"Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life." – Bill Cunningham

There was no such thing as wasted space. Everything mattered and served a purpose. It all depended on the kind of eye you had. Perspective was subjective. No one could really walk a straight line, could they?

Soft bass played in the background, filling up the hushed silence. Tsuna laid on his pale couch with his eyes closed and hands laced together over his chest. His finger tapped languidly to the beat of the music. The lyrics simply went through one ear and out the other. Natsu, his orange tabby cat, was curled on his stomach, a heavy but comforting weight. The tall, light gray window drapes were closed, preventing Tsuna from knowing what time of day it was. As long as it blocked out the sun, he was fine with it.

Nothing and everything swirled in his head; senseless words and imagery flowed with no clear purpose. Maybe it was a bad thing to idle his life away like this.

Nah.

Tsuna was pretty content with his life. All he needed was Natsu and of course, his precious Sugar Angels' figurine collection (limited editions included). Soon, he found himself humming their cheery theme song. Ah, Kyoko had looked nice in the original glittery pink dress until the creators changed it into some fluffy monstrosity in the last season. The same went for Bluebell and Yuni. Really unfortunate—if only the designer had held off on the stupid sequins. Their powers were sparkly enough or maybe the lighting director slacked off. Either way, they bombed.

A small beep came from his door before it flung open. There was a large rustling of bags and someone panting hard at the entrance.

"Tsuna! Help me!"

Sighing, Tsuna sat up from the couch and headed over to help Haru. Natsu hopped to the other side of the couch. Tsuna shuffled to the doorway while rubbing the back of his head. "Hey," he said, picking up Haru's shopping bags.

"Yeah, yeah," Haru said, going back out in the hall and returning with a box. "I'm going to bring out the mannequins."

"Since when did you start asking?" Tsuna said. He dumped the shopping bags by the couch and entered the kitchen to get the coffee machine going. "Did the heat get to you already?"

Haru rolled her eyes, dabbing her forehead with a blue handkerchief. "Ha, ha, funny. It's literally boiling outside. I could probably fry steak on the sidewalk."

"Terrifying." Tsuna poured ice and water into a cup before handing it to his dear best friend of too many years. "Another gig?"

Haru downed the cup in three large gulps. Tsuna winced when she slammed it on the bar counter; the ice clinked sharply against the glass. "You're a lifesaver," she said, sagging on a bar stool. "Can I get a refill, good sir?"

"Remember to give me a generous tip," Tsuna said, pouring her another glass of water.

Haru rolled her eyes. "You don't need tips."

"I'm going to apologize and retract that statement."

"You're basically one of the richest shut-ins in Japan."

"Did I mention that I apologized?"

Haru glanced at his precious collection of Sugar Angels' figurines. She clucked her tongue a few times. "Wasting your money on those plastic dolls. You're just a creep."

Tsuna gave her a mock-gasp, feigning a scandalous look. "You did not just insult my dear Kyoko-chan."

Haru snorted. "Plastic is plastic, Tsuna."

Tsuna dashed over to stroke one of the glass displays with a pout. It was a figure of Kyoko in her old (and better) magical dress posing with a V-sign and holding her heart wand. "It's okay, Kyoko-chan," he said soothingly. "I know you're tough." He glared at Haru. "She's just jealous. Who wears purple and green like that? You look like Barney. I'm surprised you didn't get fired."

Gulping down her drink, Haru scoffed and wiped her mouth. "I wasn't the one up all night watching soap operas. I told you I had to wake up early."

Tsuna clicked his tongue. "Excuses. My house, my place—if you don't like it, I'm sure there are other apartments open around here, but I prefer to keep some distance for Kyoko-chan's sake. We don't take to heathens very well, especially ones who dress like child-eating dinosaurs."

Haru rolled her eyes but didn't say anything. This was basically routine for them. She rummaged through her shopping bags as Tsuna plopped down on the couch and welcomed Natsu back in his arms. A nauseating scent of sweet perfume wafted in the air, making Tsuna wrinkle his nose. "Nice party you got down there," he said. "Did you buy whole cabinets of them?"

"I still have some air freshener left," Haru said, standing up and smoothing her purple shorts.

Tsuna moved to lay his head against the armrest and made himself comfortable. "I'm sick of the White Peach one. Do you have Aqua Blue?"

"I don't know. I'll check."

"Mannequins still has clothes on," Tsuna said, closing his eyes. Natsu purred in content as he stroked his fur.

Haru disappeared in one of the five rooms of the apartment where all her tools were. Well, there were two other rooms with her stuff. Tsuna really only had his bedroom, even if he owned the penthouse but he wasn't counting. Nope. It was the thought that mattered, or so people said.

The pitter-patter of Haru's feet went back and forth to the living room and her supply room. Tsuna hummed the Sugar Angels theme song under his breath, petting Natsu who dozed off on his stomach again.

