Koro-Sensei sighed softly as he took the wet towel away from Tsuna's hot forehead.

'I should probably change the water...'

The octopus glanced back at the three students that were sleeping near Tsuna's bed; he chuckled softly at the sight.

Just when he was about to move, he felt a tug on his robes.

"Don't...lea...ve..."

The voice sounded so soft.

So scared.

So fragile.

So weak.

So helpless.

Koro-Sensei paused and looked at the source of the voice.

Plip....plip...

Tears.

Tears fell softly and soaked the bed sheets.

They fell from closed eyes.

They fell from Tsuna's eyes.

The brunet's hand trembled as he gripped Koro-Sensei's robe tightly.

"Don't...want to....lose...anyone....stay.....pl..ease..."

Koro-Sensei gripped one of his tentacles tightly as he set the bowl of water down and settled right next to the brunet, running another tentacle through his brown locks.

"Tsuna-kun..."

The brunet was still crying softly.

"Too many....I'm..sorry....why...?"

Koro-Sensei's usual grin didn't have the same spark as he continued to move a tentacle through brown locks.

Tsuna's shuddering breaths slowly calmed and his grip slackened; he stopped crying.

The octopus sat there for a few more seconds; Koro-Sensei sighed softly.

"Not a word to the others, you three."

The three students were awake once they heard Koro-Sensei move to get water; they saw the entire scene.

They nodded.

Sugino chewed at his bottom lip as he gazed at Tsuna's slightly rigid frame.

Nagisa looked down at the ground.

Karma was frowning, playing with an Anti-Sensei knife.

The rest of the night was filled with silence.

~~

Sunset-orange eyes cracked open.

Tsuna blinked and rubbed his eyes; he noted that they were slightly puffy.

'Was I crying again?'

He glanced around the room and blinked in surprise.

Sugino, Nagisa, and Karma were snoozing softly; a Tsuna couldn't help but quirk his lips up into a smile.

But then he blinked in confusion.

'Didn't I collapse in the forest?'

He pulled his covers off and tried to stand up.

Read: try.

A certain yellow octopus suddenly popped out of nowhere and pushed the brunet back onto the bed.

"Nyguoooh! Tsuna-kun, you mustn't get up yet! You had a high fever yesterday--you need rest!"

The loud noise woke up the other occupants in the room.

Tsuna sighed exasperatedly.

"Honestly, I'm fine. Let me get up so I can make you guys some breakfast."

Koro-Sensei shook his head rapidly.

"No! You're staying--I'll cook!"

He glanced at the students before darting away.

Once Koro-Sensei was gone, Tsuna sighed; he was about to get up...but a weight settled onto his stomach.

Tsuna sweatdropped.

"Karma-kun..."

"Hai~?"

"Why are you sitting on my stomach?"

Karma simply smiled as he flipped his Anti-Sensei knife through the air.

"Maa~Koro-Sensei wants you to rest. I'm keeping you from moving."

Tsuna huffed.

Nagisa sweatdropped as Sugino laughed heartily.

"We'll help!"

Sugino flopped over onto Tsuna's legs, pulling Nagisa down with him; the brunet grunted but chuckled in amusement.

"Geez, you guys are heavy."

Koro-Sensei then appeared before the group, carrying a trays of breakfast on his tentacles.

"Eat up~!"

"Hai!"

Outside of the house, a swallow flew off into the sky.

~~
<<(Down at the Town Below)>>

"Haa~I heard that he might be here somewhere..."

A ravenet scratched his head as he flitted his hazel eyes around; he ignored the squeals of the female population around him.

A small swallow landed on his shoulder; he grinned brightly.

"Kojirou! Did you find anything?"

The swallow chirped and flew up into the air, circling once before darting in the direction he came from.

The ravenet grinned brightly as he quickly dashed after the bird.

'Yosh! Just a little more Tsuna! If you know me in this parallel world...'

He frowned slightly at the last thought, but he shook his head and grinned brightly.

'Even if he didn't know me, I'll be his greatest friend!'

With that thought in mind, the ravenet picked up the pace as he followed Kojirou.

~~
<<(At a Class E)>>

"Eeeh? Tsuna-Sensei is sick?"

Koro-Sensei nodded, sighing softly.

"Yes--but luckily, he's doing better now."

"Why is Shiota, Tomohito, and Akabane absent?"

Koro-Sensei chuckled.

"Nurufufu~they're simply watching over him."

"Eh? Why can't we visit him too?"

The octopus huffed.

"Now, now! I can't have my entire class miss out...on...school..."

His words died out when the girls gave him puppy-eyed looks.

'Nyguoooh! Not those eyes!'

After a few seconds of silence, Koro-Sensei finally caved in.

"F-Fine..."

"Yaaaaaaay!"

~~
<<(With Tsuna & the Others)>>

Knock, knock!

"Oi~open up! Class E's here to visit our sickly Sensei!"

The brunet blinked in surprise as he placed a white rook on a black square; Nagisa groaned.

"Darn, I'm trapped..."

Tsuna chuckled.

"Check mate, Nagisa-kun. Now, why don't you open the door for them? I'm sure that the--"

Nagisa blinked in confusion, wondering why Tsuna stopped talking.

"Tsuna-Sensei? What's wrong?"

The brunet's eyes were wide.

'Rain flames...it can't be...'

Tsuna suddenly threw his covers off, also dropping the chessboard.

"Tsuna-Sensei?!"

The brunet wobbled slightly as he dashed out of his room.

Tsuna opened his front door and the class was startled as he suddenly pushed his way through; Koro-Sensei was also stunned.

There was a few seconds of silence before Koro-Sensei freaked out.

"Nyguoooh!? What--!? How--?!"

Tsuna simply continued to run, bumping into a few trees along the way.

He panted as he finally caught sight of the school.

He saw Karasuma and Irina speaking with someone; someone very familiar.

Tsuna wobbled out into the clearing, coughing softly.

Their heads turned to look at him.

The one with hazel eyes widened his gaze, and he turned fully to face the other.

"Tsuna...?"

The brunet slowly stumbled forward; his eyes were tearing up.

"Is...it really you? Takeshi?"

The ravenet--now Takeshi--grinned widely.

"Yo, Tsuna."

The brunet smiled brightly as tears streamed freely down his face.

Tsuna stumbled the rest of the distance and Takeshi also ran up to the other and hugged him tightly; the brunet gripped the front of the other's suit.

"I-I missed-hic-you, my Rain..."

Takeshi smiled softly.

"I did too, Tsuna. I did too."

The rest of Class E arrived at the scene; they all blinked in confusion.

"EEEEEH!? Who's that!?"

Kojirou flew above, chirping happily.