A/N: Go figure that I would update the next chapter after a year. God, my writing and updating schedule is a mess and still THANK YOU for sticking up with this story. 😍
Without further ado just enjoy my attempt at crack~
Thirteen
When Hayato said he had plans to help Reborn and him to get together, Tsuna didn't know he meant actively pushing them together on a date and stalking them. Like today!
It was a sunny day and a sunday. No school work, no last minute training session courtesy of the spartan tutor intent on being a menace and a half towards everyone, and no family being rowdy around him.
Younger Tsuna would be ecstatic about this peace and silence. But knowing that his friends were around. He wasn't amused. Far from it, really. He was embarrassed that his family was helping him without any tact or consulting him about it. It felt like his hand was being forced.
(Tsuna pointedly ignored the fact that, a few days earlier, Lal took one look at him and his companion before facepalming.
He had been a little confused about why he could sense the general resigned annoyance, but it was soon erased in favor of gushing about Reborn as he continued talking Skull's ears off.)
Inwardly, it made him warm that they cared. At the same time, he wanted to turn them into popsicles because, at this rate, his day with Reborn would be ruined.
Maybe he should have told Hayato and Takeshi to back off when they learned of Tsuna's feelings but, at the time, it didn't occur to him that Hayato and Takeshi and everyone else would be this embarrassed.
Tsuna should have seen that it would end up like this. But he hadn't, so all he had left was hope that his friends weren't so obvious and he would still get to spend time with Reborn.
However, to his dismay, Hayato was hiding behind some bushes, holding a sketchy tree branch, and a sketchy bush taped as a headband.
It was a camouflage for his surroundings except they were in Namimori Shopping Center. It might work on a park if the color was not olive green, but he doubted that it would work against Reborn. Hayato was usually sharp, but sometimes, he could be a stupid dork, like using a disguise inappropriate for the setting.
Meanwhile, Takeshi was doing a better job of blending with the crowd, but it was his skin tone that gave him away.
Hayato and Takeshi were definitely embarrassing.
Even before Tsuna could improvise and distract Reborn, his tutor had immediately honed in on their direction and was visibly annoyed.
The hitman had snidely whispered at their appalling skills and, as he expected, immediately conducted training, today and right then and there.
Tsuna was supposed to have a casual day with Reborn, but noooo, his stupid but well-meaning, and yet very idiotic family just had to ruin that for him. He was almost tempted to team up with Reborn regarding more ideas for Hayato and Takeshi's training, but he hadn't reached that annoyance level yet.
And of course, to his luck, Reborn included him in the impromptu training in an act of Vongola Guardians bonding time.
That was how his supposed peaceful day with Reborn ended with Hayato, Takeshi, and Tsuna running laps around the forest.
If they ruined more dates with Reborn… Tsuna would end them. Himself.
(It was the start of Let's Play Matchmaker Vongola Edition and was auto-biographed by yours truly, Gokudera Hayato and Yamamoto Takeshi.
Simultaneously, money between hands was being exchanged.)
.
.
.
Reborn was having a pleasant day, or a normal day, considering that some people were dangerously pushing his buttons.
By pushing Tsuna and him together.
Today started with Yamamoto giving them two aquarium tickets citing that they got them for free, and it would be a waste not to use them today. Coincidentally, everyone was 'so busy' that no one could go with Tsuna, even Nana.
To which, Reborn was already calling bullshit.
The moment he saw Yamamoto approaching and holding the tickets, he had already seen their plan and his mask immediately locked on looking disinterested but eyes dark as if Reborn could throttle Yamamoto with his gaze alone. He was impressed that the kid still continued with the farce despite his nervousness.
Still, it had been weeks since this, whatever it was called, started, and he was getting tired of these people playing cupid. It grated on his nerves, like he should be with Tsuna, like Tsuna should be with him. As if he should indulge Tsuna's feelings. As if they could force him to develop feelings for his student.
They knew of Tsuna's feelings for him. They saw the way Tsuna didn't take matters in his hand, so they decided to help, and to pave the way for them. But they did not further look for the reason why Tsuna never took action, or why Reborn was not addressing the elephant in the room. They saw Reborn letting Tsuna be as a sign that he returned the affection.
Technically, they were half right, but Reborn wouldn't admit they were even right because that was just putting a label on a feeling he might or might not harbor for Tsuna. Giving it a label was akin to a final nail to the coffin, and he couldn't do that. Not to himself, not to Tsuna.
They didn't see the full picture; of Tsuna's grief, the few times his student's gaze would pass through him, or the way Tsuna still saw the future Reborn and him together. Not fully him, not the present Reborn who didn't spend that future with him.
Tsuna knew that. Reborn could see that he saw the difference, and noticed it in the way his expression would fall when he did something else.
Tsuna noticed and yet the brunet continued looking at him as if he still hung the stars and moon and the sun in his life. As if Tsuna's heart was still in Reborn's hands, and he didn't want that. Not that power he had over him. His student was supposed to be a Mafia Boss. He shouldn't give Reborn that much power.
Tsuna looked at him as if he was a God to be worshiped with his starstruck eyes and Tsuna deserved to receive that. But Reborn couldn't do that. He wasn't capable of it. Not yet.
Tsuna's friends had no tact, nor had their own discretion. They were well-meaning but they were misplaced. If they kept it up, Tsuna or even Reborn would snap, and it would not lead to anything good. Just pushing them onto something they did not have the time or want to deal with.
Tsuna reacted with ears turning pink as a frown tugged at his lips, the brunet hastily grabbed the ticket, and stashed it in his pocket. Then wide brown eyes turned to him as an excuse left his lips that he would be going with Yamamoto and dragged the teen outside. The door closed with a click, leaving Reborn alone in the Sawada Household.
