Published: 1/17/17

NOTE: The setting of this chapter is a week after Tsuna met Reborn. So here's the note for all those confused readers out there! 

Enjoy!

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あなたは -

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Namimori, at the most, was a stunning and beautiful town to behold in the morning.

There's no mistaking it, even if you have the audacity to think otherwise. The pink blossoms that flourished during the spring seasons was enough of an indication of that, and the green meadows and unfinished roads provided enough vegetables and natural crops for all the town folks to indulge in. On rare occasions, city folks visited them, curious at Namimori's steady and increase in economical wages.

Now, since it was spring, a vibrant and lovely scent hung in the air, the sun shimmered through carefully locked windows, peering through the numerous gaps in the common dorms and houses.

And, once more, a few moments later, everyone rose from their slumber, gladly welcoming the warm and fresh air that greeted them, free from any sort of pollution. Most of the elderly tended to spend their time indoors, but greeted their children and their grandchildren with a warm and welcoming smile.

Everyone was already up and about their elbows, knowing that there was work that needed to be done and children to take care off . . . well, almost everyone.

"Tsu-kun, Tsu-kun! Wake up already!" One particular house with strong walls and evenly patched windows has still yet to stir away from slumber, particularly, the son of the owner of the said house.

The brunet boy (ahem man) groaned, showing his obvious discomfort of having bright sunlight ogle him so early in the morning. "Five more minutes, mama," Tsuna protested weakly, mind still clouded with dreams and fatigue.

Nana was not at all pleased at this. "Tsu-kun! Wake up!" Her tone boarded on exasperation and weariness. Waking her son up whom, most of the time, slept like a bedridden rock certainly wasn't a job that she signed herself up for.

Tsuna moaned and Nana twitched. Her control slipped. "Tsu-kun . . ." Not taking another no for an answer, she abruptly pulled the covers out of her startled son's grip and uncaringly watched him fall down and squirm uncomfortably with narrowed and irritated eyes. "Do I need to remind you that you are now an adult? Honestly, I'm getting too old for this. And—" She darted a quick glance to the digital clock on Tsuna's nightstand. "You'll be late for work." The still-squirming adult wailed at that.

"Mama!" he objected like a teenager. "I don't see the need for you to wake me up so rudely! And besides," he added, eyebrows scrunched, "I'm the owner, it won't make a difference if I'm a few hours late."

"Tsu-kun." That tone warned Tsuna that he had already pushed his mother beyond her limits. "What are you suggesting, exactly?" That's it. That was Tsuna's cue to shut up.

The brunet let out a reluctant sigh. "Alright. I was just cranky, don't mind me . . ." He made his way to the bathroom door, his movements sluggish and slurred. "Ah, and Tsu-kun?" Tsuna paused midway. "Isn't Hayato-kun arriving today—" Was cut short because Tsuna had already slammed the door in her face, alerting Nana that Tsuna went into a sudden frenzy having not remember such an important subject.

Nana chuckled at this. "Really now . . . that Tsu-kun . . ."

Nana watched and stood for a while, and when she was sure he was truly out of sight, her cheerful façade dropped, resulting in a blank and hallow stare to replace the once mirthful and joyful woman's face.

xXx

Leaving the house at around ten o'clock in the morning didn't sound nor appealed to the brunet's senses in any way shape or form, but he couldn't possibly voice this thought out to his mother, who would most likely kick him out of the house and leave him out there in the streets for a week.

I really do need to sleep in, Tsuna grumbled to himself as this ridiculous thought crossed his mind. In a way, it was true. Since it was the spring season, Tsuna had to stay in a few more hours after closing time to attend to the customers' needs, seeing as he couldn't possibly turn them away with them murmuring about his doorsteps and acknowledging the fact that he was the only person in town to ever own a flower shop.

Surely, they won't mind if I don't come? Tsuna mused, pondering about it. It's already working hours, so surely, not much customers would drop by? Even if he thought this, he knew he still had to go through with the journey. He had herbs and flowers to tend to and send to online customers.

"Tsu-chan, Tsu-chan!" Having his name being called out of the blue, he whirled around and instantly, his black mood vanished and a small, adoring smile played on his lips.

