Hey everyone! I am back with a new story :). I hope you like it and make sure you favorite, follow, and leave a review. I also want to mention that Tsuna is smart(er) in this story, but not a genius or anything. Enjoy!

*Credit for the cover image belongs to Masyu Bonn on Pixiv*

School had just let out in Namimori for the day. Students, eager to leave, flooded out of schools everywhere. Some were excited to go home and rest, while others had made plans to hang out with friends. Two boys exited Namimori High School and began walking home together, speaking quietly among themselves.

"Honestly, I'm free any day...except Tuesday- that's when I help Haru with her fashion club."

"No I wouldn't want to trouble you. I have baseball practice everyday after school anyways!"

The first one to speak shook his head lightly. His tall brown hair shook with him, dancing a bit with the breeze. Tsuna, the boy, glanced up at his tall friend, Yamamoto Takeshi. "You won't be able to play baseball for much longer if your grades don't improve." That seemed to reach Takeshi, as he stopped walking with his foot in mid-air.

"What do you mean?!" Takeshi turned to face Tsuna so he could grab him by his shoulders in panic. "Don't play with my emotions like that Tsuna!" Takeshi shook the smaller boy violently and Tsuna could feel his lunch churning in his stomach. He broke free of the death-like grip.

"Didn't you know? If an athlete's grades are bad enough, they can be kicked off the team..." Tsuna muttered as he continued his journey home. He didn't want to frighten Takeshi with hypothetical situations, but if that's what it took to convince him to change, so be it.

"I...need help." Takeshi sighed deeply and covered his face with his hands.

"Well," Tsuna attempted to comfort his friend. "Admitting defeat is the first step on the road to victory."

"Hey that's pretty neat!" Takeshi said, while slinging a friendly arm around Tsuna's shoulders and pulling him closer. "Where'd you get that from?"

"..."

"That's the quote we're supposed to analyze for homework."

"..."

"A-Ah." Takeshi mumbled.

"...and I advise that you begin to get more involved in your community. Excuse me, but being known as the "hottest" boy in town isn't exactly what colleges and universities are looking for. Yes, your grades are beyond qualified but, Renato, you really need to give institutions another reason to look your way." A woman holding a clipboard of papers, rapidly flipping through them, said.

The boy she gave the advice to didn't seem to have listened, but she'd done her job in giving it anyways. She spoke up once more.

"Perhaps babysitting your neighbor's children, or- oh I don't know, maybe tutoring underclassmen. There are many options, and I'm sure one of them suits you." She finished with a sigh, as she skimmed through papers about other students she had to give the same speech to. The boy still stood there, with disinterest clear on his face.

"I'm don-"

The boy turned around to make his exit, not bothering to let the woman finish her sentence. He knew her advice was relevant, but that didn't mean he wanted to hear her say it. When he'd walked several feet from the room, he heard the door he'd shut fling back open.

"Renato, you! Have some respect!" And the door slammed close once more, except it stayed that way.

"Getting chewed out again?" Another boy's voice appeared too close for comfort to Renato. "Must've been Ms. Nakamura, the only one who insists on calling you by your given name, Renato-chan-" Renato's hand reached for the boy's throat and grabbed it harshly, stopping the teasing quickly. "Alright! Alright!" The boy, Colonello, barely made out. "I'm sorry Reborn, I'm sorry!"

Reborn loosened his grip, then let go entirely, smirking. "You'd better be." He wiped the hand that'd been around his brother's neck on his thigh. "Remind me again why she doesn't incessantly bother you?" Reborn continued his stride, heading for the exit of the school building. Ms. Nakamura had asked to see him after school and threatened to call home if he didn't come. Reborn chose his battles wisely.

Colonello tagged along. "Because she doesn't hate me." Reborn glared weakly, not accepting his answer. "What I meant to say was- I'm already involved in a few things: Baseball, shooting club, and occasionally the drama club."

"Tch. Isn't waking up early to come here late good enough? It worked until now." Reborn seemed to seriously contemplate why his strategy wasn't working anymore.

