Chapter edited as of 17th April, 2016.

Yamamoto usually enjoyed sports days where Namimori Middle would compete against other schools, but today wasn't going to be the same – not when he was staring at a blue-haired male whose arm was wrapped around the Prefect of the Namimori Middle Disciplinary Committee, Hibari Kyouya.

It was no secret that Mukuro Rokudo was gay, or that his main attraction was said Prefect, and the fact that Rokudo could so openly be himself made Yamamoto feel lesser about himself, knowing he couldn't be the same way.

Mukuro wasn't exactly friends with Tsuna as they had gotten off on the wrong foot during their first meeting a few months ago, but the brunet had never held anything against the spiky-haired teenager, happy for him to hang around his friendship group.

Hibari, however, had also been caught up in that tussle and – being the skylark that he was – held a grudge so hateful he would go out of his way to fight the taller male which only added fuel to the fire when he would lose once more.

The two males who had been standing behind Mukuro wandered off as they talked amongst themselves, uninterested in what was happening. Chrome Dokuro, along with the boys who left, had grown up with the blue-haired teenager, so it was only natural for her to be hiding behind her friend shyly as she surveyed Tsuna and his friends. And the child who was standing by Mukuro's side holding his jacket with a tiny hand was Rokudo's foster brother, Fran. He was wearing a green Kokuyo jacket, the same as the teens, and was looking around him with curious emerald eyes.

Hibari, who hated nothing more than being crowded except for being restrained, savagely tried to struggle his way out of Mukuro's arms, but his anger only grew as the younger teenager held him firmly.

"Let me go, herbivore," it was a battle to keep his voice calm, but Hibari had succeeded, "or I'll bite you to death."

"Kufufufu~" Mukuro laughed happily as he released the raven-haired male and stepped back in time to avoid the tonfa that was savagely thrust at his face. "It will only turn out the way it always does. Kufufu~"

Hibari left at these words, probably to go discipline – more like beat up for no apparent reason – someone whom he could beat; he was a sore loser, and the last thing he would want was to tarnish his pride and reputation here of all places by fighting Mukuro and losing in front of everyone.

"He's so scary…" Tsuna whimpered to his friends, still gathered with the Kokuyo students. "I'm glad he left without a fight…"

"Kufufu~" Mukuro raised his hand to flick at the strand of hair that had fallen into his eyes. "Think I can tame him?"

"Not a chance," Gokudera said.

Yamamoto was silent as the conversation continued. His eyes were trained onto the older teenager. He just couldn't understand how Mukuro could be so carefree about his orientation, not caring of what people might think; didn't he feel self-conscious or worry about someone judging or mistreating him for it? He knew he certainly did. He was so lost in his thoughts, he almost didn't hear Tsuna talking to him.

"Oi, Yamamoto?"

Addressed male blinked before he looked down at Tsuna, smiling. "Yo?"

"Gokudera and I are going to grab some drinks for us all. Are you coming?"

Yamamoto shook his head as he sat down on the grass; he was almost glad he had this opportunity to be left alone with Mukuro because now that he was here with the blue-haired male, he wanted to ask the other a few things. "I'll stay here."

Mukuro had no complaints as he was left alone with the dark-haired male; it was hard for him to feel comfortable with others and enjoy their company, but he didn't mind Yamamoto; the younger male was one of the better individuals he had had the pleasure to meet. He smiled as his foster brother crawled onto his lap, and he was calm when Chrome left to go with Tsuna and Gokudera; he was peaceful today, relaxed instead of on edge as he tended to be.

"Master, you smell extra-fruity today; ah, there's pineapple in the air." Fran held a playful tone in his voice as he tried to get a reaction from the older male, but all he received was a glare and a soft bonk on the head he barely felt. Yamamoto couldn't help but smile at how gentle the older male was with the tiny kid, a vast contrast from just how dangerous he really was when provoked.

"When can I see Bel-senpai?" Fran knew he wasn't going to get the reaction he had been looking for today, so he instead pulled on his foster brother's hair as he looked around at the other students in search of his second-favourite victim. "He said he'd be here today."

"Patience, little one." Mukuro patted the boy's head. "I will take you to see him soon; he is busy right now."

