KHR: Decimo Primo

The days following that fateful evening had been a blur for Tsunayoshi Sawada. His world, once simple and full of the everyday worries of a 5-year-old, was now filled with questions he didn't know how to ask.

The conversation with his father and Vongola Nono echoed in his mind, but the weight of the words didn't sink in as he had hoped. What did it mean to be the heir to something so powerful, so dangerous?

In the days after Nono's visit, Tsuna had been told little by his father. Iemitsu kept his answers vague, often brushing off his son's concerns with reassuring smiles and half formed explanations.

But one thing was clear: something was changing. His quiet life in Namimori was no longer enough to shield him from the world his father had tried so hard to keep him away from. It wasn't just a coincidence anymore; Tsuna's destiny had been set in motion.

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One evening, a few days after the visit, Iemitsu called Tsuna and Nana into the living room. Tsuna noticed the serious look in his father's eyes, the way he glanced over at his mother, as though preparing for something monumental. The same feeling of tension that had accompanied Nono's visit returned.

"Nana," Iemitsu began, his tone softer than usual. "I think it's time Tsuna took the next step in his education."

Nana blinked, puzzled. "What do you mean by that, Iemitsu?"

Tsuna looked between his parents, his small heart beginning to beat faster. He felt the weight of their gazes but couldn't quite understand why.

"I think it would be best for Tsuna to study abroad," Iemitsu said, looking at Tsuna with a gentle smile. "In Italy. Just for a few years."

Nana's eyes widened, as though she hadn't expected such a proposal. "Italy? But... why Italy? He's so young! What about his friends here, his school?"

Iemitsu's expression grew serious. "I understand it's a big decision, but I believe it's important. Tsuna has so much potential. He'll be safe, and it will give him the best chance to grow, learn, and one day become the man he's meant to be. And although we both know Tsuna is a kind child he is not that good at academics for the most part and I know some world-renowned instructors in Italy that would be willing to help Tsuna there compared to here in Japan."

Tsuna shifted uncomfortably in his seat, confused by his father's words. "Papa, what do you mean? Why do I need to go so far away? What about my friends? And school?"

Iemitsu placed a hand on Tsuna's head. "It's for your future, Tsuna. We'll be there with you. You'll study at a private school there, and I'll be around, guiding you, teaching you the things you can't learn in a normal classroom. Things you'll need to know for when you're older."

Nana looked at Iemitsu, then at Tsuna. After a long pause, she nodded slowly. "If you think it's best, Iemitsu. But... it's still hard for me to accept."

Iemitsu smiled, a bit of relief crossing his face. "I understand, Nana. It'll be for a few years, and then Tsuna will come back when he's ready. He'll be a stronger person. I promise."

Tsuna, though still not fully understanding what his father meant, could sense the gravity of the decision. He nodded hesitantly, trusting his father's words but feeling a strange unease. The idea of leaving everything behind—the familiar streets of Namimori, his school, and his friends—felt so distant now, especially when the world of the Vongola seemed to loom so close.

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A few months later

The journey to Italy was long and exhausting, but Tsuna was too nervous to sleep during the flight. His thoughts kept racing about everything he was leaving behind in Japan—the familiar streets of Namimori, the warmth of his home, and most of all, his friends. He tried to convince himself that this was a chance for a new beginning, but deep down, Tsuna wasn't sure he was ready.

The car ride from the airport was quiet. His father, Iemitsu, sat beside him, his usual cheerful demeanor subdued. Tsuna could feel the weight of the moment as they passed unfamiliar landscapes. It felt surreal—like he was walking in a dream that wasn't his own.

When the car finally stopped at the large, imposing gates of the mansion, Tsuna's stomach churned with unease. The estate stood in stark contrast to the small, cozy home he had grown up in. The house was grand, with tall stone walls that seemed to protect it from the outside world. Tsuna's eyes scanned the mansion's exterior, his nerves only increasing with every step.

Inside, the atmosphere was just as formal. The grand hallway felt like something out of a history book, with its towering columns and antique furniture. The silence in the house was so profound that Tsuna could hear his heartbeat pounding in his chest.

"This is your new home, Tsuna," Iemitsu said with a reassuring smile, but Tsuna could only nod, too overwhelmed to speak. The mansion felt too large, too foreign—everything here was so different from Namimori.

As they walked further into the house, Tsuna felt a sharp pang of homesickness. He missed the simple life he had left behind. His mother, Nana, had always made their small home feel warm and inviting. Here, everything felt cold, distant—unfamiliar.

