was erased from his life? My stepmother probably went through some extremes to convince him that I didn't exist."

"I see."

"Thank you for telling me, Reborn. About Futa being here, I mean."

"That's nothing to thank for, Yukino de la Stella."

I laughed bitterly. "How many times do I have to tell you? I abandoned that name a long time ago! Jeez Reborn, you never listen!"

Walking towards the nearest park, I sat down at a swing and let myself cry.

"You really are stupid."

Quickly wiping away my tears, I smiled. "Thanks Hayato."

"What kind of idiot thanks someone for insulting them?"

I offered a laugh. "This idiot."

Being the prideful bastard he was, Hayato decided to lean on the poles by the swings. "You can cry, you know. Being weak means you've been strong for too long."

Blinking at the familiar phrase, I couldn't help but tease. "Man, Hayato, are you a stalker? Using Yamamoto's line to comfort me..."

"W-what?! What are you talking about, that baseball idiot used this line...?!"

"Thanks."

He blinked. "Huh?"

Staring up at the blue sky, I smiled to myself. "It's the thought that counts, right? Thanks for trying to comfort me."

"...Whatever."

I turned my gaze towards the silver haired bomber, and smiled. "Say, Hayato."

"What?"

"Can I hug you?"


I finally decided to update this story, after like, what a year?

I want to apologize sincerely for my missing state, it's just... sure school was a reason, but most of it was because I procrastinated a lot and I really had no good ideas whatsoever.

If I could, I would apologize 100000000000 times, so, I'm really really sorry.

See, I would promise another chapter soon, but honestly, I have no clue if I can keep that promise.

After this period, I'm kind of scared of my procrastination tendencies.

Man, I really need to get rid of the habit.

Anyway, I hope you enjoyed this chapter!

I still haven't decided which ship, but you can tell I'm definitely focusing on both their relationships.

I know I know, Gokudera and Yukino are on a rocky relationship, but I couldn't seem to avoid it. I mean... Gokudera has a pretty tsundere personality and I found myself interpreting their relationship this way, I guess, lol idk.

About Futa.

I'm so sososososososososoososo sorry.

I couldn't help but find that he probably wouldn't even remember her, so I proceeded to write their reunion this way...?

Though it was pretty rushed, in my opinion. Sorry about that... but uh...

I almost made Yukino give up herself to Mukuro early on, but at least I didn't do that, right?

Haha... ha... sorry.

I wrote an extra long chapter for you guys, I mean, it wasn't extra long, but its longer than usual...?

Idek at this point.

Anyway, I hope you guys forgive me like Yukino did Hayato, but uh... I doubt it.

I won't be surprised if you guys don't.

Hope you enjoyed this chapter again, and uh...

til next time? (whenever that is i have no clue but aye I updated!)

Thank you for yall who reviewed, favorited, and followed or even just read, bc that makes me ultra happy!

Time to meet Mukuro-chan in next chapter~ Finally, action part is coming!

Signing off, this is trash author Ally!

ciao ciao