Chapter 92: New Collar “The green diamond resembles his eyes…
The narrow streets were lined with gray walls, dappled with light and shadow. A girl in a gray hoodie walked down the stone steps, her upper body almost blending in with the surroundings.
If she wasn't wearing hot pants and small leather boots, if she had changed into a pair of gray pants, she might really have become a lurking assassin walking close to the wall - but the cold-blooded assassin with golden eyes was currently munching on her breakfast as he walked, the cheese and meat sauce filling in the fried rice balls sticking to her lips and being licked off by the tip of her tongue.
The breakfast stall was recommended by Yusi, and it was quite delicious. The sweet and sour tomato sauce paired with the savory cheese was delicious. Biting through the crispy crust, the hot liquid flowed into my mouth. Even without considering energy, Chaomu didn't mind ordering a few more out of pure appetite, and expressed strong approval of Yusi's aesthetic taste.
"...As long as you like it."
The silver-haired man, who had regained his human form earlier than Yamamoto, landed a few steps away from her. When her golden pupils looked at him, he almost immediately took half a step back.
Instinctively, Hayato Gokudera wanted to turn his head away, but politeness forced him to respond. He could only utter a barely audible sound through gritted teeth and change the subject to the other person who was irritating him. "I'm quite familiar with Sicily. If you want to go out and explore, you can always call me... Please don't trust a guide written by someone who's clearly not permanently stationed at headquarters."
"Many of the places he originally chose were tourist attractions. Sicilians are tough, and the locals probably wouldn't recognize his face. If you mistake the two of you for Asian tourists unrelated to your family, I'm afraid your sightseeing experience will be unpleasant."
The "Mr." he was referring to walked beside the young girl. He wasn't angry at all when he was pointed at. He just scratched his head and suddenly realized, "So, was I ripped off when I bought that coral handicraft? No wonder Tsuna looked so strange when he told me the price. He even said he wanted me to invite Gokudera along next time we go..."
"Those handicraft vendors near the church specialize in scamming foreign tourists. Not only do they sell inferior goods as genuine ones, they sometimes even mix in some strange stolen goods." Mukudera was somewhat annoyed by his foolishness and was quite speechless at his belated realization. "As the tenth guardian, you were actually fooled by such a crude scam. You really should reflect on yourself..."
"Ahaha, because I don't know much about craftsmanship or materials." Yamamoto was quite receptive to the fact that he had been deceived. He didn't ask about the scammer's fate. He just laughed heartily and patted his companion on the shoulder. "Besides, aren't you here with Mukudera? Today, too, is all thanks to you. Thank you."
Yusi: “…………Tsk.”
Although he was quite disgusted by the other person's appearance, he didn't shake off the other person's hand after all. He continued to lead the way diligently: "The shop selling cannoli up ahead should be open by now. If Miss Chaomu is interested, you can stop by and buy one on the way."
While they were arguing, Chaomu had already finished his portion of fried rice in a few bites, wiped his mouth, and accepted the new food: "Eat, come, lead the way."
Originally, Yamamoto had said he wanted to take Asami around Sicily, but he wasn't very familiar with the local area, so he had to ask local friends for recommendations on silver jewelry stores and local attractions...
...This is why Hayato Gokudera, who had finally transformed back into human form and was supposed to go straight back to work beside the tenth generation, now appeared in this alley in a suit and tie, walking in front like a cold-faced bodyguard.
Apart from the girl who was eating in a hoodie and had no image at all, Yamamoto also changed into casual clothes, with the sleeves of his gray shirt casually rolled up to his elbows. He helped her carry the food she bought and planned to try but put on the next priority, and held a map in his other hand.
They wandered through the sea breeze and alleyways like ordinary tourists, making Yusi, dressed in a neat suit and with a stern expression, look more like a bodyguard. The silver-haired man's expression was always serious, even when introducing the food, he was very formal, as if he was reporting to the leader.
He looked completely different from when he turned into a wolf. At least Chaomu couldn't associate him with the childish little wolf who argued with Yamamoto and called people baseball idiots.
