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Target 23: The ultimate camping trip?

Kotsu, Ren and Fumie walk to school on the very important morning of school. The morning where they all move up a grade! Ren becoming a third year and Kotsu and Fumie both going to second year. Kotsu looks very uncomfortable.

"What's the matter lil' bro?" Ren asks with a tilted head. He's still wearing the shoes Reborn fixed up for him.

Kotsu gets a little annoyed, almost visibly shaking. "What do you mean 'What's the matter'!? I thought I only had to deal with Reborn at HOME!" he says pointing behind him where Reborn is walking casually.

The second after he finishes that statement he's laying facefirst in the ground. "That sounded very disrespectful. I can hear you, you know?" Reborn says and Fumie giggles a bit.

"You know… I like your home tutor. He's really cool! AND he gave you that fork you saved me with," She argues and Kotsu just sighs, knowing that Reborn has been forcing him to walk around with that fork ever since he used it in his fight with Gerald, even going so far as to give it to him if he forgets it by going to his school personally handing it over. It's gotten Kotsu a lot of strange looks as most bentos are eaten with chopsticks so the fact that Kotsu has a fork is very weird.

"By the way Kotsu… there've been a few changes since your first year," He says and Kotsu gulps knowing that that can mean only a single… solitary… thing… Namimori middle school… has been turned into a mafia middle school! Probably not that… but at least for him it'd be something similar. "And I also have a little thing planned. Nothing major. Don't worry. I know you're very good at that," He says letting on a little smirk and both Ren and Fumie snicker a little, much to Kotsu's annoyance, but it's not like he can just run to school to avoid them.

-NII-

The little group arrive at the school and there's a LOT that's different from before. But from the looks of it it's only temporary. The large platform used for announcements has been pulled out and set up and it looks like all the students have already gathered around. They all go join the group, people letting them through thanks to Ren being so popular. Their principal comes up to stand at the podium to talk. He clears his throat into the mic making the students quiet down.

"Alright everyone. We have a few announcements to make. First of all that you've all moved up a grade! Congratulations! As such your new classes have been made with utmost care! With the help of one of the school's oldest friends!" He says queuing that person to come forth.

Kotsu facepalms as hard as he can, seeing Reborn up there wearing a graduation cap and a long beard pulling it off surprisingly well. "Ho ho ho. Thank you dear principal. Yes indeed. I have been making your new classes making sure you're in the best possible class," He says in an old man's voice, and everyone cheers.

"Yes indeed. And it's true you have a few more announcements correct?"

Reborn nods. "Correct principal. The first is the newly hired teacher who'll be here for a short while. He will be teaching P.E. as well as English. Please step forward," He says and at this moment both Ren, Fumie and Kotsu are a bit taken aback. However they're not alone as everyone's a bit taken aback by the appearance of this new teacher.

The new teacher smirks. "Yo! I hope you're not thinking of doing any asskissing! Cause I HATE wimps!" He says sending a chill down everyone's spine. "But… I'll definitely whip you guys into shape! That's for sure!" He yells and Kotsu is in total disbelief of who he's looking at. Geraldino is going to teach at his school!?

The other students are a little suspicious of him, simply judging from his appearance. "I-is he really suited to be a teacher…?" "Yeah… he looks like he could be in a gang!" Some boys argue and the girls just shake their head.

"But he looks so cool!" "Yeah. I bet he's really strong," "Maybe he has a soft inside,"

Reborn clears his throat making everyone shut up. Even faster than when the principal did it. "I can definitely recommend Geraldino as a teacher. He is very talented in his subjects. Anyway! The big announcement and the true reason you are all gathered here is this!" He says pushing a little remote he's holding making a large banner fall behind him. It's big! It's extravagant! It has TONS of paint used to make it! And to Kotsu it sounds like an absolute hell, knowing that it was made by Reborn.

The banner has a large picture of Namimori middle school with a big flag stuck to the top with a wood-cabin on it. Around it are happy little students wearing explorer's hats and above a big banner which reads: 'Super exciting trip of epic proportions! The Camping trip to unite everyone! Bringing together the new and old! We invite you to join us!' And everyone stays quiet for a little while.

