Guest: It's completely coincidental, if that's the case. I haven't read or even seen another Fem!Takeshi or Takeshi reincarnation story!
Animagirl: I'm glad! And Hibari is kind of intimidating to write, and even more so to pair with. O.O He's one of the ones that you have to really, really write well to get a romance right with – which is why most people label him as an "unpairable". I'm not counting anyone out yet though.
And thank you! Happy New Years too you too! (Even if I'm a little too late to say that hahaha…)
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Age 12
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The first time I actually interacted with Sawada Tsunayoshi, it wasn't much of a talk and more of me telling off some bullies. It was something that I couldn't just walk away from like other people were – I had been very much so against bullying in my past life and I was no different in this one. Though part of me wondered how I hadn't been around when people had bullied him before.
"Shit! Man, what kind of kid carries around a fake sword?!" One of the older boys rubbed his stinging arm, his friend scowling next to him and warily eyeing my shinai.
"It's not a wooden sword." I adjusted my grip, leaning it more towards them, "It's a shinai. Big difference. But it's understandable that you don't know that, since those that bully others are generally on the less intelligent side."
They practically snarled and were probably considering lashing out again when none other than Sawada Nana stepped out of the store behind us –
"Oh? Is everything alright here?"
Her voice was really airy and sweet, like I remembered from the anime – and it really was easy to relax and smile when she came in the room. It was like she brought a happy aura with her, a natural charisma that she probably didn't even realize she had.
And, honestly, it was probably that factor that cowed the two boys and had them scampering off without a word as I worked my shinai back into the fabric sheath. Otherwise they probably would have come at us again – though I could have handled it, though I would have felt bad since they were just kids.
Which was kind of weird to think – or say – since I was technically a kid.
Which was also why I darted around the corner before Nana could spot me and while Tsuna was distracted with his mother. Sawada Nana was as sweet as could be, and I just knew she'd find some way to corral me into coming over for snacks – and that would push me into a situation that I wasn't ready for.
That situation being befriending Tsuna. And doing that would be accepting my role in the plot – I would be sealing my fate, if I hadn't already, and I wasn't quite ready to do that just yet.
"H-HIIEEE?!"
My head jerked and I peered around the corner to see Tsuna looking around frantically, and I assumed he was probably looking for me.
"Eh? What are you doing on the ground, Tsu-kun?" Nana blinked curiously down at her son, "Did you trip again?"
As he began sputtering his response I left – there was no reason for me to stay and eavesdrop. Besides, I had things to think about – things that practically reeked of plot.
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Sawada Tsunayoshi, it turns out, wasn't as much of a coward as I though he was – or would be – at this point in time. He proved that to me the next day we had school after the bully incident by coming up to me. Though he was blushing and twiddling his thumbs as he looked at his feet – but still.
"A-ah, Y-Yamamoto-san," his head shrunk into his shoulders, "Th-Thank you!"
I blinked at him and felt my head tilt, "Eh? Why are you thanking me?"
His eyes widened and he looked a little bewildered as he finally looked me in the face, "When you stopped the bullies! You didn't have to do that!"
"Of course I did," I smiled as his bewildered look deepened, "Bullying is wrong. Stopping bullies is the right thing to do."
Before he could respond, or even really consider responding, Hana called out my name from across the room as Kyoko waved happily from her spot next to her. Tsuna sputtered next to me, his bewildered look turning into one better described as "cow-eyed" and I laughed, startling him.
"Might wanna be a little more discreet than that, if ya' don't want people to know, Sawada-kun!"
He made a choking sound as I practically bounced away, and I couldn't help but to full out grin – because doing stuff like that and getting those reactions was priceless.
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Sasagawa Ryohei was proving to be as enthusiastic and, well, extreme as my memories depicted him. And as completely obsessed with boxing and the boxing club. He was, apparently one of the best boxers at Nami Middle even though he was only a first year.
He was also extremely determined to get me to join the club once I started there next year. Because apparently breaking his nose with a stick equated to being skilled at boxing.
Suffice it to say I had no idea how his brain worked, but alas.
"C'MON, YAMAMOTO-CHAN!" Ryohei stood in front of me, his stance wide and a fist clenched in front of his chest, "Say you'll join the club next year! Or now!"
"I can't join now," I blinked up at him, "I'm not in middle school."
"It never hurts to start extremely early!"
I made a face that was probably reminiscent to one you'd get when sucking a lemon, "It does when you get bitten to death."
And I had no interest in testing Hibari by waltzing onto Nami Middle's campus when I wasn't a student, or in uniform. Though I was fairly certain that he would realize I wasn't a student even if I wore a uniform. Because while I doubt he knows every student's name, he more than likely know faces – it really wouldn't surprise me if he did (or if he did know names, though that seems like a stretch – and something he wouldn't bother with).
"DON'T BE A COWARD, YAMAMOTO-CHAN!"
He breathed in to say something else and I moved to quickly poke his forehead before spitting out quickly, "Idiotsayswhat?"
He blinked, "What?"
I grinned, "Exactly."
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EXTRA: Breaking Ryohei's nose.
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It was a wonderful thing for my muscles not to scream or even whimper as I did my backbends and flips, as I had finally gotten back into gymnastics shape and planned on staying in shape. Flipping and tumbling around made me feel free – and I couldn't really describe it any other way than free.
I shook my hands out before moving back into a series of back handsprings and tensed once I landed because a bush rustled and a twig snapped and –
"HEY!"
Without thinking of anything other than the presence fast approaching me, I snatched a thick stick up from by my feet and swung –
A horrified feeling made me go cold as Ryohei tumbled to the ground after and audible snap, his nose bleeding.
"Uwaaaah! Ryohei!" I squatted next to him, my hands fluttering about uselessly, "Are you alright? I –"
"WHAT EXTREME STRENGTH YOU HAVE, YAMAMOTO-CHAN!" Ryohei sprung up, his voice nasally and blood dripping down his chin, "You have to join my boxing club!"
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So-so chapter is so-so.
Also; don't read much into her calling him Ryohei at the end. She refers to all of them by their first names in her head - Takara was so frazzled that she used his first name, that's all.