Chapter 4: You're Back Vice-Chan!

"I still can't believe Kyoya did that!" Tsuna whined as he fixed his wounds in the infirmary. After the fight with Mochida, Hibari gone and went on rampage. He's only target was Tsuna though.

"Because you're such a wimp."

Tsuna was slightly startled at the newcomer but when he saw who it was, he sighed. He should've known with that squeaky voice. "I am not."

Reborn snorted and sat beside Tsuna as he watched him tend to himself. "Hn. But that was a good fight." To be honest, he was quite proud at his student to pull a stunt like that even without him but not enough to consider it as his own.

Tsuna slightly blushed at the compliment. His ears are getting red. He's not quite used about good words in his fights. "Thanks." Although, the next words doesn't really ring on his ears.

"It was very befitting of a Mafia Boss." Reborn smirked when he saw Tsuna's reaction.  It's not that he really likes teasing Tsuna, he's just really amused about his past. One thing he likes was solving mysteries and this one has yet to be solved.

"I told you I'm not going to be a mafia boss." Tsuna replied in a deep calm voice. His decision was already final and he won't ever change it.

Reborn just sighed though. Is it just him or is it already really tiring to have this argument over and over again. "And I told you, you have no choice." Then there was this long awkward silence. Both having a staring contest in which there's a silent rule saying whoever loses will have to submit. They didn't even realized that the door slammed open.

"Yo Tsuna!" Takeshi greeted but as soon as he step foot inside the clinic, he already sensed this gloomy aura. Deciding not to break it, he slowly stepped away. "I guess I'll just come back later."

That brought Tsuna back out to reality. "Wait, Takeshi! What brings you here?"

Takeshi grinned when Tsuna finally noticed him and went back further into the room. He also silently greeted the baby beside him. "I'm just checking you on. Want me to help?" He answered.

Tsuna kindly refused the offer seeing as he was already done patching himself up. "No thanks, I'm fine." With one last look at his work, he began to stand up, readying for their class. They were about to go out when their school bell rung.

*Ring*

Both Tsuna and Takeshi looked at each other. Panic was already etched on their face. The school bell means class is almost starting. "Better hurry up!" Takeshi exclaimed as they hurriedly walked to their classroom as running isn't an option. They don't want to be bitten to death by a certain skylark with two reasons now, don't they?

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Luckily for them, they reached the classroom in time and now, they are already starting their lesson. As for Tsuna, he had this bored look on his face. Yet again, he already knew the lesson so nothing's going to change if he actually listened or not. He was just dawdling. He looked around the room as if he's searching something. 'Takeshi is sleeping as usual, Kyoko-chan and Hana are really focused on the topic' Then his eyes landed on the vacant seat on the front row where his vice president is supposed to be. 'Hmmm... he's still not here huh."

It's been almost two days, today's the 2nd,  his vice was absent. He didn't even know why. He sighed when he realized there's really nothing he could do. Finally deciding to listen to his teacher for once, he propped back to his seat properly when a paper airplane landed on his table. 'What's this?' Curiously, he picked it up and tried to open it. He already somewhat knew who it came from considering that it's from outside.

'Go to the back school later.'

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At lunch, Tsuna did as he was told. He was already in the back part of the school expecting someone to be there but there was no soul in sight. Was that just a prank? "Uhh... Hello?" He tried calling but nobody answered. He was about to go back when a flash of red passed his eyes and before he knew it, it exploded.

*Boom!*

"Heh. You're the Vongola Decimo? You really have a scrawny body." Tsuna squinted his eyes. He could definitely see a figure on the other end but the thick smoke was blocking his identity. Although, he didn't fail to recognize that familiar voice.

"Huh?" He said as he coughed the smoke from his lungs. Then after a second, something shift on his shoulder.

"Hayato Gokudera, also known as Smokin' Bomb Hayato. It's said that he can hide dynamites in different parts of his body." Reborn informed and this time Tsuna knitted his eyebrows.