"I don't think so man, but hey! I've got to get to shooting club- I made a promise with Lal that I wouldn't be more than 5 minutes late and I've already broken it." Colonello slapped Reborn on the back in a friendly manner before jogging off down another hallway.

"He sure has a lot of energy for an air-head..." Reborn muttered to himself, finally exiting the school. I wonder when he'll be home? Reborn immediately stopped walking. If I'm waiting for Colonello to come home...I really do need a hobby.

A few weeks later

The last bell of the school day rang, signaling the long awaited weekend.

Reborn stood up quickly, an action that was out of character. He typically waited for the classroom to empty out before fully waking up from his nap, er- snapping out of school mode. It didn't go unnoticed.

"Oh? Do you have plans, Reborn?" A friend of Reborn's, Fon, asked. "Or are you going to take up the offer on joining my yoga club?" Fon also stood up.

Reborn rolled his eyes briefly. "The former. I've been tutoring a kid for a while, and yes-" Reborn held up a hand to his friend's gaping mouth. "I'm being paid."

Fon sighed in relief. "Thank goodness, I don't know what I'd do if you were willing acting out of the kindness of your heart...Or whatever is in there."

"Oh the usual: Money, drugs, etcetera, etcetera." Reborn tossed his bag over his shoulder casually and exited the classroom, ignoring the girls squealing over him and Fon shaking his head.

Reborn approached the sushi restaurant, but opted for a door off to the side instead of the one designed for costumers. This door led to the owner's house, as Reborn knew, and he knocked gently on it. His client, Yamamoto Takeshi, attended a different school than him and its school days ended earlier than Reborn's. He'd be envious but that also meant their school days started earlier too. Reborn waited for an answer, pulling his curly sideburns idly. Growing a bit annoyed, Reborn knocked once more and after checking his phone, saw that Yamamoto got out of school over an hour ago.

He should be home. Reborn thought, but he clearly wasn't. Reborn almost happily walked away, seeing as to how the sessions were paid for in advance. He was almost an earshot away but he heard the door swing open to reveal...Yamamoto's father.

"Mr. Yamamoto, good evening." Reborn walked back over to greet the man.

"Oh, Takeshi's tutor! I'm sorry he's not back home yet, but please come in!" His father practically pulled Reborn into the house. "You can go wait in his room 'til he returns. You remember the way, right? I've got to get back to the shop, so show yourself up there and get comfortable, alright! Thanks!" Yamamoto's father had dominated the conversation, not letting Reborn get a word of protest in. Reluctantly, Reborn did as he was instructed.

"The things I get into..." Reborn mumbled, before resorting to inside thoughts. Mumbling to himself was beneath him after all.

Yamamoto's room wasn't much different than he'd remembered from earlier this week. Posters of famous baseball players all over, textbooks and notebooks containing various subjects, and a few shirts laying about. Reborn took a seat at the desk. They usually worked at the table nearby, but Reborn enjoyed the cushion of the desk chair. Done scanning the room, he skimmed over the desk, but took a double take at a particular item. It was a framed photograph of three people, Yamamoto included. Yamamoto was in the middle with his arms around a boy and girl. Reborn smirked, it seemed important. I suppose I have blackmail for the next time he's late. Who'd really notice if these two went missing? Reborn thought deviously, already planning their demise.

However, he stopped to stare at the male brunette in the photo. He was holding up a peace sign, and giving a lopsided, wavering smile. His hair was reaching up and Reborn thought that was odd, but recalled Verde's hair being quite similar. He stared at the boy for a while, perhaps too long, thinking that he looked familiar.

Before Reborn knew it, another hour had passed, and he'd already debated if he was going to charge extra. The answer was yes. Thankfully, just when he'd begun debating leaving and tripling the charge, he heard the stairs creaking underneath someone's weight. Reborn straightened his posture in the chair and cleared his throat quietly.

"Do you want me to kick your ass now, or save it for your next session and double that ass-kicking?" Reborn called to the door without turning to face it.

A small voice squeaked out. "E-Eh?"

Moments earlier

"Mr. Yamamoto, how are you?" Tsuna called out to the sushi chef as he entered the busy restaurant.

