Chapter Text
Chapter Forty-Two
"Oi Yukihira." Soma directed his gaze to where Hayama is, which was at the other end of the mat.
"Hey Hayama! What's up?" He queried, grinning in a friendly way.
"Where's Tsuna? Is he coming?"
Yellow eyes blinked, remembering what Tsuna said that morning. "He promised that he'll come. And I have our scooter with me so he will really be here."
"He better be." Hayama huffed before eyeing the Elite ten in front of them.
Soma shrugged before raising his hand to get one of the seniors' attentions. "Uhm." That got their attentions. "I want to enter Elite Ten right now, can any of you, sempais, have a Shokugeki with me?"
Some of them froze before three of them looked at him and flatly said: "No."
"People in the Elite Ten don't have time to be facing freshmen at this point." One of them, a short guy with yellow hair, remarked. "Seriously, like, sorry."
The redhead can't help feeling disappointed at that reason. The expression must've been the same with his fellow freshmen's faces because the senior fumbled, clapping his hands together with an apologetic grimace.
"Hey. Don't get mad. I'll totally apologize. I mean we second years are really busy trying to defeat the guys above us." The guy apologized, eyes skirting to the side to see the other Elite Ten.
Soma can't help himself from following the gaze. He saw the seniors he can say as the 'top five' of the Elite Ten. They look intimidating even though they're just sitting there quietly. Even the 'little' girl with a bear is a little intimidating. He wonders how strong they are.
"Well then," The guy with white hair started off, eyeing the side where the servers were. "Let's have them serve us some tea."
'Tsuna!' Soma immediately raised his hand to make them halt, which was successful. "Wait-"
"Wait!"
The whole first year row looked at each other when they chorused. They took the seniors by surprise. Probably not expecting them to say the same thing.
Soma cleared his throat and eyed the senior. "Sorry. But one of us is not here yet."
"Who?" The whitehead queried.
"It's-"
"Sorry." They all looked up to see Tsuna walking towards them, phone in hand. The brunet looked prim and proper like any day even without his necktie, but his expression is twisted to sheepish and apologetic. "I got a little lost on the way."
"Tsuna-kun!" Alice, Nakiri, Tadokoro, and Arato exclaimed in relief.
"Yo." Sawada greeted as he stepped on the mat after removing his shoes and went to get Soma. "Sorry for being late, Soma. Got held back."
"No problem." He nodded as he scoots a little to the brunet who sat between him and Tadokoro. "Okay, we're complete now, Sempai."
The whitehead nodded, eyeing Tsuna before flicking a hand to signal one of the servers on the side. "Teas, please."
As the service get in, Soma turned his attention to the brunet who was fidgeting. Tsuna looked tired, almost sleepy. Probably from the Shokugekis he had to attend before he got to the venue of the Autumn-leaf viewing.
That morning, Tsuna had been pretty happy, clutching his phone, and humming a little while eating. Soma couldn't bring himself to ask what's with the sudden vibe because he never saw Tsuna that happy for the past days. Although the brunet wants to hide it, Soma knew the former is worried about something. Something he can't be of help. All he could do is keep Tsuna from worrying about him too.
It's probably Tsuna's tendencies, keeping things for himself because he doesn't want others to worry too. But it's natural right? To get worried too when the brunet gets worried over something. To feel worried when the brunet's insecure and uncertain. And to have Tsuna smile and laugh and say thank you to him, Soma feels like he was helpful with just being there.
Tsuna is right. He doesn't have to know how to fight. He just has to be there.
"You're staring, Soma-chan." He snapped out of his stupor and blinked at Tsuna's teasing grin. "Missed me that much?"
Soma snickered as Takumi and Tadokoro did. "We all did."
"Aw. Thanks, you guys." Tsuna expressed with a mocking girlish shy smile. "I feel so flattered."
There was a bout of silence before the four of them laughed their asses out.
Tsuna blew on his cup before sipping. He sighed after and let himself bask in the cool air of Autumn. As the others chatter around and make the seniors explain things, he busied himself of watching the maple leaves fall and sway with the breeze. It feels good. Something he needs after an intense battle of two Shokugekis.
