I lost my notebook. I am currently having all the time of my life having to lie that I am happy now that I don't have any responsibilities to do. And I have to fight for internet connection.

But I had finally obtained my lifetime dream of having a basic laptop. It is not modeled for 2018 functions, but as long as I am not a crawling snail, finding a way to type and edit my fanfics. After all, I know how to use Windows Vista more than Windows 2018 (sarcasm included).

And here we go, another confusing chapter for you. We are now delving deeper to the potential third wheel on a budding love story. Very nice!

Disclaimer: Katekyo Hitman Reborn is a canon anime and manga made by Ms. Akira Amano with ArtLand. The plot is owned by the owner and it is not her responsibility if there are any coincidences with either the real life or other fanfictions inside the site.

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2-in-1 ID Game

Chapter 20

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Somewhere, in every girl's dream, is a little princess waiting to be swept off their feet by a gorgeous prince riding on his marvelous steed, and having a chance of having a magical first kiss of love to be shared under the orange lights of a heartwarming sunset. They would place vows of happily ever after to each other, they would snuggle and face the last moments of the sun's afterglow, they would look up the vast of the evening's sky and be fascinated by the sparkling gems of stars. They would somehow find a shooting star by luck, and they would declare their everlasting love to each other.

Somehow, in every growing woman's imagination, her prince charming should be soft yet pliant, wherein he should be gentle to his beloved, and a heavy passion to spark the red tingle within her soul. He should be ready to guard the one he loves, with a sword in his hand, and a shield on the other; an armor of strong conviction to defend their impossible passion against the world.

Most of the women population has a dream of a charming man in their lives with hair as gold as the glistening fire of the sun in its bright sunrise and eyes as blue as the vast of the sky which blankets the entire land and sea, as a lover who would will his life to protect his chosen one.

And somehow, like what Ieyasu had predicted, he, himself, can fit those qualities.

But why can't the brunette feel the pull?

Isn't he princely enough?

He isn't really the counterpart of an actual prince, per legal matters.

Not to brag, but his public title 'The Dashing Prince' makes him the living proof enough to fit the extravagant description. If it isn't enough, his father, 'The Magnificent Emperor Ieyasu of the 20th Century' is.

"Deep in your thoughts, are you?" Said man spoke behind the prince himself as the other hunched with his hands on his face.

Ieyasu suddenly stiffened on his comfy seat, as he followed his gaze to the older man moving to sit beside him. "Father… I apologise – "

"A past is a past, and you can never take it back. The only way you can is to keep moving forward." The older man leaned back while keeping his hands on his knees. "Ieyasu… you are old enough to find the right opportunities on bad times."

"I know, father… " He exhaled as he placed his enclosed right fist beside his lap. "I know."

Ah, ever so wise. His father is always the person he sought to for wisdom. He may be a prince, but his father has a great sense of leadership, his words are like the master's medium engraved on a stone, like a story passed from a mouth, like a legendary words of an honorable samurai. He would admit it out loud, that his father is the best father. He would shamefully declare it out loud like every competitive little boy in a kindergarten. After all, Iemitsu Sawada would not be the president of the Vongola Investigators Internationale if he is not competent in the position.

In some ways, he can comparatively say their distinct similarities. For one, his father is also a charming man, all women managed to accidentally fall down to their knees as they got caught in his spell. Both have been logical thinkers for the detecting part. Both have also been excellent runners, as they had practically reigned their track coming back from their high school days. That also went the same with their personal relation skills; they wouldn't manage to sweep women off their feet if they didn't know how to speak reverse psychology.

There were, in fact, a handful of similar qualities he could compare himself to his dad befitting for an excellent detective, but there were also a few others which contrasted their unique personalities. Such one of those things was what they had been talking about on the red faux sofa.

"Father…" Ieyasu started as he removed the other hand from his face. "… You always tell me to strike the iron while it's hot. I have been doing it for the rest of my life, and never once I doubted you. It always has been successful."

It was true. His life has been a luxury everyone has been wishing their life since they reached toddlerhood. Whenever little Ieyasu needed it, he always captured it. From his materialistic wants to his personal improvement needs.

"I know it is winter, but can I have an ice cream every Saturday? Oh, oh! I also want to have that Playstation that my classmate told me about. It seems… enjoyable."

"Sure, son. But after you manage to ace your exams."

