Proofread and Edited: December 27, 2016

Thanks for all the feedback! I'm trying a different style in this story compared to my other one, so the chapters are shorter than I would normally do them. They're also full of conversations (for the better or worse?) The downside to this is the plot goes slower than I'd like . . . but we'll see where it goes.

Thanks for the support!

Chapter 04

It was Kyoko who first noticed his arrival.

"Aah! Nii-chan, it's the quest giver," Kyoko cheered, gesturing to him as he stood at the door. "And just in time, too!"

Tsuna had a lot of questions running in his mind.

One, he thought the pattern was predictable. He was expecting maybe Lambo or Chrome. Not Kyoko! Why was she here?

Two, quest giver?

Three, just in time for what?

Four, why was Hayato looking at him nervously?

Five, why were they all staring at him?

Six, were they expecting him to do anything?

Seven, why was Hayato becoming more panicky?

Eight, why was Ryohei subtly turning Kyoko around while talking to her?

Nine, why was Takeshi walking towards him —

"Tsuna," Takeshi leaned over to him as he was — as it had always been — much taller than him, "Due to various reasons we're keeping your true identity a secret from the Priestess, Kyoko." He then leaned even closer, much to Tsuna's growing discomfort, "So for now, please keep quiet? Gokudera and senpai will do all the talking."

Tsuna had to wonder what these guys were planning. This, whatever they thought this was, was apparently something they considered a "deep, dark secret", to the point of withholding information from a close friend. Tsuna couldn't really fault them for that because . . . he still remembered that time when they didn't tell Kyoko and Haru about the Mafia. It was a pretty lousy experience for everyone involved.

The difference between this and that? This time, Tsuna wasn't a part of it. He was an observer and more of a background character than anything. Besides, once he reminded himself these people weren't his people, he had that morbid curiosity of wanting to know what they'd do without interference.

Conclusion: Tsuna nodded at Takeshi's request. Takeshi smiled back and straightened himself up, remaining at Tsuna's side.

Tsuna heard Ryohei speak up. "What are you doing here anyway, Kyoko?"

Tsuna frowned. From how Ryohei asked that question, he was not aware Kyoko intended to go here.

"Hana-chan made me a portal so I can go to you." She rummaged through her sling bag and took out a pair of glowing knuckles. "I got this drop from our dungeon run earlier! I thought maybe you'd want it."

"Did you have to portal though? We could have traded later in friendly territory —

"But this is a town, right? So it should be safe?"

"Yes, it is," Hayato answered for Ryohei, who seemed to be having trouble coming up with one. "Look, girl Sasagawa. As you already know, we're in the middle of a very important quest —

"Fixing a door?"

"It is very important!" Hayato reiterated, trying his best to maintain his calm. "And there's a follow-up quest, I could feel it. This will be a long quest chain. You know what that means."

"Hai, hai," Kyoko bobbed her head, and Tsuna swore he saw her look at him with a questioning look on her eyes, before looking back at Hayato and Ryohei. "I only have a few seconds left anyway before I get warped out. Please use this, onii-chan. I know it has better stats than you're using right now." She promptly shoved the knuckles on Ryohei's hands. "Remember, you're the healer of the party so you should focus on your healing magic, not your damage!"

Takeshi chuckled beside him. "Kyoko's a much better healer than senpai."

Kyoko waved at the lot of them. "See you later onii-chan. Dinner in an hour!" Then, in a flash of light, she vanished.

"I was extremely speechless!" Ryohei looked like he was going to cry.

"And it was for the better! Who knows what you could've said to her!" Hayato clicked his teeth before rushing towards Tsuna and bowing. "I am very sorry for what happened, Tsuna-ouji-sama!"

Tsuna was seriously at a loss. When one thought about it, Hayato was apologizing to an NPC . . . or at least who they thought was an NPC.

"You have your reasons," Tsuna sighed, and those reasons shouldn't be any concern to him. The longer they stayed here, the harder it would be for him to make them go away. He wanted to get this over with. They had to leave now, and with that in mind, he tapped his bedroom door. "Thank you for fixing my door." Well, maybe he could poke fun at them for a little bit. "I am sorry but I'm afraid I don't have a reward."

Hayato's eyes widened. "A reward — " Then as if the gears clicked into place, he suddenly became flustered, his face as red as a tomato. Tsuna tried his best to stop himself from laughing out loud and maintained a poker face. "I — though I did tell her w-w-we're on a quest that doesn't mean we're expecting a reward, Tsuna-ouji-sama! Please forgive me for being presumptuous!"

Presumptuous? This guy exaggerated things as always. It was a very Hayato reaction . . . but remember Tsuna, this isn't Hayato. "It's okay," Tsuna replied, deciding he had enough fun. "Since you already fixed my door, please don't let me keep you." Literally and figuratively.

Takeshi laughed nervously. "About that."

Oh no. "Yes?" Tsuna smiled.

"I believe it was mentioned you're not doing anything here in your mansion," Takeshi coughed, looking everywhere else but him.

"Nothing of importance, though I do spend my days reading and studying." He was pretty much trying to learn how to get used to this kind of universe.

"Perfect!" Hayato cheered. "We know of a better way of educating yourself and learning new things!"

NO. "Oh, pray tell."

"Not only it is a better way, it's the best way!" Ryohei exclaimed.

No no no no. "Really? What is it?"

Hayato grinned. "Going on an adventure, of course!"

NO.

No no no no no no no no NO.

Tsuna gulped before turning away. "One minute."

And then he ran.

They were serious.

Tsuna initially thought Hayato was just being cheeky. Same with Ryohei. He didn't actually think they were seriously considering it.

Seriously considering of inviting him along to their party.

First of all, it was already established he was not a player character, so it wasn't like he was another player that could leave at any moment. He didn't know what his parents' reaction would be, or the NPCs in this mansion, or heck, even the townspeople he was lording over. It might be the catalyst for some very serious anomaly, something along the lines of "something happened which shouldn't happen", causing the universe to collapse unto itself. Okay, that last part was absurd, but he didn't know the rules of this universe! Just being able to access the game interface without a peripheral was already weird!

Second, he wanted to get away. He didn't want to stay with them for too long. They were . . . his family in his universe. These people weren't the same, and he shouldn't treat them the same. Even though they have the same names, the same appearance, the same personalities — they were not them and Tsuna was afraid he'd eventually forget his real family if he stayed with these people for too long. It didn't feel right and it would never feel right.

Third, he was still hoping that Byakuran would one day fetch him and bring him back home. What if he left and Byakuran arrived, and he was nowhere around? What then?

Fourth, they were not his family.

Fifth, they were different! Not the same!

Sixth —

"Hiding in small, dark places is never a good idea, herbivore."

"HIIIIIIIEEEEE!"