He feels tired without having enough sleep the night before. Reborn kept him awake by conversing to each other. Honestly, he never ever dreamed of talking with his tutor that way. Joking around, mostly laughing and having friendly conversation. He wasn't even sure if he could be that free with Reborn. But to think of it, it wasn't Gokudera who was his very first friend. He didn't really think of it or probably kept on denying it because the way they started wasn't ideal, but he knew it was Reborn. It was Reborn who was his first friend at the very beginning.
"You, though."
Tsuna snapped out of his reverie and shot a look on Terunori Kuga, the eighth-seat, who was looking at him with a small glower.
"You were told to be here early, but you were late. That's kind of disrespectful." Kuga said, causing silence among them.
He brought his cup up and took a sip, eyes still on the senior. "Late, but not as insensitive as you worded your sentences, sempai."
He, then, glanced at Soma who discreetly hid his laugh by coughing.
"Big words for someone who didn't attend the finals." Nene Kinokuni stated, eyeing him too.
"If this is about the finals, I will gladly repeat to you that my mother got hospitalized and was told to stay for ten days in there. It may sound as an excuse, but you can verify such thing to Erina-chan and Alice-chan. We all know that Nakiris don't lie." He put his cup down to the small table and eyed Kuga. "And as for me being tardy, I attended two consecutive Shokugekis before I got here. And I assure you that we, first-years, may be small fries, but we can keep up with you. If you want, we can have a casual match if you're not up for a Shokugeki. You specialize in Chinese cuisine, yes? I can take you on right now if you want." He tilted his head to show defiance. "Unless..."
Tawny eyes studied the seniors' expressions. Kobayashi was already laughing. The third to fifth seats were indifferent, however he saw the miniscule lift of lips on Saitou. Isshiki was chuckling, Kinokuni was gazing at him with incredulity while Eizan looked a little put off. The first-seat is surprised. While Kuga had his mouth hanged.
He could feel the emotions from his fellow first-years too. But Soma is the only one who is laughing. Of course, he will state that. Just how many effing times does he have to tell them that his Kaasan collapsed and he needed to go home because it's his mother? Even them will get called if that will happen to any of their family members, unless if they don't have any family to go back to.
Kuga's statement, however, is not acceptable. Say he was right, but that doesn't mean he can say that without eliciting a fight. Heck, any of them will take those words as a challenge or a taunt of their abilities. Also it would've been nicer if the senior didn't acknowledge him, but the former did. So yeah. Besides, it will be nice. At least he could make something Chinese for Ipin and Fon.
"Take it slow, Tsuna." Soma grinned. "Our seniors are busy and the weight of losing from them is heavy."
He shrugged as he took some of the provided sweets. "That's not my problem."
"Didn't you hear our explanation awhile ago?" Kuga questioned, boggled at the brunet's lackluster dismissal. "We're extremely different from each other. From status to studies."
"I was listening, but not processing." Tsuna nibbled on a sweet. "That's how my position as a 'normal' student goes."
Soma started to snicker as some seniors gaped at him.
"S-Soma-kun!" Megumi chided from behind him.
"Send me a notice if you're up for the casual match." He bid as he took more of the sweets. "That way, we can see who's the small fry."
"Oi, Tsuna. You have to battle against me first." Akira said from the corner.
He nodded. "Sure. State the date. I'll take you on."
"You're pretty brazen." The eighth-seat stated as he got up. "That's about this then. Let's end this."
Tsuna didn't dare speak. He watched as they go on and was about to leave.
"See ya, first-years!" Kuga bid with a wave.
"Sure, Sempai!" He bid, smirking a little when some of them froze a little on mid-steps before continuing. Even Kuga brought his hand down.
He laughed when Takumi, Soma, and Alice bombarded him with questions, reprimands and praises. He placated them with the best of his abilities. They talked a little more about their stagiaire experiences before saying their goodbyes to each other.
Instead of going with Soma and Tadokoro on the way to the dorm, Tsuna opted to separate since his intuition is tingling him again and he wants to get his knife case from the lockers. He promised the redhead to be home before it gets dark. He set himself to walking in the forest, looking around and following the direction his intuition is giving him. When he got to his 'first' destination, he rose his brows as he stared at Kuga's back who was with three bald teens around their age and wearing matching Chinese garbs.
