Four full years had passed since their last meeting.
Tsuna Sawada’s gaze pierced through his sunglasses, greedily fixed on the silver-haired girl with a strikingly beautiful face and cold expression.
Mokuren had grown up.
She had grown taller than before, and her once-childlike features had blossomed into something utterly captivating. Her hair had actually shortened a bit, changing from thigh-length to waist-length.
But the biggest change was in her eyes.
If before he could see a kaleidoscope of emotions shining in Mokuren’s eyes, now there was only calm and indifference.
Her emerald green eyes had dulled considerably.
Tsuna instinctively held his breath.
Mokuren… she must have endured so much over these years…
His heart ached. Meanwhile, Mokuren had already averted her gaze after briefly meeting his eyes and focused on making coffee.
She didn’t recognize him.
After all, over these four years, Tsuna had grown to nearly 1.8 meters, and now he was wearing a hat, sunglasses, and a mask, bundled up completely. It would have been strange if she had recognized him.
Tsuna stood frozen, stunned, until an impatient Reborn gave him a kick, snapping him out of it and forcing him to enter the café.
He chose a seat from which he could watch Mokuren, casually ordered a mocha, and pretended to read the newspaper while secretly observing her.
He wanted to talk to her, to let her know he had come, to learn about the years she had gone through, to understand why she had left without a word, to tell her he still liked her… had always liked her.
But he was afraid. At this moment, he hesitated again.
Mokuren now looked so indifferent, completely unlike before. If she treated him with this same coldness, his heart would shatter.
So when Reborn sipped his coffee and asked when he would finally make a move, Tsuna awkwardly smiled.
“Maybe wait a little longer, Reborn? Mokuren’s working now. If I suddenly approach to reminisce, it’ll just interrupt her work.”
Reborn shot him a look that seemed to see right through him, then sneered, “Suit yourself.”
Over the next hour in the café, Tsuna ordered coffee and desserts multiple times, hoping Mokuren would come deliver them so he could see her up close.
But her main job was making coffee; she never came to serve any table.
Tsuna grew disappointed and anxious. At that moment, a commotion erupted from another corner of the café.
A wealthy young man, dressed entirely in designer clothes, deliberately tripped a maid bringing an order. Hot coffee spilled on his clothes, and he grabbed the maid’s wrist, demanding compensation.
The poor maid, terrified, started to cry. How could anyone here afford such expensive clothing?
The rich boy smirked. “You can’t pay? That’s fine. Let Amemiya come over. If she agrees to my terms, we’ll call it even.”
The maid’s anger flared. “It’s my fault! How could I drag Amemiya into this?”
“It’s fine, I’ll handle it.”
Mokuren Amemiya placed a hand on the maid’s shoulder, gently shaking her head to calm her, then stepped forward to block her.
“You’ve harassed me repeatedly and even followed me here. You truly are persistent, aren’t you, Suzuki?”
Suzuki—Mokuren’s classmate?
Tsuna, who had been about to rush forward, paused slightly.
Suzuki smiled arrogantly. “Amemiya, I told you I wouldn’t give up. So, how about a date today? Don’t worry—I won’t do anything to you. If we go on a date, your colleague’s compensation can be forgotten.”
That bastard!
Tsuna couldn’t hold back anymore and strode forward. As he neared Mokuren, he heard her calm, serious voice.
“I already told you—I have a boyfriend. Please pursue other single women.”
…
What?!!
Tsuna felt like he’d been struck by lightning, his body frozen, his mind shaken.
He should have realized it earlier, but he had never dared to consider this possibility.
Four years had passed. Given Mokuren’s beauty and popularity, she would have no shortage of admirers if she wanted a boyfriend.
His heart felt as if it had been ripped apart.
Even breathing hurt.
He had only wanted to see Mokuren once more, understand her recent life, and clear up misunderstandings. Why did it have to hurt this much?
Had he been holding on to unrealistic fantasies all along?
The boy stood rigid like a statue.
Less than ten steps separated him from Mokuren, yet he had no courage to approach.
Until Suzuki’s mocking voice rang out again.
“Amemiya, lying girls must be punished, you know.”
“I’ve already checked with a detective—you don’t really have a boyfriend. Otherwise, how could he let you work alone, coming and going by yourself?”
…
Tsuna’s heart started racing again.
Could it be that Mokuren was lying to get rid of him?
Tsuna’s inherited super-intuition allowed him to sense weaknesses, avoid danger, detect lies, and see through situations to some extent.
Super-intuition wasn’t a lie detector—it wasn’t perfect—but it gave him vague impressions.
And yet, when Mokuren said, “I have a boyfriend,” she was completely serious. She wasn’t lying.
Mokuren really had a boyfriend.
Who was he? Was he good to her? Did they truly care for each other? If he truly loved Mokuren, how could he allow her to work alone and endure harassment?
Mokuren’s cold reply: “He’s busy with work.”
Suzuki didn’t believe her. “Amemiya, are you just making up a fake boyfriend to get rid of me? Even if he’s busy, he wouldn’t avoid you for so long, would he?”
…
The silver-haired girl remained silent.
Tsuna, standing a few steps behind her, watched her stubborn, stiff back. Beneath her indifferent exterior, he could sense hidden sadness and helplessness.
Even if he didn’t know for sure that she truly had a boyfriend, Tsuna could feel one thing:
That boyfriend was way out of line!
What was he doing? Why let Mokuren endure this, and still not appear?
If he didn’t show up soon, Tsuna might really step in!
Just as he was about to make a move, a stranger’s familiar, intimate voice rang from the entrance.
