Chapter 71

After an hour of rehearsing some basic plans, Tsuna is finally alone in his room. Daemon is nowhere to be seen, probably doing the things he does whenever he has free time like stealing candy from children or killing some innocent family.

… Whoa. If his thoughts easily go to killing without cringing, well, he's become jaded then.

He sighs. They've all agreed to leave him be for some time alone but he's sure it'll not be long before Fong or Renato come inside. He should probably use this time better instead of brooding on a corner, but for some reason, he can't just forget the feeling of Daemon's flames running through his body when he was asked if all it was needed was for them to harmonize.

He didn't answer, then. He couldn't. Daemon knew this and acted accordingly, using his flames to making it seem as if he hadn't had any outward reaction when in truth he was ready to flinch. He's sure not even Viper saw through them as Daemon's mastery with Mist flames is only second to Kawahira's.

It makes him feel guilty, not being able to tell them. He could, he knows he could, but why make them suffer through knowing there will not be an instant cure.

They'll hate me, he thinks as he wraps his arms around his knees. They would be right to do so.

Not that there's any way to fix it. Or at least that's what he tells himself as he sighs and stands up. He should probably go and talk with Skull as he's the one less used to this Mafia business and the one who was the quietest of them all in their talk.

As he walks to the door, he thinks of all the conversation starters he can that will make Skull comfortable. Probably best to begin with safe topics. Or would he prefer to be blunt and just ask him if he's alright?

Tsuna shakes his head as he opens the door. He doesn't know but as their Sky is his job to—

Renato is leaning next to the door.

They lock gazes for long seconds. He's the first to break the silence with "How long have you waited there?"

"I never left."

"Oh," is his smart reply. His Japanese upbringing makes him apologize and move to the side to let the man in. Not that Renato needs permission to let himself inside, of course. He's pushy like that. Reborn was the same too, so—

He doesn't get to finish that thought as he soon finds himself being trapped between two arms. He reflexively leans away, his back pressed to the wall.

"I don't like it when you look at me like that." At Tsuna's look of confusion, he clarifies, "I told you before, didn't I? You look at me and see another person. I could shrug it off before, but how can I do it now knowing that is my future self you're comparing me to?"

Shame makes him look downwards, away from those piercing eyes. He wants to say sorry but something tells him that's not what Renato wants to hear.

"Don't apologize. It's understandable. Just tell me… what was my future self to you?"

"A friend," he answers immediately. "He was my tutor. Harsh and eccentric, he always called me No-good but he never gave up on me and he was someone I could trust. Someone I could ask for advice. I know it's unfair to you to sometimes see him in you but don't ever think I don't view you as your own person. He was my Reborn, but you're Renato to me."