Early in the morning before school, Tsuna changed into his gym uniform and headed toward the riverside paths of Namimori City.
Cold morning air brushed against his face as he arrived.
Already waiting there were the members of the Body Improvement Club.
After every member gathered, various massive figures and one peculiar shrimp-like figure stretched beneath the pale sunrise before immediately starting their daily routine.
A five-kilometer run.
According to Goda, endurance was built through consistency, while discipline was built by forcing yourself to move even when your body begged you not to.
And honestly…
Waking up this early already felt harder than the exercise itself.
“BODY IMPROVEMENT CLUB!”
Goda shouted from the front as he started running.
“FIGHT ON!”
The others echoed behind him like a war chant.
Their synchronized footsteps pounded against the pavement.
“BODY IMPROVEMENT CLUB!”
“FIGHT ON!”
Sweat flew, their breathing’s growing rough yet even.
But nobody slowed down.
Far behind them, Tsuna struggled desperately to keep up.
“Haa… haa…!”
His running form had fallen apart long ago with his shoulders slumped.
His legs felt heavy, his lungs burned every time he inhaled, and even speaking felt impossible.
Body Improvement Club… Fight on…!
He could only repeat the chant silently inside his head.
At first, he thought the chant was embarrassing.
But strangely enough…
Every time he mentally repeated it while pushing past his limits, strength somehow returned to his exhausted body.
Not enough to erase the pain, but enough to take one more step.
“Tsuna!
You can do it!”
“You’re improving!”
The club members cheered as they passed him for another lap.
Their encouragement only made Tsuna grit his teeth harder.
“Haa… haa…”
Meanwhile, Reborn casually walked backward in front of him without even losing his breath.
“Hurry up, No Good Tsuna!
A turtle could outrun you.”
“Then… haa… stop talking… and run normally…”
“You still have energy to complain?
Good.
Run faster.”
“Demon…”
By the time the run finally ended, Tsuna collapsed onto the grass beside the riverbank.
“HAAAH…!”
He greedily sucked in air.
Sweat soaked his clothes, while his chest hurt and his legs sprawled out weakly.
Yet strangely…
The pain made him feel alive.
Every burning breath reminded him that he was still moving forward little by little.
“Good work, Tsuna.
Another small success.”
“GOOD WORK!”
The Body Improvement Club gathered around him with proud smiles.
They still remembered how Tsuna used to faint halfway through training during his first days.
Compared to then, his progress was obvious.
“Here.
Drink.”
A cold bottle was pressed against his cheek.
Tsuna weakly looked up.
“Pokari… my savior!”
“Proper hydration is important after sweating a lot!”
“Thank you…”
Tsuna accepted it with shaky hands before drinking greedily, cool liquid flowing through his burning throat.
“By the way..”
One member asked.
“Why were you absent yesterday?”
“Oh…”
Tsuna scratched his cheek awkwardly.
“I got beaten up by thugs.”
“…NANI!?”
Goda accidentally crushed his sports bottle from sheer anger.
“How dare they attack our junior!?”
Veins bulged across his forehead.
“Don’t worry!
I’m okay now!”
Tsuna hurriedly explained.
“I managed to beat them in the end.
I only got hurt because I’m terrible at fighting.”
Tap.
Someone placed a large hand on his shoulder.
Tsuna turned around.
Standing behind him was one of the senior members.
Tenga Onigawara.
His massive muscular build alone was intimidating, but what stood out most was his slick pompadour hairstyle and the permanent dark bags beneath his eyes.
“I can’t rest easy knowing our little brother got beaten up.”
Tenga cracked his knuckles.
“You suck at fighting?
Then I’ll teach you how to fight.”
“Really…?”
Tsuna blinked in surprise.
Honestly, he wanted to become stronger, but he also felt embarrassed troubling someone else.
Reborn smirked from nearby. Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping.com.
“Accept it, Tsuna.
It’s rare to find a willing moving sandbag.”
“Hey, that description is awful!”
“Mister Armstrong is right.”
Tenga nodded seriously.
“There’s no need to hold back between brothers.”
Tsuna somehow felt worried hearing that.
“…Then I’ll gladly accept.”
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After resting enough, everyone eventually split off for their daily responsibilities.
Some went to work.
Tsuna headed to school.
Their sparring session would happen later after everyone became free.
“I’m home, Mom!
I’m starving!”
Tsuna entered the house while dragging his tired body.
Nana peeked from the kitchen with a smile.
“Perfect timing!
Breakfast is ready!”
Ever since joining the Body Improvement Club, Tsuna had learned from another member, Hideki, about the importance of proper nutrition.
Training alone wasn’t enough.
Muscles needed fuel to grow stronger.
After hearing endless lectures about protein, carbohydrates, and recovery, Tsuna eventually convinced his mom to start making healthier meals at home.
Honestly…
He never expected exercise to involve this much studying.
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Later that afternoon.
Inside the Body Improvement Club building, there was surprisingly a sparring ring.
According to Goda, it had recently been built so the club members could resolve disagreements with a passionate, healthy man-to-man sparring.
Which apparently meant fighting each other.
A lot.
Among them, Tenga was considered the best fighter.
