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Hayato will never tell anyone this, but he regrets punching Sawada. He's been trained, been taught how to hurt and harm but the one stipulation for his training had always been protection. The anger though, is something he has yet learned to control. He didn't like Sawada but he didn't want to hurt him. But then,

"Mama is just so annoying. Always going Tsu-kun this, Tsu-kun that, I wish she would stop nagging so much. So I moved out. Mothers can be so annoying." Sawada had said so flippantly, so easily as if mothers were something to be taken for granted, as if having someone love you were a pain. The anger had flared like bright sparks, blinding his reasoning and he was moving before there was time to stop and think.

Mothers, it seemed, continue to remain as his weak spot.

Hayato still remembers the feel of Sawada's skin on his, the way he had gone deathly still, had gone limp, and the pain that burst under his skin. There was a distinct fragility about Sawada and Hayato felt like punching him had shattered something, the beginnings of a bruise bleeding onto his skin hadn't helped. Sawada was too soft—all wide eyes and awkward angles that made him look…vulnerable. Hayato loathed those who picked on the vulnerable. Perhaps, that was the only reason he didn't retaliate when Yamamoto punched him.

But now, seeing Sawada for the first time since yesterday, Hayato understood why Yamamoto had punched him. How hard had he hit him for the bruise to look so severe? Sawada had stolen a look at him and flinched ever so slightly, dark purple bruise like a stain on his almost unnaturally pale skin. He looked like a victim and Hayato felt very much like a bully. He had encountered enough bullies to know they were not a position to strive for and disgust coiled at the base of his stomach. It was enough to spur him into moving towards Sawada. Yamamoto, of course, was there like a guard dog and disliked him enough to drop that stupid smile he wore everywhere.

"Sawada," Hayato began but then Sawada very deliberately turned his head away and there was derision written into every line of his body. Gritting his teeth, Hayato walked out of the classroom before he punched him a second time.

There was something about Sawada that made Hayato so very angry every time he got near him. Sawada always acted so arrogantly, so disdainfully it reminded Hayato of some in Vongola. Those that believed position equated to power and sneered at him for even dreaming of entering Vongola when he was a bastard child. Sawada seemed like the type to go through coasting on the achievements of others, no surprise considering he was probably the next heir of Vongola. Hayato had speculated, considering the rumours of a child suddenly appearing in Vongola's main headquarters who looked stunningly like a mixture of Vongola's Young Lion and (apparently) his wife. Sawada even had Young Lion's surname and it was no secret that if CEDEF were not his, he would have long become the next head.

Then, Shamal had been flown specially to Namimori and that was the last straw. Shamal was his mentor, the only one who had never thought him less for his illegitimate status. Hayato had to see the so-called heir in person but Sawada was laughably weak and no Vongola boss could ever be weak. Sawada was rude, disrespectful, and completely undeserving of Shamal's care of friendship of his mother of his position.

But there were other ways aside of violence to prove Sawada's undesirability and for them to work out, Hayato needed to observe.


Hayato regrets.

Sawada is not only boring but ridiculously incompetent. The teachers don't like him. He's failing. He trips a lot. No charisma, leadership abilities or any form of inspiring aura that would qualify him for heir.

That is literally all there is to Sawada.

Moreover, with Yamamoto constantly sticking to Sawada—lunch, after school, even bathroom breaks, Hayato has almost no chance to observe Sawada one-on-one. What if Yamamoto is compromising the data in anyway? Hayato needs his observation to be perfect if he wants to present a strong case.

A few more days of this and Hayato is ready to present his case without sufficient data anyway.

And then, he saw his chance. Sawada was eyeing Yamamoto and was slowly inching his chair away from the table. By the time Yamamoto had been drawn into conversation by another classmate, Sawada's chair was away from his desk. Yamamoto laughed at something the classmate said and, with surprising grace, Sawada slipped out of his chair and walked casually out of the door. After a moment, Hayato followed.

Some of the gracefulness lingered in Sawada's walk and it was…interesting because this was so far the most competent Sawada seemed. He was walking with purpose and at such a fast pace Hayato wondered if he was meeting someone. The corridor was empty but Hayato could hear voices in the distance, as they rounded the corner into a more crowded hallway, the change that overcame Sawada was fascinating. Gone was the smooth walk (almost like gliding in fact) and instead, he seemed burden by the mere presence of other people. Sawada hunched slightly, and walked like he was afraid of the very air itself. Everything about him screamed 'pathetic' and one small, dark corner of Hayato's mind pointed out he looked like prey.

Odd.

Suddenly, Sawada tensed. Hayato followed his wary gaze towards two schoolmates standing by the window. Their faces sparked a faint memory and oh yes, they were his classmates. They shared a look and moved purposefully towards Sawada. Oddly enough, Sawada shrunk into himself more but let himself be herded by them. There was something wrong with this picture. One of them had a firm hold on Sawada's elbow, too firm in fact, and the other was pressed closely to Sawada's other side. Backs tensed but forced into a false state of relaxation, eyes flicking back and forth warily, they looked like thieves stealing something important. Yamamoto's eyes, angry and ruthless, flash through his mind and Hayato knows Sawada is being dragged (yes, dragged rather than led) to somewhere No Good.

Hayato slows down so they won't detect him and follows leisurely from afar. The corridors are less and less empty and eventually, they duck into a stairwell. Stairwells have good acoustics so when Hayato sees them head down a flight of stairs, he positions himself at the top, just out of sight. The voices are slightly muffled but he can still hear them loud and clear.

"Stop taking advantage of Yamamoto's kindness. Just because he was nice to you once doesn't mean you can do whatever you want."

