A/N:

Can I just warn you that we're about to enter Tsuna's arc after some chapter? I mean I can't just throw Tsuna in the AC world without a good background, yeah? Hahahaha!

Anyway, go on.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Tsuna is not Karma. Nope. He's very far from the redhead. Although both have no friends at all since elementary until the second year of middle school (except that time that the redhead was friends with Nagisa), they have differences in terms of treasuring things. While Karma likes to know everything about his friend, Tsuna is okay with knowing little. If the redhead gets jealous of other people taking his friend's attention, the brunet doesn't mind.

It's not like Karma is being obsessive. He's just the type to keep people closer since his parents never really nurtured him after he turned ten, and he grew up mostly on his own at some ways. It can't be helped if the redhead feels wrong whenever Terasaka takes Tsuna somewhere, or that the brunet has a somewhat close acquaintanceship with Asano. Maybe the only one he doesn't mind seeing Tsuna being close with are Kanzaki and Koro-sensei since they don't want to monopolize his friend.

And it's not like Tsuna is being neglectful. He just doesn't want to assert himself in to people's lives after being abandoned and taught to not trust anyone at a very young age. So, whenever Karma asks Tsuna if he could go to Nagisa, he doesn't mind and he understands. People in his own circle have their own lives to deal with as he does. In the world he lives in, he has no right to objectify people and be selfish of their presence in his life.

So, it's not a question why Tsuna doesn't interact much with Nagisa. They already gave consent to each other to be called by their given names. They also come together with Karma's insistence. But it doesn't mean they don't have awkward moments like what's happening between them at the moment.

"Ah." Nagisa uttered while looking back to the door he used to come there. "They're already starting."

"So, Irina-sensei really like Karasuma-sensei?" He tried to verify. He did suspect, but who is he to assume for the both teachers?

"Yeah. Irina-sensei confessed to us." Nagisa nodded with an amused smile. "She's pretty clumsy and innocent on some things too, huh?"

He paused a sec to think through before nodding. There were instances... "Yeah. She is. But that mission will be hard. Most men are dense, you know."

"Eh?"

He let his lips quirk a little. "Did you know that girls are very intuitive while boys are kinda dense in terms of admiration, love and affection? The reason girls are sometimes hard to get is because they can judge the difference of affections. If a boy is faking it or something. Also, they could take the hints and realize that boys like them. Like helping them always. Like Sugino-san to Kanzaki-san."

"You know that?!" Nagisa exclaimed, making him huff a small snicker.

"It was obvious. Now, on the other hand, boys cannot notice hints. We're dense as thick as three blocks of neighborhood. So doing that plan in mind is kinda impossible. Irina-sensei has to confess outright to convey her feelings."

"E-Eh..." Then Nagisa looked back with a contemplating expression. "That will be hard."

"It's fine." He takes back as he leaned back. "Let's make them have their fun. Things will work out between them naturally. We just have to help Karasuma-sensei acknowledge Irina-sensei's feelings."

"You sure?"

He nodded. "I'm pretty excited to see Karasuma-sensei's reaction though. I bet he didn't expect it."

Nagisa chuckled. "Yeah!"

Slowly, the teal-head's laugh died down and they entered silence that's either comfortable or awkward. Tsuna decided to go back to their room to ready his bag and was about to stand when Nagisa spoke.

"If you were asked to fight Takaoka-sensei back when he entered the class, what will you do?" Nagisa asked, curious.

"I'd kill him." He answered bluntly. Surprise settled in those eyes. "If I did, what happened yesterday won't happen."

"But isn't that murder?"

"If it was on spot. But what if he died due to trauma? Like concussion? A severed blood vessel on the thigh? There are a lot of ways to kill a person without actually killing them on the spot." He gave a small smirk. "Scary, isn't it?"

Nagisa took a second before an understanding smile was formed. "It is. I should've known that the most uninterested one among us is the scariest too."

"It only applies to those I really hate." He assured. "If we weren't quick on our feet, he could've slapped Kanzaki-san that time. He could've hit Kurahashi-san too. I bet Maehara-san still feels the pain on his stomach." He turned to Nagisa when he felt the latter staring. "Yes?"

"I really admire you, Tsuna." Nagisa said with the sincerest expression Tsuna saw in him. "The first time I noticed you back then, was when Terasaka gave me the grenade and you witnessed it. It wasn't when you shot Sensei that morning. It was when you got up from the meadow and nodded at me like you didn't hear anything from the transaction between me and Terasaka. Honestly, I thought you were going to let it be. You didn't seem like the type to care about anything. I also thought you were going to talk about it to Koro-sensei. I was torn between confronting you and watching what will you do. But when you saved me, the first thing that came into my mind was to thank you.

