Chapter Forty-One
"But hey," Sugino called out as they walked around the neighborhood "Hasn't Bitch-sensei pretty much gotten every kind of present there is to get?"
"This is tough, huh." Kayano seconded.
Tsuna looked around, being caged between Karma and Nagisa.
His intuition was tweaking him painfully, as if danger was lurking just around the corner. It didn't help that he has his classmates with him. He could almost take a guess who they're up against. If it's not Shiro, then that guy did arrive in Japan just as predicted.
"Are you okay, Tsunayoshi?" Spade asked to him when he raised a hand to massage his temples. It made the other two turn to him.
"I am." He assured. "Just my intuition picking up some... Things." He didn't elaborate. Blame it on some of the Kurogane to influence him with crude words.
"We collected five thousand and five hundred yen in total from the class." Kayano continued on, raising the envelop of money. "With this amount, something from Karasuma-sensei to Bitch-sensei. A good present from one adult to another."
"We should've acquitted Karasuma-sensei to put some of his money too." Nagisa opined, somehow agreeing to Tsuna's point that evening. "At least he has some of it, and it will be genuine."
"Or," Karma added, grinning. "We can make him pay the money we were able to use."
"T-That's bad, A-Akabane-kun." Okuda chided softly, making them smile.
"I knew it! Hey, you guys!"
Shudder rocked Tsuna's back when he heard that. He turned to the guy who called them out as the others did.
"Was he alright after that?" The guy who called them out asked, sounding genuinely worried and concern. "You know, that old man that hurt his leg..."
Brown eyes scanned the guy. He looked like a normal guy who was wearing a cap over his bleached hair and casual clothes under the apron.
"Ah!" Sugino and Nagisa blurted, as if remembering who the guy was.
"Back then, the flower shop guy that called the ambulance." Sugino recalled.
"Well, kind of." Nagisa pertained to the man's question. "We apologized and worked for free. So, he forgave us."
"I see." The man nodded, smiling brightly that put cold shiver down Tsuna's spine. "I'm glad it didn't turn into anything serious." Then he turned his back on them. "And, just now, you guys said something about wanting a present, right? Something to give to an adult..."
"Be careful with him." Tsuna warned to Karma, heard by Nagisa.
"Why?" The redhead questioned.
He eyed the man who present a flower to Kanzaki, earning Kayano's and Okuda's heart. He put his hand behind Karma's back. Nagisa pulled back as well, knowing what he'd do. He wrote the kanji of 'imposter'. The two turned to him with wide eyes.
"Even though they wither away in just a week, they go for tens of thousands of yen. It's actually much more extravagant than a name brand bag. Even though everyone's heart is different, even though you can pick from any number of presents in this day and age, why do you think flowers are still the most popular gift?" The man turned to them with a bouquet of flowers, beaming brightly. "It's not about the heart. It's the colors and shapes, the fragrance and the transience. It's because they're a perfect fit for the human instinct."
"Uwawah, that totally makes sense!" Okuda exclaimed, unknowingly falling to the man's charm.
"You're forgetting something though." Tsuna stepped up, making them turn to him. "Flowers have meanings as well. From the colors of the petals to the roots." He eyed the man and gave a smile that made his classmates and the doll in his arm still. "I once worked as a flower shop boy, so I'm wondering if you removed the thorns on the stems of the roses? It gives a different meaning to the receiver, seeing that our teacher is a knowledgeable person when it comes to things."
The man's eyes flashed while staring at him. The brunet stared back. "Yes. I did remove the thorns. There are a lot of people who likes to put them on water sometimes. I don't want them to get hurt."
Tsuna nodded. Two could play a game. "I'm glad. We don't want to be cursed by our valued customers."
"His speech awhile ago could've been great if he wasn't holding that calculator though." Karma jumped in, reading their small tension.
The man hummed, turning to his persona again. "Well, this is a business." Then he made a sheepish gesture. "How about it? This too is a fate of the flowers. I'll make it cheap."
