Silent Pain

Chapter 4

Tsuna woke up and got ready for school. He never seemed to sleep in too late, which made things easier for Reborn. Though that may be because Tsuna had trouble sleeping to begin with, which wasn't good for his deteriorating health. It was a given that he wasn't sleeping enough, but he always seemed perfectly active, for someone who didn't want to be alive at least. Reborn and Dino made sure that Tsuna had breakfast before leaving for school. After that, Reborn followed Tsuna to school carrying his lunch.

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Takeshi entered his classroom and looked around. Sure enough, the fluffy brown haired boy from the day before was there, staring blankly at his desk. Takeshi took his seat, which was actually right next to Tsuna, causing Takeshi to wonder how he never noticed the boy before. "Hello again," Takeshi said, but Tsuna made no response. He didn't even move. Takeshi sighed and waited for class to start. He swore that he'd stay awake today to see if he could help Tsuna.

The teacher took attendance and when Tsuna's name was called, Tsuna just raised his hand. It seemed that he really didn't talk. The teacher was visibly annoyed by this, but just sighed and moved on. When math class came around, the teacher called on Tsuna to answer a question. Tsuna got up and walked up to the chalkboard. He wrote down a number in no time at all and went back to his seat.

The teacher smiled. "Wrong again Tsuna," she said. "It's a mystery how you even got past grade school." The class erupted into laughter and Takeshi's face soured. That wasn't funny.

The lunch bell rang and Tsuna left the room. Takeshi got up and followed him while the bullies from the day before did the same. Takeshi grabbed the leader's shoulder and the guy turned around, his face becoming even angrier, if that was possible. "You want a repeat of yesterday?" Takeshi asked condescendingly.

"You think I'm scared of you," the bully said. "Right." The bully looked back at Tsuna and grunted. "He got away thanks to you. Don't think I'll forget this." The bullies went back into the classroom.

Takeshi ran after Tsuna but made sure to stay far enough behind so Tsuna wouldn't notice him. Tsuna kept going until he reached the roof. At that moment Takeshi faltered. Everyone knew that the roof was where Hibari liked to take his naps. It was no wonder why Tsuna ate up there. No bully would ever attack him there if they didn't want to be bitten to death. Takeshi took a deep breath. If he was going to do this, he was going all the way. He opened the door and saw Tsuna right on the edge of the roof, looking down. Takeshi froze. Tsuna couldn't be doing what he thought he was doing, right? After a few seconds, Tsuna sat down just inches away from the edge. Takeshi let out a sigh of relief and walked over to Tsuna. "You doing okay?" he asked.

Tsuna looked at him for a moment, before disappointment flashed in his eyes. Takeshi sat down next to him and noticed he wasn't eating anything. He didn't even see a lunch with Tsuna, not that that meant he didn't have one. It could still be in his bag. "You have anything to eat?" Takeshi asked. Tsuna shook his head. "You want some of my lunch?" He shook his head again.

"Tsuna," said a voice behind them, "I told you that you need to eat." Takeshi turned around to see the infant from the day before. "Takeshi was it? Thank you for the offer, but I have his lunch right here." He held up a bento box and then gave it to Tsuna. Tsuna just stared at it blankly and Reborn gave him a stern look. "Tsuna."

Tsuna sighed before opening the box and beginning to eat as Takeshi decided to get out his lunch and do the same. The two sat in silence as they ate. Takeshi was trying to make conversation, but he couldn't think of anything to say. It was hard to talk to someone who didn't speak.

The lunch bell rang and Tsuna didn't even eat half of his lunch. Reborn sighed. "You'll finish this when you get home," he said and Tsuna looked worried. "Don't worry. I'll hold on to it so the bullies won't know you have it."