Tsuna let himself step on a branch as he walked closer. This alerted the group and turned to his direction. He halted to make them know that he means no harm, bowed a little in greeting, before straightening himself to walk more. Only to get called that caused him to smirk inwardly.
"Sawada-chin." Kuga called.
"Yes, Sempai?" He responded. "What can I help you with?"
"Let's have a casual match now." The senior invited, grinning. "Theme is Chinese Cuisine, the dish is dumplings. You up for it?"
"Venue?" He asked, making the blond's grin wider.
"Follow me." Kuga signed before moving.
"Eh. My knives aren't here, Sempai." He informed as he jogged to catch up and started to match his senior's steps. "I don't want to cook without them."
"Tell them where it is. They'll get it for you."
Tsuna blinked and looked behind them to see the three. He signaled one of them to come near and directed them where he put his knife case. He tasked him to get at least someone to come with him, which the other followed.
The walk towards the venue was pretty silent and uneventful. But he can feel the two's gazes on him. Probably gauging his strength in making Chinese food. Well, he got to cook Chinese once, under Reborn's direction. The hitman was satisfied though. So he has this little confidence. However, he can't help snickering with Chinese and dumplings in the same category. He remembered that one episode on an anime. Heh. Maybe he can recreate it? But that needs a lot of fire. Huh... What can he do to make it move?
Entering the venue, he met more bald teens with uniform Chinese garbs. One approached him and started to direct him in a path. He followed. They went inside a dressing room with his knife case already there. He dressed up, taking off his coat and opening two of his uniform buttons before folding his sleeves. He gripped his case's handle before going out, letting his usher to led him to the kitchen.
When he got there, Kuga and the judges were already present. The senior is in a Chinese garb, white unlike the others who were wearing black ones. Putting on his waist apron, he stood by the side of his station and smiled innocently to the blond.
"You can't back out now." Kuga warned, smiling deviously.
"No worries, Kuga-sempai." He waved off, going for a smirk. "I'm not one to back down from a fight."
Tsuna chuckled when he saw a tick mark forming on the upperclassman's forehead and neck. He figured he needs to go to his sink as one of the judges asked them if they're ready. Man. He's not one of those who rile up their opponents, but he just can't help it.
Damn. Soma is rubbing off on him.
Tsuna looked up from the paper he's reading when he felt Yukihira squeeze his hand. Soma was chatting with Erina, riling up the blondie like any other day. He squeezed the hand back before going back to the paper. It was about his lessons.
He had a lot of catch up with all the Shokugekis he needed to attend. He's always being pardoned by the teachers, since it's a Shokugeki. But his school works need to be filled in. He even has to take the exams be it alone or with the other students. Soma offered his help, which he declined because how will he learn if he doesn't do them personally? So, the redhead offered to stay up with him instead.
"Tsuna-kun." He looked up to see Erina getting composed again as Soma talked on his phone. "Did you set up a booth too?"
He shook his head. "I have school works to catch up and I'm helping Soma on his booth."
"Oh. Is that the reason why you're not always with Yukihira-kun these past days?" The blondie queried, moving closer to see his paper. "You're studying."
"Written exam. I have to take it alone since I'm the only one who hasn't done it." He sighed. "Can I go to your booth then?"
"Sure you can." The blondie beamed with a welcoming lilt. "I'll even reserve a table for you."
"Oh no." He chuckled. "You don't need to do that. Any table will do."
"Tsuna! We're going!" Soma said, excitedly.
He saw how Erina's nerve went prominent. "Can you tell him that if his booth ends up with deficit, he'll get expelled?"
Tsuna nodded with a chuckle, causing the Nakiri to relax. "Sure. I'll tell him. Thank you for the heads up."
"It's for you, Tsuna-kun. I don't care about that duff. I know you're going to help him, and I don't want you to get expelled just because of him."
He beamed. "Thank you."
He bowed to Erina before catching up with Soma who was calling out for him. The next days were a blur with all the things Soma was planning. They even had some food tasting with Megumi who offered her help to the redhead. The food tasting was pretty much a relaxation of Tsuna from all the studying he was doing since every food was spicy, and he had enjoyed seeing the only girl in their group to cry in spiciness.