"I see you're not that seemingly excited. Then how about this. This will be a two week long camping trip to a resort just outside Tokyo! There will be no education involved! Simply teambuilding! And at the end of each and every day you will have a lot of time to fool around in the city of Tokyo. Each of you will be given a pass to the metro. The only condition is the return time. How about now!?" Reborn says and now everyone's on board cheering their little hearts out. Understandable. Normally a camping trip will involve learning and going to museums of sorts and everything like that, but of course not when it's REBORN making it!

"Indeed! This trip was proposed by our dear friend here as a way for people to form relation with others and it would be a good way to start off the new school year! Naturally we all thought it would be a great idea,"

Ren is ecstatic about the very idea and is clapping and laughing like he always does. "Woah! This sounds like a lot of fun eh lil' bro? …? Lil' bro…?" he says confused when Kotsu doesn't respond. He looks to see where he's gone and upon looking down Kotsu has gently laid himself onto the ground and died. Why must this always happen to him? Not only is Geraldino going to be teaching at his school, but now he has to go on a two-week trip Reborn's planned? That's just… not fair. "You alright there lil' bro!?" Ren asks with a smile seeing that he's just depressed.

"Noooooo… I wanna die…" He says and Ren just pulls him onto his feet.

"No worries Lil' bro! You can be in MY group if you want!"

However the second the sentence finishes a certain white-haired bodyguard comes and smashes them both with a full-frontal tackle. "NIIIII-SAAAAAANN!" Tsugemora yells almost crying tears of joy not having seen him for a while thanks to his birthday with his family.

"T-Tsugemora!? W-what're YOU doing here!?" Kotsu says remembering how difficult Tsugemora had it with getting into the school thanks to Ren's homeroom teacher. However he answers his own question seeing Tsugemora's school uniform. "W-wait! YOU go to our school now!?"

Tsugemora jumps back doing honors. "Indeed Nii-san! And I'm REALLY looking forward to this camping trip. It'll be amazing!" He says almost trembling with excitement, which Kotsu can understand but DEFINITELY not stand by. To Tsugemora getting to spend two weeks in his company would be heavenly, but to Kotsu getting to spend two weeks in Reborn's camping trip is NOT advisable.

"Y-yeah… It'll be… juuuuust greeeat…" Kotsu says before Reborn once more takes over.

"Now today will be spent to prepare for this trip. All your parents have been sent a letter informing them of the trip. Your teachers know what needs to be done," he says and walks off the podium.

After the principal gives out the remaining congratulatory speeches that come with the start of the year, everyone disperses to their classrooms, after quickly checking who's in their new class. Kotsu sees both Fumie and Rinoka in his class, which pretty much WERE the only two people his own age he knows at this school.

-NII-

After a lesson discussing the curfews and general rules such as no alcohol and everything most of them already knew as well as being told if their class is in charge of anything. Seems not luckily. Class is dismissed and Kotsu hears someone running to the door with a notebook in hand. He quickly looks around for who's missing seeing that the only one not there is Rinoka. He quickly heads out to the hall seeing her run down the stairs to go outside. He somehow notes little water drops on the floor, not sure how he they even caught his eye. Was she… crying? This revelation causes him to bolt after her.

"R-Rinoka!?" He yells after her not hearing a response. After going down he doesn't have sight of her. Think Kotsu. Think… THE BUSH! From valentine. She was back there crying. Maybe it's her safe spot!

After going there he first off wonders how on earth he managed to jump over that thing without getting cut all over. He looks behind it and sure enough sees Rinoka sitting and sobbing quietly with a notebook tucked at her chest, with loads of loose papers inside it. "H-hey…" he slowly says causing her to jump and try to dry her tears.

"K-K-Kotsu-san…!" She yelps almost trying to make distance between them without moving.

"Um… what's wrong?" He says sitting down beside her. She flinches a little sitting completely still as if thinking Kotsu can't see her if she doesn't move.

"I-I-It's… n-n-nothing…" She says trying her hardest not to break down. "B-but I… I can't… I can't come on the trip… I-it'll be so… e-empty w-without school for two weeks," She manages to get out and Kotsu is about to put a friendly hand on her shoulder, but given how jumpy she is when she is simply TALKING to other people that's probably not the brightest idea.

"Well um… why can't you come… it's for the whole school!" he argues trying to cheer her up.

