Summary: The school anthem is always played at graduations. Takeshi just happened to mention that Tsuna's official succession ceremony as Decimo is like a graduation. Kyoya will make sure that the ceremony has what it needs, especially an anthem even if it means playing the Nami-chu anthem.
Kyoya growled at the tailor who was currently taking his measurements. The poor old man shook as he hesitantly approached the skylark with his measuring tape in hand.
"Come on Hibari, we're not going to be able to get out of here faster when you keep doing that." Takeshi remarked with a lighthearted laugh, oblivious to the death glare now directed at him.
"That's EXTREMELY true! We have more EXTREME things to do for the party tomorrow night!" Ryohei exclaimed.
Kyoya felt a nerve twitch at the mention of the party.
"You idiot, it's more than a party!" Hayato barked, "It's Juudaime's Official Succession Ceremony!"
"What's the EXTREME difference?!"
"What's the difference?! It's when our Juudaime will finally step up to take over his position as Decimo. He will be recognized as the current leader of the Vongola Family! Nono will speak and Reborn-san will also have his own speech!" Hayato's lips quivered and his eyes watered at the thought, "Finally! Juudaime will be GREATEST leader in Vongola history! I can just see it! I'm so h-honoured to be beside him as… as… his right-hand man! -gasp- it's too good to be true!"
"I EXTREMELY don't get it!" Ryohei replied.
Cue tick mark, "Why yo-"
"Think of it as a graduation ceremony senpai!" Takeshi said.
Kyoya raised a brow as he stepped down from his step. The tailor silently sighed in relief having finished taking all their measurements; it wasn't easy dealing with the Vongola Decimo's guardians.
"Oh!" Ryohei nodded immediately in understanding, "Like when we EXTREMELY received that scrap of paper after high school?"
"It's your diploma!" Hayato exasperatedly said.
"Yeah! Basically, they're going to call Tsuna's name, he's going to walk on stage and he's going to get the scrap of paper with 'DECIMO' written on top!" Takeshi said with a cheery grin, as if proud of his explanation. Hayato felt irritated at his simplistic thinking.
"There must be an anthem to it then." Kyoya finally commented.
"Oh, Hibari you're EXTREMELY done!"
"Took you long enough, you bastard."
Takeshi thought for a second before replying, "Probably? I'm not really sure myself."
Kyoya didn't seem satisfied with this answer as they left the tailor shop to their car parked in front. Not that he couldn't care less for the omnivore's ceremony, but it was still a formal event. His time with the Disciplinary Committee had given him more than enough experience with ceremonies. Each one not without the glorious school anthem of Nami-chu. He'll have to make sure that this upcoming ceremony would not be lacking.
"Oh, it's Yamamoto's EXTREME turn to drive?!"
"Don't get us lost, sword freak."
"Ahaha! Don't worry, Gokudera. It's just a quick PSSHH turn when we get to that one street then we VROOM straight through to the next curb and then…"
For now, Kyoya will have to survive the next few minutes with these low-lifes.
The skylark walked through the busy hallways of the Vongola Mansion. The maids and the servants made sure to stay out of the cloud guardian's way as they bustled in and out of rooms in preparation for the following night's event.
Kyoya found himself passing by an open door that provided a view of one of the many computer labs in the mansion. The only person in the room seemed to be Irie Shoichi whose eyes were glued to a screen as usual. If he remembered correctly, Shoichi not only supervised the computer systems to be used for the event but also music and entertainment.
"Irie Shoichi." Kyoya called. The red head didn't seem to hear as his fingers continued to clack away at the keyboard.
"Irie Shoichi." Kyoya called again, now walking towards the hacker.
Shoichi jumped and snapped his head towards the voice only to feel the beginnings of a stomachache seeing the infamous strongest guardian. "A-ah… Hi-Hibari-san… Can I help you?"
"Tomorrow night."
"Hm?"
