Target 4: Field Day?
"She's not waking up." Emiko looks at the two girls standing on the other side of the bed. Hitomi is sound asleep, bundled under her covers and Emiko remembers Solana saying that she knew Hitomi'd try to weasel her way out of this particular day and honestly didn't even bother trying to wake her up. Emiko frowned, that woman was a little too nice for her own good.
"…You think she died, maybe?" Kamiko asks, her eyes looking from Hitomi to Katsumi and then back again. Emiko shrugs, she wouldn't put it past Hitomi to act as if she died just to skip today.
"No way! She's obviously faking to the extreme!" Katsumi waves her arms around wildly, almost smacking Kamiko twice. Kamiko glares, sending a shiver down Katsumi's spine. The white-haired girl then takes two steps away from Kamiko.
"Today's Field Day, Hitomi's most hated day of the year besides exams and health exams…" Emiko could remember the times that Hitomi fainted during health exams and almost fell out of the window trying to get out of class during the finals. They weren't pretty memories.
Kamiko crosses her arms and sighs, "Well, I guess it's time we used that, hm? I'm sure Solana-san won't mind, right?" Emiko nods and looks over at Katsumi, who nods as if she knows what's going on. When nobody moves, Katsumi raises a finger.
"What's—!" Katsumi begins but never finishes.
"Go fill a bucket with water, Sasagawa." Emiko sighs, waving her off.
"Oh..." Katsumi makes a noise of understanding and leaves the room in search of a bucket. It's a few minutes before Kamiko and Emiko hear a crash. There's a high-pitched scream and someone cursing.
"I'm gonna go see what happened…" Kamiko leaves the room and another crash is heard shortly afterwards.
"Ah... Oh my God..." Emiko pinches the bridge of her nose. "You guys can't do anything, can you…?"
On wobbly legs comes Kamiko followed by Katsumi who's carrying the bucket. Emiko comes in shortly afterwards, pinching the bridge of her nose and sighing. Everyone was literally ridiculous. She jabs her thumb at Hitomi. "Now toss it."
"Sorry, Hitomi-chan." Katsumi doesn't look very sorry, nor does Kamiko as the two grab both sides of the bucket and dumps it onto Hitomi. Hitomi sits up abruptly, coughing and hacking. The three smile innocently and greet Hitomi.
"Guys! What the hell! I was gonna get up!" Hitomi nearly screamed. She felt around her bed, noting that it was getting soaked every second she stayed on it.
"If you were, you would've gotten up already." Emiko chuckled, "I can safely say that getting up is the last thing you were going to do."
After a minute or so, Hitomi sighs, "Ah, yeah… maybe you're right. I hate Field Day…"
Hitomi gets up from the bed and sighs. This isn't at all how she wanted to start her day. As she moves around her room, Kamiko clicks her tongue. "So Hitomi..." Hitomi looks to Kamiko.
"Yeah?" Hitomi stops moving around and turns to stare at Kamiko fully.
"Why's that weirdo from the drama club been hangin' out with you? Ya do one thing for her and she's all over ya like bees to honey!" Kamiko explains, a slight southern accent showing itself.
Hitomi flinches at Kamiko's words. She'd forgotten that they didn't know about her sudden involvement in the mafia and she didn't think she's need to deal with it so soon. It'd only been about a week or so since Hitomi had gotten involved in all this and in that time she'd nearly been blown up four times and two of those times was with Kita.
"Yeah, you've been avoiding us for the past week and hanging out with her." Emiko crossed her arms, "What's up with that?"
"O-Oh, um…" Hitomi glanced around, "Hey, would you look at the time! I should get dressed!" Hitomi pushed them all out of the room, closing the door afterwards.
The three girls blinked, then looked at each other, confusion on all of their faces. "Um, what was that all about?" Katsumi was the first to say. The other two shrugged.
"Dunno, but we'll find out eventually." Kamiko waved it off, "Hitomi's the worst at keeping secrets." Emiko nodded and the three girls descended the stairs.