"When Karma jumped off the cliff to bait Koro-sensei, I thought my heart skipped a lot of beats. But when I noticed you jumped too, reaching out to save him, I knew to myself that my mind went blank that time. And the very first thing that came to my mind again was to thank you. It was the same when you and Karma made Koro-sensei stay after our failure in midterms, when you were persistent to save Kayano and Kanzaki-san, when you kicked Ritsu-san's box because you got annoyed with her. That time when you asked us to be careful with Takaoka-sensei because he doesn't seem trustful to you and stepped in front of Kanzaki-san and Kurahashi-san when he started to become violent. It was the same when you tried to gun down Itona-san and Shiro-san to help Koro-sensei. And even yesterday. You carried your own to at least help us.

"Even though you never really interact with us nor talk to us like how others do, you give us your full trust and believe us like we will never betray you. That time with Takaoka-sensei and yesterday, you told me the same thing. You trust and believe me, that you have my back if ever something happens. So Tsuna, thank you so much."

The brunet blinked before he turned his head away to hide his blush. "Y-You're welcome." Then he glanced back shortly. "Just be careful next time and try to reason out the others."

"I'll try." The teal-head replied before curiosity flashed in those eyes. "Are you and Karma-kun okay? Have you talked?"

He willed his blush down as he shook his head. "Not yet. I'll try pulling up a time. I can't just pull him out of nowhere when he's busy thinking about life or something."

"You'll be fine. Karma-kun really likes you as a friend."

"Don't you?" He asked back. "You were Karma's very first friend. You're also someone who understands him a lot. Don't you want to bring back your old friendship?"

Nagisa blushed. "You know that?"

"I see things whenever I hide away from my pursuers. But, I mean, don't you feel an ugly thing creeping inside you when you see me and Karma?"

Nagisa looked down to his hands. "I'm not jealous of you, but I envy how close you are. I know you don't stop Karma-kun from venturing on my side. He was grumbling that one time when you kicked him away to spend some time to actual people. You said he's being anti-social because of you."

"I don't mean to make it look bad." He defended. "I don't want him to just focus on me and follow me around while I do my job. I'm pretty boring since I don't do much. It's better for him to spend his time with you since you're friends."

"Y-You're not boring! You're pretty fun to be with! B-But you think we still are?"

"You're close now, what more if you officially reconcile?"

Nagisa stayed quiet for a sec before he chuckled. "Thank you, Tsuna."

"No problem." He replied just as Kayano's head popped from the door. "Is it dinner already, Kayano-san?"

"Yes!" The greenette answered with a cheer. "Our plan is to kick out Irina-sensei and Karasuma-sensei so they can dine outside. We already requested such. So don't offer him a seat, okay?"

Tsuna and Nagisa glanced at each other before nodding. "Okay."

The night went on with the plan. It was almost a fail. He just knew. But Irina-sensei ended it with a final move. Although, it will take an obvious 'point out' to make Karasuma-sensei realize that what the blondie teacher did was an indirect kiss. He must have thought that it was something else.

Tsuna sat by the patio as the night deepens. The moon is still half crescent but beautiful. The sky is full of stars and the wind isn't as chilly as most of the days. Raising the drink—something he requested from the staffs as he lounged there, he took a small sip before glancing back to see who was approaching. It was Karma in his usual pajamas.

"Shouldn't you be sleeping?" The redhead asked to him as he brought down his drink.

He shrugged. "Body clock."

"You could've forced it. We'll be back tomorrow, and knowing you, you'll jump head start on working again."

He looked up to the sky again before answering. "Nah. I'll be starting again the day after. The managers will kick me out if I suddenly show up on the same day I came back from a trip." His face contorted to a small scowl when he remembered how those four managers responded to his leave. "I bet they'll even be happy if I extend until the end of summer. Not like they'll sustain my needs if I do that."

"You could live with me." His head snapped to the redhead's direction. "I usually live alone, you know. My parents are mostly around the world."

"Doesn't mean I should accept the invitation." He huffed before looking up again. "If I don't have a choice, I'll accept that offer."

"Good to hear."

Then silence.

"Karma-"

"Tsuna-"

They stared at each other for a sec before both of them chuckled.

"You go first, Karma." Tsuna offered.

"I... I just want to apologize for blowing out on you like that." Karma sighed. "I should've told you calmly and asked you directly about the situation. I'm sorry, Tsuna."

"Apology accepted." He affirmed. "But it was partly my fault too. You were right. I should've told you in the first place if there was any close connection between Asano-san and I, or to any person, even if I think it's not important. I'll consider things next time, I promise."

"So... We're good? I'm welcome to your places again?" The other asked like a child, eyes twinkling with hope.

He can't help laughing a little. "Yes, Karma. You're welcome to go there again."

"I can eat your cooking again?"

"Yes. Always, as long as you pay."

