Tsuna arrived at school earlier as usual after finishing his morning routine.
The moment he arrived, however, he completely froze.
A familiar girl stood beside the window.
Her blue hair swayed gently from the wind entering the classroom window.
“Mutsumi…?”
The surprise in Tsuna’s voice was impossible to hide, and neither was the happiness in his eyes.
Mutsumi slowly turned around.
The morning sunlight illuminated her figure as she smiled softly.
“Good morning, Tsuna.”
For a moment, Tsuna forgot how to breathe properly.
“Good morning…”
His eyes unconsciously lingered on her face and noticed something different.
Her aqua-blue hair styled in a neat hime cut now had a large white-silver streak running along the left side.
It stood out clearly.
Beautiful.
Yet strangely fragile.
Noticing his stare, Mutsumi lightly touched the streak.
“This part suddenly turned white.”
She explained quietly.
“I tried dyeing it back several times, but it always returns.”
Her fingers slowly slid through the pale strand.
“…Do I look weird?”
Though she smiled while asking, Tsuna could sense a faint insecurity hidden underneath.
He stared at her silently for several seconds before answering honestly.
“No.”
Mutsumi blinked.
“You still look beautiful as usual.”
The moment the words left his mouth, Tsuna’s eyes widened in horror.
His face instantly exploded red.
He hurriedly retreated toward his seat in complete embarrassment while Mutsumi stared at him blankly for a moment.
A small laugh escaped her lips.
“So you think I’m beautiful?”
“That’s not what I meant— no, wait, it is but—!”
His brain short-circuited.
Mutsumi covered her mouth while giggling softly.
For the first time since returning, her smile looked genuinely relaxed.
Soon, the other classmates arrived.
The classroom immediately became noisy upon seeing Mutsumi again.
“Mutsumi-san!?”
“You’re finally back!”
“What happened to your hair!?”
Kyoko quickly rushed toward her friend with visible relief.
“Mutsumi!
You alright?”
“I’m okay.”
Mutsumi reassured gently.
“I’ve missed you!”
“Me too.”
Tsuna quietly watched from his seat.
Outwardly, she looked normal.
She smiled and talked normally, laughing softly at everyone’s concern.
But for some reason, Tsuna could still see it.
A deep sadness hidden behind her eyes.
Like someone silently drowning while pretending everything was fine.
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Later that day.
Tsuna found himself inside the library during break time.
This place had quietly become his safe place over the past months.
It was calm and peaceful.
The perfect place for something without any friends.
As he searched through the shelves for something to read, he noticed another familiar figure nearby.
“Mutsumi?”
She turned slightly in surprise and smiled softly.
“I missed studying in this place…”
Her fingers brushed against the bookshelves gently.
Tsuna hesitated beside her.
Ever since morning, that strange feeling inside his chest never disappeared.
Mutsumi noticed his expression.
“Do you have something to say…?”
Tsuna carefully nodded.
“…Did something happen during your long absence?”
Mutsumi froze slightly.
“What do you mean?”
Tsuna lowered his voice.
“Others don’t seem to notice, but your eyes…”
He clenched his hands.
“…they look like you’ve been crying.”
Mutsumi’s smile slowly disappeared as she sighed helplessly.
“I thought I hid it perfectly…”
Tsuna panicked after learning his guts was right.
“Sorry!
You don’t have to say anything if it’s painful!”
He quickly waved both hands.
“I just…”
Tsuna looked at her sincerely.
“If you need help… I’ll try my best to help you.”
Mutsumi quietly stared at him.
“If you want to cry…”
Tsuna smiled awkwardly.
“…Then you can cry on me.
I won’t say anything.
I’ll just stay with you.”
His voice softened.
“It just feels like… you’ve been carrying everything alone.”
The moment those words reached her, Mutsumi’s eyes reddened.
Those comforting words pierced her currently fragile heart.
Tears immediately overflowed.
Before Tsuna could react, she stepped closer and buried her face against his shoulder while tightly gripping his shirt.
“Mom…!”
Her trembling voice broke apart completely.
Tsuna froze briefly before slowly, he gently placed a hand on her back.
From the way her body trembled…
From how tightly she clung onto him…
Tsuna could feel just how deep her pain truly was.
He simply stayed beside her quietly, patting her back gently, allowing her to release everything she had been bottling up alone.
They stayed like that for a long time.
Eventually, Mutsumi slowly calmed down.
“I’m sorry…”
She whispered embarrassedly while wiping her tears.
“I suddenly cried…”
“You don’t need to apologize.
It’s not wrong to cry.
Tsuna answered softly.
“You always helped me before, so I wanted to help too.”
Mutsumi looked at him quietly before gently holding his hands.
“Thank you, Tsuna-kun.”
A faint smile appeared on her face.
“You really made me feel better today.”
Her teary eyes sparkled beautifully beneath the library light.
For a moment, Tsuna genuinely forgot how to breathe again.
Later, Tsuna learned the truth.
Mutsumi’s mother had passed away.
As a result of a horrific incident, the situation of her family grew complicated and tense.
She couldn’t share her pain with anyone, even with her family.
Only then did he fully understand the sadness hidden behind her smile.
His senior’s story resurfaced inside his mind once more.
The pain of losing a mother… it must have felt unbearable.
Tsuna didn’t know how much pain Mutsumi was carrying inside herself.
But silently, he swore to help her through it however he could.
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Eventually, Namimori Middle School held its graduation ceremony.
As expected, the valedictorian delivering the speech was Mutsumi.
Tsuna quietly watched her from the crowd, looking beautiful and elegant.
Her speech carried a newfound strength to it.
After graduation came a spring vacation before the start of high school.
For that entire vacation, Reborn prepared a massive plan for Tsuna.
A plan the boy himself accepted with pure resolve.
Its name was—
High School Debut Plan.
A complete transformation plan for Tsuna before a new school year starts.
Reborn planned to rebuild Tsuna from the ground up.
Because to become the mafia boss of the Vongola Family, exceptional qualities were necessary.
Not only the presence to lead others, but also the strength to protect them from those who carried malice.
The Body Improvement Club already solved part of that problem.
A stronger body meant greater output and longer usage of Dying Will Mode.
Reborn had a grand plan, but the young boy just wanted to become a better man for his loved ones.
And so, Tsuna devoted the entire spring vacation to better himself.
Days slowly blurred together.
Before he realized it, Tsunayoshi Sawada became a high school student.
And with that, the peaceful days of his ordinary life finally came to an end.
[Volume 1: Origin — End]
…
Next Volume: Daily Chaotic Life.
Extra chapters when we reach 500 pws