While Lambo and I-pin were wolfing down as many pancakes as they could, Tsuna and Mukuro kept baking new ones. The bluenet had warned the other about Ken's bottomless stomach, so they had made a lot more dough to cook.
Minutes later and the other members of Caeruleus appeared one by one. First was Kyoya (Tsuna had sent a mild glare to Mukuro, clearly stating that he would have to wait before taunting the raven), who was not a morning person, and who just glared at the two cooking teens without a word, before making himself some tea, hesitating briefly, and finally decided that eating the delicious looking pancakes topped showing his dislike of the illusionist by refusing his food. And so, without having ever said a word, the raven took a plate, filled it with a copious amount of pancakes and headed to the dining room to eat besides the two kids.
Kyoya was always a delight when he just woke up...
Ken and Chikusa were the next visitors in the kitchen. Tsuna suspected they had waited for the other to rise before heading out as in 'numbers'. Judging from Mukuro's knowing smirk, he had the same opinion.
The two were wary of the food (although Ken was literally drolling at the smell) until their leader had mercy and admitted to helping cooking them. All suspicion disappeared at once and they jumped at the food, being unused to having so much available. Tsuna gently guided them towards the dining room, each of them had a full plate in their hands, and as such, completely willing to follow the brunet.
This time, Lambo and I-pin greeted the two newest members. They had quickly bounced back from yesterday's events (the two were both tough kids) and had been drilled for hours by Tsuna and Shoichi on proper manners (neither wanted them to end up as rude as Hayato or Kyoya, for all that they loved the two). Also, if their Tsuna-nii had told them that the newcomers were actually OK, that meant they were.
Chikusa and Ken looked mildly uncomfortable and unsure at the blatant display of trust, but the presence of warm and appetizing food was quick to make them relax.
Despite his rather large helping, Lambo had made short work of his first serving of pancakes and was eying Chikusa's -who was directly in front of him- but was still a bit too wary of the yoyo-wielder to ask a share (and too lazy to just return to the kitchen to get some more). The silent youth quickly noticed -he was used to Ken's hungry stares at his own food- and took the opportunity to extend a proper peace offering in the shape of three pancakes.
Needless to say that he was instantly among Lambo's favorite big brothers and earned the nickname of Chi-nii.
I-pin was fast to follow her friend's lead and the two children were soon questioning the teen on his life -and on his weird tattoo on his cheek, although I-pin had enough tact to stop inquiring after she noticed his discomfort, and smacked Lambo on the head when he was being too insistent.
Seeing that the two kids were friendly (and maybe taking pity on his comrade who was crumbling under well-meaning but overly curious questions), Ken decided to step in the conversation. Three minutes later, and he and Lambo were partaking in friendly teasing and competing over the new pancakes placed on the table by a beaming Tsuna and a bemused Mukuro, who couldn't remember seeing his companions so relaxed since they had left Lancia's Famiglia.
When Shoichi entered the dining room, he was met with the sight of Chikusa and I-pin chatting (how they communicated, between I-pin's fragmented Italian and Chikusa's few words, he had no idea), Ken engaged in a tickling fight with a laughing Lambo and Kyoya, sulking in a dark corner with a large cup of tea and an empty plate.
