"Is there something on my face Mikacchi-ssu?"

Ryota blinked his golden eyes, his Junior's voice pulling him out of his thoughts before he gently shook his head, a wry laugh slipping past his lips.

"Nah, it's nothing, sorry Ryota-kun," he answered, sheepishly rubbing his left earlobe— Who kept you in the future? How could he ask such a question?

Kise tilted his head to the side in confusion, a perplex hum slipped past his lips before he flashed the older a grin. "Right, Senpai, did you come to the Interhigh?"

Ryota shook his head in denial, his hand roughly combing through his green locks as he walked to the lodges. "I didn't, how did it go?" he questioned, already knowing the answer but too preoccupied with how his presence may have changed the competition's outcome.

The blond beamed before rambling about his and his team's experience in the Interhigh. Though he had lost against Aomine's team, and he felt bitter about the two points difference, he didn't think it was as shameful as he used to.

After all, he had learned from his previous experiences. Loosing was only another way of getting stronger, though not the most agreeable, and not the way he preferred, he wouldn't make a scene. They had the Winter Cup to come back.

Ryota closely listened to the younger's words, fondly looking at him from the corner of his eyes as they neared the lodges to change their clothes and apply some makeup— this was an image of what he used to be, so carefree, so innocent really.

He still had some trouble accepting the blond's existence in the same world as him, but he was now used to it. Not that it didn't bother him, he simply dealt with it. After all, it wasn't Kise's fault, Mikaël had no right to release his nerves on him.

As they entered the room, both models were greeted by their company's stylist, makeup artists, and hairdressers. The green and blond bowed at the group, not forgetting to acknowledge their manager in the corner of the room before they got dragged into the changing rooms.

Their talk was put to a halt as the staff actively worked to change their getup. In a few minutes, they both wore their designed attire, they now sat in front of glasses to have their makeup and hair done.

This shot had the two teens starring in as the cover of the next Zunon Boys, they would try three different styles before choosing the most fitting while the others would be printed out as posters for the next issue.

Eyes closed as they applied some eyeshadow, Kise jovially resumed his talk on the Interhigh. "—Well, we did lose in the first round I suppose," he finished with a sigh, a regretful laugh escaping his lips.

Mikaël hummed, acknowledging the teen's words, he smiled. Things hadn't changed from his former life, the scores remained the same as in his memories, as did the teams that advanced, and the issue of the Interhigh.

There was close to no difference with his first life, and it comforted him.

He dipped his head the makeup artist's way, thanking them for their work, before standing from his seat. "Well, there's still the Winter Cup," he said to the blond, waiting for him before going out on the set.

Kise, having his hair done, quickly nodded. "Yes! This time we'll definitely win!" he asserted with a determined glint in his eyes.

Ryota chuckled, not adding anything as he opened the door to the set. How was he supposed to answer that?

Kise followed closely behind, their managers already out on the set and waiting for them. "Right-ssu!" he called out as if having a sudden revelation. "Will you come to the Winter Cup Mika-senpai?" he wondered, a genuine grin plastered on his face.

"I'll try," Mikaël acknowledged, simpering. "Right, Ryota-kun," he called, stopping the blond in his track as he was about to join his manager. "How is your sleeping schedule these days?"

Kise frowned, not understanding the question, before stroking his chin in thoughts. "Well, it's okay, I guess?" he answered, unsure of how he should respond. "I mean, nothing's out of the ordinary?" he rubbed his earlobe in cofusion.

"Is that so," Mikaël whispered. "No strange dream?"

Kise's frown deepened as he shook his head. "No, why-ssu?"

Ryota heaved a relieved sigh, easily seeing that the teen wasn't lying to him, before shaking his head and ruffling the boy's blond locks. "No reason," he sang, "I merely read the horoscope this morning, did you know Gemini's lucky item was pink lingerie today? 'Hope you're wearing some underneath these," he teased, smoothly changing the subject.

Light pink dusted Kise's cheeks as he pursed his lower lip in a pout. "Mou, don't become like Midorimacchi, Senpai!" he whined.

Mikaël dismissively waved his hand, chuckling away as he neared his blond manager. "Also, did you meet some new people, outside of Kaijo I mean, perhaps some heir to some company?" he not so smoothly inquired.