It seemed, Tsuna was now finally intervening with their meddling and would have some select words for his friends. He wasn't surprised at the development. Though, some part, a very little part, of Reborn would be satisfied to visit that aquarium. It was definitely not because he wanted to see Tsuna's smile. Definitely not.
But lying to himself aside, he could see how compelling Tsuna was as a partner. He could see why his future self had ended up considering Tsuna as a potential love interest. But just because he saw it didn't mean he agreed with his future-self's decision.
Leon licked his neck, causing Reborn to give his partner a squinted look. Before he huffed. He was not going to think about the reasoning of a future version of himself, not when it irritated him, and there was the strong urge to leave the house.
That was what brought him to this quaint coffee shop, drinking a subpar espresso.
Reborn tried to enjoy his time as he contemplated the recent changes and how he would deal with them. Or rather give Tsuna more time to deal with them and, in extension, give the hitman more time as well.
But he heard rather than saw a familiar voice flirting with a waitress and the consecutive sound of hands smacking against skin. Reborn didn't need to look up to see Shamal's tasteless attempt at unwelcome flirting, then bemoaning the clear rejection. He scoffed. He could do better than that pervert. If it was him, he wouldn't needlessly push but rather be a—
A chair creaked in front of him and Reborn gave a cool look at the person who decided to join him uninvited. Shamal slumped his face against the table in an ungraceful thunk.
Reborn sipped his coffee and didn't bother returning it to the table. He trusted Shamal enough, but his coffee was more precious than being subjected to certain demise all because Shamal would act like a sulking brat.
"Namimori really knows how to welcome you." Reborn smirked and Shamal groaned against the table.
"You don't understand, Reborn." The man honest to God, whined.
Shamal was a perverted brat, and it was a good thing Hayato didn't follow in his footsteps. That was one less thing to beat out of him.
Reborn mock pretended to ignore the over-grown man as he prattled more. "I need a woman to make me feel better after my last job, but this is what I got instead." Shamal scowled at the growing smug look on the hitman's face.
Reborn snorted. "If it was a woman you wanted you should have stayed in Italy's unsavory part."
Shamal sat up, giving him an annoyed look as he propped his elbow on the desk and his cheek rested against his palm. "Of course, you don't get it, you get all the women."
The man's eyes widened like he remembered something and his expression turned smug and teasing, a leer.
Reborn didn't let himself be baited. He knew that expression, and it was always about him finding a supposed 'super-duper secret' about Reborn and the hitman would disappoint him as always. As if Reborn didn't know what kind of dirt he had all his life. This was nothing new.
"I heard from the grapevine, you even got men falling on your feet."
Tsuna.
Reborn knew of the betting pool Mammon was running, and knowing Shamal, the man was definitely taking part in it. And yet Reborn glared. He couldn't help but react to the implication and his annoyance at Gokudera's blabbering mouth. Tsuna deserved better than this. He shouldn't be a subject of salacious news, but here they were. With Shamal implying that Tsuna was his obedient pet.
Shamal's teasing smirk turned devious. And he was opening his mouth to hit more nails on his own coffin. Reborn didn't know Shamal wanted to die this badly as he didn't think the man could be suicidal enough to displease him. Clearly, he had set the bar higher than it should be.
"Didn't peg you as a cradle robber but here you are. Good for you."
Reborn cocked a gun, not Leon, but another one, and pointed at Shamal even as he resumed sipping his cold coffee. He could taste the sudden tense silence in the air, and he continued leisurely drinking until it was empty. Reborn made sure that it took a while, and that his hand remained steady because he wanted to make Shamal sweat and regret those words.
By the time he had finished, Shamal had drastically paled, and his shoulders were tense in a fight or flight instinct. However, it wasn't enough to tide over the anger he could feel. Because of the implication that Reborn of all people did that to Tsuna. That his student had developed feelings for him because it was what his tutor had conditioned him.
It was a crude thing to say. Least of all from someone who knew him. All because Shamal wanted to get a rise and fish out information from him. All because of a stupid insipid bet that he should have shut down the very moment he had found out. In hindsight, Reborn had already made a mistake by letting this go on this long.
"If this is you pushing me to date Tsuna, you have a rotten mouth, Shamal. No wonder no women ever reciprocated your disgusting 'advances'." Reborn sneered, tucking his gun back and Shamal heaved a relieved sigh then murmured an apology.
Reborn didn't acknowledge the words and that in itself was an answer that made Shamal wince. The man didn't bring up anything related to it anymore and before long, the man had made an excuse before scampering off like a dog with tails between its legs.
He ordered another coffee and reigned in the urge to bash the cup at Shamal's retreating back.
A/N: I failed at writing at crack because Reborn is done with everyone's BS 😂😂😂
This story is supposed to end at chapter 14. But I dont know what happened 😅😅😅
Btw I am a JJK manga fan and I never want to talk about what happened in September 20, 2023 so I worked on this update as a copium. Let me tell you that it did not work! 😭💔 ️
PS: Due to some personal reason bcs of some BS thats been happening with my life, I would very much appreciate it if i dont receive any flames, negative comments, backhanded compliments, and comments rushing me to update as it will spurn me to do the opposite. All i ask is a little bit of kindness and understanding, and it will really help me, like a lot. 🙏
Lastly, dont forget to let me know what you think of this chapter and what you like/love about it. ❤️
Next chapter will be Tsuna's reaction at everyone's action and an eventual meltdown. Should I make him deal with it alone?