She didn't know whether Mukuro was always like this and only became childish when he turned into a wolf, or whether he was in a bad mood and that caused him to look a little strange now. She couldn't help but look at Yamamoto.
Yamamoto seemed to notice that Mukudera was a little different than usual, and thoughtfully suggested, "If you're busy with work, Mukudera, you don't have to be the tour guide anymore. I've already noted down the shops you mentioned, so I'll just show Miss Mu around..."
The silver-haired man paused slightly but did not respond.
【Gokudera Hayato disagrees. 】
The scene was a little stagnant for a moment. Yamamoto blinked and looked at Chaomu.
...should she also speak up and persuade him? That's right, Yu Si might be reluctant to quit because of her presence, so he needs her to give him another way out.
When Chaomu was willing, she was quite understanding. She thought for a second and decided that it would be more convenient to explore when Yamamoto was alone, so she followed his words and said, "Yamamoto-kun is right. If Mukudera-kun is very busy, there's no need to bother..."
“…It’s not a big deal.”
The silver-haired young man, who seemed to be in a bad mood and had been keeping his distance from the two, surprisingly did not agree or turn away. With his back to them, his emerald green eyes gleamed faintly in the sunlight with an awkward glint.
"I'm still on vacation anyway, so I'm free for now... Besides, it's my job to greet Miss Asagiri." His voice was steady and calm, his expression impassive, like a Mafia executive. "Although Palermo is within the Vongola sphere of influence, some families have been quite active lately, creating a complex mix of factions. Yamamoto isn't very familiar with these areas... With me here, your safety and travel experience will be better guaranteed."
More like a bodyguard - the kind who has to follow orders.
Asami always felt that even if she really asked Mukuro-kun to cooperate with her in some muscle dynamic comparison test, if Sawada Tsunayoshi agreed, Mukuro-kun would cooperate seriously no matter how reluctant he was.
This feeling of forcing someone to do something might make people feel a little guilty in daily life, but this is just a game. The subtle excitement and sense of guilt came up all of a sudden, making her eager to try it.
However, this wonderful evil taste was quickly covered up by the small cup of ice cream handed over by the other party.
The ice cream covered with coconut flakes and pistachio sauce looked too tempting and completely attracted her attention. The short-haired girl quickly returned to eating mode and continued to eat hard.
Those scorching golden eyes finally stopped burning his back, and Gokudera Hayato let out an almost unnoticeable sigh of relief, his leather shoes rolling over the fallen leaves on the stone slabs.
The sun was a little too bright today, and the baseball idiot who was chatting with the girl in the back and laughing heartily seemed a little too enthusiastic, just like a flowering plant that had been photosynthesizing too hard after being exposed to the sun.
In a sense, the tenth generation's junior sister has the same good personality as the tenth generation, and she actually tolerates that guy's nagging... Forget it, I hope Miss Chaomu doesn't mind.
Regardless of yesterday's "prank," the young woman seemed genuinely easy to get along with—and easy to feed. She ate each of the special snacks he recommended with a serious, focused expression, her cheeks puffed out like a hamster's.
When she eats something she likes, her steps will slowly pause, she will stop where she is, lower her head and concentrate on eating. Now she is standing on the street corner holding the cup of ice cream, the purple bougainvillea on the wall above her droops like a waterfall, and one flower falls on the top of her hair, the bright color is particularly conspicuous against her black hair.
The silver-haired man, several steps ahead of her and keeping a distance, was drawn to the vibrant color from the corner of his eye and instinctively reached out to snatch the fallen flower. But the swordsman beside her reacted faster, having already plucked the purple flower and tucked it into his pocket.
The raised hand froze in mid-motion, and Gokudera Hayato glanced suspiciously at his companion who, to put it nicely, was natural, but to put it bluntly, was insensitive. He always felt that there was something inexplicably strange about the other person's natural movements.
...No, perhaps the strange thing was him, the baseball idiot's reaction should have been just instinct...it was he himself who was still feeling secretly ashamed of the accident that turned him into an animal, while the other two participants in the accident seemed to be enjoying their sightseeing as if nothing had happened yesterday.
Recalling his terrible and childish reaction when he turned into a dog yesterday, Hayato Gokudera felt uncomfortable all over - it was hard to imagine what image he had in her mind, definitely a stupid dog with no self-control.