"Bel-senpai?" Yamamoto questioned, not recognising the name.

"He lives next door to us," Mukuro explained. "Fran likes to bother him."

Yamamoto chuckled as he reached out to ruffle teal hair. Now that he was alone with the other, he was starting to doubt his decision; could he really talk to Mukuro about his orientation or not? What if the other wasn't interested in listening? He didn't know anyone else who was gay... Shaking his head to clear his thoughts, he tried to think positive; regardless of their fight all that time ago, he liked Mukuro as the taller teen was easy-going as long as topics that were sensitive for him were avoided.

"Can I ask you something?" Yamamoto had taken the plunge; now he could just wait and see how it all played out. Mukuro hummed as he focused his attention on the iPod he had just pulled out of his pocket to give to Fran. "…Well… I-it's just… Don't you care about what people say…?"

"Excuse me?" Mukuro looked up, confusion crossing his eyes.

"I-I mean… Don't take it the wrong way or anything, but… you're you in front of everyone…"

"Are you referring to the fact that I am gay?" Mukuro sounded almost bored, as if he had said that line a thousand times. "While it is true I am gay, I do not care for what others think."

Yamamoto rubbed the back of his neck as he smiled sheepishly. "…C-can I have some pointers…?"

"You are gay?" Mukuro's smile twisted into a grin as he started to laugh. "Kufufu~ Pointers? Just stop caring. It works wonders when you do."

Yamamoto didn't think it would be that easy for him, and he wanted to hear how Mukuro had gotten through it. "Was it easy for you to stop caring?"

Mukuro shrugged, busying himself with brushing dirt off his clothing. "The more friends I told and the more they supported me, the more I realised I cared more about what they thought than anyone else. The only opinions that matter to me are positive ones."

Yeah… Yamamoto felt a smile come to his lips. It did feel much better when I told Tsuna last week… Maybe Mukuro's right.

Mukuro, seeing that Chrome and the two boys were still busy buying drinks, kept talking, feeling rather useful at the minute; people didn't come to him like this, and he was enjoying it. "Any other questions?"

"Well…" Yamamoto's shoulders tensed uncomfortably, almost nervous to divulge the fact that he had a crush to the older male; what if he was ridiculed for his taste in others? "…It's just… I-I have someone I really like at the minute, but… he doesn't even know I exist…"

"Oh, do not tell me you are a stalker." Mukuro's eyes widened in mock-surprise before he grinned playfully. "Kufufu~"

"No, it's nothing like that. It's just… Well, he plain-out hates me, and I just don't know what I could have done for him to…"

"Does he know you are gay? No, rephrase that; does anyone know you are gay?"

"Just my dad and Tsuna."

"Hmm. Maybe you should just tell him how you feel." Mukuro ran a hand through Fran's hair as he felt the younger's body starting to relax as he fell asleep. "Maybe he does not know what to make of you. Who is it?"

Yamamoto felt his cheeks heat as his shoulders tensed. He glanced away as he mumbled, "…G… Goku…dera…"

Mukuro nodded. He understood that Yamamoto was going to have a rough time here because even though he didn't know the silver-haired male well at all, he still knew how hard it was to get Gokudera to trust. "He won't listen if you tell him otherwise. Maybe talk to Tsuna and see what he thinks you should do."

Yamamoto nodded. He turned around in time to see his friends walking back towards them, and he smiled at Mukuro in appreciation before he reached out once more to ruffle Fran's hair. "Thanks for talking, Mukuro. Why's he here, anyway? Shouldn't he still be at his own school?"

"He wanted to see Belphegor. He has been our neighbour for a few months now. I believe he does not have any other friends and is very lonely, so he always invites himself over to our home. Fran loves to torment him."

Tsuna, who had come back to the group halfway through the conversation, wasn't quite sure who they were talking about. He didn't question it, though; he instead glanced at Yamamoto and found that his dark haired friend was staring at Gokudera with longing eyes. He wished there was something he could do to help; he wanted to support his friend as much as he could, but he knew it was probably better for him to stay out of this one in case he ruined any chance Yamamoto might have had otherwise – he was called No-Good Tsuna for a reason, after all.

I'll text him tonight when I go home, Tsuna decided. Enough is enough.