"Oh, Tsuna? Hello there!" Tsuyoshi, Yamamoto's father, looked happy to see him but that expression turned to disappointment. "Oh, I thought Takeshi would be with you..."

Tsuna was surprised, Takeshi should've been here ages ago for his tutoring session. He'd better not be skipping somewhere. Tsuna mentally pouted at the thought. "I'll give him a call and see where he is." Tsuna began to rummage through his pockets for his phone.

Tsuyoshi sighed, while giving drinks to a group of customers. "There you are, let me know when you're ready to order." He walked over to Tsuna, placing his hands on his hips. "It's no use, he left it at home today." Tsuyoshi pointed to the device sitting behind the counter.

Tsuna sighed as well, he'd forgotten that fact. "I see...well I suppose I should head out to look for him." Tsuna turned around and was going to begin the search for his best friend, but a hand grabbing his shoulder stopped him.

"No, don't trouble yourself!" Tsuyoshi spun Tsuna around and gave him a friendly clap on the back, pushing him towards the stairs. "Go upstairs and make yourself at home, I'm sure he'll turn up sooner or later."

"Oh, but I-" Tsuna tried to cut in on his own conversation.

"Mr! We're ready!" A group of customers who'd had 3 too many drinks called for Tsuyoshi, who was quick to answer.

"Yes sir!" Tsuyoshi called back and jogged over to the table, causing them to cheer as if they'd already been served the food.

I guess I have no choice... Tsuna thought as he started up the stairs.

Once up them, Takeshi's room was just to the right. Tsuna reached for the doorknob and opened the door.

"Do you want me to kick your ass now, or save it for your next session and double that ass-kicking?" A deep voice that was not Takeshi or anyone else he knew, called out to, presumably, him.

"E-Eh?" Was all he managed, internally sighing. He thought he had dropped the stuttering and 'eeps' a long time ago.

A man, no- just another boy, sat at the desk chair. He wasn't facing Tsuna, but opted for the window instead. Even from his angle, Tsuna could see that he had a different uniform than his on, so he must go to a different school. In fact...it looked like the uniform boys at Haru's school wear.

The boy turned around, and Tsuna assumed he was surprised that Tsuna wasn't Takeshi- though he didn't show it. With all of this information in mind, Tsuna could only bring himself to say the most highly appropriate statements, so as to make a good first impression on this young man.

"You're not Takeshi."

The boy snorted quietly, almost immediately losing his refined composure. He slumped back in the chair and glared at the smaller boy. "But you must be Captain Obvious. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Ouch. So much for first impressions.

"What I mean to say," Tsuna moved a bit closer and sat on Takeshi's bed, which was adjacent to the desk. "Is that you must be Takeshi's-"

"Tutor." The boy said, cutting him off.

Silence held the room for a moment before Tsuna spoke again, feeling like he had to if the other was going to stare intensely at him anyways.

"What's your name? I'm Sawada Tsunayoshi, Takeshi's best friend." Tsuna asked him, trying to get past, at least, the basic formalities.

He seemed to consider whether or not it was actually worth his time. He decided it was.

"Reborn."

"Reborn? Oh that's...an interesting name." Sawada Tsunayoshi said awkwardly.

"If you think it's weird why would you address it at all? You asked me for my name and then audaciously criticize it." Reborn couldn't understand why people were so backwards sometimes.

Sawada pouted. "Sorry I was just trying to make conversation...you don't need to be rude." Sawada mumbled that last bit but Reborn heard it anyways.

"I'm not being rude. It would be rude if I pointed out that Tsunayoshi only brings tuna to mind." Reborn snapped. He was irritable, after all, he'd been waiting for quite a while.

Sawada pouted deeply, and Reborn briefly thought he looked cute like that, before dismissing the thought.

The room was silent once more and Reborn was thankful for that. He could hear the hustle and bustle of the restaurant but none of the voices he made out resembled the missing blockhead. Just when Reborn was about to take a nap with his eyes open-

"So what year are you?" The tuna boy asked.

"That's classified." He replied quickly.

"Well what school do you go to? Your uniform isn't Namimori High's..."

"Classified."