Kise tilted his head, humming to himself in thought. "I don't think so-ssu," he mumbled before brightening. "But I met an interesting guy not so long ago, he plans on starting his own company, does it work too?"

Ryota paused, his smile unnoticeably deepening. "Oh?"

Sensing the green's interest, Kise beamed. "Yeah! He's a bit strange, really poised you know, kinda like Akashicchi but not the same," he mused. "More laid back and mature?" he said not knowing how to describe the male. "I met him at a photoshoot a bit after the Interhigh," Kise's golden eyes looked at the green head in thoughts, it wasn't often Mikaël asked things out of him.

"You'll have to introduce me then, I can't let a stranger lurk in my Kouhai's shadow when his motives are unknown," Ryota teased with a smile, the information he read on the Ella Conglomerate coming back to his mind.

Kise blinked, he didn't think Mikaël would ask to meet the man. Nonetheless, he beamed. "Sure, I'll introduce you next time I see him," he paused. "If you're coming to the Winter Cup then you'll probably meet," he mused. "He said he'd come."

Ryota nodded in understanding. "Then I'll wait."

The green's question on the mysterious man answered he thought back on their previous talk. Kise had no recollection of the future, unlike Junichiro and the Kokuyo Gang. He mused for a second, quickly collecting his thoughts before nodding to himself. Only those who entered in contact with them— Tsuna's gang and himself, had memories of those events.

::

Ryota starred out of the window in silence, watching the trees, passersby, and buildings pass as the car sped away. The pattern was the same, the landscape wouldn't change in such a short amount of time, his view was nothing new—

He frowned, those roads weren't the ones leading to Namimori. "Are we eating out tonight?" he wondered, not sparing his guardian a glance as he continued to stare at the crowded streets.

Claude's blue eyes were focused on the road, he merely nodded, humming in agreement.

Ryota didn't ask more, waiting to recognize the streets they were driving by. His frown deepened as he identified the road they were taking. It was one he knew all too well, how many times had he used it in his past life?

This definitely led to the airport.

He flickered his golden eyes to the blond Italian man beside him, meeting his gaze in the rear-view mirror. The adult gave him a perfunctory smile before refocusing his attention on the road.

Ryota's expression unnoticeably stiffened, a chill going down his spine at the all too polite smile on his guardian's face. His eyes silently swept back to the passing landscape, and he gently rubbed his earlobe.

Claude obviously knew that he knew.

A low clicking sound brought Ryota's attention to the car door, and he noticed it was locked, preventing him from opening it from the inside. He closed his eyes for a moment, letting his mind go blank for a split second before recomposing himself and going back to his occupation as if nothing happened.

He casually reached for his pant's pocket, as if searching for his phone. His fingers aimlessly rummaged it, becoming more restless as he continued to grasp nothing but unruly threads of jeans and air.

"If you are looking for this," Claude said, pulling a shining ring from his pocket. "Then don't bother anymore, I've got it."

Ryota's gaze turned sharp, he was about to question the man when the blond tossed him the ring. "We're going back to Europe for the next week, I already warned your school and the agency."

"Why? Is mamiecchi sick? Was there a problem with Francchi?"

Claude's lips quirked up, shaking his head in denial. "No, no, there's no 'problem,' so to speak," he refuted, opening his window and tossing his cigarette pack to the teen. "Light one for me will you?" he asked, not taking his eyes off the road.

Ryota silently complied.

Calmly thanking his charge for the smoke, Claude leaned in his seat. "Take it as a trip to improve yourself," he taught. "Don't sweat it, I'll be there."

Now in a plane for Paris, Ryota casually leaned against the aircraft's window, his eyes taking in the scenery. The way the clouds gradually changed color as night fell.

His conversation with his guardian replayed in his mind, and the more he thought of it, the more uneasy he felt. Claude's behavior, their sudden trip, combined with his newly acquired experience after his trip to the future, it screamed fishy.

He closed his eyes, and his worry skyrocketed. He was no amateur when it came to aviation or the way airports worked. This flight, though it went to Paris, he doubted Jura airport would be their next destination.

His fingers played with the ring, his glazed golden eyes dazedly observing it. This ring, he had no doubt when he said it didn't belong to his mother but his progenitor in the first place.