In the end, they bought the flowers. Karma and Nagisa glanced at him most of the time as they made way to the school. It couldn't be helped. He was the only one who was tensed with the exchange. The brunet has an inclining suspicion that Irina-sensei was the next target for the hitman hunting.
He just knew the class would be in danger.
Tadaomi sighed through his nose as a colleague of his escorted the 'assassin' out of the office. Assassin his behind, even the way he moves was like an amateur. It couldn't be helped. Recently, the quality of hitmen has completely collapsed. The biggest cause was that they don't know the whereabouts of their all-important-pipeline, Lovro.
He went attentive to his vibrating phone as he walked out of the office as well. When he checked who was calling, it was the devil, Brovsky Lovro.
"This is Karasuma, Lovro-san." He greeted after answering the call. "What have been doing until now?"
"... I was almost dead." A struggling answer. It froze Karasuma. "Is this line safe?"
"Yes." He affirmed, a little confused why the use of safe line. "I'm using a special bandwidth that can't be intercepted."
"Good. If I carelessly leak information on him, I'll be targeted again. I probably won't get off with just a month in a coma next time."
The agent's brows furrowed. "... Him?"
"Karasuma, wash your hands of this assassination. Or else... You'll all be in danger."
"What do you mean?" He asked, looking around.
"Hitman killing. My protege and my business associates... One after another, they were done in by someone. His skillful method, that ability to take down experts. He's the hitman, God of Death. He's finally started moving."
"The guy you mentioned... The world's greatest hitman?" He questioned as he continued to walk through the corridor.
"As you know as well, an exceptional hitman is well versed in all things. The reason no one knows his true face is because he's an elite disguise artist. The reason he's able to locate hitmen without difficulty is because his intel acquiring abilities are elite. The reason competent hitmen were helplessly taken down is because his assassination technique is elite. The fierce degree of difficulty of the method which took down the hitmen... That, above all else, is proof that it was his doing. My life probably doesn't matter anymore. I won't be able to work for a while either way."
"So, he eliminates skilled business rivals and when the opportunity arises, he goes for the kill. For the ten-billion-yen bounty." Karasuma summarized, feeling the weight of seriousness the situation.
"He's a man who built a mountain of corpses that easily surpasses a thousand in number. He'll kill anyone and use anyone. Even if it's a woman or a middle school student."
Karasuma sighed. "This can't be right. Wait. How did you survive?"
"A group of assassins recognized me and took me in. I'm currently at their base, with the other hitmen as well. For some reason, they were able to trace every hitman on the God of Death's list and took them in after getting 'killed'."
"Do you know who are they?"
"You can't use them, Karasuma. They are the elite assassination squad of Vongola mafia."
His eyes widened when he recognized the title. "The Varia?"
"Yes. But they aren't doing this alone. One of the Division Commanders told me that saving us was a request of one of your students. That Sawada kid."
"Sawada?" He repeated. "They know him?"
"His Uncle is the Varia Commander, Xanxus. Under the theory that the God of Death is monitoring the class as well, he figured that every move of yours are being monitored as well as mine. Thus, all hitmen I contacted for this mission are known."
"I should talk to him, then." He contemplated, remembering the kid's expression when Shiota's group talked to him about the flowers three days ago. "That kid knows more than he lets on. He probably knows what is happening with you and who is the God of Death."
"He can't possibly do so. There is no such information about the God of Death."
"He has wide connection, Lovro-san." He informed. "Sawada has connections with Gunma's and Tokyo's Yakuza, according to that Octopus. If his uncle is the leader of an elite assassination squad, it is no doubt that he can gain information that not even you can have."
"You have a lot of confidence on this kid."
"I do." Karasuma answered. "He is the one who hit that Octopus even before Akabane did. We didn't tell you how good he is because he's not the bragging type. If there is anyone who can predict the God of Death, it's him."
"Please call me if there is any activity from Irina-sensei." Koro-sensei bid as he put a tentacle on the sill of the window, football at another tentacle and pattern of the same ball on his whole face. "Sensei must go to Brazil to watch a football game." Then he flew off.
