AN: I'm back with the update. This chapter is more like filler, but I wanted to expand on dynamics and add lore. Still, I hope you will like the chapter!

Also, thanks to Aennah for inspiring me to use Pokémon as a reference to one of Geto's Curses in one of her comments!

Title from Will Stetson's English cover of IDOL.

Chapter 8: Where Our Blue Is Arc: I have yet to feel so loved for being me (I just wanna love without a doubt)

Tsuna and Reborn return to Sawada Residence just in time for dinner. Over the delicious risotto, courtesy of Nana's cooking, they filled the rest of the family on how the meeting went.

Nana is delighted at the news of the positive outcome. "Oh, how wonderful! I knew you would find a way!"

"It was more Suguru-kun's idea, honestly," Tsuna shrugs, self-conscious. She has no right to take credit when it was his genuine feelings that inspired him to come up with the compromise.

Obviously, her siblings disagree.

"But you agreed!" I-Pin points out, not letting her downplay her part in the situation. "First step is important too."

"If you want, Tsuna-nee, I can make a ranking of you and Geto-nii!" Fuuta offers. His words cause Lambo to snort.

"Geto-nii already? Tsuna-nee hasn't even introduced him yet."

"But she will; he is her soulmate, so he is part of the family!" Fuuta counters before asking Tsuna again. "So, Tsuna-nee, do you want to hear the ranking?"

The brunette's lips twitch in a smile at the earnest request. "That's sweet of you to offer Fuuta-kun, but I don't want to spend your ability on something so trivial. Besides," she adds, lightly ruffing his sandy-colored hair, "I want to get to know him without hints."

"So the adjustment period is a month?" Bianchi clarifies.

"More or less," Tsuna confirms, brow furrowed. "Why do you ask?"

"If he makes one wrong move, tell me and I'll introduce him to my Poison Cooking," Bianchi says. "Men are so fickle these days."

The mental image of Suguru-kun coming face to face with Bianchi's ability, just like many of Bianchi's ex-boyfriends before, makes warmth spread inside at Bianchi's older sister's protective instincts, and makes her cringe simultaneously.

"I'm sure it won't be necessary," she assures, struggling to keep her face straight. "Suguru-kun appears to be a very nice person."

Keyword appears to be. Mafia is unpredictable and ever-changing, and she doubts the Jujutsu Society is any different from what Fon-san told them. Suguru-kun can change his mind anytime.

Stop that, the brunette chides herself. You already agreed to give him a chance; doubting him when he barely started is disrespectful.

To distract herself from her thoughts, Tsuna takes another spoonful of risotto.

And completely misses two sets of eyes that catch her doubt.

After helping wash the dishes in the aftermath of their dinner, Tsuna excuses herself to her room. Reborn gives her a long, hard look that seems to reach the depths of her soul, but lets her go to her relief.

Once in the safety of her bedroom, she lets her shoulders droop and sits down on the bed, thoughts wandering.

Which is when a column of amber fire blooms in her room.

"What's on your mind, Setsuna?" Giotto asks softly as Sky Flame reveals him.

"Nothing," Tsuna mumbles. She receives a raised eyebrow in response. They both know he felt her storm of emotions thanks to the ring on her finger and their connection, so there's no need to lie and deflect. Nonetheless, he says something else.

"You took out your crocheting," the man points out, eyes flickering to her lap.

Caramel eyes slide down and see her recent crocheting project. Huh. She hasn't noticed how she took it out. Must have done so on autopilot.

But Primo is right. She only takes out her crocheting when she is stressed. She developed this habit after the whole mess that was the erased future. Funny enough, it was Shoichi-kun who introduced her to the hobby; he said it helped him with his anxiety. Desperate to get away from the nightmares (Yuni and Gamma consumed by the Flame; Byakuran turning to ash), Tsuna tried her hand at the craft.

And unexpectedly, loved it. Initially clumsy, now, two years later, she can say she is good at it. Most of the time, she does crocheting in the circle of friends: her, Shoichi-kun, Kyoko, Chrome, Haru, and Hana, whom jokingly calls it "therapy sessions" — oh, if only she knew how close to the truth it was — twice a week; rarely three times a week if their schedules allow. But sometimes…

Sometimes, her thoughts become too much; a jumbled mess, and she unknowingly reaches out for whatever project she has.

Like, right now.

Knowing he caught her red-handed, Giotto repeats his question. "What's worrying you, Setsuna?"

