It's really strange, a few days after Tsuna and I met Reborn, things have been really lively. I mean, Tsuna's been waking up earlier and people at school have been calling Tsuna, "No-good", less and less. And me, I've just fallen off their radar. No one's noticed me unless the teacher does roll call.
It's great. If people don't notice I'm there, they won't make fun of me and beat me up until I turn black and blue!
Finally, Tsuna and I can go to school without being scared!
…Nevermind, I lied.
You see, after the Mochida incident, and the inclusion of Tsuna's sudden boost in popularity, we've now received a request. Er, Tsuna received a request.
"Please! You have to help us!" a student begged Tsuna. His hands were held together like he was praying and he was bowing.
Tsuna, still unused to all the attention, was stuttering and blushing and tripping over his words. Nice to know all this hasn't gotten to his head.
"Bu-but, why me? !" he cried. The student stood up and began to explain.
"Please, Sawada-kun! We're missing a member and the tournament is today!" the student pleaded, "With your skill, we would definitely win! Please, we're desperate!"
Obviously, since he's asking the boy who used to be known as 'no-good', not even a week ago…
Um, you're probably a bit confused as to why Tsuna's reluctant to accept. The tournament in question is the volleyball tournament.
Tsuna and I have never played volleyball. Ever. At all. Get it? Got it? Good.
"O-okay…" Tsuna answered.
Huh? Wh-what did he say?
"I guess…I can play," he continued.
Tsuna! What are you thinking? ! You'll be crushed!
"Really?" the student shouted, "That's great! With the guy who beat Mochida-sempai on our side, the other team's got no chance!" The student bowed again before running off to tell the team.
When Tsuna and I were alone in the hallway, I decided to speak up for the day.
"Tsuna…" I said, with a growing tone of worry.
"It'll be fine!" he tried reassuring me. Didn't really work, but hey, he tried, "If Reborn uses the Dying Will Bullet on me then I've got nothing to worry about!"
I let out a quiet, but harsh sigh, "You may have nothing to worry about, but I certainly do…what if it doesn't work? The team would get really disappointed and they'd start calling you 'no-good' again!"
"It'll be fine, Chi!" he stressed, "You don't have to worry about me ALL the time y'know?" He held out a hand for me, ready to lead me to the classroom where the team was.
"And yet you give me so many reasons to," I glared slightly (which probably looked more like a pout) at the offered hand, and gave in.
I was waiting outside the classroom since the team was changing. The door opened and a few members walked out. I could hear one of them calling out to Tsuna inside.
"Come on, Sawada, let's get going!" he called.
"You guys go ahead, I'll be there in a sec," Tsuna replied.
After the team vacated the hall, Tsuna grabbed my hand and we went searching for the tiny tutor. Finding a baby in a middle school is a lot harder than you might think, Reborn-san can hide really well.
"Reborn said he'd be keeping his eye on me so he should be here somewhere…" Tsuna muttered. We looked through various classrooms when finally Tsuna and I caught the smell of caffeine emanating from a small emergency cabinet in the hallway. When Tsuna and I got close enough, the cabinet slammed open.
You can guess what happened to me next. Yup, passed out. Right on the floor. Stupid loud noises…
"Ch-Chi!" Tsuna cried, her turned to glare at the tutor who had a knowing smile on his face, "R-Reborn! What are you doing? !"
Reborn took a sip from a small mug, "This is one of the hideouts I set up around the school."
"N-nevermind that!" Tsuna shouted, "You have to shoot me with the Dying Will Bullet!"
Reborn was refilling his cup, "I can shoot you, but you'll die."
Tsuna was in shock, "Huh? What do you mean?"
"Since you'd be expecting me to shoot you, you'd have no regrets," Reborn explained, "No regrets, no second chance. You'd end up being killed by yours truly."
"Aaagh!" Tsuna cried, "Chi was right! Now what do I do? ! Everyone's gonna hate me!"
"Still wanna try it?" Reborn held up his gun to Tsuna's forehead.
"Nononono! I changed my mind!" the boy yelled.
"Good luck then," Reborn shut to cabinet.
Feeling depression creeping up on him, Tsuna woke up Chi and began explaining his predicament.