And, from the information he acquired, it was a sign of power in the underworld, most precisely within the Russian mafia. Where was Russia? In both Europe and Asia, and where were the important cities? In Europe.

France was in Europe, and flights between Paris and Moscow weren't uncommon. He scoffed, it wasn't hard to guess where his guardian could be leading him.

Now, Ryota wondered what link Claude shared with the Bratva— if they ever shared one, and if he knew from the start his link to it. After all, while Mikaël himself wasn't aware of his parent's identity, having others know wouldn't surprise him.

He was 99% sure of his guardian's link to the Bratva. The way he held himself and his behavior, also, when he thought back on the man, Claude wasn't exactly suspicious-free. For instance, his income or information network, how quickly he could arrange everything, accepted his trip to Tokyo during the Varia incident, it all screamed shady.

What's more, the man's presence when he came back and how he took in his disappearance as if it was nothing, pointed at the fact that he may have received some memories. Thereof, he should be involved (though Mikaël wasn't sure about the extent of those memories or why Claude gained them as he had no recollection of meeting the blond).

"No need to be so tensed," Claude yawned, beside his charge as he threw him an inquisitive glance. "It's bad for your health."

Ryota's shoulders minutely tensed up before he forced them to relax. "I'm not," he refuted, keeping his eyes on the clouds.

Claude chuckled, humming. "My bad then. I'm sleeping, call the flight attendants if you need anything," he directed before shutting his eyes to get some rest.

Mikaël nodded, releasing another sigh as he swept his eyes across the almost deserted cabin. They were in first class, what did he expect?

Closing his golden eyes, he leaned his head on his seat, finding a comfortable position before taking a nap. What else could he do in such a situation?

::

Ryota stretched, not repressing the tired yet satisfied yawn from slipping past his lips. He took his phone out, switching the flight mode off before it buzzed with new notifications.

Most were from social media, followed with some event announcement in some random gaming app, lastly were the missed calls and messages, mostly from his grandmother.

He frowned. Though they usually contacted one another once a week, his grandma wasn't the type to leave so many messages behind. His fingers slid across the screen, swiftly unlocking it and going to his messaging app.

He read over them, his frown deepening with the seconds. Unknowingly, his hand rubbed his earlobe as he bit his lower lip. Hurriedly, he switched to his phoning app, dialing his grandmother's number.

Voicemail, he pursed his lips, hanging up before checking his own and the messages his granny had left for him. Carefully listening to them, his expression turned smoother, and a light relieved smile crept up his lips.

It seemed she was only worried at the fact that he hadn't contacted her last week. The notion amused him and warmed up his heart, he didn't forget to leave her a message, promising to stop by as soon as possible and spend some time with both her and his baby brother.

It wouldn't be good if Fran didn't recognize him after all, he joked before ending his text with a classic 'I love you.'

The scent of coffee blended with cocoa wafted to his nose, and he lifted his head, turning his phone off and tucking it in his pocket.

"For you," Claude said, answering his silent question as he gave him the cup of hot chocolate. He smiled, sipping on his expresso with an unhurried expression before stealing a glance at his wristwatch.

Ryota quietly accepted the hot beverage, relishing in the sweet drink invading his mouth and warming up his slightly numb body.

Claude hummed, turning around a beckoning the teen to follow him. Though a bit restless and suspicious of the man, Mikaël complied, he couldn't do anything at the moment, the man was his guardian, and he liked to think he wouldn't put him in danger.

"Our flight is already here, we should go if we don't want to arrive too late," he said, leading the way to another one of the terminals.

Ryota nodded, taking note of the direction they were walking in and not forgetting to look at the flight board, trying to guess their next destination.

A frown tugged at his lips, there was no flight programmed to depart in the next minutes that warranted for them to hurry in this direction. As he was about to voice he doubt, Ryota was stopped speechless.

Oh.

Right, a private jet.

Of course.

What was he thinking about?

New cover by the amazing -canaeris, go and check out her stores for more amazing graphics and contents!

From this point on until a few more chapters, the story will focus less on the KHR and KNB plot and more on Ryota/Mikaël's growth (so the story may seem a bit slow-paced, apologies.)

Thanks for reading, until next time^^