Despite now being an office worker, he had a long history as a delinquent and was highly experienced in boxing.
And according to him…
“The best way to learn fighting is by fighting.”
Simple but violent.
Inside the ring, both wore boxing gloves with Tsuna additionally wearing a protective headgear.
Reborn stood nearby acting as referee.
“Begin.”
The moment Reborn spoke, Tenga stepped forward explosively.
His fist shot forward like lightning.
This was a boxing move called jab.
‘Fast—!’
Tsuna’s eyes widened.
He could follow it, not perfectly, but enough to react.
He barely tilted his head aside as the punch brushed past his cheek.
“Oh?”
Tenga grinned.
“You’ve got talent!”
He threw more several quick jabs, Tsuna desperately dodging while retreating.
So fast!
Why was someone that muscular this quick!?
Even with his eyes, Tenga’s punches still looked blurry.
Tsuna could only barely survive by combining his eyes with his instinctive sense of danger.
“Oh, you’re a natural!”
Tenga praised.
“But I’m not done yet!”
Another jab flew forward.
Tsuna focused entirely on it.
When suddenly…
THUD.
“Aghh!”
A hook slammed deep into his side, pain exploding through his ribs.
Tsuna nearly folded in half as saliva flew from his mouth. Enjoying the story? Read on at novelping.com.
He stumbled backward while clutching his side.
“Heh, so Tenga noticed it.”
Reborn commented calmly.
“Your eyes and danger instincts are impressive, but still immature.”
Tsuna coughed painfully.
“W-What… was that…?”
“Your senses react strongly toward imminent danger and hostility.”
Reborn explained.
“But experienced fighters use feint and mind plays.”
At that moment, Tsuna realized it.
Tenga’s jab had carried clear intent.
His attention naturally focused on it, but it was just a cover.
The real attack, the hook punch, only revealed itself at the final moment.
By then, it was already too late.
“I understand…”
Tsuna groaned while standing back up.
“…But Big Bro, maybe hold back a little… that really hurts…”
“Sorry!”
Tenga scratched his head sheepishly.
“Got excited!”
That apology meant nothing when his punches felt like iron bars.
But before Tsuna could recover, Tenga charged again.
Another combination of sharp jabs and hooks.
This time, the older man increased his speed even further.
Tsuna narrowly avoided the attacks, but pain from his injured side slowed his movements.
Tenga instantly noticed.
The next moment, an uppercut rose from below.
“Aghh—!”
The punch struck Tsuna’s chin cleanly which was enough to make his vision spin violently.
He stumbled backward dazed, knees shaking weakly.
For a moment, it looked like he would collapse.
Tenga’s expression became serious.
At the last second… he reduced the impact by leaning back.
Reborn was also impressed by what happened.
That Tsuna…
I guess his experiences with various dangers made him develop quick reflex.
Even when cornered, Tsuna managed to minimize the damage.
Tsuna swayed briefly before planting his feet firmly.
His breathing steadied as he slowly raised his fists.
His stance began mimicking Tenga’s boxing stance, his guard tightened as he placed his feet wider for lower balance and lighter movement.
“Oh?”
Tenga smiled.
“You’re learning by watching me?”
Not bad at all.
The older man remarked silently before rushing forward again, his boxing glove flickering toward Tsuna’s face.
This time, Tsuna reacted better as he stepped backward, rolled his head aside, and guarded the follow-up jab.
Tenga’s attacks soon became a relentless storm of jabs, crosses, and hooks.
Tsuna desperately defended while forcing his eyes to keep up.
Gradually, something changed.
His vision sharpened as the world slowed slightly.
I see it…!
A strange line appeared before his eyes.
A thread-like path connecting him and Tenga.
Loose, floating, and waiting like a cold-blooded hunter.
When Tenga threw another hook, Tsuna suddenly saw the line tightened sharply toward an opening in Tenga’s movement.
The moment Tsuna saw it, his body moved naturally.
He slipped beside the hook, stepped forward, and twisted his hips just like how he saw Tenga throw a powerful punch.
And threw his fist.
“What—!?”
Like an arrow released from a drawn bow, Tsuna’s punch slammed directly into Tenga’s face.
BAM.
The large man staggered backward in shock.
Silence filled the ring briefly.
Reborn’s eyes narrowed with interest.
“His Vongola Blood is stronger than I expected.”
Meanwhile, Tsuna stared at his own fist in disbelief.
That feeling…
It was the same sensation he experienced when he punched the thug before.
“I might really be good at fighting…?”
Then reality returned.
“Ah!
Sorry, Big Bro!
Are you okay!?”
Tenga slowly raised his head, a dark shadow covering his eyes.
The competitive spirit from his delinquent days had awakened.
“Yosh…”
Crack.
He rolled his shoulders.
“Let’s raise the intensity.”
Tsuna froze.
“Eh…?”
The next several minutes became hell.
Tenga’s punches turned dramatically faster and heavier.
Tsuna desperately dodged with everything he had, but the mysterious line from before never appeared again.
In the end, the sparring session concluded only after Tsuna collapsed from complete exhaustion.
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Extra chapters when we reach 500 pw!