Chapter 2

Classes ended and everyone began packing up to head home. 'Day one over, finally,' Tsuna thought as he finished packing up his things. He was about to leave when he heard the black-haired teen, Yamamoto, say or maybe yelled. "Let's head home together today, Gokudera!"

"Why would I go with you, baseball freak," Gokudera muttered back as he headed out. Yamamoto following closely behind him.

"Ha ha, don't be like that!"

Tsuna started to head out after they had left.

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"Fine!" he heard behind him as he was putting on his shoes. Tsuna turned to see Gokudera giving into Yamamoto's pleads.

Yamamoto said, "Cool!" as he turned to start heading out when he met eye to eye with Tsuna. "Which way do you live, Tsunayoshi? Do you want to come too?"

Tsuna's eyes widen in surprise as he heard the invite. Tsuna considered Yamamoto's eye and noticed that he was just being nice, but a small part of Tsuna felt like Yamamoto was curious of Tsuna. Gokudera just looked up from putting his shoes on and looked at Tsuna curiously. He was waiting for Tsuna's answer.

Suddenly, a great big smile spread across Tsuna's face as he said "Sure!" Gokudera started at the smiling klutz. It was bright, he noticed. Yamamoto's grin grew bigger and maybe even brighter as he felt Tsuna's happiness.

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Tsuna felt tense walking out with a delinquent but having Yamamoto around (Tsuna already guessed he is a popular guy who makes friends easily and played sports) put Tsuna at ease as they left the school grounds.

They began to make their way home. Yamamoto and Tsuna getting to know each other. Tsuna found out Yamamoto is a real baseball freak (must be why he is ok with Gokudera calling him that since it's true). Also, Tsuna found out that his dad is a sushi chef and it's some of the best sushi around.

Tsuna tried not to say too much about himself. He just mentioned living with his mother and having a father who was never around. Tsuna mentioned being an only child but always wanting a younger brother. The three of them continued talking. Mostly, Yamamoto talking. Gokudera would only mutter and glare at Yamamoto in response, whenever Yamamoto would ask for his opinion and vocalization.

After a few minutes of walking and chatting, Yamamoto suddenly stopped walking. Gokudera noticed him stop and stopped himself while Tsuna continued to walk for a moment before noticing himself. Tsuna stopped and turned to see Yamamoto had stopped in front of a sushi shop.

"Oh, are we here?" Tsuna asked as he walked back.

"Yep! This is my place. I'm sorry we couldn't walk further, but I need to help my dad make deliveries today. Maybe next time we can hang out after school?" Yamamoto grinned on cue.

Tsuna considered Yamamoto's smile for a moment. He felt a sensation in the back of his head again, but this time he knew it wasn't a bruise like he thought before. He began to think maybe what the other teen said was a lie, and why was he faking such a sweet smile. 'Hyponitrite' he told himself.

"Sure thing," Tsuna responded smiling. He tried to ignore his weird thoughts and feeling. He only hoped that he would get to spend more time with a guy like Yamamoto again. Tsuna was feeling slightly hopeful for the next day, 'Maybe we will get to walk home together again, but what about after he finds out what a loser I am.' Yamamoto waved goodbye to Tsuna and Gokudera before walking inside to get to work.

After a second of silence, Tsuna realized that he was alone with the scary faced delinquent. A movement from his left alerted Tsuna that Gokudera was ready to go.

"Umm, I guess we should start heading out," Tsuna said the best he could trying not to sound too much like a weakling. Gokudera moved away from the post he was leaning on and began walking in the direction they were heading in before. A moment of silence passed as they continued to walk. They had walked for about five minutes. Tsuna began to feel excited to get home and away from the other but mostly this awkward silence.

"You know," interrupted a rough voice, "if you don't stand up to those idiots soon, they will keep laughing and call you names." Tsuna couldn't help himself. He stood where he was with wide eyes and mouth open in shock at what he heard. Gokudera stopped after a second and looked back at Tsuna with a scowl. "What?" he asked with an impatient voice.

"Nothing, sorry," Tsuna began as he started to walk again.

They were just 2 blocks away from Tsuna's house as he led the way there. "Hmm," Gokudera hummed in answer to acknowledge he was listening. "I-I" Tsuna stuttered out. "I'm used to it. It's o-okay really. I-I don't mind," he whispered the last of his words losing the ability to convince himself. Tsuna continued walking as he fought back a flush from his face. Tsuna continued walking until he realized again he was walking alone. Gokudera was not with him. Tsuna turned to see him. He was staring at him with a glare, not the scary one he gave Yamamoto but one that said he was not happy or accepting Tsuna's answer.