He waited until the girl finished her ice cream and started walking again before continuing forward, maintaining the demeanor of a tenth-generation master's right-hand man. "If you're looking to buy some handicrafts, this shop would be a good choice. The prices are reasonable, and the gems are sourced transparently. The owner is very skilled and has done many custom orders for nobles... Miss Chaomu?"
The short-haired girl who was eating ice cream just now had disappeared again without a trace. Even Yamamoto Takeshi looked around twice before he saw her figure next to the trash can across the street.
You have obtained 1 Bougainvillea branch (can be transplanted into a flowerpot)
Chaomu had just pulled her hand out of the trash can beneath the bougainvillea and tossed in her hand wipes and empty ice cream cup. Under the gaze of the two guardians, she calmly walked back to the door of the craft shop and leaned over to examine the ornaments on display. "They do look pretty."
Since he guessed that her special ability was related to the trash can, Hayato Gokudera's eyebrows twitched slightly, and he could only pretend not to notice her little action: "If you like anything, just tell the owner directly. The Tenth Generation and Mr. Reborn want you to choose some jewelry you like, which will also be convenient for you to attend events in the future..."
Yes, he only needs to act according to his duties...guarding her is his "duty" for the past two days.
The word swirled on his tongue, allowing him to watch calmly as she fiddled with a black strap between her slender fingers. The shape of the thing seemed a little delicate, the size not like a bracelet, but more like a necklace, with a green diamond pendant hanging in the middle, gleaming brightly on her fingertips.
The silver-haired man's gaze completely passed over the diamond, and he simply stared at her hand. That hand had delicately stroked his back along his fur yesterday, a gentle movement that made the silver wolf uncontrollably want to lie down beside her legs and relax...tsk.
It was at this moment that Yusi fully realized what the ornament she was holding in her hand actually was - it was clearly a necklace.
When Chaomu picked up the collar, the shop owner, who was sitting in front of the counter and looking at this side with interest and planning to come over to introduce the product, decisively lowered his head and read his almost torn newspaper intently while wearing reading glasses.
He recognized the face of the Guardian of the Vongola Lan, and naturally knew that some gossips were taboo to be read, so he just pricked up his ears quietly - before he lowered his head, he seemed to see that Mr. Gokudera's face suddenly turned red, and that expression was strangely interesting.
What's the relationship between the Guardian of the Storm and this girl? That unfamiliar man next to her is also wearing a Vongola ring, so he must be a Guardian... What's his relationship to the girl? Who is the collar for?
"Eh? Miss Mu, do you think this style of necklace is more beautiful?"
In the inexplicably stalemate atmosphere, Yamamoto was the first to speak.
He lowered his head with a hint of curiosity and examined the necklace with her, thinking, "I can accept anything, but this chain already has a pendant. If I want to hang a ring on it, I should ask the boss to customize a similar one..."
...What that baseball idiot meant was that Miss Chaomu wanted to buy him a collar, and he didn't refuse at all - is this guy addicted to dog plastic?
The feeling that something was wrong became more and more obvious. Gokudera Hayato looked at his companion in confusion, but the black-haired young man seemed to have not noticed his gaze at all. He was looking at the girl beside him with a smile, as if he was expecting the girl to give him a collar.
Huh? Is this guy serious? Does Yamamoto really want to wear something like this?
Hayato Gokudera couldn't understand and was shocked.
No matter how he thought about it, he couldn't fathom the other person's reasoning. Hearing Yamamoto call it a necklace, he wondered if the baseball idiot had simply treated it as a simple charm and hadn't considered anything unusual. The two people's reactions were so normal that he momentarily wondered if he was overthinking things. He couldn't bring himself to correct them, so he could only wait and see.
What was Chaomu doing while being anxiously stared at by several people?
She seemed distracted.
"Oh... no need," it wasn't until Yamamoto asked again that Chaomu seemed to come to his senses a little too late and shook his head. "This type of necklace doesn't seem to be suitable for hanging rings. It's not comfortable enough. It's not suitable for daily wear by Yamamoto-kun... If you want to hang a ring, ask the boss for a silver fishbone chain."