"Are you sleeping again?"

Tsuna sighed but still kept his eyes closed. Still, he could sense Haru standing above him, probably with her hands on her hip. Wow, that image was just permanent in his head. Never a good thing.

"I'm just closing my eyes, dear Haru," he said.

"Which will then lead you to fall asleep."

He shrugged a little. "It happens." His lips slightly twitched upwards. "Can you blame me?"

"It's 5:30, Tsuna."

"Really?" Tsuna drawled. "Thank you for that lovely bit of information. I'm certain the world is still revolving around as it should be though." He jumped when something was thrown at his face. Natsu immediately jumped from his stomach, making him grunt. When Tsuna reached up to remove the fabric, he raised a brow when he saw that it was a pair of high waist shorts. He hummed. "I don't think this'll work for you." He stretched it out and glanced at Haru who was arranging five mannequins in the middle of the spacious living room. "Yup, definitely not."

He snickered when Haru snatched the pants away from him. She pinched the bridge of her nose. "You might as well make yourself useful. Help me arrange this."

"I am being helpful," Tsuna said, reaching out for Natsu. "I'm cheering you on spiritually and mentally."

Haru gave him an unimpressed look.

"Okay, spiritually."

She wasn't swayed in the slightest. Tsuna sighed dramatically and put on a good show of heaving himself up to sit straight. Natsu rubbed his face against Tsuna's chest, purring lowly. Tsuna rested his head against the cat's and looked straight into his green eyes. "Only you are on my side, friend," he said.

"Quit the dramatics, Tsuna," Haru said, shifting through her own bag. "I'm being serious. If I screw this up, my career's finished."

Tsuna rolled his eyes. "And you call me a drama queen."

Haru smiled. "Your words, not mine."

Tsuna smiled back despite himself. He looked over the shopping bags stamped with designer labels and local store logos. "Yours or theirs?"

Haru flipped through her sketchbook. She honestly looked exhausted. Tsuna may be blunt but he wasn't heartless (to an extent). Besides, Haru was his friend for too many years and he really did wish her a lot of happiness. Hence, offering her his place to stay in and a bunch of other things he lost count of. His father's last gift was pretty hefty.

"This is all theirs," she said, dumping all the clothes on the wooden floor. "Well, most of them. Did I ever tell you that Higashi-san's the most unpleasant person to work with?"

"Ah, right. The despicable witch you mention, like what, a million times a day."

Haru huffed a small laugh. "And still counting. These are her clothes. We're preparing them for a potential client." She pouted. "But my wallet's all starved now. I had to buy some last minute accessories."

Tsuna raised a brow. "Last minute?" He flicked one of the shopping bag's handles. "These look pretty hefty for last minute."

"I don't think Higashi-san is going to reimburse me."

"You're only an assistant," Tsuna said, letting his feet rest on the floor. Natsu shifted on his lap for a more comfortable position. "I still don't get why she doesn't do that. You know, I could pay your card."

Haru deadpanned. "I'd rather remind myself that I'm a productive member of society than leech off some dirty money."

Tsuna mock-gasped. "You wound me. My money isn't dirty."

"When was the last time you took a shower?"

Tsuna tapped his chin thoughtfully for show. "I'd rather not say."

"Good. I don't want to know." Haru pulled some more files out of her bag, which were all labeled with large Sharpie letters. She suddenly hopped over to him and grinned. "It doesn't matter 'cause this is a big one. I think I have a shot of leaving Higashi-san for good."

Leaning his chin on his palm, Tsuna tucked an idle strand of hair behind Haru's ear. "Do tell."

He didn't flinch when Haru smacked his leg. She scowled, scrunching her nose. "I'm serious, Tsuna. Guess who our client is! Guess!"

"I don't know if I want to put in the effort."

"Just guess."

"Okay, okay. Hmm, Yamamoto Takeshi."

"I wish but no."

"Huh, you know, he actually looks really nice in a suit. Although, that tie was ugly. Should've gone with a blue undertone."

"I know, right? He should definitely model more. His height—My God, his height. It's a crime to be that tall. I think he's taller than Mukuro by a few centimeters."

Tsuna patted Haru's head. "Now, now, don't get ahead of yourself."

Haru nodded. "Think bigger."

Tsuna didn't really care too much about models or the fashion industry. While that didn't mean he was out of the loop on the world's current state of affairs, he just…didn't really care about a lot of things. Huh, maybe Haru was right in calling him a bum.

"Is it that guy?"

Haru raised a brow. "That guy? I need a name."

"That guy you like, that guy with the curly sideburns, that guy who's probably a serial killer."

Tsuna laughed when Haru smacked him again. "He's not a serial killer!" she said.

"Oh, Reborn's definitely something and serial killer's one of them. That noir-esque photoshoot he did a few years back." Tsuna tapped the side of his head. "He's shot a gun before."