As the smoke dissipated, Tsuna could already recognize who was the other person and it confirmed his suspections. He definitely knew this person. It was his trusted vice president. "Hayato?"

The silveret who had this scowl on his face began to look confused and shocked on what he is seeing that he dropped all the dynamites he's holding. "S-seitokaichou! What are you doing here?"

"Uhm... I could ask you the same thing."

Sensing their confusion, Reborn jumped off from Tsuna's shoulder and greeted the silveret teen. "Ciaossu!"

"Reborn-san! I thought you said I'm gonna meet the Vongola Tenth." Hayato exclaimed when he saw the hitman. He just can't believe what he is seeing. He thought maybe Reborn made a mistake but that's not the case.

"That's right. You're already looking at him." Reborn explained with a proud smirk on his face. Can't this be any better? Who knew they knew each other. A close one at that.

"Wha-" Hayato tried to protest but he was beaten by Tsuna's whine.

"Reborn! I told you I'm not going to be a boss nor am I the Vongola Tenth."

Then Hayato realized it. Tsuna really do have knowledge about Vongola Decimo. He then began to bow in front of him, refusing to make eye contact. "Seitokaichou, no, Juudaime! I'm really sorry I haven't known before. I failed as a right hand man! Please still let me by your side!"

Tsuna just sighed. He already knew Hayato is going to do that anytime soon. So, he reached for his shoulders, encouraging him to look up. "Hayato, please stand up. You heard me, right? I'm not gonna accept the position and our friendship will not changed. And please drop the new nickname part."

As soon as he said that, Hayato began to cheer up. Imaginary dog ears and tail can be actually seen and if you look closely enough, you can even see some sparkles in the background. That's just how grateful Hayato look. Like a lost puppy who found a new master. "Juudaime, I'm gonna protect you no matter what and I'll follow you for the rest of my life. Juudaime will always be juudaime."

"Hayato."

"Sorry, Tsuna-sama."

"Isn't that great Tsuna. You earned your first subordinate as a boss." Reborn said and Tsuna just can't help but to grumble.

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"I didn't know you were in the mafia, Hayato." Tsuna started. They were in the student council office not even bothering to go to class. They're already late anyway.

Hayato bowed again, this time hitting his head on the floor. "I'm really sorry, Tsuna-sama! I was going to tell you sooner but you told me how you hated the mafia. So, I thought if you knew, you'll leave me."

And that caught Reborn's attention. 'So, Tsuna hated the mafia huh?' He was just on the side listening but the topic was really getting better.

"Hayato, whatever happens I won't hate you. You're my first and best friend remember? Together with Takeshi too!" Tsuna explained as he tried to make Hayato stand up again.

"But-"

"No buts. More importantly, why didn't you tell me that you will be gone in the past few days?" Tsuna asked. He was really curious now.

"Actually, Tsuna-sama, I was just gonna restock my dynamites when Reborn-san called me." Hayato replied as he went to his own desk.

Tsuna rolled his eyes and rest his head on his hands. 'Of course, Reborn. I should have known.' "And?"

"He said that I should be here today to test the Vongola Tenth but when I said that I'm already here, he told me that he will go and make preparations while I prepare myself."

Tsuna nodded in understanding as he brought out the piece of paper he got earlier from his pocket. "Hence, why I got this letter."

After that was silence, but not until Hayato broke it. "But really, Tsuna-sama, I still can't believe you're going to be Vongola Tenth! Not that you're unworthy, you're more than worthy!"

"Hayato, please. I'm not going to be a boss."

Finally deciding to butt in, Reborn jumped from where he was to their front. "But sooner or later you will. You can't refuse your bloodline Tsuna." Then he turned to Hayato though Tsuna's expression didn't go unnoticed. "Speaking to that matter, I thought you were in Italy, Gokudera. Why are you here in Japan? How did you two meet?"

"Reborn-san, It's actually a long story."

"Hn. I'm all ears."

