Kateikyoushi Hitman Reborn - The Heart of Darkness -

Chapter 21

'... 7 days later, at the main base in Italy.' She said, 'I'll go there tomorrow to prepare. You just take it easy and relax as much as you can.'

'But-!' Shiho tried to say something but stopped by her mother, 'No buts. Come at least 2 days before the ceremony. Make sure you bring someone to accompany you, a guy.'

'Eh? What's that supposed to mean?'

'It's a tradition of the ceremony. Each person must bring an opposite gender partner.'

'I know but isn't Dino okay for that role?'

'... The thing is... they put a new rule this year. Every alliance's bosses can't be each other's partners.'

'What a stupid rule. They just want me to be embarassed in front of everyone without a partner.'

'So that will be your task for these 5 days. Good luck.' She said before she added,'... Although I believe you should have someone in mind already.'

Before Shiho could complain, her mother was quick enough to end the call, "Geez... She is only fast at this kind of things."

On the way home, she thought of who she could bring as a partner. Out of the people she knew, it should be the Vongola family. Lambo was totally impossible unless he was 10 years older, although Shiho won't consider him as well. Ryohei... definitely not. He will spark the fight the minute he entered with his loud extreme voice. Gokudera was okay but he need to control his temper. Shiho didn't think he would want to go with her as well, unless she is Tsuna. Mukuro was definitely out of the choices. He was in Vindice and is a criminal. Was Tsuna considered as the boss of Vongola already? Better don't take chance, Shiho thought. 

"... No one suitable so far, huh?" She sighed heavily when she reached home, "Tadaima." She said although normally nobody will answer her as she was always the first one to reach the house.

"... Welcome back." Someone answered, which made Shiho almost slipped while taking off her shoes. She looked at Hibari, stared at him is more likely. 

"... What?" He said in his t-shirt and short pants, looked like he just woke up as he yawned and looked sleepy.

Shiho shook her head and said nothing. She went straight to her room to get a change of clothes after leaving the package of sushi on the kitchen table. In her room, while changing, she thought again.

Yamamoto was a good choice. But she wonder if he will make everyone his enemy in a second with his carefree attitude. If he treated the meeting as a joke, everyone in there will want to kill him in that instant. For all she knew, that meeting was another dangerous situation for her. 

"... Meaning... the only left to be my partner is..." she freezed for a while and then sighed heavily, "How am I going to ask him?" 

She went down again to set up the dinner. Wonder how she should start the conversation. Meanwhile, she had been thinking of another alternative. Was there really nobody else to ask for? Really, there wasn't. He was her best choice. 

"... You made this?" He suddenly asked when both of them were eating half way.

"Yes, how do you know?"

"... I just had a feeling." He replied and continued eating. 

Shiho didn't ask him during the dinner. Thanks to this, she can't sleep throughout the night. She took a walk around the house. She was not sure if she wished it or not but the moment she saw the light of the reading room at the back house was on, she felt kind of relief. 

*He's there...* She thought.

She slided open the door and again found Hibari in his yukata staring at the Sakura tree in the garden. It was fully blossom and looked pretty unreal.