"Stop it," Gokudera said in a voice kinder than what Tsuna was used to, "Stop faking yourself, stupid." He whispered with frustration. Tsuna stared at him wondering what he could mean and if he even heard him right. "You do mind it, and it sure as hell is not okay!" Gokudera began with slight anger in his words as he walked forward towards Tsuna, "They can't be laughing at you for being you. You need to be more confident," Gokudera said as he continued to walk past Tsuna. Tsuna did not know what to say or do, so he followed after him.

"Uh… that's my house there at the end," Tsuna announced as they reached his house. Gokudera looked up to see a simple warm loving home. Gokudera stopped at the gate as Tsuna caught up. "Umm… so I'll see you tomorrow then." Tsuna said to Gokudera not knowing what else to say. Gokudera nodded and began to head back down the street they came. "Uh. I'm sorry did we pass your place?" Tsuna said worriedly. Gokudera looked back and shook his head.

"No, I live down the opposite way, and it's little further away than here."

"Oh, okay. Good." Tsuna was happy to have not been a burden and bother again to the silver haired teen.

"Tomorrow I won't walk with you and Yamamoto since I make you feel so uncomfortable." Gokudera began walking or maybe sulking away. Tsuna felt that was a better word to describe it.

Tsuna froze for a second before saying "No, it's okay. I- you helped me so much today. I never thought I was a wimp before." Tsuna said. "I appreciate what you said. You're really… reliable, Gokudera-kun." Gokudera turned and looked at Tsuna. "I see why you are such good friends with Yamamoto," Tsuna finished with again smiling brightly again. Gokudera stumbled where he stood.

"WHAT? I'm not friends with that Baseball freak!" He screeched. Tsuna became scared that he did something wrong and began stumbling out an apology.

"S-sorry. I didn't- I just thought- from how Yamamoto acts with you- it just seemed like you guys were friends. I'm sorry. It was my mistake for assuming." Tsuna said scared the other was upset with him for messing up again.

"Whatever, we were just old classmates, and now the fool won't leave me alone," Gokudera stated. "I'll see you tomorrow," Gokudera stated as he turned back around. "And maybe we can stop to get food next time on our way home. That's what I use to do in middle school since I lived so far away from the school."

Tsuna looked up with his big brown innocent eyes sparkling again. "Sure!" Tsuna agreed happily. He felt so ecstatic to have made a friend. If Gokudera would allow him to call him that. Tsuna turned and began walking into his house.

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"I'm home!"

"Tsu-kun! How was today? Did it go okay? Did you make any friends? Where the teachers and students nice?"

"Mom, I can't answer all your questions like that."

He laughed as he entered the kitchen to see her. The dining table was filled with all kinds of foods that he was sure was too much for them to eat tonight. His mom was looking so nervous waiting for Tsuna to answer her.

"I had a pretty normal day at first. I succeed in passing by that monster down the street."

Tsuna's mom, Nana, laughed. "Oh Tsu-kun, I told you to stop calling it a monster."

"But it is one!" he yelled back pouting. "Anyways, I got to class and teachers were all nice. After classes ended, I was invited to walk home with some classmates who sat by me. They were nice and we got to talk a little. One of them, Yamamoto Takashi, has a sushi restaurant. He was a pretty nice guy and he loves baseball obsessively. The other one was Gokudera Hayato, he was quieter than the other most of the time. He's a little scary looking but was kind of nice in his own way."

"… How did you feel about them?"

"... They're good people and I like them." Tsuna whispered to his mom after he thought about it. He didn't have to think long really. Inside he knew how he felt already. He remembers Yamamoto's smile and how it felt. The first time he saw it was in class and later when he asked for Tsuna to walk home with them. The smile felt like politeness and the last time was the moment at his home when he put up that politeness again but hiding something again. He felt it. When he thought about Gokudera he remembered his voice. Gokudera spoke in different voices from the time he yelled at the other students with a harsh voice and then scolded Tsuna for falling again. Then the annoyed but calmer voice he had when he talked to Yamamoto and lastly, that moment when he spoke kindly and even caringly to Tsuna. Tsuna knew they were good people but also interesting people.

"Good! I'm happy you have new friends Tsu-kun!" She got up from her chair feeling better knowing Tsuna met people like them so soon. Tsuna flashed his smile once more before he began eating knowing that this food was going to be the rest of the week's food since it would last them all week.

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That night, when Tsuna jumped in bed, he felt another feeling inside him. It felt like the bruise again. Tsuna looked across to his desk before whispering "Good night everyone."

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"… He's… I wonder," the teen wondered out loud as he stared up into the black ceiling. Tears started to flow out of his eyes as blurry memories flashed in his mind.

"Night."

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"Next time…" He looked at a photograph on his nightstand one last time before turning off the lights.

"Good night."