"Bye you guys! I'm leaving!" Hitomi called, walking past the kitchen. Her uniform was sloppy as normal and she looked rather tired, almost as usual. Kamiko, Emiko and Katsumi came out of the living room, meeting Hitomi in the hallway.
"Uh... Hitomi! Wait a sec. C'mere!" Tsuna yelled, motioning her into the kitchen where he was seated with Gokudera and Yamamoto.
"We can't be late!" Kamiko said, pointing at her watch. "I've never been tardy and I don't plan to start now!"
"Ju-Just go on ahead. I'll catch up." Hitomi replied. Kamiko and Katsumi said their goodbyes before they began walking towards the door. Emiko stayed put for a minute, debating on whether she should leave or not. "Emiko, you can go too."
"Naw. It's no fun getting in trouble alone, is it? So I'll wait for you." The two shared a smile.
"Thanks." Hitomi walked into the kitchen and Emiko turned, heading back into the living room.
"So have you found anymore family members?" Tsuna asked. Yamamoto sat to his left, tearing into whatever Solana had made that morning. Gokudera was buried in a newspaper, coffee mug raised to his lips, but he hadn't had a sip yet.
"Sssh! Not so loud. Emiko's in the hallway!" Hitomi scolded through her teeth. She glared at Tsuna who raised his hands up in mock-defeat.
"Sorry..."
"To answer your question: No. And I don't plan on finding anymore either." Hitomi replied, her tone absolute.
"But if you don't... then that could be really bad!" Tsuna said, wagging his finger at her, "You need the extra protection!"
"Protection from what?" Hitomi replied, "Reborn's literally the worst thing I've faced and it's not like Kita, my supposed guardian is doing anything to help… if anything she likes getting blown up and is constantly giving Reborn new ideas on how to blow us up!"
"Well… maybe it'll get better?" Tsuna shrugged. "I mean, it was just as bad when I was a kid, so… I, um, don't know what to tell you."
"Useless!" Hitomi tossed her hands up, "I'm going to school now. Just so you know, this was pointless." Hitomi takes the bread off of Tsuna's plate and scrapes the egg onto it. She then leaves the kitchen.
Tsuna whines after her, "Hitomi! That was my breakfast!"
"It's a hard world in the mafia." Solana repeats, "Eat or be eaten."
Tsuna bangs his head on the table. "…How many times have I heard that…?"
"You gonna finish that bacon?" Yamamoto asks. He doesn't wait for Tsuna to say anything and instead just takes it.
"Yamamoto!"
"You said I could have it!" He argues. Solana sighs when Gokudera chimes in.
"Xeno was right…" She turns around to start on the dishes.
Emiko and Hitomi are mostly quiet on their way to school. They're taking a shortcut through the residential area when Emiko breaks the silence by asking, "So, um, what did your dad want?" Despite wanting to eavesdrop, Emiko knew she'd be noticed rather quickly by her own parents.
Hitomi, almost forgetting who she was talking to, said, "...Oh you know, the usual, the ma—O-Oh, I-I, uh, I mean nothing much... Eheheheheh…" Hitomi laughed nervously, rubbing the back of her head, a nervous smile on her face.
Emiko looked at her best friend with disbelief in her eyes. "You're hiding something." She states.
"W-What? Hiding something? Me? Hiding? Ha! I'm not hiding anything." Hitomi scratches the back of her head nervously.
"Yeah you are... Whenever I call you... You're yelling about something or other and there are explosions and death threats... not to mention I've seen you parading around school and Namimori in just your underwear! Hitomi, what are you hiding?"
"N-Nothing!" Hitomi waves her hands in front of her in mock-surrender, "It's nothing!"
"We both know that's a lie. Just tell me! I'm your best friend!" Emiko nearly yells. The two stop walking and Hitomi sighs, shaking her head.
"I... I... I can't tell you. I don't want you involved, Emiko-chan. I don't want anyone involved. I don't even want myself involved!" Hitomi answers, her hands balled into fists.
"So that drama geek can know but I can't?" Emiko questioned angrily.