“Mokuren~ what are you doing?”
A black-haired boy, about their age, stepped in wearing a black suit. His hair was slightly wavy at the ends, brushing his ears. Smiling, he leaned slightly and put an arm around Mokuren’s shoulder.
“Sorry I’m late, Mokuren. Was this guy bothering you?”
From the blocked perspective, Mokuren looked up at the black-haired boy, eyes widening in surprise.
“Dazai, you…”
“Shh.”
Dazai gently pressed a finger to her lips, stopping her from speaking further.
“Save reminiscing with your boyfriend for when it’s just the two of us.”
He then turned to the wealthy boy, his smile cold and empty, and his entire presence radiated an icy menace.
Before he could speak, the boy staggered back in fear, dragging his chair across the floor with a screech.
“Wait, you—you’re the Mafia from the port—”
“Forgive me! I didn’t know Miss Amemiya was your girlfriend! If I had, I would never have pursued her! Please spare me!”
The wealthy boy jumped up, bowing 90 degrees, drenched in sweat.
“Really? You know me?” Dazai said with slight embarrassment. “If you report my movements to them, you’ll put me in a difficult position.”
“Ah!! Sorry! I saw nothing! I’ll say nothing! Please spare me!!”
The boy ran off screaming.
“Sorry to startle you, miss.”
Dazai pulled out a handkerchief and handed it to the girl who had been harassed, her face pale from shock. He smiled gently.
“That guy shouldn’t come back here again.”
“Thank you…” she said, tears streaming.
…
Tsuna watched, stunned.
His soul felt torn in two.
One half was overwhelmed with grief, the other half calm, observing the scene with resigned clarity.
Mokuren’s boyfriend seemed kind.
But not only that, Tsuna sensed that the black-haired boy, like him, had faced many life-and-death battles.
And his aura was even more lethal and intimidating.
His identity was not simple.
According to what the wealthy boy revealed, he was part of the Port Mafia.
What the—
Tsuna’s gaze burned with jealousy as he watched Dazai talk and laugh with Mokuren.
He was kind. He was Mafia. He was even a Mafia leader!
They were the same—and yet, why couldn’t Mokuren like him? Why couldn’t her boyfriend be him?!
Tsuna couldn’t even focus on what they were saying.
He stood there like a fool, watching Mokuren and Dazai walk side by side after cleaning up the mess.
Just as he thought he would miss his chance with Mokuren again, the silver-haired girl stopped.
She looked up, eyes curious and puzzled, at the boy bundled in hat, sunglasses, mask, and layers.
“Excuse me, sir, you’ve been standing here for a while. Do you need any help?”
…
Tsuna didn’t expect her to suddenly speak to him. He froze, completely unprepared.
Breath stopped, heart nearly bursting.
Like a stiff piece of wood, he stood motionless, mouth opening to speak but no sound came out.
A complete idiot.
His palms were sweaty. After a long moment, he managed to stammer, “N-nothing…”
What the hell! That’s not what he wanted to say!!
How have you been? Do you really like him? Do you still remember me?
Those were the words he had wanted to say…
“Alright. If you need anything, please let the staff know.”
Mokuren retracted her gaze without hesitation and returned to work.
“W-wait!”
He called after her, mind blank.
In the end, he never spoke the words he wanted. He didn’t want to disrupt her life.
Brow furrowed in sorrow, vision blurry, he smiled and said:
“Please bring me another cup of coffee—the strongest, bitterest one.”
Mokuren gave him a puzzled look but said nothing, nodding, “Alright, please wait a moment.”
…
Tsuna stayed in the café until closing time.
When the staff informed him the shop was closing, he finally came back to himself and asked, “Mokuren… has Amemiya already left?”
Staff: “Yes. She left through the back door with her boyfriend about an hour ago.”
“…I see. Thank you.”
On the streets of Yokohama at night, Tsuna sat on a bench outside with Reborn, with nowhere else to go.
“Idiot Tsuna, I had the Port Mafia’s undercover agent investigate. We found out.”
Reborn showed him the information on his phone.
“Their name is Dazai, 18 years old, same age as you. He was a Port Mafia executive but defected during a certain mission after an incident. He now works in highly confidential underground operations.”
“Not much else is known. In short, he can’t appear publicly.”
Ah… that explained everything.
That’s why the rich boy said Mokuren had a boyfriend but had never been seen with him.
Because Dazai was in a dangerous and delicate situation, unable to appear publicly.
Yet even under Port Mafia pursuit, Dazai risked exposure to save Mokuren. Their relationship must be very strong.
Tsuna’s heart ached almost to numbness.
What the hell—he realized now that he had been fantasizing all along.
And that fantasy had been completely shattered.
Seeing Tsuna’s despondent, heartbroken expression, Reborn was annoyed.
But now that Tsuna was an adult, Reborn no longer forced him to make decisions.
No one in the world waits forever for others to decide for them.
Tsuna was about to inherit the Sawada family. He had to learn to make his own choices and bear the consequences.
Reborn asked, “Idiot Tsuna, what will you do next? Try to steal the girl from her boyfriend, or beat up her boyfriend?”
“Yeah! Beat him up!!”
The once-downtrodden boy suddenly stood, fists clenched.
“Thank you, Reborn. I’ve made up my mind!”
Reborn smiled for a second at his sudden determination—then heard his next words.
“I’m going to beat that guy who harassed Mokuren so badly!!”
…
Reborn immediately kicked Tsuna across the street.
“You useless idiot. Acting so cowardly, no wonder you can’t get a girlfriend.”