Karma laughed before he sighed in relief. "I'm glad we're fine now. I thought you'll cut connection with me."

"If you stop approaching me, I will also ignore you." Tsuna clarified as the redhead decided to sit beside him.

"I figured." The redhead nodded sagely.

Brown eyes gazed at his friend before he blinked when he remembered something. "I sent your video to Xanxus, by the way. And some pictures when you smashed Grip's phone too."

"What?! You did? He'll think I'm weak if he sees those." The other whined, looking so horrified with the notion. It made Tsuna roll his eyes.

"Karma, you went up against the sword emperor and survived. If Grip had known that, he'll be amazed. Heck, the other two will even regard you as a living legend for that. Besides, it's a good news for Xanxus. So, he won't worry that we're not friends anymore or something."

"You told him?"

"He asked. And he gave me some advice. I should probably thank him or something. Ah. And I met some people with Koro-sensei this morning." He pulled out his phone and opened it. "They are some amazing people and don't underestimate them just by looking at their appearances." He searched for the kids' picture then showed it to Karma who peered at it too. "The whitehead is Byakuran, while the greenette is Yuni. They are both future leaders of their famiglie."

Gold eyes observed the two. "They're too young."

He waved his hand dismissively. "If a five years old prince can be king today after the previous ruler died yesterday, it's the same in Mafia. Even if under training, you'll be a ruler, although there will be restrictions, and you'll have some helping hands here and there. It's a matter of inheritance."

"What did you talk about though? Knowing the people surrounding you, you'll go deep talks about everything."

"Stuffs that is related to Mafia and... That family." He watched as those gold eyes turned murky. "Don't think about it. They weren't here to convince me to go back. They hate those bunch as much as you hate them. You'll even bond over it, if I know. It's just that the three of us are like soulmates in some sense that's why we seek each other out. When we're in each other's presence, we make everything among us equilibrium. Right now, I feel balanced because of them."

Karma inspected him and nodded in agreement. "Yeah. You appear more relax."

He quirked a small smile before taking back his phone. "Well, that summed up all the things that happened today." 'Not everything though.'

"You're not really going back to the main building, right?"

He rolled his eyes again. "I don't want to die yet, Karma."

The redhead laughed. "Okay. If ever Asano asks you again, tell me."

"No way." He denied immediately.

"Why so?"

"Because you'll taunt him. And don't put me in the middle of your rivalry. I'm not part of it."

"Technically, you are. You've topped too, and almost took the first rank. So in a sense, you are my second rival."

"That just doesn't make any sense-"

"Wait. Let me explain how it works-"

The two continued to argue about school stuffs that are related to Asano and some more things. Tsuna's intuition didn't alert him of all the figures that are listening to the two from the very start. They sighed in relief when the two reconciled.

"E-Eh?" Muramatsu blurted as they stared at each other.

"The cashier is that way, Sir." He informed after a recovering from the shock.

"A-Ah. Yeah. Thanks." Muramatsu nodded, still surprised.

Tsuna turned to the next aisle just as he heard Yoshida's voice calling out for Muramatsu. He let his breathing slowly relax as he went for the manga section to arrange the books again. They're usually the ones that get disarrayed a lot.

It's currently ten on Saturday morning, two days since they came back from Okinawa. Since then, he didn't interact with his classmates nor had seen any of them, except when they suddenly enter the shops he's working at. There were close encounters, but the incident with Muramatsu awhile ago was one in a million chances. He wonders if Terasaka and Hazama were with them. He cringed. Hope not. Terasaka can be persistent as fuck. Like who will wait for hours outside the convenient store just to pester him? Terasaka, obviously.

He was finishing up everything when he heard his name being called. He looked up to see Lady Shouyo walking towards him. He immediately stood up and bowed to the owner of the shop. The old lady smiled at him warmly and asked him to come. He did.

Shouyo Ayame, also known as Lady Ayame or Lady Shouyo, is the owner of the bookstore Tsuna worked at every Saturday as a full-time job. She's one of those people who willingly accepted Tsuna regardless of his age back when he was just entering middle school. That being said, there is no age limit in Yakuza as they say. Lady Shouyo is maybe old, but she's the person who conceived the current leader of the Tokyo Yakuza. She even has grandchildren now, given her age of seventy-nine. Other than those, she was known as a great woman in their history, so she's regarded with high respect.

The reason Tsuna got accepted as a bookshop clerk is because he got recommended by the convenient shop manager he is still working at. He needed extra income for his daily needs, so he was asked to go for Lady Shouyo. He didn't really need to grovel for her to accept him. All he needed was his student ID and a formal letter from the manager, then he got accepted.

Because of that too, he was able to get hold of many sources to widen his knowledge about everything. He reads books by the side when he has no customer to guide or no visitors to entertain while they wait for Lady Shouyo to attend the messenger. But no, he hadn't met any of her family. Except for her granddaughter who is the usual cashier of the store.

