A/N: This is set directly after first chapter

Three

There was a knock on the door, the noise would have startled him when he was younger but now it didn't. It only made him wonder for a second who it was but it was immediately answered when the familiar voice of his mother called out. "Tsu-kun, it's late! You haven't eaten anything yet."

Right, it was morning. He needs to move.

He scrubbed his face with his arms, and coughed to remove the clog on his throat before he walked and opened the door. On the way, he saw the mess, dirtied clothes and magazine littered that he felt a pang on his heart at the image in his head of his tutor calling him and punishing him for not cleaning his room. It was oddly confusing that his tutor was still not kicking him from the mess he – his younger self – had created.

Focusing inwardly, he sensed that his room was void of Reborn's presence. It answered why his tutor wasn't breathing down his neck right now.

He realized then that his reach of sensing presence had shortened a setback for having a young body. It looked like training was in order as it wouldn't do him any good if he was caught off guard.

Tsuna peered over at his mother who still looked the same last time he saw her. The door only ajar to let his head through because he didn't want his mother to see the mess in his room. "I will eat later, kaa-san." He answered her with a distracted smile, his focus was on sensing the familiar presence of his tutor but it seemed that Reborn wasn't upstairs. Maybe he was downstairs in the kitchen?

"Ara? If you say so, Tsu-kun. Be sure to eat soon, okay?" Nana answered with a smile on her face before she turned and head down the stairs.

Maybe his mother could confirm that Reborn was really downstairs. It would really help him if he knew so he could prepare himself more. The brunet suddenly called out to her just as she was descending, "Kaa-san!"

Nana stopped on her tracked before she turned to him, a question on her lips. "Tsu-kun?"

"Do you know where is–" His throat suddenly clamped down before he could mention his name. He coughed to remove the blockage on his throat. Then Tsuna continued lamely, as if he hadn't paused, head moving to look around him as if expecting Reborn to suddenly appear while his heart beat faster. "…Reborn? I haven't seen him anywhere."

Nana had confused look on her face before she answered, "Tsu-kun, did you forget that Reborn already left–––"

The second the word Reborn plus the harmful word of left passed his mother's lips, Tsuna froze. He felt cold shiver slither from his toes to his heart in a suffocating hold. The brunet's mind connecting the word left to gone that his thoughts returned back to his time where they held Reborn's… funeral.

Memories of cold arms wrapped around him, not letting go even after his life had departed, leaving the cold husk behind and yet still protecting him beyond death. It played on his head that Tsuna's ears rang like he was submerged in icy water.

A single word runs on his mind with horror and vulnerability. He couldn't help but whimper.

…No!

Then his mind instantly rebooted in accordance to his denial.

Reborn didn't leave! Just when I get to… see him…again!

The brunet's mind was spinning. There must be some kind of mistake because he had returned back in time, back to a time where he could save Reborn. The pain he felt that morning was real it meant they had succeeded on returning him to the past. But was… was there a miscalculation? Did the device they had created malfunction and he wasn't on his past but of a different world?

The brunet inhaled sharply. He needed to know if what his mother said was true. That Reborn left… once again. With wide eyes, he opened his mouth once more; asking for a clarification, while his heart pounding next to his ears. "Kaa-san… what did you say?" His mother remained oblivious to his inner turmoil.

"Mou, you're not listening, Tsu-kun," His mother said with an exasperated huff, there was a fond quality that he could detect but all he wanted was to hear her answer already. "I said that yesterday Reborn left for Italy because he was done tutoring you."

Reborn… left yesterday…?

Tsuna heard her words and he nodded half-heartedly, mouth already speaking while his mind was elsewhere, to the words she had spoken that played in repeat. "…Oh, I forgot, Kaa-san. I'll go downstairs to eat later." With that excuse, his mother responded with a healthy reminder, "Tsu-kun, don't push yourself too hard and don't slack off too much too, okay?" To which he answered with a robotic nod then she was moving once again while he stayed rooted on his position like a petrified stone.

Once her presence disappeared downstairs, he staggered on his weak knees. His hand on the wall was the only thing supporting him from falling.

Why…?

He shakily inhaled through his nose before he grasped his knee with a hand and a slap, awakening his suddenly jellified limb. Then he moved and closed the door with a soft click. Shaking fingers flicked on the lock of the knob before he half stumbled towards his desk, to the drawer. He needed to know today's date now. Tsuna was moving with panicked fervor and focused expression on his face.

All the while, his heart pounded against his ribcage, wanting to get out, wanting to burst, wanting to be free.

At the bottom of his drawer there was a calendar that he immediately scanned. It showed the current month but no specific date. He skimmed over the quizzes and test results he found. He noticed that there were a lot of circles, meaning that he was still doing poorly despite Reborn's constant tutoring. Right now, his grades were least of his worries when he knew he could reach an A without trying. However, his test was a gold mine.

He found the dates of his tests and all he had to do was sort it out along with his memories.

Eventually his shoulder sagged with relief, body feeling boneless at the relief coursing through his veins.

I'm glad...

Because now, he remembers the general time he was in. They had already removed the Arcobaleno curse and Reborn only… left temporarily. His advisor - tutor - Reborn would return in few days.

Tsuna took a shaky breath, lips pulled into a relieved smile and heart slowly calmed down.

...What if his tutor didn't? A question appeared on his mind that he nibbled on his bottom lip before he opened his mouth, uttering the words with determination and belief, "No. He..." The brunet gulped down and said his tutor's name with closed fist, determination brimming on his eyes. "Reborn will return."

Tsuna have a week to pull himself together to handle his rampant emotions bursting from his very being. To gather information and ask for help with his goal, to reenact of what they had done on his past-future. And to prepare his heart, his everything to not be an emotional mess once Reborn returns.

This week was going to be a long week.

He couldn't help but sat down on the mattress, and the noise of spring echoed on the room. The brunet closed his eyes when he felt the stinging sensation on it. He pressed his palm on his eyes for added measure. Tsuna had to get used to his new time as soon as he can. It wouldn't do anyone good if he started mopping right now instead of planning for his goal.

Yet there was a sob trap on his throat, threatening to rise, to force up and to be heard. The brunet bit his shaking lips and scrunched his nose.

If he started crying then, it would be hard not to stop.

For a moment, he wanted that Reborn was here so he could see him once again, to settle his own heart, to see the new reality that Reborn was really here; healthy and alive. But at the same time he was relieved that he wasn't because Reborn would demand answer that he didn't want to answer just yet. As it would remind him of his own failure as a boss, as a friend, as a family, for he had failed to save… Reborn.

However, his heart beats in yearning.

…I miss you so much, Reborn.

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A/N: Kindly leave a review on your way out too