"Max," he called out, enveloping the child in a warm embrace.

Several other children followed suit, calling out to him, tumbling over each other to reach him, and pounced on Tsuna, in which the brunet laughed cheerfully at and accepted the ambush of children. School hours (kindergarten) must've ended already.

"Hello, everyone," he greeted, kneeling down and eyes lighting up at the cherubic smile that graced their chubby faces. "What brings you all here at this part of town?"

Max wailed. "You haven't visi'ed us in a really lon' time now!" The boy exclaimed. The child was still learning his Japanese, and Tsuna noted in how some of his teeth were missing. "We mi'ssed you', Tsu-chan!"

Tsuna smiled warmly and cuddled him. It didn't matter that several other kids clung to his back, wailing in how he was being unfair. "I'm sorry, Max." Tsuna laughed and ruffled his hair. "I'll make sure to visit you, okay? Make sure Akira-sensei won't mind, though." He gave them a meaningful look. "I wouldn't want to bother her, you know?"

"Nuh-huh!" one child piped up, Tsna had to stretch his neck to look at her. She was too far from them. "Akira-sensei doesn't mind at all, she said she wants you to visit us again!" The little girl's face suddenly went sad. "Akira-sensei says that you're too busy to visit us." The other children mirrored her dark expression, sulking.

Tsuna felt a tug in his heartstrings. Oh, he felt so guilty about sleeping in now. "Tsu-chan is sorry, everyone." The brunet's eyes dropped. "You see, I really have been busy these past few days, but don't worry." Tsuna's eyes then brightened. "I'll make sure to bring a sack of goodies the next time I visit you guys. Is that alright with you? Tsu-chan will make sure to visit you all again." In response, the children roared with approval. Tsuna laughed and ruffled each of their prim locks, chuckling at their sullen reaction at having their hair disheveled by their favorite adult. "Now run along and play, alright?" Max protested strongly at this and clung to his legs. "M-Max, I need to go . . ."

The little girl from before, Suzuna, tugged at Max's sleeves. "C'mon Max, we'll play Tag and Simon Says, okay? You can be Simon." Max's eyes lit up, and within short seconds, he was chasing after Suzuna, with the other children trailing not too far behind and bidding their farewells to Tsuna.

The brunet waved back, smiling.

His obligation still intact in his mind, he trod his way down the sidewalk, chuckling at the warm and fuzzy feeling settling in his heart. Children always found a way to cheer him up, regardless of the situation . . .

After a few minutes of walking, he reached the dusty pavement leading towards the flower shop. Seeing its pristine and perfect condition reminded him that he really did come far and through with life, and this knowledge further lifted his spirits.

Trudging down the rough pathway, he lifted the dangling keys from his trouser pocket and swung the door open with one mighty push, surveying the surroundings and nodding in silent approval when he found that everything had been positioned exactly as he had left it.

Leaving the messenger bag hanging on the hook beside the door, he in turn, wore the teal-colored apron and, with one swift tug to the lace behind him, smiled.

Gliding, he pushed aside the curtains and tied them in knots, tugging to make sure they were properly knotted, and leaned in against the wall to admire his accomplishments, loving the simmer of sunlight that poured inside through the open window.

A slight breeze greeted him, making him tuck a loose strand of hair behind his earlobe, and swung the door open and flipped the hanging sign from 'close' to 'open'. The curtains billowed slightly from the breeze, but stayed firm thanks to Tsuna's knotting skills.

Enjoying the calming silence that engulfed him, he proceeded by idling about and checking emails that needed his quick attention and quickly dismissing a few spam ones.

Noticing the knock on the door and the light ding sound of the bell, Tsuna graciously arose from his seat and quickly dusted imaginary dust off of his apron, tucking another strand of his hair winds his ear out of nervous habit.

Tsuna beamed. "Welcome to Cielo's Garden—"

"Sawada?" That voice. Tsuna's eyes flung open.

There, situated in front of him, was a man of whom Tsuna feared and knew very, very well.

Tsuna couldn't stop the gasp from escaping his lips. "Y-Yamamoto-kun?"