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As Tsuna settled into his new home in Italy, the last few months in Namimori felt like a blur. The memory of the ordinary school days, the small, familiar streets, and the quiet comfort of his home slowly faded, replaced by the towering walls of his new mansion.

Before his departure, Tsuna had tried to spend time with his friends. His classmates, especially, had been curious about his sudden move to Italy, but Tsuna had kept his reasons vague. He didn't want to reveal the truth—the truth that his new life was nothing like what any of them could imagine. So he smiled, nodded, and answered their questions with the same practiced lines: "My dad's job. I'll come back soon."

His mother, Nana, had tried to make the best of the situation, encouraging him to think of it as an exciting adventure. But even her sunny optimism couldn't mask the sadness in her eyes whenever she looked at Tsuna. She knew, deep down, that things would never be the same. Tsuna had always been her little boy, and now she was sending him off to live in a foreign land, where she couldn't protect him.

And there was one other person Tsuna couldn't stop thinking about: Haru.

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Flashback Final Months in Namimori

Tsuna didn't understand why, but there was something about leaving Namimori that made him think of Haru. She had always been there, a constant in his quiet world. Though Tsuna didn't know how to put it into words, Haru had been a part of his childhood in ways that no one else had been. They had grown up together and shared their fair share of silly childhood memories, and even though Tsuna could never fully understand her intense affection for him, he had always been grateful for her company.

Haru had been a neighbor, and the two families often spent time together. Tsuna's earliest memory of Haru was from when they were both around four years old. He had been sitting on the swing in the park, looking a little lost, when a loud, energetic voice shouted from behind.

"Hey! Are you just going to sit there all day? Let's play together!"

Tsuna had turned around to find Haru, her hair in messy pigtails and her face scrunched in determination. He had never been one to play outside much, but something about her enthusiasm had made him smile. The two of them spent the rest of the afternoon playing tag and laughing until they couldn't breathe.

From that day forward, Haru had become a fixture in his life. She was always there, always talking to him, always dragging him into some new activity. Tsuna, shy and quiet, didn't mind. Even though Haru's overly bubbly nature sometimes overwhelmed him, he couldn't deny the comfort of her presence. She was his childhood friend, and there was no one else who had been as consistent as she had.

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One afternoon, just a few weeks before his departure, Tsuna found himself at the park with Takeshi. The two had been friends for as long as Tsuna could remember. Takeshi, with his easygoing nature and carefree attitude, had always been a contrast to Tsuna's more reserved personality. But despite their differences, the two shared a bond that only childhood friendships could create.

Tsuna had been feeling particularly down that day, weighed down by the thought of leaving everything behind. Takeshi had noticed right away and had dragged him out to the park for one of their usual baseball sessions.

"I'll teach you how to pitch better this time," Takeshi grinned, tossing a baseball into Tsuna's hands.

Tsuna sighed. "You've been trying to teach me for months, and I'm still terrible."

"Don't worry about it, Tsuna! The important thing is we're having fun!" Takeshi laughed, tossing the ball again. "You know, we're going to be fine. When you come back, we'll play baseball again, just like we always do."

It was moments like these that Tsuna would treasure forever. The simplicity of their friendship, the way they could spend hours doing something as trivial as playing baseball without a care in the world. He realized then that he would miss it. He would miss Takeshi's boisterous personality and the way he always made things fun, even when Tsuna didn't feel like it.

"I'll miss you, Takeshi," Tsuna admitted quietly, catching the ball awkwardly.

Takeshi smiled, his usual carefree grin lighting up his face. "We'll still be friends, Tsuna. It doesn't matter where you go."

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The night before Tsuna was to leave, he found himself sitting in the kitchen with his mother, Nana. She was busy preparing a small meal for the two of them, though the silence between them was palpable. Nana glanced over at Tsuna, a small smile on her lips, but Tsuna could see the worry in her eyes.

"Are you nervous about leaving, Tsuna?" she asked softly as she set a bowl of soup in front of him. "I know it's going to be different, but I believe you'll be alright. I'm sure you'll make new friends, and you'll learn so much over there. Just remember that no matter where you are, we're always with you."

Tsuna nodded, forcing a smile. "Yeah... I'll be okay. I think."

Nana's eyes softened. "And don't forget, you can always come home. No matter how far you go, Namimori will always be here waiting for you. And I'll always be waiting."

Tsuna didn't say much after that, but he didn't need to. His mother's quiet understanding and her gentle embrace were enough to tell him that she, too, was afraid to let him go.

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Flashback End

Tsuna blinked, the sound of the wind outside the mansion's windows pulling him back to the present. His mind, filled with the weight of memories from Namimori, felt distant now. The echoes of his mother's quiet encouragement, the carefree afternoons with Takeshi, and even Haru's constant presence felt like fading echoes, slipping through his fingers as he tried to hold onto them.