"Was Koro-sensei that into football?" Kayano voiced as they watched the teacher fly through the sky. "He did say he would watch today's match no matter what a while ago, but still. He's a typical once-a-year casual fan. He's normally a baseball guy."
She, Nagisa, and Sugino looked at each other before they snickered.
Tsuna smiled lightly at their interaction before he sighed. He eyed the class who has been expressing their worries over Irina-sensei's missing appearance in class. It has been three days since the blonde walked out on them after Karasuma-sensei made her realize some things that shouldn't have been. Well, the boundary between her and the students has been there. It's just that she forgot about it.
Right now, the class is trying to contact her. But the fact that Tsuna's intuition was on high alert as well as his senses, the brunet felt like the climax of the story was yet to be reached. He's sure that the guy would come by any time soon. Fucking sneaky, the bastard. He planted a camera on the bouquet of flowers he sold them as a present. Tsuna inspected it after the blonde left it behind. Of course, Tsuna didn't tip the man that he knew about it and kept it there.
And since awhile ago, the brunet has been feeling eyes on them. Like an ominous vibe that was waiting for his time to be known.
"I wonder if Bitch-sensei's alright." Kataoka raised in concern.
"U-Um. I can't reach her cell, either." Yada worriedly voiced while staring at her phone.
Cold shudder went down Tsuna's spine when he heard 'it'—the silent footfalls approaching their classroom.
"You don't think..." Chiba trailed off. "She wouldn't leave because of this, right?"
Tsuna sat straighter as the man came in casually with a bouquet of flowers. "That won't happen. She still has things to do here."
Karma turned to him when he cocked the gun under his table. "Tsuna?"
"Right?" Okano agrees automatically, like the man was originally part of their conversation. It made Tsuna clench his gun tightly. Almost smooth. "All in all, it's fun when she's here."
"Yes, you all have built quite the bond with her. I determined that from an initial investigation." He said as he walked for the table and placed the flowers there. "All I need to do is take advantage of that."
It took seconds for the class to notice. Karma's eyes widened and stared at the man who placed his hands on the table.
"I," He started off and smiled. "Am the hitman known as the God of Death. Starting now, I would like to give you all a lesson."
Brown eyes went unknowingly caramel as they watched the man's every move to take one flower from the bouquet.
"Though their beauty, flowers can be drowned out a person's cautiousness. It opens up a person's heart." He spoke while inspecting a red flower. "Nagisa-kun, like in the way I explained to you guys. But, the original purpose for which the flower evolved beautifully and fragrantly..." Tsuna followed the man's gaze as it shifted to a direction. It was Ritsu. "Ritsu-san, display the image I sent you."
They all stood up in shock at Irina-sensei's picture being held in a box, ropes tied on her wrists, ankles and thighs.
"It is to lure insects." He continued on to his explanation.
"B-Bitch-sensei!" The whole class exclaimed.
"I'll make it short." The imposter said as he drew on the blackboard with a chalk. "If you would like to protect her life, by no means informing your teachers, all of you will come to the location I direct you to." Then he drew lines in her. "If you don't want to come, you don't have to come. In that event, I will send her to you guys, after I divide her up to spread her out equally to you all. And the next 'flower' will be probably be one of you guys."
"Hey hey, Nii-chan," Ryouma called out as his group advanced. He looked cheesed out. "You've been blabbing on about some self-serving crap, but we don't have any obligation to help that tyrannical bitch. And you're even threatening to hurt us, but if you try it, that teacher, Karasuma, and that Octopus wouldn't let that slide. And most importantly, didn't you think you might be beaten to pulp by us here, Mister Kidnapper?"
"You're incorrect, Terasaka-kun." The man said calmly. "All of that is wrong. You guys like her more than you think. Even if you talked it out, you probably couldn't even think of abandoning her." His eyes went for Tsuna who has his gun raised. "For someone who never shows up on my intel, you are rather intuitive, Sawada-kun, being able to react as fast as I came in. I do expect that you come as well. You'll be fun to play with."
"Am I getting the hair then? That drawing is not equally divided. To think a hitman like you missed up on a small task." He asked as he switched the gun to automatic.