"When Tsunayoshi walks to the stage, an anthem will be played." Kyoya didn't necessarily ask but rather stated as if it was a given. He nevertheless wanted to confirm with the red head. Shoichi blinked twice.
"U-um… An anthem?"
Kyoya's felt his patience wearing thin already. "As it is a ceremony. An anthem will be played."
"… Well, n-not when the ceremony starts of course." Shoichi corrected. He was confused but Kyoya's growing displeasure made his stomach churn. "W-why d-do you ask?"
"There must be an anthem. Write one by tomorrow night." With that, Kyoya walked away leaving a befuddled Shoichi in the lab. Kyoya couldn't believe it. For as prestigious an organization as Vongola, they didn't know the customs required of a ceremony. He had higher standards for the Famiglia. He huffed and went to his room.
Shoichi on the other hand, stared at the now empty space where Kyoya previously occupied. There was no way he could write an anthem by tomorrow night! Granted he still maintained his musicianship over the years but in addition to his responsibilities, he couldn't possibly find the time to compose an anthem. There shouldn't even be music playing during the serious ceremony!
"U-ugh…" He clutched at his stomach. But if he didn't do it, he might get bitten to death. Ah, what got into the ex-prefect's mind this time?
"Should you really be wasting time like this, Irie?" a deep baritone voice spoke up.
Shoichi looked up and his stomachache got worse upon seeing the tall, devil hitman. "R-Reborn-san. S-Sorry, so-something came up."
"Oh? Such as? I saw Hibari walk out of the room, did it have something to do with that?"
"Y-Yeah… He a-asked about Tsunayoshi-kun's c-ceremony having an a-anthem. I-I told him i-it wo-wouldn't b-but n-now he wants me to co-compose one." Shoichi explained. Reborn raised a brow in amusement. He considered the different outcomes of the current issue at hand, weighing the pros and the cons.
He smirked. True, it was traditionally a serious event, but it wasn't against any law to have an anthem. Not that anyone would stop the skylark, they've only just moved to Italy after Tsuna turned 18 and yet Kyoya had already built up a reputation of being the worst person to cross.
In any case, a boss should be prepared for anything, including humiliation and embarrassment. Tsuna has had plenty experience with it as No-Good Tsuna so it shouldn't be a problem if a certain anthem was to be played at the event.
Shoichi didn't like the gleam in the hitman's eyes. "R-Reborn-san?"
Reborn smiled a sickeningly sweet smile, "Focus on what you were doing and don't compose anything." He made his way to the exit.
"W-what? But I'll be bitten to death!" Reborn held a hand to the door frame and glanced at Shoichi with a smirk with a threatening gun in the other hand.
"Is there a problem? It's either Hibari or me. I suggest you choose wisely."
Shoichi yelped and fainted on the spot. Reborn chuckled and left the room.
The next day, Shoichi tried his best to avoid the skylark as he checked the security systems all over the mansion. He had already spoken to the string quartet he hired who were warming up in one of the guest rooms. As Reborn had ordered, he didn't write a single note of music. He supposed he could tell Kyoya that it was the hitman who told him to not write anything. Kyoya did respect him. Yeah he'll do th-
"Irie Shoichi."
"Rebornsantoldmenotto!" Shoichi trembled as he turned to face Kyoya who was already in his suit with the purple undershirt.
"… The anthem?" He inquired.
"I-I di-didn't w-write a-anything." Oh there goes his stomach aching. Shoichi clutched at it as he continued, "R-Reborn-san told me n-not to. E-even if I d-did, I don't think it would be u-up to standard with all the duties I-I have to do…"
Kyoya stared at the poor red head as he finally fell to the floor. The skylark raised his arm and Shoichi shut his eyes, preparing to get bitten to death. Ah, at least he's pretty much finished most of what he needed to do that day.
Shoichi waited but the moment didn't come. He peeked through one eye and he saw a tiny purple USB with a cute image of Hibird imprinted on its body dangling in front of him. "Eh?"
