"What's wrong?" Shouko asked curiously after he returned to his seat, having finished packing his things.
He gave her a gentle look, shaking his head. "It's nothing, I just borrowed her folding umbrella before," he explained softly. He then tucked the textbooks Shoya had found on the table back into the desk hole, leaving only the sixth-grade Japanese textbook that was slightly wrinkled by the other boy's hand.
"Shouko, wait for me."
"Yeah." Shouko nodded obediently. She trusted he'd tell her what he was doing without her having to ask.
Tsuna picked up the Japanese textbook and walked slowly to the back row where Shoya sat.
Hirose, chatting with Shimada, saw him squatting down and rummaging through Shoya's desk, and quickly tried to stop him.
"What are you doing!?" His voice successfully drew the attention of those chatting nearby.
Miki and Naoka had just finished cleaning their lunch boxes and returned to the classroom. Miki, walking in front, noticed the commotion in the back row and quickly nudged, "Naoka, look! It seems Miyamura is looking for something in Ishida's desk." She carefully raised her hand and pointed towards Shoya's spot. Naoka looked in the direction she pointed, but not seeing the person she wanted, she glanced around.
Realizing Ishida wasn't there, she settled in to watch the show.
"Isn't it obvious? Of course, it's a book exchange." Tsuna completely ignored the obstruction. He pulled out Shoya's new Japanese textbook, checked the first page to see it was nameless, and then swapped it with the clearly wrinkled textbook in his hand, placing his in the other boy's desk.
After the exchange, Tsuna stood up, anticipating a lack of understanding. He added, "That hedgehog-headed guy didn't pay me for the book, and he wrinkled my new one for no reason. I exchanged with him, is that a problem?"
Hirose was about to argue when Tsuna cut him off: "Or are you loyal enough to exchange your own with me?"
Hirose could only shut his mouth and watch Tsuna leave Shoya's position. After Tsuna had walked a little distance away, he turned to Shimada in confusion. "Ikki, why didn't you say anything?"
Shimada simply stared at Tsuna's back without offering an explanation.
After Tsuna returned to his seat and put all the textbooks from his desk into his schoolbag, he turned his head and said softly, "Let's go, Shouko."
"Yeah!"
"Shouko, where did you two run off to in such a hurry?" Miu, bored on the bench, finally spotted the familiar duo approaching and asked, puzzled.
When Chika saw them from a distance, she noticed their school bags. Based on past experience, she figured Tsuna had probably been called to school for a fight and was given early dismissal.
"You guys are carrying school bags, so you're not planning to go home early, are you?"
Miu immediately added before Shouko could explain.
Shouko nodded. She walked over, picked up the two untouched bentos from the bench, handed one to Tsuna, and then quickly explained what had happened to the two girls in front of her.
"That brat is too much! And the name Shoya sounds so familiar," Matsuoka Miu said indignantly.
Chika looked at her, confused. "Really? Why don't I remember him at all?" She thought about it but couldn't recall the name.
Logically, if Miu remembered it, she should too.
Seeing that Chika seemed annoyed, Tsuna chuckled. "Alright, Chika, you won't figure it out no matter how hard you try. Miu's familiar with that name because the three of us are frequent visitors to the teacher's office, so we've definitely heard his name several times."
"Tsunayoshi, what are you talking about!? I'm a good student!" Miu feigned innocence, then patted her chest proudly. However, after he said that, she did remember. It was just as he said, but she wouldn't admit it. Humph!
Tsuna was utterly speechless and perfunctory. "Yes, yes, you are a good student."
If he remembered correctly, this girl with double pigtails had been called to the teacher's office two or three times more than himself, and even more than the "hedgehog head." But her incidents were just minor matters. The number of times her parents were called to school could be counted on one hand.
"Ah!" The three people chatting were drawn by Shouko's exclamation. Before Tsuna could ask, Shouko explained,
"When I came down just now, I forgot to go to Yuzuru's class and tell her that Tsunayoshi and I went back early." She raised her hand and patted her forehead, turning to go back.
"Hey, hey, hey!" Tsuna quickly reached out and held her. Shouko turned and looked at him, head tilted slightly, wondering why he had stopped her. He suppressed the inexplicable speechlessness in his heart and suggested softly, "After school, let Miu and Chika explain to Yuzuru."
Shouko thought that was fine; Aunt Miyamura was still waiting outside the school. She turned to Chika, clasped her hands together, and said playfully, "Then please help me explain to Yuzuru when the time comes, Chika, alright?" Before Chika could nod in agreement,
Miu interrupted. She raised her right hand, pointing her index finger at herself, and asked excitedly, "What about me? What about me?"
"Yes, yes, yes, I'll have to trouble you too, Miu, alright?" Shouko added.
When Miyu heard this, she bared her teeth, patted her chest, and promised repeatedly, "Haha... It's a small matter! Yuzuru is my real sister, I'll give her the love she lacked this afternoon after school!"
Tsuna watched the interaction between the two of them quietly, when suddenly his watch vibrated. He looked down and saw the bold words "The most beautiful mother" displayed.
Thinking his mother must be waiting anxiously, he quickly interrupted the two girls: "We're leaving first, see you tomorrow." After saying that, he showed the call display to Shouko.
"Miu, Chika, then we're leaving first. Yuzuru is in your care."
"See you tomorrow."
"Bye."
After the two had completely left, Miu shuddered, rubbed the goosebumps on her arm, and chuckled, "Chika, did you see that? Tsuna actually named his mom 'The most beautiful mother' in his contacts. So cringe!"
Chika just nodded without comment. She felt it must have been his Mom's idea.
After school that afternoon, Miu completely forgot her earlier promise and only cared about teasing Yuzuru. After the two were tired of playing, Chika slowly explained to Yuzuru that Tsuna and Shouko had gone home early and they should go back too. Matsuoka Miu, standing next to her, then remembered and quickly agreed.