I just knew something would go wrong. I don't usually like telling people 'I told you so', so I didn't say anything. Tsuna's upset enough already.
"Chi…what am I gonna do…" Tsuna was slouched and his eyes were blurry.
I sighed quietly, "We should just get it over with, if you don't show up people would think you ran away."
Tsuna groaned, "F-fine, let's just get this over with…"
So we are in front of the gym. Awaiting Tsuna's fate. He squeezed my hand tightly one more time and we both opened the doors. Everyone was cheering him on and some were even waving banners.
Oh dear, if the team does lose, everyone would be out for Tsuna's blood…
Somewhere behind the crowd, under the shadows stood a figure. A cigarette hanging inbetween hidden lips.
"…So…he's the next boss of the Vongola…"
"Good luck Tsuna," I whispered. He nodded and walked toward the waiting team.
Against my better judgment, I decided to stand in front of the crowd, to make sure I'd be able to get to Tsuna quickly if he were to get seriously hurt. Off to the side, I saw Sasagawa-san with her friends. So she's here too…hm? …Why do I feel…angry?
The match began and almost immediately Tsuna was hit in the stomach with the ball.
Ahhh, just watching this is painful…poor Tsuna…
Unfortunately, the game kept going on with Tsuna being smacked about every fifteen seconds. Yes, I was counting.
Ten minutes into the game was when the captain FINALLY called for a time-out. Everyone was mumbling and grumbling about Tsuna's dismal performance. I snuck my way around so I could get close to the team and see what Tsuna would do.
"Sawada! Are you even trying? !"
"Get it together!"
"Come on! We're all trying our best you know!"
"Don't tell me you're "No-good Tsuna" after all!"
Harsh, but what can they expect from a guy whose never played volleyball in his life?
Fweet!
Ah, that whistle signaled the end of the first set. Hm? Where's Tsuna going?
Tsuna looked around the gym and saw me near the team. He walked over and grabbed my hand before walking out.
"Tsuna," I asked, "What's going on?"
He sighed, "I told them that my ankle was sprained from fighting Mochida-sempai, so they let me go to the infirmary…"
I bit my lip, "Please tell me you noticed that the rest of the team were all covered in their own injuries…"
Tsuna nodded, "Y-yeah, I noticed," He replied quietly, "I remembered the captain saying that they were desperate…"
We got outside and stopped at the fountain for Tsuna to wash his face.
"If you run now, everyone's going to lose faith in you, Sasagawa-san too…" I rubbed his back. I heard quiet footsteps coming from behind us.
"Aren't you going home?" It was Reborn-san. Tsuna let out a harsh breath.
"No."
When we got back to gym, Tsuna went straight to the team, resolve strong in his eyes.
Oooh, poetic. Uh…s-sorry. Hm? O-ow! Wh-wha? Where's that light coming from? I looked up and saw Reborn-san leaning over a railing from the second floor of the gym. He was holding a sniper rifle and aimed it at Tsuna.
I couldn't really see what Reborn-san was really aiming for since the glare from his gun was practically blinding me, but I did hear Tsuna fall and cry out…in…pain…Oh dear god…he's not dying, is he? !
"Sawada?"
"Hey, Sawada, what's wrong?"
"Sawada it's coming for you! Get it!"
"Okay!" Tsuna shouted and jumped…well, now I have a good guess where Reborn shot Tsuna…
"A 'Jump Shot'?" I asked.
It was after school and Reborn-san had me go over to Tsuna's house so he could explain what happened during the tournament.
Reborn-san nodded, "The effect of the Dying Will Bullet changes depending on where it hits."
"How many other effects does it have?" asked Tsuna.
"The same number as parts of the body, of course," Reborn-san replied.
Huh, that's a pretty versatile bullet…is that what makes this 'Vongola Family' a famous mafia family…? Ah! Wh-what am I thinking!
"Why didn't you tell us about this before, Reborn?" Tsuna exclaimed.
"Because I didn't want you to depend on the bullet to solve all your problems," Reborn-san replied, "But after today, I suppose I don't have to worry so much anymore."
So there is a science behind his insanity…
"Since you know," Reborn-san pulled out a large silver briefcase and picked up a large gun, "Now I can shoot you any time I want," he said with a large smirk.
"Eh…EH? !" Tsuna and I shouted.