"Hey, Dad. I really don't like this course. It's really hard. Can I study Criminology instead?"

"… Sure! In fact, I need someone to take my steps after I retire one day…? So, probably we can discuss this in the future – but don't be pressured."

His life has been too easy. Every need has been in his beck and call. Such a privilege of a person born with a silver spoon in his mouth. However, he didn't abuse his advantage to the extremes, as he knew that he every prize should come from hard work. Like his father, he also has a sense of justice and equality.

Vini, Vidi, Vici.

I came, I saw, I conquer. Those were the words which serve as a drive for him to achieve his greatness.

In a sense, he can compare himself as the greatest conqueror he has been idolising until this day. If anything, he can say he is the modern Julius Caesar. His father has been pointing that one out, as well.

That was why Iemitsu had exhaled softly, turning his upper body to face his son, careening his head to the left.

"Ieyasu… you really are like Julius Caesar. Eyes are always set on the goal."

The blonde, in turn, leered his head to respond. "Of course, I had learned from the best." He gave a lopsided grin after that. His father has been his first idol, amongst everyone else.

"Ieyasu… my dear son…" The older man shook his head, letting out a displeased hum and a click of his tongue. "What am I going to do with you?"

Although his words did left a punch to his gut, it didn't left a damper to his mood. Instead, the prince let out a hurrumphed air, proving his point. You know you wouldn't change my mind because of that, father or not.

Iemitsu let his son's answer to a hanging as he stared to his face with no malice on his caring eyes. And yet, his own son was feeling a slight discomfort while he was being stood down.

"… Father…"

As if the silence spell was broken, the man blinked twice and responded. "Ieyasu, you are old enough to make your own decisions. I'm not always there to watch your back twenty four-seven, just to decide your fate. As I've said before – "

"And as I've said before… Father…" The agitated younger male suddenly raised his voice, trying to keep his temper in check, and then soften his endearing title to the older man, when he realized his pique.

"This is the only way. I am not a delinquent to disobey, and you even said that – " Then he paused in the middle of his self-depreciation, when he heard the sudden intensity of his voice.

A short silence followed the brewing tension in the room. His father's stance was still unyielding. Iemitsu had known what was coming. After all, he too, had experienced what his son has been experiencing. He couldn't help but feel bad for his son's future.

It was not that his parenting style was bad, no. It was too far from it. He loved his son to death, he had spoilt him rotten. Despite of them not being royals themselves, he still treated his son like a prince. He had also spent his years giving the other tons of wisdom and hard life-long lessons in life as he grew. All in all, he was not a bad parent.

But, he also couldn't help but blame himself for his son's fate. He was supposed to be a free bird, yet he is caged, trying to comply with their traditions.

He was also bound to those rules once, and he was repulsed to their idea – he even tried to be a rogue once, only to be shackled later. But, as he was sitting like his father once, Iemitsu had never regretted his choice on taking the risks and consequences. After marrying his Nana, he felt like his whole life is already whole enough to shoulder the burden of being the leader of their corporation. He had never been grateful for his father.

Now, looking at his son, he was already feeling the forbidding doom of his future.

Because, you see, his son is not like him. They might be similar in several aspects, but they are not completely alike.

For once, Ieyasu had grown up from several instances wherein he had to work hard to gain favours from everybody. He is not as bright as the next kid, but his determination is next to no one. He will never going to be a caged bird, nor any kind of rope to tie him down.

An independent.

This situation, however, have been giving themselves a hard time, just to appease their non-existent ancestors. This is very unfair, especially for the free-spirited man like him.

Then again, his son is a tough nut to crack. His stubbornness is more than his when he was on his teenage years, this will be the death of him if he wouldn't let go of his attitude. This fact is no longer surprising to him, as he looked at his son's face full of excessive determination and leaking of stupid impulsiveness trickling through his ever so expressive blue orbs. So, he chose to be on the safe side, instead of riling the younger more.

"Alright," Ieyasu sighed, already feeling the white flag of consent to be delivered, once again, on a silver platter. "I am proposing you a deal. I have already discussed the plan with Reborn for you to be with him as his staff. You are to join him to be their butler for the duration of their game – "

He couldn't help the impending facepalm from the younger's dreamy stare, as if he was still a kid being promised to meet Joe Inoue1 if he stayed on the top spot before the school year ends. "If you can – and I know you can – " He also couldn't help this internal cringe, due to the fact that they were dealing with an ice block. " – seduce Attorney Miura for fifty days, then there's no doubt that you can take over my position as the president." Then, he returned his stern look. "The rest, I will let you decide. Compromise?"