"Is it?" The man challenged, glancing at the picture. "I was sure I divided it equally."
"I counted; it wasn't." He answered. "Must be something to doubt about the God of Death." And he pulled the trigger.
"Oh no." The man cackled as he spreads the flowers. "It's impossible for humans to reap the God of Death." And he vanished.
"Ritsu-san." He called to the computer. "Did I hit him?"
"Yes." The girl answered. "One bullet didn't, but the second did so. Right on the chest."
Tsuna put the gun down to his table and sighed. "Did you save the photo?"
"Yes."
"Can you put it up again. I'd like to check it for authenticity." The brunet said as he walked nearer.
"H-How..." Sousuke shakily breathed. "How are you okay, Tsuna? He just came in casually and..."
"And didn't spike anything from you?" Tsuna added as he stood in front of Ritsu's box. "That's one of the 'skills' of God of Death. He can blend in and out, ease people up to lure them in his trap. A flower, he says."
"Like a rose." Nagisa whispered. "Beautiful and gentle, but painful with its thorns."
"How did he know?" Maehara questioned.
Tsuna was inspecting the picture when he pointed the reason. "Those flowers."
He frowned at the picture. Well, it looked genuine. The photo was cropped from a CCTV footage. He inspected the wrists, thighs and ankles. There were no marks. No signs of prolonged captivity. When was she caught? Sedative? No. Definitely not. Probably something... Her coat was removed, and the short black dress remained. The box was too little, easy for someone who didn't have claustrophobia to get one. No blindfolds too.
Hmm. Something was amiss. And he couldn't point it out.
Tsuna turned to the class when he heard a gasped.
"The bouquet from three days ago... So, he had a bug in it. Damn it!" The brunet jumped when Maehara swung the broom he has in hand and hit the wooden handle to the device in order to destroy it. "He used this to spy on our situation and aimed for Bitch-sensei to act alone. He knew that Koro-sensei was going to Brazil, and that Karasuma-sensei left for work. So, he fearlessly barged in here alone."
"But you know," Kurahashi started off. "I didn't think of him as a bad enough guy to be called 'God of Death'. Do you think he could end up being a nice guy?"
"Isn't that amazing? Because he makes you think that way." Karma remarked. "Before him, everyone probably thinks that way. Until that moment just before he kills you that is."
"Yeah." The blondie nodded. "The reality is that Bitch-sensei was kidnapped, huh?"
Tsuna's brow twitch at the used term. It seemed wrong to use kidnapped. It's more of...
"'By six in the evening tonight, please have all the class members come to this map location.'" Kimura read on the note written on the map. "'Your teachers and parents are a given... But the moment you notify any outsiders, your Bitch-sensei's life will be gone.' Is it?"
"So, it's the same as those times with Takaoka and Shiro. His goal is probably to use us as hostages and lure Koro-sensei out." Chiba concluded.
"Damn it! All the troublesome guys always come after us first!" Sugino exclaimed in anger after hitting the wall with the side of his fist.
"What can you say?" Hazama questioned with her arms crossed by her chest. "We're in the best position to earn a lot of money. It's obvious we'd be targeted. And it makes sense for the world's greatest hitman or whatever to do just that."
"But isn't it weird?" The brunet voiced as the class went contemplative.
"What's weird, Sawada?" Fuwa asked from her spot by the door.
"If he is that great, why would he want to use us? He declared himself as the 'God of Death', the greatest assassin. What I know is the God of Death do not use such cheap tricks to do this kind of assassination plan. He can just pull of the assassination where no people can be a witness. Isn't that how they work most of the time?" He elaborated. "Why would he target a yellow Octopus when he has so many lovely hits to do? Ten billion is too little for the kinds like him. Hitmen and assassins have those points in their lives where money is not something valuable, but the deed itself. Think about it, why would he waste his time to kill one man with Mach-twenty speed? Or even try to blackmail that person even?"
"Grudge, probably?" Fuwa suggested, a hand under her chin. "Sawada is right. There's something wrong about this. It doesn't make sense in some angle. If he was that great, why won't he do his attempt alone? Being great means you have more capability in your sleeves, right? Maybe..."