Face flashing at being figured out so easily, Tsuna answers, "Suguru-kun."

"I thought you agreed to give him a chance?" Primo asks in confusion with his brows furrowed.

"I did, but…" Tsuna plays with her crocheting, a way to deal with her nerves. "I'm scared. I don't know how to be a soulmate."

Giotto's expression softens as he sits beside his granddaughter on the bed. "Setsuna, soulmates are just as much work as any relationship; the mark is just a jump start. There's no guideline on how to be a perfect soulmate."

"I know that, which is why we agreed to take it slow," she says, frustration showing in her voice. "It's just… the way he speaks about soulmates and our bond and his hopes for it… what if I crash them somehow? I have blood on my hands."

That last remark causes an unexpected reaction: Giotto chuckles.

"Grandpa?" she looks at him with surprise.

"Sorry, sorry," the man apologizes, shoulders shaking. "You reminded me of myself yet again. I had the same concerns when I met Hikari."

Tsuna perks up at the name. Soulmates were a hard topic within the First Generation. G, Asari, and Lampo were markless (not that it bothered them in the slightest); Alaude lost his soulmate to murder as a child, and it's her death that inspired him to catch criminals; Knuckle met his after becoming a priest, and since they couldn't marry, they remained friends until she lost her life in childbirth. By the time Vongola fully formed, only Primo and Daemon had living soulmates.

Until Elena died some years later, and Giotto retired to Japan, where he met Hikari, his soulmate, and her grandmother.

"How so?" she asks in curiosity. This is the first time he motions her properly in Tsuna's presence and not just in passing.

Giotto's eyes tinge with nostalgia. "When I came to Japan, I was full of guilt; my actions caused Elena's death, who was a dear friend and the love of Daemon's life. I felt undeserving of being with my other half when my Guardian lost his," the blonde rubs his palm, which is where the brunette assumes his mark is. "Hikari had other ideas, of course."

"What did she do?"

"What, while she found the consideration of Daemon's feelings sweet, and my unfortunate oversight caused a tragedy, I'm no martyr, and my life shouldn't stop as if I'm "an old foolish man on his deathbed and not a handsome man in his prime."

"Blunt," Tsuna notes with a snort.

"She was a Cloud, so that's expected," Giotto says fondly. "Not to mention, she was the daughter of the samurai, and my sins didn't horrify her. Her acceptance is what helped me move forward, and for that I'm eternally grateful."

"So, Suguru-kun might…."

"I don't see why not," Primo shrugs. "According to Ugetsu, Jujutsu Sorcerers deal with violence daily, and if his feelings are genuine, he'll accept you as who you are," the blonde wraps a gentle hand around her shoulders. "If not, that will make him a hypocrite. Just don't be afraid to tell him your feelings, okay?"

She leans into the embrace. "I'll try," she promises.

After all, that's all she can do, right?

The next morning starts well enough. After eating breakfast, Tsuna hurries to school. The lessons go well, and lunchtime is approaching when Hayato and Takeshi come over.

"Yo, Tsuna!" her Rain says cheerfully. "Ready to head up the roof for lunch?"

It has become their thing — the roof is Kyoya's space, so they use it to spend time and have lunch together, knowing it won't aggravate their Cloud because they are his. It has been happening for two years now, and today is no different.

"Sure, just let me get my things," Tsuna nods. She takes her bag and is about to stand up when her path is blocked by Mochida. "Mochida-senpai."

Her greeting is dry; although he is not as much of a bully and jerk as before, she has not forgotten his behaviour towards Kyoko, how he treated her as a prize at their rigged match all that time ago. Judging by the way Takeshi is glaring daggers at the Kendo Captain, neither did he.

She is not surprised; Kyoko is Takeshi's soulmate, and the fact that she was harassed by the guy who hurt her and Takeshi's Sky is not sitting well with the swordsman. Takeshi is friendly and easygoing with everyone, befitting his position as the Tenth Rain Guardian, but even he is not above holding grudges.

Ignoring the dry tone — or not noticing, either is likely — Mochida asks, "So, I heard your recent fainting is connected to your soulbound. Is that true?"

Tsuna presses her lips together, sharing a grim look with her Storm and Rain. Despite the Disciplinary Committee and Reborn's attempts to quiet the commotion, rumors still spread since she fainted during the PE Class. People whispered, but have not approached.