"It looks like Midori's."

"You talk a lot for someone so seemingly meek."

Tsunayoshi smiled sheepishly. "Thank yo-"

"That wasn't a compliment." Reborn smirked, while Tsunayoshi's mouth hung ajar in shock. Though Reborn wasn't sure why, he'd been snarky the whole time. The boy wasn't discouraged however, which Reborn quite liked.

"Well how has Takeshi been doing in tutoring?" Tsunayoshi asked.

"Clas-"

"Classified, right? I know, I just wanted to beat you to it." Tsuna smiled in a way that showed his satisfaction with himself.

Reborn smirked. "Oh? Aren't you bold?" Most people outside of his friend group and family couldn't speak to him this long, and even they had their limits.

Tsunayoshi shrugged. "I do my best. Now, where did you say you went to school?"

Tsuna and Reborn chatted idly as they waited for Yamamoto. Tsuna found out that, yes, Reborn did attend Midori High and that he was a grade above him- a second year while Tsuna was a first year. Tsuna also discovered that Reborn had moved to Japan during middle school and he'd been living in Italy previously. Reborn found out, though he never asked, that Tsuna's father had lived in Italy but he wasn't sure what part.

"A-And I turn around!" Tsuna tried to make out the story through his laughter. "And say: Takeshi! That's not a baseball, it's a frog!" He erupted in laughter, causing Reborn to snicker even though the story wasn't that funny. Tsuna had been telling him stories about Yamamoto for the past half hour, though he was still yet to show up.

"Haha..." Tsuna wiped a tear from his eye that came from laughing too hard. "You should've been there Reborn, it was hilarious."

"I'm sure." Reborn had eventually moved to the bed, the desk chair not feeling so comfy anymore. "It really gives comedians everywhere a run for their money."

"Gee thanks, that's always been my dream job. Ever since a comedian stole my girlfriend and I swore to get revenge." Tsuna joked with a straight face.

Reborn decided to entertain the idea. "Oh really? What a small world, that's been my goal all along too. I heard the best way to get to the top was to tutor locally."

"Is that so?" Tsuna giggled at Reborn's sarcasm, who was smirking in return. "Lay one on me then." He challenged.

Reborn held his chin between his thumb and index finger, faking deep thought. He had one. "Why did the chicken cross the road?"

Tsuna laughed preemptively. "Ah, a classic. I don't know, why did the chicken cross the road?"

"Because he clucking wanted to."

"..."

"What?"

"...That's actually the worst joke I've ever heard and I used to get bullied. A lot." Tsuna admitted.

Reborn faked pain, putting a hand over his heart. "How could you? I trusted you with my best material."

"Shame on you and shame on that joke- if you can even call it that." Tsuna snorted. He was glad Reborn wasn't actually a comedian. Tsuna then registered the beeping of his watch, signalling that another hour had passed.

"Tch, I can't believe I've been waiting for 2 hours to teach that idiot common knowledge." Reborn ruffled his hair, upset that he ever agreed not to wear his fedora to school. Sometimes his head got cold.

"Wow, rude. Didn't I make it worthwhile?" Tsuna huffed, playfully flirting without knowing it.

Reborn rolled his eyes at him. "Obviously...not." He whispered the last piece, just loud enough for Tsuna to hear it.

"Hey!" Tsuna shoved him with both arms. Reborn, however, didn't expect the sudden movement and collapsed under Tsuna's unexpectedly heavy weight.

"Wah!" Tsuna shouted. Both boys fell back on the bed, with Tsuna laying on top of Reborn, who was less than pleased. Tsuna had both hands on Reborn's chest while his legs were straddling his waist, suddenly noticing how muscular he was and maybe just a little...cute?

"Oh, I'm...sorry." Tsuna said slowly, but neither moved. Reborn had really nice eyes, dark but inviting and Tsuna could feel himself starting to blush deeply. Reborn said nothing, which was alright because a different voice spoke for him.

"Tsuna?! Mr. Reborn?!" Yamamoto shouted from the doorway, feeling like he was interrupting an intimate moment.