"I have an anthem. When the time comes, I will send one of my members to play it through the speakers." Kyoya pocketed it and walked away. The skylark felt annoyed that he had to do everything around here. He sighed before his lips curved upwards to a small smile as he gazed at his USB. Then again, nothing could be as majestic and glorious an anthem as the song in the little storage device. If he must hear it once more, he would be more than happy to.
Shoichi felt himself relax. "If he had an anthem, he could've just told me." He stood up and patted down his pants, "I guess I didn't need to worry about it after all."
"Worry about what?"
Shoichi turned around to see Takeshi, Hayato and Tsuna, all in their suits with undershirts according to their respective colors.
"Ah! Good afternoon, you guys done lunch?"
"Yup! It was delicious!" Takeshi replied.
"It was, wasn't it? Ah Shoichi-kun, what did you have to worry about? Anything we can do to help?" Tsuna smiled. They really didn't have anything until the event so they might as well do what they can.
Shoichi shook his head. "It's about the anthem."
"Anthem? What the hell do we need an anthem for?" Hayato asked.
"Well yesterday, Hibari-san insisted that the ceremony should have an anthem, so he asked me to write one but then Reborn-san told me not to. When I told him today, Hibari-san apparently already had an anthem in a USB to play when you're called up later tonight. So, I don't have to worry about it. Despite his bloodlust and scariness, Hibari-san is quite reliable, so I don't really have any reason to doubt his musical preferences." Shoichi explained. His brows furrowed in confusion as he watched the trio's expression grow more and more troubled as he finished his explanation.
"Anthem…" Takeshi said with a nervous smile.
"I-It c-can o-only be that a-anthem… Right?"
"Irie." Hayato held Shoichi by the shoulders with a tight grip. The red head yelped in surprise, "Hibari's choice in music is exactly what you should doubt."
"E-Eh? What are you guys talking about?" Shoichi didn't think that he would be getting stomachaches from these three and yet here it comes once more.
"W-We have to get that USB!" Tsuna cried out.
"God forbid, he plays that at Juudaime's ceremony!" Hayato shouted in agreement.
"Yeah ahaha… I don't think that would be appropriate." Takeshi said. He turned to Shoichi, "What did the USB look like?"
"U-um… It's purple with a little Hibird sticker on it." The hacker replied timidly.
"L-Let's go find it!" Tsuna dashed down the hallway with amazing determination while Hayato followed suit.
"Thank you!" Takeshi yelled as he ran after his friends, leaving Shoichi in a state of confusion.
The official ceremony was in 45 minutes and they still haven't gotten their hands on the USB. Takeshi walked through the somewhat empty hallways of the mansion. Most of the servants were back in the auditorium tending to the party where all the hosts and guests were gathering. The three had temporarily split in hopes that it would be more efficient but at that point Takeshi was resigning to the unfortunate fate that the Namimori Middle School anthem would be played when Tsuna was called up.
He slowed down to a steady pace and headed back towards the auditorium. On the way there, he passed by a room that seemed to have a bunch of people inside. That was odd. He tried to open the door but found that it was locked.
"Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah, ah…." The people – all men, Takeshi noted – inside sang as the key went up a semitone.
'A men's choir?' He thought. The swordsman wondered if this was part of the entertainment later tonight. He couldn't remember having a guest room around this vicinity of the mansion but then again, they haven't been there for too long, so he probably just forgot.
"Yamada, your tone is flat." A familiar deep voice said, "Make sure you're lifting when you hit the higher notes."
"Yes sir!" Another voice, who Takeshi assumed to be Yamada replied.
"Now lip trills…"
Takeshi left the hallway. He probably shouldn't bother them when they're warming up. After a few minutes of walking, he arrived at the auditorium where he found Hayato and Shoichi comforting Tsuna near a pillar, away from the crowd. "Yo!"