Until now, that is.

"Even if it is, why do you care?" Hayato snaps irritably.

"Well, if her soulmate is not up to standard, I can fill his shoes," Mochida says smugly, leaning into her space.

Tsuna feels a flash of anger and irritation on Geto's behalf. She may have doubts regarding their bond and potential relationship, but she won't let anyone insult him!

"If anyone isn't up to standard, it's you," she says sharply, protectiveness curling in her chest. "His shoes are going to be small for you; not your size."

"Scram," Takeshi adds, grin razor-sharp.

Mochida wisely takes the hint, and the three of them finally make their way to the roof.

"If I knew he would chase after me after our match, I would have smacked him harder," Tsuna grumbles.

"Maybe defeat keeps him going," the swordsman says, bouncing back to his cheerful self. His comment earns him dubious looks from his Sky and fellow Guardian.

"I'm afraid to ask how you know such implications," the brunette says warily. Hayato scoffs.

"Let's just agree he is a sore loser that doesn't deserve Tenth and leave it at that."

"Mochida again?" Kyoko wonders as they arrive on the roof. Everyone is already present, and they are the last to come.

Tsuna simply nods as it's not the first instance of such behaviour. Her Cloud raises an eyebrow in her direction.

"Should I bite him to death?" he asks, only for Tsuna to wave him off.

"Don't bother; we have other things to worry about," she says, sitting down and taking out her lunchbox. Takeshi also moves to sit next to Kyoko.

"Speaking of things to worry about," Hayato says slowly as he sits beside Tsuna and opens own his bento — courtesy of Haru's cooking, as far as the brunette can tell; when Haru learnt that her soulmate (yes, her friend and Storm were soulmates to their great surprise and amusement of their group) mostly lived off takeout, she took it upon herself to feed him healthy meals. He refused adamantly at first, but Tsuna is glad to see that he slowly accepts Haru bit by bit. "How did the meeting with Geto go?"
"Oh, right!"

Tsuna quickly relays the content of her conversation with Suguru-kun and the agreement they have come to. Her Guardians and friends are contemplative in the aftermath.

"So he is going to join us in the month to the EXTREME?" Ryohei is the first to speak beside Hana.

Tsuna nods. "If anything goes well, yes."

"Can't wait!"

Mujuro sighs, pretending to be put upon. Although he doesn't attend Namimori High like Chrome — her Mist is homeschooled, filling in his lack of education while he was in Vindicare and on the run. Ken and Chikusa learn alongside him, with Reborn and Hayato occasionally testing their progress, — he often likes to pop in on their rooftop lunches. None of them mind. "Takeshi and Kyoko-chan are soulmates; Puppy and Miura also have each other's marks; Our Sun and Kurokawa are not-dating," he notes sarcastically, making said Sun and Hana flush. "Even my dear Chrome has a soulmate, and Setsuna-chan found hers. I'm feeling outnumbered, kukufu."

"Maybe you meant jealous?" Kyoya comments lazily, not far from Chrome. The usually shy Mist Guardian doesn't seem to mind his presence, which is a good thing.

"Of you? As if," Mukuro scoffs with a pointed glance towards the marks of his rival and his partner, wrapping around their wrist like bracelets; a bird and a cat, meaning they are soulmates.

Everyone shares a nervous grin, noticing the unsubtle glance. The bond's activation happened last year when Kyoya helped Chrome save a cat, who was now named Kumo for being white and fluffy, and lived with the Kokuyo Gang at their house. Mukuro threw what Chikusa called "a hissy fit" (Mukuro still insists it wasn't a "hissy fit") upon finding out, and he and Kyoya had to be dragged apart. Kyoya wasn't pleased with the bond either, while Chrome was wary of their Cloud, but both made an effort; it was slow and tentative, but here. The fact that Kyoya allows Chrome in his personal space now and she isn't clamming up speaks volumes.

And Mukuro is perfectly aware of that.

Deciding to intervene before a fight could break out, Tsuna teases, "If you are feeling lonely, Mukuro, you can talk to Byakuran; he has been asking about you lately."

Predictably, her other Mist recoils. Even after Byakuran redeemed himself to a degree, Mukuro still detests the Mare Sky, while Byakuran, aware of Mukuro's feelings, loved to tease the former convict.

It was amusing and painful to watch in equal measure.

"Please refrain from mentioning that Marshmallow Maniac in my presence, Setsuna-chan," he says, shuddering, "it is revolting."