At the condition, and a possible challenge, a spark had ignited to Ieyasu as the burning passion drawn to his eyes. "Father, you know I never back down until I get what I want…" He then stood up, his back facing the older man, and let out a final remark before retreating to his private quarters.

"I can see the end already."

oooOOOooo

Hi.

This is Spanner of Hamaguri Incorporated.

We are inviting you for the exclusive 50-day ID Game to be held in Kuro-shima as one of the lucky two winners of the exciting speed-dating event, which only happens once every 25 years.

Please bring an accordant amount of decent clothing, utensils, toiletries, and the like.

Please, be mindful of the only rule to be applied to this 50-day Island Dating Game: any kind of electronic device is not allowed. Please follow this cordially.

The rendezvous location is at the front of the west wing of the Naha Airport. Please be there on or before 7AM, tomorrow.

Kindly reply with your shirt's color for confirmation of attendance.

Thank you and enjoy!

After reading the text message, Kyoya leaned back to the swiveling chair he has been sitting on as he glanced to the small calendar to his side. Then, he proceeded to mentally calculate the number of days since the speed dating event. And it made a startling discovery when he found out that it was only eleven.

It was just a short amount of time, but in that short amount, there were many events that had happened, and each of them almost knocked him out of balance.

First of his list was the revelation of his father's other side which he never wanted to breach, ever. He has been fairly aware himself of his temper tantrum, but his father's narrowed slits managed to freeze his soul to eternity. Na-uh, making his dad angry is non-existent.

Second, those juniors were reprimanded – same with the scholar, but he didn't care – with three DRP's in Education Development, English Literacy, and Values Education. All of them are in his care. He still couldn't wrap his head around towards the lenient punishment given to those barbarians, despite of their blatant offense.

Third was the appearance of the mysterious foreign woman, whom he has yet to know. Who was she? How did she know his dad? Why was she there? And why – or how – for the love of God, did she made his dad that angry to smithereens?! Because of her, every meal has been a tense affair, and he couldn't bring himself to break the air to avoid the risk of being possibly murdered before his supposed-to-be fairytale marriage.

Fouth, and fifth, is the biggest mystery lurking behind Chrome and Kyoko's groom-to-be. Discovering his best friend's engagement was an A-bomb, this possible third-wheel affair had topped it. Even if he wanted to snoop (or in Kyoya's term, talk it out) in to the indigo-haired woman's private life, he couldn't find himself to do it because of the sixth, and possibly the biggest, shock of his life.

Attorney Haru Miura. Still single. Brunette. A face like his own imaginative goddess. Also, a bombshell – no, that doesn't count. Also connected to Kyoko's fiancé. Now, this one had topped all of the toppings he knew. How did she and the guy connected? Was he a lawyer too – that's wrong. Gokudera had confirmed it before.

Were they involved? Was she also involved with the Dean of Psychology? Why is the world being playful with his heartstrings?!

He exhaled.

But then, again, he was lovestruck the moment the moment they accidentally bumped to each other, so he would still continue to do so. He had never been in love before, save for the former, but he wanted to have a first-hand experience on having a loved one who would be willing to reciprocate back, although that had backfired a handful of times before. He still hoped this game would be his silver light.

His thoughts were halted with a sudden itch inside his nose –

"ACHOO!"

"Oh, no! Are you alright? Having colds in this time of year is very bad, you know."

He turned his head more to look at the amber eye looking back at him. He just scrunched his face in response. "No, I'm not sick."

"Really?" Kyoko looked up as she placed her chin on the cubicle divider. "Probably there was someone thinking about you."

He raised one of his brows to her superstition. "Now now, Professor Kyoko, who would even think about me? There are only a handful of people I know who were way too busy to think about frivolous thoughts."

Rolling her eyes, she exasperatedly sighed as she pointedly glanced to his phone. "… I can think of some people, Bestie…"

He only stared at her with pure disgusted impassiveness as he thought of any response convenient at the given moment.

"… That's gay."