"Did you find it?!" Tsuna asked with hopeful eyes. Takeshi had to turn away from the adorable but guilt-inducing pair of orbs as he shook his head.
"Tch… This isn't good…" Hayato growled in irritation.
"I mean it can't really be that bad, right?" Shoichi said, trying to reassure the three.
Before Hayato could retort, another person came up to the group. "I finally found you!"
Tsuna raised his head and was more than pleased to see Kusakabe Tetsuya walking towards them with a purple USB in hand. "I heard from Irie-san that you were looking for this?"
"YES!" The three replied sans Shoichi.
"YOU'RE MY SAVIOR!" Tsuna grabbed the USB from Tetsuya's hands and cried tears of joy. He knelt on one knee as a spotlight – from out of nowhere – shone on the USB elevated on his hand. (cue angel chorus)
"You're just giving it to us?" Takeshi asked almost with a hint of skepticism.
"Why yes." Tetsuya replied with a smile, "I actually asked Kyo-san for it more than an hour ago and he's very happy that you all finally have come to love the Nami-chu anthem."
"Love? Who would love that terrib-mphf!"
"Terrific song! We regret not having appreciate it sooner!" Takeshi eyed the bomber who was glaring at him to take his offending hand off his mouth, "Thanks Kusakabe!"
"Wait." Tsuna snapped out of his momentary mini celebration, "This is the only copy you have of it right?"
"Hm? Oh, unfortunately yes." Tsuna mentally pulled a fist back in joy. Tetsuya continued, "We've been so busy establishing the Foundation here in Italy that we didn't get the chance to share the file with the rest of the members."
"If that's the case, what anthem are we play- mphf!"
Hayato in turn covered Takeshi's mouth, "Don't even suggest anything! You sword freak!"
"Don't worry about it though!" Tetsuya said, not hearing Takeshi's earlier comment. "We can always record a new one another time."
"Record?"
"Oh! That reminds me, we have about a few minutes left before your ceremony. I want to at least warm up my voice a little. I'll see you later Sawada-san!"
"Warm up?"
Tetsuya waved to them as he ran back where Takeshi first entered the auditorium. Hayato's hands still covered Takeshi's mouth so the swordsman gave it a playful lick. "What the hell! Disgusting!"
"Haha! You weren't taking it off!" He laughed. Hayato smirked as he wiped the tainted hand on Takeshi's clean suit.
"Oi! Gokudera, no fair!"
As the two bickered, Shoichi smiled at Tsuna who was the most relieved he had seen the brunette all day. "That's good that we managed to get it back before the start of the ceremony, right Tsunayoshi-kun?"
Tsuna gave him a tired smile back in response. They spent a few more minutes mingling with some of the guests before Tsuna and his guardians were called to get ready at the foot of the steps leading to the stage. The ceremony was about to start in 5 minutes.
While they were waiting, Takeshi turned to Shoichi who finished fixing 8-year old Lambo's tie. "So, when's the men's choir going to sing?"
"Men's choir? What are you talking about Yamamoto-kun?"
Hayato and Ryohei turned to Takeshi questioningly. "Eh? I heard a bunch of guys in the East Wing singing warm-ups. Did you not hire a men's choir for tonight? That's a shame if you didn't, I've never heard a good men's choir before. Ahaha!"
"I didn't though…" Shoichi replied.
"Warm up?" Hayato placed his chin between his fingers in thought, "Kusakabe said he was going to warm up earlier too. Not to mention, it was odd that the bastard Hibari just willingly gave his only copy of the song when it seemed like he was adamant about having an anthem."
"We can always record a new one another time!"
"Kusakabe made it sound like that it was their own rendition of Nami-chu… Wait…" Hayato's eyes widened. "Sword freak, did you say the East Wing?!"
"Yeah?"
"That's where the Foundation rooms and offices are!" He exclaimed.
"Let me welcome Decimo's guardians!" Hayato started to panic as he absentmindedly led the group up the stage.