"But I'm not taking advantage, he's my frie—."

"Shut up! You don't have friends Dame-Tsuna. Yamamoto just pities you."

"Yeah, as if someone like you can be friends with Yamamoto." Silence and Hayato feels very, very cold. He thought that maybe it was just classmates having a disagreement, just more reasons for Why Sawada Cannot Be a Vongola Boss (can't even get along with his classmates, won't be able to lead an organization) but the way they're talking… The words may change but Hayato has heard the same anger/disdain/irritation tone over and over again.

A slow inhale, loud in the silence, Hayato bizarrely recognises it Sawada's and then

"You're jealous." He sounds awed. Hayato can't believe he said that, does Sawada have no sense of self-preservation?

"WHY YOU—"A choked off shout and the sounds of scuffling. Hayato is already running down the stairs, he may not like Sawada but he will never stand for bullying. Sawada is pinned to the wall, eyes wide and afraid just like…just like the last time Hayato punched him. Damn it.

Words are wasted on scum like this (like you) and Hayato easily muscles his way through the classmate trying to block him. Easily, he grabs the guy pinning Sawada, spins him and knees him in the gut. Just hard enough to bruise maybe but not enough to make him vomit. He's not supposed to injure civilians too badly (at all actually) so he lets him go. The bully bends over in half and his friend hurries over to support him. Weak.

"I see you touch Sawada one more time and I'll break your hand." He says. The bullies nod and hurriedly limp away although the one he kneed still bothers to shoot him a glare. Finally, when they're out of sight and Hayato can no longer hear their footsteps, he turns back to Sawada. Who is still pressed against the wall and watching him with wary eyes.

"You're a disgrace to Vongola." Sawada's eyes widen at the mention of Vongola, confirming Hayato's suspicions.

"The next Vongola boss being so weak is unheard of." He wants to sound triumphant because 'Here, I've unveiled your secret!' is what he's doing but Hayato just feels tired.

"…I'm not?" Sawada says, brows furrowed and steps cautiously towards Hayato.

"I'm not the next Vongola boss." Sawada repeats and he has to be lying, the clues don't add up otherwise.

"But Sawada Iemitsu is your father!" Here Sawada falters and stares intently at him.

"Sawada Iemitsu did contribute to my creation but…Vongola is interested in me because the circumstances of my creation are relevant to them."

He didn't call Sawada Iemitsu his father. The awkward phrasing feels familiar somehow, it reminds him of just because he raised me doesn't mean he's my father himself. Oh. Could it be?

"What about Sawada Nana?" A long pause and Sawada ducks his head down.

"She knows briefly of me but isn't interested in raising me."

"Then what about your mother?" Here is the question, the question that will fully answer his suspicions.

"…I have no mother that I know of." It feels like a physical blow to Hayato's heart and he has never felt this guilty in his life. A surge of sympathy swells in him and carefully, he moves closer to Sawada.

"You lied about why you were living alone?" Sawada is still looking down but he looks up at the sudden proximity of Hayato's voice. He freezes at how close they are but doesn't move away and Hayato counts it in his favour.

"I'm not supposed to tell anyone but since you're from Vongola." Sawada shrugs and Hayato nods encouragingly even though he's technically, not really a part of Vongola. Yet.

"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone." Cautiously, he places a hand at Sawada's elbow and smiles when Sawada stares at him with shock. Gokudera Hayato will never be a bully and he will make up for his slip in every way possible. Later, he will apologize and even explain (haltingly and almost shyly) that he was trying to test Sawada as the next boss. Later, he will apologize even more profusely under Yamamoto's suspicious eyes. Later, he will tentatively offer to walk Sawada home and Sawada will quietly accept. But for now,

"Let's get you back to class." He has to talk to Shamal.


"Why didn't you tell me Sawada was Iemitsu's illegitimate son." Shamal chokes and Hayato can't help but roll his eyes. So melodramatic.

"He's not, Hayato, I think you've got the wrong idea." Shamal reaches out his hands and shakes them wildly, as if trying to dispel what's obviously the truth. Hayato is a genius after all. Shamal is still sputtering denials, giving vague excuses that wouldn't fool anyone, much less a genius like him. Perhaps, Vongola? That'd make more sense. They're probably trying to hide their possible assets, especially from outsiders like him. He feels his mood grow sombre and a rancid taste lingers at the back of his mouth. Outsider. That's what he ever is these days—to his 'family', to Vongola, and now…to Namimori. The rancid taste grows stronger, it brings to mind Bianchi's poison cooking and a fuzzy image of a mocking crowd. His lips twitch. Hayato wants a cigarette badly, anything to drown the aftertaste of his childhood.

"Hayato?" Shamal looks almost concerned, it's disconcerting, uncomfortable.

"If you had told me he was a civilian, I wouldn't have hurt him." A weak excuse but true, also a diversion from questioning. Win-win. Shamal still looks too almost concerned though and Hayato has learned to cut his losses before he's devoured. He's pretty much figured everything to know about Sawada anyway, no need to unnecessarily dig.

"I'm going back to class now. See ya." He leaves before Shamal can get another word in and that's perfectly fine with him.

First things first, there are wrongs he need to right. And then….

a walk home with Sawada, with Yamamoto tagging along as his snarling guard dog. He probably deserves it but still.

It's gonna be a long, long day ahead.


Btw, this chapter is alternatively titled STOP GOKUDERA'S MISUNDERSTANDING 2K15 for obvious reasons but my angry storm bb is so hard to write. I just imagine him for be massively long-winded in his head because he overthink and analyses everything why bb