Haru huffed in exasperation. "Just because he held a gun doesn't mean he knows how to shoot it. He had experts to coach him how to hold it."

Tsuna continued on as if Haru didn't interrupt him. "Although, I'll give them points for the realism. He still looked too pretty but I'll let it slide. And I think his sideburns are fake. They're a nice touch but fake."

Haru scoffed. "He's just naturally handsome that way and his sideburns aren't fake. You're just jealous."

"I'm not jealous, I'm just stating facts."

"You're an idiot."

Tsuna pouted. "But I'm your adorable and lovable idiot."

Haru just sighed and rested her forehead on Tsuna's knee. Her sweaty black hair was still messy from the heat outside and had grown out to her shoulders in the past few months; but Tsuna didn't move her. "I'll give you one more chance," she said.

"I don't know," Tsuna said. "Higashi doesn't really have an impressive client list."

"You know, for someone who supposedly hates all the dazzles of the so-called toxic industry, you're on top of these things."

Tsuna feigned shock. "Who? Me? Oh no. You just talk a lot. I listen, even if you don't think I do."

Haru chuckled. "Yeah, right. Anyways, come on. Give it one more shot."

"Alright, alright. Bianchi. She looks good with long hair. Should wear more pink honestly. Maybe lavender."

Haru made a buzzer sound. "Wrong." She perked up with a grin. "It's M.M!"

"Oh, which one: the red one or the yellow one? I prefer the yellow one. He has heart."

Haru rolled her eyes. "Not the candy, the model! M.M! Madeline Moret!"

Tsuna grabbed his phone from the side table and unlocked the screen. "Boring. Wait, do we have M&M's?" He patted his stomach. After a small breakfast that only consisted of breathing in oxygen, he was a pretty hungry camper. "I want some."

"No, we don't," Haru said, keeping him anchored to the sofa. "But this is really big, Tsuna! M.M—she can be the next step for me! And she's really nice—well, we didn't meet yet but she seems nice."

Tsuna opened up his Sugar Angels Bubble Pop game. "No offense to your boss but why would a hotshot model like M.M hire her?"

Haru giggled, sounding just a tad too creepy. "She got lucky. Higashi-san works for Asagao Magazine and you know how M.M is. She wants to try on all their designer's clothes and Higashi-san works with one of them. See where I'm going with this?"

Tsuna pressed the "Start" button on the main menu. The screen dissolved into sparkly hearts, seashells, and clouds. "Perfectly. My eyes are on the road."

"If we—I—manage to give a good impression, this could change my life! I can leave the witch and finally get somewhere!"

Pink heart with pink hearts, blue seashell with blue seashells—Tsuna was on a roll. "M.M isn't nice. She's one of the most difficult models to work with. Actually, scratch that—the most difficult model. Heard she left a show midway last year."

Haru huffed. "That's not the point."

"It kind of is. What'll you do if you can't sway her?"

"Well, I'll just keep searching for other stylists to work under. Higashi-san isn't the only one in Tokyo."

Oh, this was a tough one. Tsuna angled a shimmering rainbow orb just a little bit more to the right. "True, true." He glanced at Haru who clasped her hands together in prayer. "But this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity and you really, really, really want to go through with it."

Haru nodded rapidly. "Please, Tsuna?"

"With the power of the sea, you go splat!" the Bluebell sprite said as Tsuna pulled off a max combo.

"Isn't Bluebell adorable?" he said, cooing at the blue-haired magical girl.

"Tsuna."

"Right, right." He exited the game and tossed his phone aside. "What do you need again?"

"Your undeniably amazing talent."

Tsuna's lips slightly twitched. "Flattery gets you nowhere, dear Haru. But since you're my friend"—he ignored Haru's retort of, "Only friend"—"I'll do whatever makes you happy."

Haru sprung up onto her feet and pumped a fist in the air. "Yes! Thank you, thank you, thank you! Okay, so Higashi-san gave me these clothes and said to pick 20 different outfits." She pushed the box next to Tsuna's feet and opened it. Tsuna smiled when he saw life returning to Haru's eyes. He could honestly never tell her no, not when she had stuck by his side for as long as he could remember. Friends helped friends; it was as simple as that and Tsuna liked simple. "She gave me a list of which ones would go with which but said that I could customize one or two if I wanted."

"I think she got lazy," Tsuna said, picking up a yellow sundress. He pursed his lips. "Is she seriously going to have her wear yellow? Ugh." He tossed it aside. "Higashi has good sense but can't make small talk for her life."

Haru shifted through the colorful clothes, shoes, and accessories, looking back and forth from her list. "That's my boss you're talking about."

"Oh, I'm sorry. Am I supposed to call her an angel?"

"No. You may continue."