"How was school, Sawada-kun?" The old lady asked as they entered the patio of her receiving area. It's located at the back of the bookstore and usually used for the lady's visitors.

"It's bearable now." He answered truthfully as he pulled his shoes off and slipped on the slippers that was beside the lady's, which was already being worn by her.

"Please take a seat." Lady Shouyo said while directing him to the settee across from her.

Brown eyes inspected the center table between the two couches. There are snacks and a tea set on it already. Probably readied by the lady's granddaughter. "Did I do something wrong, Lady Shouyo?" He asked directly after taking a seat.

"Oh no, Sawada-kun." The lady assured with a warm smile. "You have done nothing wrong. Do not fret."

Tsuna eyed the tea set before giving out a soft sigh. "Let me pour you some tea."

"Child, this woman maybe old but I'm not that rickety."

"I didn't say that." He took a cup and put it in front of the lady before pouring some tea in it from the small pot. "So, you invited me over to...?"

"Have a tea with you." The old woman smiled again and took her cup.

Tsuna poured his own before placing the pot on the tray. "No offense, Lady Shouyo, but that sounded more suspicious."

The lady giggled. "You're such a cautious child." Tsuna watched her take a sip from her cup and didn't put it down, still within her lips' reach. "Do you know what day is it?"

"Thirtieth of August." He answered.

"Yes." The old woman answered with this nostalgic tone. "The day you showed up in my doorsteps and demanding audience."

Tsuna breathed slowly to will his embarrassment down. "That too."

"Nanami-chan was really surprised back then. I remember she described you as an adorable child politely demanding an audience from me." The lady laughed at him after noticing his light blush. "Still adorable, Sawada-kun."

"Lady Shouyo." He sighed.

The lady laughed again. "Maa. I called you here because Akashi asked for my help regarding you. He's asking me to tell you to don't come to work tomorrow because he's closing the store for the last day of summer festival."

"He's not closing it, is he?" He queried with passively.

"Nope." The lady answer with a pop of 'p'. "He's just kicking you out for the night. Which reminds me, they have been groaning how much of a workaholic you are." She gently placed her cup on the table and took a snack from the plate. "You're always present and never asked for a rest day so far."

"One day absent will result to deduction of salary." He reasoned while taking his own cup with a hand under as a support. Damn it. Hibari's influence is kicking on him. "I cannot afford that."

"Can't you, really?" He paused at the rhetoric question before continuing to sip on his tea. The lady regarded him with a stern gaze. "You should at least lay it back with all the loads on your shoulders, child. Time may fly, but it is still there."

"Work is the only thing that keeps me occupied these years."

"Have you ever tried visiting some shrines? Playing in the arcade? Recreation?"

He twitched a small smile. "Boring."

"What about visiting Shoji?" His hand paused from placing down his cup on the table as his head snapped up to see the lady who looked imploring. "Have you thought of visiting him? He's old, Sawada-kun."

"I don't know where he lives." He replied and continued to place his cup on the surface.

"I could give you his-"

"I don't even want to know where he lives." He added once more, looking down to the plate of snacks. "He left me, so he's the one who needs to look for me." He stood up and bowed shortly. "Thank you for the tea and the message from Manager Ota. I'll be going now."

He was by the door when the lady spoke more. "In my years in my family's business, I discovered that grudges lead to regrets. Please do not burden yourself with such load, Sawada-kun."

"I'll keep that in mind." And he went out.

He side-eyed Ogawara Nanami, the granddaughter, who was about to enter the receiving area. He only gave a nod of acknowledgement before going for the farthest aisle so he could arrange the disarrayed books and keep himself occupied.

It's like an omen. There are times that he doesn't like thinking about unexpected things. They usually end up coming true at the worst-case scenarios. One example is when he dreamed of his counterpart's Xanxus, and ended up being hunted by his Xanxus. He will never forget how that feels, honestly. Varia is a vulture who can pick on the living and the dead.

He sighed as he put the current book he had on his hand to where it belongs. Kurogane Shoji is the name of the old man who took him off the street when he was seven, five months since 'they' left him in Tokyo. The old man may act cold and stern, but Tsuna remembers his warm hands and teaching. Shoji taught him what he needed to do to survive and tasked him to make a living for himself. After three months and a half, he went off with his children who took him out there after living alone in a tatty building for years.

In Tsuna's defense, the reason he doesn't want to visit the old man is because he doesn't like asserting himself. The old man left him there instead of taking him in. Regardless of all the reasons his mind came up to justify the old man's decision, he can't get himself to try and visit. Besides, why does he need to concern himself to someone who didn't come back for him for the past eight years?

They're all the same. All adults are untrustworthy and abandon those they think unworthy for their time.