Everyone snickers at his reaction. Takeshi is about to speak when he stiffens.

"Takeshi-kun?" Kyoko calls worriedly, touching his hand.

"Something is coming," he answers through gritted teeth, tense.

Everyone turns battle-ready, abandoning their food, but only Tsuna, Mukuro, and Takeshi are able to see — and feel — the hastily approaching presence. For it was a Curse. The closer it gets, the better they see that the Curse is a butterfly. Or something close to it, and rather big. It lands not far from the group, specifically, in front of Tsuna.

"I thought Curses avoided Flames?" Takeshi mumbles due to Hana being in earshot. She and Ryohei are still figuring themselves out, and she doesn't know the full truth yet.

" Usually yes," Mukuro confirms, eyeing the Curse. "But it's a special Curse; it has a note and a gift for you, Setsuna-chan. Look."
Tsuna does and sees that Mukuro is right. The Curse, which looks like a Butterfree (Reborn caused the kids to a Pokemon phase, and I-Pin especially liked that type of Pokemon), only yellow-eyed and with a much darker colour scheme overall, and its black wings are a bit torn, had a note in its' paws as well as a…

… small bouquet of violets.

Eyes wide, she proceeds to take the note and the flowers, only for the Curse to shriek away in slight pain.

"Right, Sky Purification abilities," Tsuna mumbles, shying away from the butterfly to look at her Rain and Mist. "Can anyone take that?"

Mukuro is the one to do so, taking the items and passing them to Tsuna.

She unwraps the note. What greets her is Suguru-kun's writing, prim and proper:

Dear Setsuna-chan,

I hope those violets brighten your morning, and a smile won't leave your face today.

Your soulmate,

Suguru.

P.S. I hope the delivery won't scare you too much.

The short, but sincere letter makes a memory resurface from yesterday's conversation.

"What's your favorite flower, Setsuna-chan?" Suguru-kun asks suddenly amidst the story of Lambo's drawing whiskers on I-Pin while she slept.

"Uh," Tsuna blinks, not expecting to be asked such a thing, "it's violets. Why do you ask?"

"No reason," he says innocently, shrug faux-casual.

No reason, yeah right.

"Figures your soulmate is as weird as you, Sawada," Hana comments with a shake of her head as she and Kyoko read the note over Tsuna's shoulders. She doesn't ask anything regarding the delivery, taking it in stride.

"I think that's sweet," Kyoko says with a smile.

"It is," Tsuna agrees, warmth blooming in her chest. His plan seems to be working already. She looks at the Curse. "Thank you for the delivery."

It chirps in reply as if it understood her and takes off, presumably returning to Suguru-kun. They all watch it go before the brunette takes out her phone, where she finds Suguru-kun's contact.

Me:

Thank you for the flowers. They are beautiful.

Suguru-kun:

I live to please. Did the delivery scare you? I did my best to choose the pretty one.

Choose a pretty one? Is that Curse connected to Suguru-kun's possible Cursed Technique, just like that skeleton bird earlier? She will have to ask when she has a chance.

Me:

Startled is more like, but it was pretty nice for a… you know. Looked like Butterfree, just more evil-looking. I-pin would have loved it.

Suguru-kun:

Pokémon phase?

Me:

You have no idea.

Suguru-kun:

I do, actually, one of my friends is a Digimon zealot; he references it everywhere. And I mean, everywhere.

Me:

lol, RIP Geto Suguru's nerves.

Suguru-kun:

:(

No sympathy, huh?

Me:

Nope, if I have to suffer through the Pokémon phase, you are suffering alongside me.

Suguru-kun:

Gladly ;)

She blushes at the last message. Seeing her reaction, Kyoya remarks dryly:

"What a romantic."

"Let's just be glad he is no monkey like most of this school," Hana says, rolling her eyes.

Everyone agrees, relaxing from the previous tension. As they resume their interrupted lunch, Tsuna inhales the scent of violets and resolve fills her anew.

She will do her best to let go of her fear and doubts and work on their relationship. And maybe someday, when she will tell him the truth, Suguru-kun will love her for who she is.

And she will be happy just like other soulmates in the Vongola. But for now…

…For now, she has to give a gift in return.

Her half started crocheting project should make a nice Curse Butterfly.

AN: Hope you enjoyed! Up next: Suguru/Tsuna interactions. See you until then!