Tsuna grinned crookedly. "Why, thank you." He grabbed some bobby pins from Haru's bag and untied her hair. "So what am I supposed to do?"

"Just tell me what you think," Haru said, moving closer to the sofa. "You know that lace dress you fixed up before?"

Tsuna wounded up Haru's hair on top of her head and secured the bottom with some pins. "I don't recall."

"Chinami-san really liked it." Haru petted Natsu's head when he pounced to the ground, careful not to ruin the clothes. He really was a smart and sweet cat. "She actually bought it from us after the shoot. Of course, Higashi-san gave it to her for free but it was the thought that counts."

"Did you get promoted?"

"Um, no."

"Then that means nothing to me." Tsuna patted Haru's neat bun and stood up to stretch his legs. "So are we starting?"

Haru clapped her hands. "Yes!"

Haru didn't sleep until 2 AM. Tsuna followed suit a few hours later after catching up with some soap operas and beating his high score in Sugar Angels Bubble Pop.

He didn't know what time it was when he woke up but his back ached from sleeping on the couch yet again. The blanket he had placed over Haru before now rested over him snugly. Huffing a laugh, he rolled over and turned on the Bluetooth speakers near his TV. Soft bass with strings soon flowed in the air. Kalon, whoever he was, was a really good singer.

Stretching his arms in the air, Tsuna stood up from the couch and headed to the kitchen to get some juice—he hoped he had juice; if he didn't, he'd flip—when his phone rang. He opened the fridge, frowning when he only found some milk, yogurts, and strawberries. Grocery shopping hadn't really come up on his priorities list since Haru took care of that herself but that wasn't a really good way to go about living, was it?

"I'm coming," he said to no one, returning to the couch. Without looking at the caller ID, he picked up his phone. "God's right hand man speaking, who's calling?"

"Tsuna!" Haru's panicked voice spoke through the line. "Is there a bag anywhere? Near the door or something?"

"Specify 'bag'."

"It's the—the—the red one! With the tiara logo!"

Tsuna glanced at the entrance and lo behold, there was a red shopping bag toppled over. He walked over to pick it up. Peeking inside, he raised a brow when he saw that it was one of the custom outfits Haru assembled. "It's here," he said. "Do you want me to leave it with Shirasu?"

"I don't have the time to—Hey, watch where you're going, mister! Ah, geez." There were some garbled noises in the background, which sounded like cars, and people chattering in muddled words. "Is it okay? Okay, good. Ah, Tsuna, I'm really busy right now and I can't drive back to your place so can you please bring it over? M.M's coming at 2. Please?"

Tsuna glanced at the clock. "That's in 20 minutes."

"What? Shit! Please, Tsuna! I'll buy you some of those plastic dolls or whatever! My career—think about my career!"

"Haru, Haru, Haru. Take a deep breath." Haru inhaled sharply on the other line. "Now exhale. Good, you're still alive. Keep living. I'd be sad if you went up to paradise without me."

"Tsuna."

The brunet hummed under his breath as he grabbed his car keys from a hook on the wall. "Present."

"I'm being serious."

"Oh, I know." Tsuna grinned when Natsu bounded towards him with a pair of white socks in his mouth. "Good boy," he said, petting the cat's head. "I'll be in and out before you know it. Where do I meet you?"

"Wait, you're serious?"

Tsuna sighed dramatically, slipping on some black Adidas slippers. "I'm this close to changing my mind."

"Oh, shut up."

"I love you, too."

"I'll text you. I really have to go. Thank you, Tsuna. Really."

"Give me some credit. I'm rejoining civilization today."

Haru scoffed but Tsuna could sense the smile in her voice. "Yeah, congrats. See you soon, okay? Be careful."

Tsuna grabbed his sunglasses to slip them on. "I'm always careful."

Haru snorted. "Yeah. See ya."

After she hung up, Tsuna crouched to pet Natsu's head. "Some people should be a tad more grateful, huh, Natsu," he said. Checking that he had all he needed, Tsuna stood up to open the door. "I won't be long!" he sang. "Don't miss me too much!"

When he stepped out of his apartment for the first time in days—probably weeks but he wasn't counting—Tsuna suppressed the dread in his stomach, ignored his screaming guts, and headed for the elevator.

Rejoining civilization indeed, he thought with a bitter smile.

A/N So…it got wild over at the group chat and this idea was among many to be born and wouldn't leave me alone… But here's another All27 fic! :^D

Tsuna just came out as this really dry, sarcastic person and I couldn't resist. I think he's dryer than my other Tsuna's. Also, I'm really bad at naming stuff, ahaha. Sugar Angels is a made-up anime series where…well, you'll find out soon enough. ;^D

I've also been researching the fashion industry and all that jazz. I'll try to be as accurate as I can! :^)

Thank you so much for reading! I hope to see you again in the next chapter.

Have a lovely day~

Little Miss Bunny