The class looked at each other, absorbing the brunet's point.
"Are we using it?" They all turned to Ryouma who put something on top of his desk. "This?"
It was their new gym clothes.
"The super gym clothes, huh?" Isogai uttered.
"Didn't we decide to use these to protect someone?" Nakamura reminded. "If we don't wear it now, then when?"
"Well..." Okajima trailed off as he slowly pulled his coat off. "Even if it's that Bitch, we do owe for a bunch of stuff. I don't know if he's the best hitman or whatever, but we're not letting him get his way that easily."
Tsuna felt the atmosphere spike with bloodlust. He eyed Ritsu who smiled at him and showed an application within her board. It is the only application she has. He couldn't help smiling.
If that guy could fool twenty-eight students, he's underestimating the twenty-ninth.
"So that's the building, huh?" Maehara remarked after they arrived.
"I made a round from the sky, but I didn't see any signs of people in the area or the roof." Itona said, catching his drone.
"Also, the fact that there was a need to put a bug in the bouquet, conversely thinking, that means there is a good chance that he didn't know about us in detail before that." Fuwa opined.
"I think not." Tsuna said as he stood up from his position between Karma and Nagisa. All of them turned to him. "Right now, he must be seeing us as well."
That put startled looks on them.
"What do you mean?!" Ryouma questioned.
"Remember when I borrowed your pliers? I used that to dismantle all of his camera around our building within those three days. I bet he installed them again the next few nights." He scanned them. "I'm saying this because this is life threatening, everyone. That guy can kill you. He has more or less known how far your abilities. Your clap, for example, Nagisa."
That startled the teal-head.
He pulled on the hood and covered his mouth. "He might be even able to read lips and know what we are talking about."
"Then what should we do?" Okuda queried, the severity of the situation settling in.
"I..." He eyed them. "Have a proposal to make."
They all went attentive.
"Do whatever you deem is right when you get in there. Go on with your plan, but don't count me in." Their eyes widened. "It's not that way. I'm saying I'm going for an independent standpoint. I'll know if you get caught, you lots. So, if ever you did, I'll have to notify Koro-sensei and Karasuma-sensei right away. Regardless of how you see it, we are responsible of each other. One for all, all for one. So, if you get trapped, I will be responsible to inform this to them."
"But we have Ritsu." Someone argued.
"Ritsu-san is a living program. What do you think will happen if she gets hacked?" That put them to silence. "She's vulnerable to that guy who knows everything as he said. She can block, but can she hold out until everything is over?"
"I agree with Tsuna." Karma seconded. "I think he's the best person to move apart from us. If it wasn't for Koro-sensei's constant reminding, we won't be reminded that he's present or missing. As much as he can feel the presence of that guy, it means he can also vanish like him. Besides, if we don't agree, don't you think we'll be in danger again? Tsuna is the only one who can pull us away from danger. I don't want to say it, but he is the most likely person to keep up with that guy after getting praised like that this afternoon."
"When will you extract from us?" Kimura asked from their side, hood pulled up as well with the collar by his mouth.
"You'll know when I suddenly vanish." He answered before scanning them again.
"More reminders, Tsuna?" Ryouma questioned.
"Actually, three things." He said and raised a finger. "Do not be reckless. You'll know the right moment when you see it. Think of your lives and the lives of other people you are with. Do not overestimate yourselves. We are learning teens, not professional adults." He uncurled another finger. "Survive. Think of yourselves before you go selfless and save others. It doesn't make you a hero, it makes you idiotic. Once you think you are okay, you can go and be a hero. Do not replace a classmate with yourselves within gunpoint or blade point. That's just stupid. If you survive, all of you survive. Do as much trickery and time stall you can do to keep him from moving you. He'll wait for Koro-sensei to get here then kill him before he eventually does you too."
Silence came to them as his words settled on them.
"Wait." Takuya called out. "What about the third one?"
Just when their alarm for six o' clock rang up, Tsuna replied. "Do not trust Irina-sensei."