Chapter 3

Namimori Reformation and Rehabilitation Institute is a school that educates delinquents and students with mental health problems without the discrimination of the normal students. It was a school where delinquents graduate as better people, and students with mental health problems are slowly healed and are helped to get back to their feet by the time they graduate also. It was created twenty years ago by Hibari Hanami, the current headmistress of the school.

Though it might look like a low-quality school from hearing it, when a person visits the campus, it was actually on par with the elite schools and shows a lot of promising grades from the second years and above. The first year of middle school and high school was the adjusting period, so no amount of pressure could be held on their shoulders. After their first year, they are then taught by foreign and local teachers alike to help them gain back their confidence and proper morality in terms of learning. Extracurricular activities are encouraged. Their school system is not restrictive, allowing students to have a feel of living a normal life despite their misgivings.

The main cores of discipline in the school is divided into two as well as the factions or student division.

The Disciplinary Committee oversees the progress of the delinquents who are sent to the school. Within the first year was the year of screening, to see whether a delinquent has a chance in changing his fate to jail. If they fail to meet the criteria needed, they are sent to normal juvenile facilities. The committee was headed by none other than Hibari Hanami's only son, Hibari Kyouya. And those who defile the school will get the beating they would never forget. They call this faction the Reformation Faction.

The second core is the Student Counselors. They are a group of students who supervises the students with mental health problems and helps them in overcoming their demons. Since they have the most delicate jobs, the members of the Student Counselors are those with a brief psychology background or had been in the same situation as them once upon a time. It helps the students realize that they could overcome their inner demons that had kept their normal lives at bay since being diagnosed with their mental health problems. These students were called Rehabilitation Faction.

The head of the Counselors was Sumeragi-Niserio Tsunayoshi—much to Ienari's shock, as he read the student handbook morning the next day.

Upon looking at the two types of uniforms, he found out that they issue two different school uniforms for each faction. The Reformation Faction are issued with a black gakuran and a sailor uniform for girls and are distinguished from other schools with a crest pin, while the Rehabilitation Faction are issued a black blazer with gold pinstripes also issued with the same crest pin.

Ienari looked at his closet to find the uniform for the Rehabilitation Faction, as he expected. He scoffed lightly as he looked at his concealed bandaged wrist. "I deserve to be in that faction…after what I did that sent the whole castle in chaos…"

He clenched his left fist. He didn't remember what kind of idea had gone into his head, but he knew that it made him see the usual disappointed look of his father, and the worrying look of the Ninth and Reborn after he woke up in the hospital. Yes. Reborn had looked worried about him when he woke up in the hospital and having been monitored for two days in case he attempted to do the deed again. But it only lasted for a day before he was hit upside the head and been lectured for keeping things to himself.

When doctors questioned him on why he did it, try as he might, he couldn't remember the reason why. They said that he unconsciously buried that memory because of a trauma.

The night before, he wondered to himself why Nana or Tsuna didn't bring up his suicide attempt. It was either Reborn didn't tell them, or they were wise enough to not talk about it and to act normally around them. If it was the latter, then Ienari felt relieved that they weren't breathing down his neck, unlike the entire staff of the Vongola Castle.

A knock on the door was heard. "Come in," Ienari said.

The door opened to reveal Tsuna in his own black blazer with an extra pin that distinguished him as the head Counselor. "Ienari, we will be heading to the restaurant to open up. Want to come with?"

Hesitation came up to him and shook his head. "No thank you. Reborn said he'd be driving me to school. I have to be early for the introductions, right?"

Tsuna laughed lightly, "Yeah, you're right. Oh, by the way, the one you're going to meet is a student named Yamamoto Takeshi. Rest assured you can count on him to show you around."

"Alright…" Ienari said before his brother disappeared in the corridor.

Not long after the mother and son duo left, Reborn drove him to school.

"You read the handbook last night and this morning?" the hitman asked.

"Yeah." Ienari replied. "I never thought that…Tsuna would hold such a position…head Counselor?"

Reborn nodded. "Tsuna is in charge of taking care of all students with mental issues. And rest assured that he would talk to you as a counselor soon enough."

"Hey, Reborn…exactly how did he end up in that school?"

"Same as all students in the Rehabilitation Faction." Reborn said, "All of them had mental health problems, some are even drug abusers. Some even did what you tried to do. But those higher years who had recovered stayed to help others overcome their own personal demons. One of the ones who overcame their personal demons was Tsuna. He fought hard to get over his problems because of the environment that made him grow up." He looked at Ienari, "And that's why I'm sending you there during the day under his guidance."

Ienari was speechless. For his tutor to say something highly of Tsuna, it was unusual for someone who had mercilessly nearly killed Dino on a daily basis as of three years ago, and had become his home tutor soon afterwards who also did not give him any mercy.

"It's stupid, isn't it?" Ienari mused, "About me doing something like this-" he held out his left wrist. "-and being able to forget the specific reason why I did it…"

Reborn sighed, "What you did was purely dangerous. You practically sent almost everyone in the castle running like headless chickens." Reborn replied sharply. "But no one can fault you on that. The reason I suggested that you be sent here is in order for you to have a peaceful school year without the stress of your expected future."