Alice and Erina even joined them after Soma invited the two over. Alice explained to them how spiciness works even though it's not part of their sense of taste. It actually falls under the category of sense of pain. What he laughed most about was when the redhead deduced that the Kanji of spicy is the same with his family name Yuki. He was so out of breath that when he pointed it out how pain-in-the-ass Soma was in some times, Megumi started to laugh too that it caused him to laugh harder. Even Alice and Erina giggled at his logic, causing Soma to redden.
As days go on, he kept his work up while helping Soma, and lowering his presence whenever they see Kuga. The senior is still sour on his defeat on him. Well, he won with the revamped dragon inspired dumpling from the anime Cooking Master Boy. Other than putting his own touch on the dish, he was inspired with Fon's fighting style since the Arcobaleno was known to be a 'dragon'. He doesn't even know how the heck he became second under Reborn. Maybe his tutor is that great?
It was a crushing defeat because other than impressing them with the moving dragon dumpling, he impressed them with how it tasted too. He could only sheepishly smile when the eighth-seat congratulated him with a smooth look. He was even invited to join their research society, that he declined because he's not that good in Chinese. But the senior is pretty persistent. What was good about their battle was it's a kept secret, except if Kuga did the talking.
"Tsuna-kun." Erina called out with a smile as she and Arato approach their spot. "Free from school works?"
He groaned, voice going whiny. "Don't remind me of them."
Soma chuckled beside him with Megumi giggling. "Tsuna was stressed on it for days. He got free just yesterday."
"School works are as vengeful as homework." He groaned again. "I will never ever accept Shokugekis again. Even casual matches."
"Oh Tsuna-kun." Megumi sympathized. "You'll be fine."
"We just hope so." He sighed as the emcee goes on and on about their point on what needs to be done in their booths.
"Soma-kun! Erina-chan!" They all looked back to who called. "Eh! Tsuna-kun!"
The brunet found himself pressed on Alice who hugged him so tight. He can't help the blush from marring his cheeks. "A-Alice-chan."
"Oi! Let go of Tsuna!" Soma chided while taking his hand and pulling him away from Alice. "Come on, Tsuna!"
"Stingy! I just want to hug Tsuna-kun after you monopolized all his help! I was going to take him, but you got him first!" Alice pouted, hugging him tighter. Red eyes looked down to him with a smile. "Come to our booth sometime, Tsuna-kun? I'll treat you something amazing."
"Sure." He nodded.
When Alice let him go and started to chat with Soma and the others, he crouched beside Kurokiba and Hayama. The two tiredly looked up to him. He smiled, fished out some candy from his pocket and offered them to the two. They gladly took some, dividing the numbers between the two of them before opening some to eat.
The two lost to him too in casual matches, on different days and different venues. Tsuna matched with them through their own field. He really thought he'll lose to them since Hayama is really good with flavors while Kurokiba is a natural fish handler. He barely won against them too, always with a single judge who struggled who to vote. They haven't asked him for rematch after giving them warning that he might not entertain such things, because they already battled out their own version of 'finals'.
"Next," Tsuna perked up as Kurokiba and Hayama stood up. "We'll sing the Tootsuki Tea Ceremony and Cooking Academy anthem."
"Eh?" He can't help blurting.
"Damn. We have such thing?" Soma queried out loud as their fellow students started to sing.
Tsuna chuckled. "I know. I didn't even know they have one. Man, if Hibari was a prefect here, we'll be dead by now."
"Really?" The redhead hummed as they laced their hands together. "I wonder how well he'll take me."
"I told you that you'll be fine." He assured as they listened to the others singing. "He'll demand hamburger from you all the time just because he feels like it."
"Hamburgers? Can I bribe him with those?" Soma grinned.
Tsuna blinked. "Why didn't I think of that?"
Yukihira guffawed just as their fellow students were about to finish. Then as the director was about to open the festival, Tsuna caught Eishi Tsukasa, the first seat, and Rindou Kobayashi, the second seat, staring at him. Tsukasa looked away while Kobayashi waved a hand to him before facing the former. His intuition throbbed, sensing trouble.
And he doesn't like it one bit.
"I declare the Moon Banquet Festival open!" Senzaemon Nakiri announced to the mic.
Nope. Not one bit.