However she just shakes her head. "I-I know… b-but my dad… h-he won't let me go… a-and he needs me at home…" She says seeming to get even sadder at that fact.

"Rinoka I-" Kotsu starts about to try and tell that everything will be alright when suddenly he feels a strong hand grab his shoulder and pull him away. It's Reborn.

"If you want to have a quiet place to be romantic find a bathroom," He says and Kotsu blushes.

"that's not-" However once Reborn interrupts him by tossing him into the ground.

"Why're you crying?" He asks Rinoka who seems a thousand times more intimidated by Reborn's figure.

"T-th-th-t-t-that's…" She starts but can't get the words out.

"S-she says it's because of her dad not letting her," Kotsu says and Reborn gently pokes his head into the ground again with his foot.

"I see. There's no issue then. This isn't a voluntary thing. It's mandatory. I will be having a talk with your dad. I will need to go to your house anyway," He says making them both wonder as to why. "Now run along to class," He says, the bell ringing right after.

-NII-

The rest of the school day goes on with the teachers explaining what exactly they will be doing as teambuilding exercises. As Kotsu exits school ground he prepares for Tsugemora's assault, but quickly remembers that Tsugemora is INSIDE school grounds now. He sees the young boy come towards him along with Ren, Reishiro and Fumie.

As the little group of five walk home together Rinoka slowly makes her way back home as well. "mind if I join you?" Reborn says from right beside her and Rinoka jumps away from the tall brooding man.

"Y-you!?" She yelps out and Reborn just shrugs.

"Yeah. I'm going to have a little talk with your dad if what you said was true. This is an important fieldtrip. It could end up defining your future," He says and Rinoka just taps her fingers together nervously.

"B-b-but… i-it's okay mister… I-I already k-know w-what I… wanna do… I-I'm going to become a maid… o-or m-maybe something w-with animals…" She says nervously, not used to talking about her future with people she doesn't really know, but this man has a certain aura about him that tells her that she can trust him.

"I see. I'm not going to say that becoming a maid is a bad idea, but you need to think higher of yourself. You can do MUCH more than just clean,"

After a few moments of silence they reach Rinoka's house and she gently locks herself in making as little sound as possible. "I-I'm home f-father…" she says shyly and hears a grunt from the livingroom.

"Finally. We gotta talk. I got a letter from your school telling me about some dumb CAMPING TRIP. Is that right?" A begruntled old man says. He's sitting on a couch with a coffee cup in hand watching TV and Reborn steps in along with Rinoka who tries getting Reborn to leave quietly without causing a scene.

"T-that's right father… t-t-the teachers s-say it's a… a good opportunity t-to make friends a-and-" She starts but he interrupts her.

"Absolutely not. You've never been good at making friends. What's a few weeks at some camp going to change? Besides I need you here. Who ELSE is going to clean and cook?" He asks like it's the most natural thing in the world. Rinoka is about to answer when Reborn walks over sitting on the couch next to him. "Who the hell are you!? And what're you doing in MY house without MY approval!?" Rinoka's father says already looking like he's about to attack Reborn.

However the hitman glares the ugly man down with his meanest stare. "I'm the guy who arranged this fieldtrip. And EVERYONE, and when I say everyone I mean everyone, who's capable of coming on this fieldtrip WILL be participating,"

"That's up for me to decide if my daughter NEEDS such a trip," His dad says grabbing at Reborn's collar, the instant he does so finds himself in a tight grapple lock.

"As I was saying. Everyone. So to answer your question. It will do wonders for her, and the one who'll be cooking and cleaning will be YOU," He says before letting him go.

"Who the HELL do you think you are!? Coming into MY house to take away MY daughter!? I'm PAYING you for this fieldtrip if she goes! I will not have it,"

"here's the thing you don't seem to understand mister. Your daughter is not JUST a student and maid. She's a lot more. This fieldtrip NEEDS her to be there," He says and after another denial he sighs almost angrily. "Alright. How about this then? Either Rinoka shows up tomorrow at campus with her things, ready to leave… OR… I come here and get her with or without your consent,"

"that's a crime and you know it! You're CRAZY!" Her father says and Reborn gets up, walking towards the exit. He hands Rinoka an envelope before heading for the door.

"Maybe I am. But at least I care about your child's future," He says before closing the door.