"Oya, oya… I don't see the little birdy." Observed the male Mist guardian.
Hayato whipped his head towards the group and true enough, Kyoya wasn't there! His eyes met Tsuna's who still stood at foot of the steps, out of sight from the crowd. The brunette frowned in worry seeing distress in the bomber's eyes.
"Shit. I don't see a single Foundation member." Hayato whispered to himself as he scanned the crowd below the stage.
"Finally! Let me introduce Vongola Decimo, Sawada Tsunayoshi!" cue applause.
– play the full Namimori Middle School Anthem from YouTube here –
A piano played out of nowhere and the crowd turned towards where the string quartet previously played at the back of the hall. The aforementioned musicians stood to the side, cowering from the group that took their place. The crowd saw three rows of men with pompadour hairdos standing in a semicircle. A man with the same style of hair sat at the white Steinway. In the middle of group stood the missing Cloud Guardian with a microphone in hand and his right-hand man at his side with his own microphone.
"Oh god no…" The men breathed together.
~ Midori tanabiku namimori no ~
"Get up there, Dame-Tsuna." Reborn kicked the brunette.
"Eh, no way! It's so embarrassing!" Tsuna paled upon seeing the gun pointing straight at him.
"Make sure you walk up with pride." Reborn smirked.
~ Dai naku shou naku nami ga ii ~
"Ah, ah… Nami-chu ended up being played." Takeshi commented with a laugh.
Hayato's brow twitched, "How does that bastard sing that with a straight face?"
~ Itsumo kawaranu sukoyaka kenage ~
Ryohei, out of habit sang along with the school anthem with all his EXTREME might and it didn't take long until Takeshi joined in.
"Don't join in!" Hayato yelled.
"Here's my favourite part…" Ryohei whispered to himself.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHH!… tomo ni utaou Namimori chuu ~
Tsuna had walked up the stage with a red blush tinting his cheeks. He met Timoteo's eyes who was simply amused at the whole ordeal, despite his grandson's embarrassment.
~ Asa tsuyu kagayaku namimori no ~
"Kufufufu..."
Chrome looked worriedly at Mukuro who had his phone out recording the performance with a scary smirk on his face. "… Kufufu, free blackmail material…"
~ Heihei bonbon nami de ii ~
At that point, most of the singers were crying further confusing the rest of the crowd.
Tsuna had to squint but he swore he could see the corners of Kyoya's eyes tear up.
~ Itsumo kiowanu sukoyaka kenage ~
Takeshi and Ryohei cheerily sang. They had their arms around in each other's shoulders with their other hands placed over their hearts.
"Ready, senpai?" Takeshi whispered.
"TO THE EXTREME!" Both men breathed together for the next note,
"HAAAAAAHAAHHHHH!… Tomo ni waraou Namimori chuu ~
The piano played its outro and finished with its final glorious chords.
– Stop the song here –
Not a moment later, all the members of the Foundation sans Kyoya sobbed at the beautiful anthem. The skylark turned to them with an approving nod except for one member who bowed his head in shame.
"Yamada!" His companion whispered, "After all the warm-up and voice lessons Kyo-san provided for us, you were still flat!"
"I'm sorry! It's just too high for my range."
Kyoya whipped his head back around – ehem, to let the stray tear fall away from his eyes unnoticed – towards the crowd and the stage. The guests didn't say anything as he walked down. His quiet steps filled in the gaps of silence. He finally joined the other guardians on the stage while they peered curiously at him.
Kyoya wore a proud smirk on his face, in which Tsuna wanted so badly to take off.
The skylark crossed his arms and closed his eyes, "Proceed."
Tsuna breathed. He can talk to Kyoya later, for now they have to move forward with the ceremony.
"VVOIIIIIII! WHAT WAS THAT HORRIBLE SONG?!"
Kyoya's eyes snapped open and all hell broke loose.