But that superstition is painfully accurate, as the other person who received the same exact text message had thrown her phone on the other side of her office corridor, managing to knock a person out cold on the process, and drunkenly yelled her frustration, about trashes in several degrees, and all icy-blues and blacks, while holding a bottle of another liquor.

"Sure, Professor Hibari, sure…" The auburn-haired woman drawled as she sat back and continued her work.

Her response had only made the raven-haired man ticked irately. "Oh, for once, just stop doing those rebuttals and just finish your work. You are lucky; we are only a week away until graduation. Now, you have all the time of your life to finish those grades without distractions. And even I have more subjects than you."

"Hush hush, professor. If I can say anything, you have a lesser task than most of us, and I am handling most English subjects – "

"Ah – sorry. Well, how about Humanities, then? Oh, and English Literature, too. What do you call those?"

"Okay, you win." She raised her hands exasperatedly. "But, changing the topic," She stopped her work momentarily to scoot her chair back to face him. "It's tomorrow, are you ready?"

At the question, he looked back to the cellular device by his hand, mentally counting off the tasks he had finally finished.

Writing incident reports to the students' deans, as well as letters of reprimands to the students' parents were done.

Checking the last papers of the seniors' finals was done.

Manual grading was done, as well.

The everlasting writing of the curriculum syllabi was already done. Finally.

And he had already confirmed the letter of approval for his early leave of absence two days back.

"Yes, I think I am." He concluded, glancing back at her to confirm.

Only for him to receive a raised brow in response.

The woman scrutinized him for a bit, fairly aware of witnessing his recent connection with her hard-headed best friend. Then, she shook her head, negating the other.

"No."

Another shake of her head.

"No… I don't think you are…"

He, almost indignantly, had replied to her, as if he was being hurt and offended. "No. You, of all people, should have been aware that I am always ten steps ahead."

But his deliberated ego-nursing boost only went through deaf ears.

She still shook her head.

oooOOOooo

The blonde older one was still sitting as he stared at the path where his son had walked, when a sudden presence appeared, as well as another mass of weight had added to the dip on the two-seater sofa. He glanced over to the new person wearing an all-white suit, a white small revolver tucked in two hands, and a small crawling reptile sitting on the fedora.

"… So I am assuming you have heard everything?"

His new companion responded by shaking his head, still twirling the gun by his two hands. The silence stretched as the former contemplated an select words which would, probably, the catalyst factor that might affect their lives forever.

In which specified his son's choices for his adulthood.

"I trust my son to your hands, Reborn."

The man chuckled, ending the discussion as he stood once again.

And like his son, the man retained his stance with his back turned, he let his final words.

"My name is not just Reborn for no reason, Iemitsu.

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1 This person sung Naruto Shippuuden's _ opening, Closer(_). He also has an active YouTube Channel (the same name). He is very humble, and his channel is very entertaining yet informational (if you have an adult mind). I have seen his new song from Gintama, but I haven't listened yet. Let me know what you think if you had.

One secret of writing is not just putting bunches and bunches of intelligible garble, but context clues. I was happily satisfied to lose my notebook (which contained the whole story), because this fanfic would be strangely deep unnecessarily enough to go beyond the limit of genre I had chosen. Also, those completely dissolve the story's consistency. I had started this in a lighter outlook, then suddenly pummels down because of the story's conundrum. One of the things I hate when reading a paperback is the worst placement of metaphors in the middle of a chapter just to force me to think of the sentence's meaning.

I read several fanfictions with that kind of style. If you happen to come across deep works from Psycho-Pass with strange metaphors, then you would find what I meant. There also was one from Naruto, too. One has tons of musical metaphors and strange idiom, another one has lots of Algebraic neighs. Good enough that I am fluent with numerical sentences, but I am not a music genius. Imagine my frustration while momentarily stopping my 'artful' reading, while grumbling fetching my thesaurus. Dang!

You might think that my rant is stupidly childish, but let me tell you something you can use in life: any kind of complication has a form of a clue that you always overlook, but it is blatantly obvious for you to not notice and use it to your advantage. You did not graduate your third grade if you don't know context clues, boy. Stop feeling smart, your work is meant for the masses, not for anyone with a Ph. D.

Tank you very much for taking your time reading the chapter. It still has the same plotline from the work in my lost notes, but some of them are omitted. So I hope this does justice. Read and review!