Tsuna flailed off of Reborn, who calmly sat up, glaring at his late student. Reborn had just been about to commit murder, but Tsuna nearly beat him to it.

"Takeshi!" Tsuna got off the bed and marched over to his friend, a fearsome scolding in tow. "Where on Earth have you been?"

Yamamoto scratched his head carelessly. "Well, do you remember the transfer student in our class?" Now it was Yamamoto's turn to blush.

Tsuna thought for a moment. "Gokudera?"

"Yeah, Haya-chan! A counselor asked me to show him around town and it took longer than expected. Sorry guys." Yamamoto apologized, but it was obvious he didn't regret it. "Ah, and Mr. Reborn, my dad said he'd give you extra for the inconvenience."

Reborn mentally 'tch'ed'. So much for his triple charge. "I'm leaving." He stood up and grabbed his bag while putting his other hand in a pocket lazily.

Tsuna watched him walk out of the door, before turning to Yamamoto once more. "Yeah me too, Takeshi. Let's hang out tomorrow, but I told Mom I'd be home..." Tsuna checked his watch. "Earlier than this."

"Alright," Yamamoto started. "But just know I'm telling Haru everything." He smiled mischievously before pushing Tsuna out of his room and closing the door.

"Eh?!" Tsuna yelled before banging on the door repeatedly. "No! Nothing happened- don't you dare!"

Reborn walked quietly home. It was already dark and the streets were empty. That made it easier to hear Tsunayoshi jogging to catch up to him.

"He assaults me and then chases after me, I suppose this means I should call the police now." Reborn spoke aloud, pretending to talk to himself.

"Huh? Oh, well you know I've never felt this way about anyone...I can't just let you leave." Tsuna joked, hoping that Reborn would know he was joking.

"Is that right? You and Yamamoto seem pretty close, Tsuna." Reborn casually used the nickname he didn't know the other boy had.

"Yeah that is right, Mr. Reborn." Tsuna snorted. "I'm amazed he actually calls you that."

"All you have to do is ask for what you want."

"Then I'd like to ask why you're walking this way? Do you live down this street too?" Tsuna inquired. "Oh wait let me guess-"

"Classified." The two said in unison, with Reborn not ignoring the mocking voice Tsuna used.

"Like hell I sound like that." Reborn criticized. Colonello mocked him much better.

"Yeah you do," Tsuna rolled his eyes. "All deep and burly." Tsuna then laughed at his own observation.

Reborn didn't say much else as they walked home, and neither did Tsuna. The silence wasn't unbearable, so no one attempted to break it. Aside from Tsuna once being spooked by a neighbor's Chihuahua, the walk was rather peaceful. Reborn almost forgot he even had a destination, until he noticed Tsuna wasn't walking anymore. He turned and watched Tsuna unlock the front door of what he presumed to be his house. He didn't expect Tsuna to walk back over to him.

"Well, thanks for walking me home- w-whether you meant to or not." Tsuna said, trying to ignore his stutter.

Reborn shrugged. "What else would I do with my Friday nights?"

"Yeah, yeah...Well, goodnight." Tsuna said quietly. "And it was nice to meet you."

Reborn nodded, implying the same farewell. "Likewise." He waited until Tsuna had safely entered his house before he left.

He'd been several feet away from the house when he heard the brunette shout his name.

"Hey! Reborn, wait!" Tsuna called and ran to catch up to his new acquaintance. "You, you-" He struggled through his panting. "You're smart right?"

"It's all an act, you've discovered my great secr-" Reborn attempted to bring out his inner comedian once more, but Tsuna cut him off.

"Good, then I'd like your help in a project at school. Here-" He pulled a notepad and a pen out of his pocket, and wrote some numbers down. "You don't have to answer now, just let me know by Monday, alright?" He ripped off the piece of paper that he wrote on and handed it to Reborn. "See ya!" Tsuna ran back to his home and Reborn heard the door shut.

He looked down at the paper with messy handwriting: Sawada Tsunayoshi and a corresponding phone number. Reborn smiled as he tucked it into his pocket.

Alright that is it for this chapter! Thanks for reading and I hope you stick with this story...I'm having fun with it :D.