Reborn pulled over at the drop-off area and Ienari peeped at the window to see the Reformation and Rehabilitation factions entering the school peacefully. He could see a group that was filled with Reform students only, and Rehab students only. There were also some who have a mixed group. He was pretty amazed on how the delinquents and the rehab kids co-existed without any carnage. Though he supposed it was because of the discipline implementations in the school that prevents them from causing a ruckus.

"Good luck on your first day. I'll pick the two of you up in the afternoon," Reborn said as he drove off to the restaurant, leaving Ienari to the tall boy with a goofy grin on his face.

…

Yamamoto Takeshi, a second year, proved to be someone who can attach himself to almost anyone. Ienari proved that to be true the moment the teenager brandished a bright smile on him.

"Hey! I'm Yamamoto Takeshi. You must be Sawada Ienari, right?"

"Yeah…" Ienari now felt awkward. He was wearing a Rehab uniform, which mean that he was someone who also has or had a mental health issue. But judging from the grin on his face, it didn't seem like it.

Yamamoto looked at him, "Wow! You almost look like Tsuna. Except for the hair of course. Well, as a freshman, you need to learn the ropes and the different places that you have to memorize." He then took out a tablet, "Here's the standard issued tablet with a digital copy of the handbook. It's a large campus, so getting lost is frequent. The printed ones don't include some secret aspects of the school to keep our secret of quality education all hushed up," he shared as the two entered the main building. "You can also use that for your researches on the internet, but the violent sites are blocked, so don't bother trying. Your emails are yours alone, so you can access it for any school announcements."

"Thanks…" he looked at the teenager and asked, "By the way…how are the classes segregated?"

"In the morning, they're not," Yamamoto informed. "Morning classes are the classes spent with both factions in the academic sense. The afternoon classes is where all your classes are split between factions and by year level. That's when the Rehab sessions start for us, and the Reform sessions for the other."

"Ah…I see…" so that was why some of them had mixed groups. They were all in the same classes in the mornings.

"So, let me get you to the Staff Room," Takeshi said as he pulled Ienari towards the corridors. Ienari just allowed himself to be taken in, knowing that it would be futile if he resisted.

Yamamoto was instructed to return to his class with a pass as soon as they reached the Staff Room, leaving Ienari behind with the teachers inside. He wasn't surprised that his homeroom teacher was a doctor. Most of the teachers, according to the tablet handbook, are professional psychiatrists with their own professional fields. They are the ones who assists the student counselors in helping the Rehab students overcome their issues. Ienari found it interesting, employing people with a degree to help them out.

"Well then, shall we get to your new class?" the teacher, Dr. Mikoto, offered as she directed him outside to the classrooms of the first years.

Ienari obediently followed her to class 1-C, ad had been introduced as the younger brother of Sumeragi Tsunayoshi. Ienari knew that using the real last name of Reborn would be dangerous, so they had Tsuna use the maiden name of Nana for protection. But his birth records and his legal renaming states him as Niserio Tsunayoshi.

Unlike the normal schools, however, they did not seem hostile when they learned that the head student counselor had a brother. Instead, smiles greeted him. That was when he found out during his break as he conversed with his classmates that Tsuna fondly talks about him when Rehab students has sessions with his older brother. And when the Reform students sees him in the Disciplinary Committee Room. He was always saying how he remembered the times when they would spend time together before the divorce of their parents. Tsuna remembered how strong he was when he defended him from bullies.

But right now, Tsuna was wrong. He was not strong. He stopped defending his brother long ago. He has stopped believing that he could be strong. His weakness led him to his current plight and him being sent to the school for rehabilitation.

He would do anything to get back the bond he had with his older brother if it means being a step closer to rebuilding himself.

"Remember this, Ienari. You need people closest to you, not just me as your home tutor."

The words from Reborn that he ignored long ago came ringing back in his head. "Maybe he's right…"

It was a good thing that no one must speak of their mental problems to anyone unless the person was willing, and Ienari was not that willing to share his mistake to anyone inside the room. The class understood it, as they were also battling their personal demons.

For now, Ienari was safe to assume that he could survive the school with his dilemma intact. Unconsciously, Ienari held on to his left wrist, covered by a wristband under his sleeve.

TBC

And this is the new chapter.

A bit of an introduction here and there, including the school. Of course, if someone had done what Ienari did, then they would be sent somewhere, right? I created the school as some sort of a safe haven for the Reforms and Rehabs, but then…it all amounted to which group would help that faction improve and not to worsen their mindsets. Of course, Hibari is by default, the top dog of the Reform faction. Tsuna, by popularity for kindness, I guess?

And now you know that Yamamoto is a Rehabilitation student! Well, you can already guess how he got sent there if you know the manga and anime very well. Now I wonder where Gokudera went… (wink)

About the last thought of Ienari, I think it's safe to say that he's looking at Tsuna to help him overcome his dilemma now that he knew he could help him, even if some think that he would be the last one he would run to for help. But as I said, sibling bond is stronger than people make it look for some people, and one of them are Tsuna and Ienari.

Next to appear: Hibari Kyouya again!

I'm being too flippant these days, and it's showing on my other fic. I have no idea what has gotten into my head these past few days. I hate it. Do you think this is showing here? Please let me know.