uploaded on June 07, 2015

edited: March 2017

Disclaimer: I own nothing from Katekyo Hitman Reborn.

Summary: Tsuna's (arguably) best trait is put to good use with his new job at the cake shop.

This is my first fic for the KHR fandom. Cover art done by yours truly. Please enjoy!

Resolve

Tsuna had the best mom in the world.

He was called no-good-Tsuna for the duration of his school life due to his bad grades and even worse luck. He ignored them all with his mom's encouragement and loving reassurances; "If you put your heart into it, you'll achieve anything you want, Tsu-kun!"

But Tsuna was no-good-Tsuna. Despite his hard work and timeless effort, he graduated high school just barely.

He wanted to do better. He knew he could do better. He just didn't know what he could do.

So he told his mom he wanted to put off college. He wanted to think over his life choices and the choice of degree was a big one after all. If he wanted to pursue a career it must be something he knew he'd do well in, something he knew he'd be willing to put his heart and soul into. While mulling over things, he'd work to help with the expenses and save up money. "Don't worry mom, I got a job at the cake shop at the train station."

His mom beamed at him. She understood.

Tsuna had the best mom in the world.

Much to Tsuna's surprise, it wasn't hard to get the job in Kawahira's Baked Goodies. He walked in the shop, saw the owner, "Uncle Kawahira" as he introduced himself, and said, "I saw you have an opening for a cashier . . ."

"Are you applying?" the man smiled at him from behind the counter.

"Y-yes, I'm interested."

"I'm Kawahira. Please call me Uncle Kawahira. What's your name?"

"Sawada Tsunayoshi. You can call me Tsuna."

"Well then Tsuna-kun. You're hired!"

It was both a feeling of victory and dread for Tsuna when he found himself paling at Uncle Kawahira's smile. Surely he couldn't be the only one who tried to apply, so why him? Something within himself was firing like crazy, telling him to get away but he wanted to have a job and with his rotten luck he doubted he'd get one again in the near future. So he stayed.

"Thank you very much, Uncle Kawahira."

Kawahira's Baked Goodies was located inside the Namimori Train Station. It was fairly new, Tsuna thought, since he hadn't seen the cake shop before, which could also explain the opening for a cashier. It was also placed in a convenient spot which could attract a fair number of customers. However, for the past ten minutes he stood there he never saw anyone enter the shop despite the surge of people coming in and out of the trains.

It's like it's invisible, he mused to himself.

But, hey, if there weren't many customers, then the workload would be lighter, right?

His eyes focused on the piece of paper taped on window of the shop; Hiring: Cashier

Wouldn't hurt to give it a try, right?

"I knew you could do it, Takeshi!" Tsuna grinned at Takeshi who only smiled sheepishly in response. "A scholarship in Kishiki U . . . wow!"

"Haha, you're embarrassing me Tsuna," Takeshi looked away and rubbed the back of his neck.

"Don't be silly, there's nothing to be ashamed of," he welcomed the new plate of sushi Takeshi handed to him. "And besides, everyone in Namimori knows you're one of the best sushi chefs in town!"

As if to emphasize his point, the other customers within earshot expressed their approval of Tsuna's proclamation. He grinned wider at the black-haired boy who only went redder. Takeshi's father, Yamamoto Tsuyoshi, clapped his son on the back with a smile.

"Only second to me, of course!" he guffawed, earning laughter from the customers in Take Sushi restaurant.

Tsuna noticed Takeshi's discomfort despite having a huge smile on his face. So he really is embarrassed, Tsuna thought fondly as he quickly devoured the sushi on his plate. As soon as he finished he thanked them for the food and announced his intent to go home. By habit, Tsuyoshi gave Takeshi a little push and ordered him to accompany Tsuna.

Just as planned, Tsuna smiled to himself.

Once outside, Takeshi finally let go of the wide, fake grin and settled for a smaller, genuine one. "Thanks."

"No need to thank me, I'm the one who started it after all."

The taller boy threw an arm on his shoulder and pulled him a bit closer. "I promise to visit you everyday, Tsuna." His voice suddenly held an air of seriousness in it. It made Tsuna's heart skip a beat.

"You don't have to do that, Takeshi! Travelling everyday from Kishiki to Namimori and back will be very expensive," he explained before Takeshi set his mind into doing it. "We have each other's numbers, so you can call or mail me instead."

Takeshi stared at him expectantly.

Tsuna sighed. "Everyday, if you have to," he added.

"Thank you Tsuna!" he laughed, the sound of his happiness was enough to put a smile on anybody's face. "I still promise to visit you every week!"

"What?" Tsuna's eyes went wide. "Takeshi!"

"I made up my mind."

Tsuna was too late. Once Takeshi concentrated on something, nothing would ever break his resolve from doing it. But he supposed that was what made him Takeshi, his childhood friend.

They finally reached the Sawada house and Tsuna stepped away from under Takeshi's arm to face him. "I guess this is it."

"Yeah," he nodded, his hands in his pockets. "Classes start in three weeks but I want to get a feel of the place early. I probably won't be able to visit you till classes start though."

"Like I said, you don't have to —

"But I want to, Tsuna," his brown eyes stared at him with such intensity that Tsuna gulped in fluster. After several years of friendship, this side of Takeshi still surprised him sometimes. "I'll leave tomorrow morning."

"I'll see you off?" Tsuna offered.

But Takeshi shook his head. "It'll make it harder for me to leave when you're there, you know. My old man crying was enough to almost stop me. Almost. I don't know what will happen if it's you."

Tsuna didn't have a response to that. To think Takeshi ranked him higher than his own dad, well, he's at a loss of words.

Instead, he stepped forward and gave Takeshi a hug. He felt him stiffen for a second, before Takeshi returned it and placed his head on top of Tsuna's, being a head taller than him.

All Tsuna could think of while watching Takeshi's retreating back was, I want to be better.

He should stop being no-good-Tsuna.

Maybe he should try getting a job.