"Emiko-chan... I'm sorry..." Hitomi's voice gets quiet at Emiko's accusatory words. Emiko stares at Hitomi. Hitomi is teary-eyed and Emiko's eyes soften just a little.
"If it were anything but this, I'd tell you. I promise you. But... Ju-Just... give me some time... to, uh, to sort things out. And I'll tell you." Hitomi explained as best she could.
Emiko sighs, shaking her head. "Fine... I hope you haven't killed anybody or whatever." Emiko said punching Hitomi in the arm.
"Ow..." She mumbles rubbing her arm.
"Classes, ready?!" Hitomi gulps. It was finally the dreaded time for the school's annual field day to begin and Hitomi was up for the first race. She really didn't want to be a part of it, and neither did most of her class.
"If you lose this, Hitomi... I'm gonna make sure you can't ever mess anything up again, got that?" Keiko threatens. Hitomi nods, a little scared of the petite blonde.
"The first challenge is the relay race! All participating please stand at the white line." The announcer yells. Hitomi walks up to the line. The competitors lined up next to her don't even acknowledge her existence, knowing that she probably won't even make it half way.
"Don't fail your class, Dame-Hitomi..." Hitomi looks to her right to see Reborn, disguised as a teacher.
"HIIIIEEE? Reborn, W-W-What are you doing here?"
"Ciaossu. And it's Mr. Reboyama. I'm your substitute teacher for today, stupid." He replied.
"Ack, what? They actually hired you?!"
"No, they requested me."
"No way!"
"Focus on the race or I'll shoot you." Reborn replies showing her the glint of his green colored gun. Hitomi goes pale and looks away from him.
Ryota looks to Hitomi before smacking her on the back. She stumbles forward before regaining her footing and moving back behind the line. "Yo, idiot. C'mon. It's just a race." He said rolling his eyes.
Hitomi scoffs. "It's not just a race! My life depends on it! And look, you've got supporters! I've got myself!" Hitomi reasoned gesturing to the girls calling out for Ryota. Ryota rolled his eyes.
"You want support? Your stupid friends," Ryota moved his head in a jerky fashion to point at the Katsumi, Kamiko and Emiko standing together calling out to Hitomi, "Are there for that."
"Go Bossu~! You can do it!" Kita calls out to Hitomi. Hitomi falls to her knees while a waterfall of tears fall down her face.
"Oh, Kita-san... don't be so loud..." She cries. Ryota steps on her back, pushing her down to the ground.
"Stop crying, stupid. We have to win." He scolds. Hitomi's lying on the ground, a puddle of her own tears around her.
"You're so mean, Ryota... I don't wanna do this...!" She sniffles, lying down on the ground.
Ryota pulls her up. "I don't care. Stop playing around, it's about to start."
Hitomi pouts and folds her arms, clearly angry at the fact she's participating. She scans the crowd and catches Reborn's eye. He flashes his gun at her and she stands up straighter.
"3... 2... 1... Go!" And Hitomi runs. She runs like she's never run before. But it's all in vain.
Hitomi didn't tie her shoes. She falls face-first into the solid concrete, a small pool of blood forming around her. Reborn shakes his head. Katsumi, Kamiko, Emiko and Kita run towards her.
"Hey... Hitomi... you okay? Ya fell pretty hard..." Emiko asks squatting next to her. When Hitomi doesn't answer, Emiko flips her over. She cringes at Hitomi's face.
"Yikes, she looks terrible..." Kita comments from over Emiko's shoulder.
"Why are you here? We don't need you!" Kamiko questions Kita.
"Well duh. Bossu's my friend. So if she's hurt I'm gonna help her." Kita explained.
"But why'd you call her 'Boss' to the extreme?" Katsumi taps her finger against her chin.
'Don't say anything!' Hitomi's voice chimed in Kita's head. "It... It's just a nickname!" Kita covers it up quickly. The girls don't readily buy it, but they decide not to question it for the moment. Kita sighs in relief as they turn back to look at Hitomi.
"Is she alright?" Asks one of the teachers.
"We just have to get her to the infirmary. Kita. Emiko. Come." Reborn motions the two. The two nod and pick Hitomi up.