Flashback

" Get out, brat! I don't need you in the famiglia!" A man in black, probably the boss, shouted as he kicked Hayato out of his house. Hayato groaned in pain but he stood up nonetheless.

'And that was another famiglia who kicked me out though, I was getting enough of their treatment anyway. I was wandering around when I overheard two people talking'

"You're going to Japan?" A man asked while another man nodded and answered.

"Yup and when I'm successful, they're finally going to notice me." Hayato was just around the corner as he listened to this conversation. Though, the last sentence struck him .

'That piqued my interest so I decided to follow him. Before I knew it, I was in japan.'

Hayato was walking around. He didn't even know why he went and follow that guy then landed on Japan. He didn't know if it was just his gut feeling but he feels that something was gonna happen. He turned around the next intersection when he saw the man he was following, holding a gun up. And on the other side, a kid shorter than him.

"Goodbye, young lion's son." Was what he heard.

'I actually didn't know what to do then but suddenly that kid-Tsuna-sama actually fought back'

Panic has arised Hayato when he saw the gun pointed at the kid no less. He was supposed to be arrogant but something inside him felt warm. He stared at the brunet when he saw his eyes changed color. A sunset hue; A color of the sky. He was too stunned in awe that he didn't realized the brunet approaching him.

"Watch out!"

Hayato slowly opened his eyes. When had he closed them? What greeted him though was the kid.

"Are you okay?" The brunet asked and Hayato just nodded. He didn't know what happened but he saw his eyes back in its chocolate brown. He then looked at his surroundings to check something unusual when he felt something wet and the smell of something metallic had given it away.

Blood was dripping from the kid's shoulder and there's clearly a bullet hole in there but he also didn't fail to see the man lying not too far. He went wide eyed. He didn't know what to do. Someone just saved him from death and a stranger at that. He was too shocked to even moved but he was no heartless. He was about to reach for the brunet when he smiled. A bright smile but Hayato knew there was pain underneath.

"Next time, please be careful." And the kid left and Hayato didn't have the chance to help him.

'I followed him everyday, after that. I asked all the neighborhood about him and that was until I decided to enroll in here.'

"Please introduce yourself, Gokudera-kun." The teacher said after he announced that they have a new transfer student at the whole class.

Hayato glared at them, annoyed by their appearance but he did it, nonetheless. "Tch. Gokudera Hayato." He then scanned the room and when he finally found who he was looking for, he began to walk towards him.

All the students whom Hayato passed coward in fear that he might hurt them but when he stopped, there's just confusion. "Tsuna, do you know him?" A raven-haired teen asked his seatmate whereas he shook his head.

Hayato felt dejected when the brunet who saved him didn't even remember him but he still did his 180 degree personality switch. He began to bow, dogeza styled, in order to show his respect. "How can I ever repay you?!"

End

"And ever since then, he kept bugging me until we became close friends." Tsuna said as he finished the rest of the story. Though it was also the first time he heard Hayato's backstory. "You didn't have to tell him all that."

And then as usual, the mood around Hayato lightened up. "But Tsuna-sama you're really cool back then!"

While the two of them are busy what they are doing, Reborn frowned when the story finished. 'That's one story told but there's still a lot more. More importantly, who are those assassins that were after Tsuna?'

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When Tsuna finally got Hayato to take the tests he missed, he was alone with Reborn and Reborn took this as an opportunity."I didn't know you were being targeted."

"Because it's none of your business." Tsuna snarled back. To tell you the truth, he was finally connecting the dots on what was happening to him and he just can't believe it.

"Is that why you hated the mafia?" Reborn asked again but he got no answer.

Tsuna just decided to fix all the papers in front of him when he was asked. He really doesn't want to answer that for now. He really knew nothing of their world and he had no place for it but curiousity had come to him. "Hey, what exactly is Vongola?" But before Reborn could even reply, he paled on what he was seeing on the paper he was holding. This can't be real.

'Suspension Notice. Yamamoto Takeshi. No. of days: 3 days. Cause of suspension: Act of violence.'