The cold, imposing grandeur of the mansion around him was a stark contrast to the warmth of his childhood. His heart sank with each step he took through the empty halls, the weight of everything he had left behind pressing heavily on his chest.

Iemitsu, walking ahead of him through the vast hallway, turned and looked at Tsuna. His usual cheerful expression had softened, replaced by something more contemplative. "It's a big change, isn't it?" Iemitsu said, his voice unusually subdued. "But this is for your future, Tsuna. You'll understand one day."

Tsuna nodded, but the uncertainty in his chest only grew. The mansion felt too large, too alien. The air felt too thick as if something was always looming on the horizon. Why did it feel like there was something more I didn't know yet?

They stopped in front of a large, ornate door. Iemitsu smiled reassuringly. "This is your room. I know it might be a lot to take in, but you'll get used to it. You'll see, everything will be fine."

Tsuna stood there for a moment, staring at the door, then turned to his father with a weak smile. "Thanks, Dad…"

Iemitsu gave his son a thumbs up. "No worries, kiddo! I know it's tough, but hey, look at it this way: You're in Italy now! You can eat pizza and pasta whenever you want! And you'll get to—uh, well… I don't know what else yet, but there's gotta be other fun stuff!"

Tsuna chuckled lightly despite himself. "I guess that's a plus…"

But then, just as Tsuna stepped inside the room and took a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves, a strange rustling sound caught his attention. He froze, eyes darting toward the corner of the room. There, perched on a small chair, was a baby. But not just any baby—it was a tiny, fedora-wearing baby with a tiny suit.

Tsuna blinked. Was he seeing things? Maybe it was jet lag, or maybe his mind was playing tricks on him. But no—there it was again, the baby shifting slightly as it looked up at him.

Tsuna felt his throat go dry. "W-Wait... Who are you?"

The baby, with sharp, calculating eyes that didn't belong to something so small, tilted its head. "I'm Reborn. Your tutor."

"...What?"

"I'm here to help you become the boss you're destined to be," Reborn replied matter of factly, as though this was completely normal. He didn't seem bothered by the fact that Tsuna was staring at him like he had just seen a ghost. "Your training starts now, Tsuna Sawada."

Tsuna was paralyzed. Was this some kind of joke? "A... baby... is my tutor?"

Reborn sighed dramatically. "Do you have a problem with that? You've seen the world of the Vongola, and you've already met some of the important players. You need to be trained in ways you can't even begin to understand yet. And that starts with me."

Tsuna just stood there, mouth agape. He couldn't wrap his head around it. "But—But how...?"

Before Reborn could answer, Iemitsu, who had been standing just outside the door, popped his head back in. "Oh, Tsuna! I see you've met your new tutor!" He gave a nervous laugh and scratched the back of his head. "I know it's a little shocking, but Reborn here is the best! He might be a baby, but he's seriously tough! He once took down a whole group of bad guys while hopping on a pogo stick!"

Tsuna's eyes widened. "What?!"

"Yep! Reborn's skills are unmatched!" Iemitsu beamed proudly, his tone bordering on boasting. "He's got all kinds of crazy stories. He's like a tiny, but deadly superhero, except... you know... the kind who doesn't have any sense of personal space."

Reborn raised an eyebrow at Iemitsu. "I can hear you, you know. I'm just sitting right here."

Iemitsu laughed awkwardly, trying to salvage his goofy attempt at comforting his son. "Well, that's my boy Reborn for you! He's got his style, but don't worry Tsuna! You're in good hands, I promise!"

Tsuna sighed, feeling completely overwhelmed. The mansion, the new life, the pressure, and now this tiny, fedora-wearing tutor—it was too much to process all at once. He sank into a chair by the window, rubbing his temples.

"I just... don't get it. This... this is all so... weird," Tsuna muttered under his breath.

Iemitsu, sensing his son's distress, plopped down beside him with a goofy grin and slapped him on the back. "Hey, don't worry! It's all gonna work out. You'll get used to the whole Vongola thing eventually. And if nothing else, you'll have Reborn's weird little quirks to keep you entertained!"

Tsuna didn't look up at his father, but he couldn't help a small chuckle. "I guess... I'll have to get used to it."

Reborn's voice broke through the tension in the air again. "You're not just going to get used to it, Tsuna. You're going to embrace it. Starting with your training, right now."

Tsuna groaned. This was just the beginning, wasn't it? He had no idea what was coming, but one thing was certain—his life had just gotten a whole lot stranger.