"You two," He points at Katsumi and Kamiko, "Can go back to your classes." Katsumi and Kamiko nod before giving one last glance at Hitomi.
Reborn and the three girls walk towards the building disappearing inside, leaving three teams short one person each.
Hitomi woke up about 30 minutes later. She groaned quietly. "Oh! She's awake! Hitomi!" She heard from her right. She turned to look at Emiko sitting in the chair next to her.
"Emiko... What happened?" Hitomi groaned out. Hitomi almost didn't recognize the sound of her own voice—being that it was hoarse-sounding and dry.
"You sucked. And badly. That's what happened." Reborn stated. He stood in front of her on the bed.
"You fell on your face a moment after the race started and knocked yourself out." Kita explained. Hitomi nodded in understanding and hung her head in shame.
"Your face looked disgusting! It was all bloody and stuff! The nurse fainted!" Kita beamed. Hitomi frowned in horror.
"I can't be that bad right? I don't look like that, right Emiko?"
"Um... Well... The nurse did pass out but..." Emiko trailed. "You look better…?"
"Ah! Now I'm ugly, too!" Hitomi screamed out, grabbing the sides of her face.
"Nonsense," Reborn said. "You've always been ugly. This is hard to believe considering who your mother is." He shook his head and Emiko rose an eyebrow. How did this teacher know who Hitomi's mother was?
"Ack!" Hitomi yelled in anguish and leaned back against the pillow. Reborn sent Hitomi a look and Hitomi cringed. Even though they've only known each other for about two weeks, Hitomi's beginning to know what certain looks of Reborn's mean.
"Well, that's all I need from you, Emiko. You can head back outside." Reborn stated pointing at the door. "Kita and I will help Hitomi once she's recovered fully." Emiko stood. She glanced at Hitomi and then over to Kita.
"It's fine, Emiko. I'll see you later." Hitomi says breaking the awkward silence.
"Mm... Fine. See you later." Emiko stalks outside the room, closing the door lightly.
"You know you can't hide it forever, right? She will find out." Kita says slightly hushed.
"Yeah... I know. She asked me about it this morning. And I almost slipped and told her about it. I feel bad, though."
"Then tell her. She'll be involved. It's best that she and your other friends are aware about the mafia." Reborn says. Hitomi looks at him.
"But it's not that easy! You can't just go up to them at school and be like 'Oh hey guys! I'm in the mafia! Um, watch yourselves because people are gonna try to kill you because we're friends! Okay, well, I gotta go to art, bye!' How would that sound?" Hitomi yelled. Reborn whacked her on the back of her head.
"Don't get smart with me." Leon transforms into a hammer, which Reborn pounds against his open palm. Hitomi yelps as Kita speaks up.
"It's not like you can quit. So telling them is your best bet." Kita says bringing up yesterday's events with Hitomi's father.
Hitomi looks at Kita with sad eyes. "Yeah. I wish I could though."
"Well, you can't, so get over it. Today you're doing something important."
"Eh? Important? Like what?" Hitomi questioned.
Reborn whacked her again. "Let me finish, brat. Like I was saying: you're doing something important. As a boss of the mafia, you have to be able to protect the ones around you." Reborn jumped from the bed and onto the floor.
"What? What am I doing?"
"You'll figure it out. Kita will help you." Reborn said. He now stood on the windowsill. Before Kita or Hitomi could question him, he was gone. Hitomi sighs, shaking her head. This was getting worse and worse each passing minute—and even more confusing too.
"Do you think he'll ever make sense?" Kita asked.
"Probably not. What do you think he meant though? Protect...? I can barely protect myself!" Hitomi yelped, shaking her head. Kita laughed at the girl, "Kita-san, don't laugh!"
Outside the door, Emiko crouched near the door frame, listening in on the conversation. Her body shock slightly as she took in what she'd just heard. 'Hitomi...? What're you doing involved in the mafia...? I...' Emiko stood quietly and listened to Hitomi try to quiet Kita. 'If you won't tell me... I'll just find out for myself!' Emiko resolved and walked away determinedly.