But no matter what, even after she had chosen the fishbone chain for Yamamoto, her eyes were still on the necklace, and she was obviously tempted.
I wish the necklace wasn't for Yamamoto—that was enough to make Hayato Mukudera breathe a sigh of relief. But seeing her still there, his newly calmed spirits were irritated by the blazing sun. The wind chimes hanging from the eaves tinkled in the wind, making his heart race.
...The weather was a bit sweltering today, not particularly suitable for an outing. He shouldn't have worn a suit when out and about, but suits were the armor of the mafia, cloaking their sins and bloodshed in a refined and appropriate attire. He'd long since gotten used to wearing them during work hours... and it reminded him that he was on guard duty.
The inexplicable heat made the silver-haired man pull the tie that was strangling his throat with one hand, but he suddenly let go as if he had been electrocuted because of the subtle pulling feeling.
If she didn't plan to give the necklace to Yamamoto, who was she going to give it to... or wear it herself... The black color also matched her skin color... Tsk.
Realizing his gaze had drifted to the girl's fair neck, Gokudera Hayato averted his gaze almost instantly. His tongue pressed against the roof of his mouth, his Adam's apple twitching slightly, forcing him to stop the thought of offending her.
Even if it was out of revenge, he shouldn't have such thoughts... the cunning raccoon should be wearing a collar or something... absolutely not.
Chaomu obviously didn't notice the bad idea that had occurred to him in the dark. He was still concentrating on the collar and looking down at the material.
"Miss Mu, are you planning to buy this?" Yamamoto had already hung the ring on the fishbone chain, holding it loosely in his palm without putting it on. "This gem is a beautiful green."
"Hmm, it should match his eyes." Chaomu fiddled with the green diamond, as if thinking about something, "I really like this color."
Green...eyes?
Although he had a vague premonition before, when he heard her say it, the silver-haired and green-eyed man's back still stiffened slightly, and his helpless gaze happened to meet the black-haired man who was looking at him from the side.
Yamamoto Takeshi raised his eyebrows slightly, and said thoughtfully: "...Hmm...green eyes?"
The shop owner's ears almost stood up like a rabbit.
Jokudera Hayato: “…………”
He felt his ears warm up, and stared back expressionlessly, his eyes expressing his resistance: Why is she looking at him like that? How could she possibly be buying a collar for him? Even if she did, he would never accept it...!
The person in the selection circle seemed completely oblivious to the undercurrents swirling overhead. He simply picked up the collar and went to check out. "Can you wrap this for me? Yeah, make sure it's nicely packaged. I'm giving it to my cat...or someone else."
As the shopkeeper diligently searched for the packaging, she suddenly had an idea and asked, "By the way, can the inside of the collar be engraved? If so, could you please add something to it... Yeah, that's right, I'd like to add this."
She even wants to engrave her name on the collar...?
This realization made Yusi even more helpless.
The man in a suit still had a stern, unyielding expression, but his knuckles clenched so tightly that he nearly broke his ring. He stiffly looked up at the shop owner, who was helping with the engraving, and the short-haired girl beside him, and for a moment he was unsure whether he should step forward to help pay the bill.
...No, no matter what, he shouldn't accept this gift. Miss Chaomu is still young, and her feelings for him might just be due to... her affection for Silver Wolf. He should distance himself from her and absolutely not let her misunderstand...
At the same time, in front of the counter.
In order to make it easier for the owner to engrave the words, Chaomu wrote neatly on the paper: To my dear little kitty Mimi.
At first glance, she thought the deep green of the green diamond matched Mimi Moroboshi's eyes perfectly, and she thought it would also look good on Shier. However, Shier's job might not allow him to wear a collar, but Mimi should be just right.
Mimi must be very happy to receive the gift. She has good taste.
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The author has something to say: Well, worthy of being me, today is a big success! (But I failed to adjust my work and rest schedule again)
Speaking of which, there are quite a lot of green-eyed men around the raccoon, including two pets.
The other puppies don’t have one, only Mimi got a new collar. Are you happy, Mimi?
Mimi Morohoshi: …………
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