Chapter 18 refers to the Ring Battle (Part 4)
After finishing the cake she had ordered from a pastry chef, Yao Chuanling patted her stomach and strolled along the way to Namjong.
Hibari Kyoya still fights with Dino every day without fail, and often doesn't come home until the middle of the night. With him away, no one cares about her, and Youkawa Rei secretly breaks the rules.
"Ling-chan?"
A random late-night event triggers an encounter with Kyoko and Hana.
Kyoko Sasagawa ran towards her, her beautiful face filled with worry.
"Have you seen my brother? He hasn't come back yet tonight, and I'm very worried. And Colonello, he's missing too."
It really was that matter.
She held Kyoko Sasagawa's hand, comforting her not to worry. It just so happened that she was also going to see them, so she gave Kyoko and Hana a ride.
"Are you going to watch the sumo wrestling match too?"
Kurokawa Hana asked her.
Yes, in response to the recent unusual behavior, Sasagawa Ryohei told his sister that it was because he was preparing for a sumo match.
Although Kurokawa Hana thought the reason was absurd, she chose to believe it because Kyoko believed it.
If it weren't for Kyoko, she wouldn't even want to ask about these things.
They arrived at the crucial moment, and Yokawa Rei couldn't stop Sasakawa Kyoko, letting her run ahead.
Although she never intended to stop it in the first place.
Yokawa Rei's gaze fell on Sasagawa Kyoko. Her deskmate, who was always understanding, gentle, and tolerant, seemed a little angry at this moment.
Fortunately, the result of this match was good.
"Kyoko, let's go back. I'm going to sleep. Kola."
Colonello glanced at Lusslia, who had fallen to the ground, and as if anticipating something, made an excuse to take Sasagawa Kyoko and Kurokawa Hana away ahead of time.
Varia, the Vongola assassination squad, is known for its cruelty and efficiency. Reborn and Colonello are used to it, but it is a big shock to the middle school students who have not been exposed to the underworld for long.
Especially for girls who have never experienced this side of things before.
Cerbero claimed that Ryohei Sasagawa was the winner and announced that the Thunder would face off tomorrow night.
The Varia men pulled off the ring from Lusslia's neck and threw it to Sasagawa Ryohei, who then carried Lusslia away like a sack of potatoes.
"Everyone needs to be mentally prepared."
Reborn observed everyone's expressions.
Once again, they realized the cruelty of Varia, not only towards enemies but also towards their own comrades.
"There will be heavy rain tomorrow night."
Amidst the torrential rain, a sudden clap of thunder rang out.
Lanbo was held in Yaochuan Ling's arms and fell asleep, completely unaware of what was happening.
*
Inside the bubble tea shop, Kyoko Sasagawa sat opposite Rei Yokawa, her fingers resting on her cup, and asked with a determined look, "Rei-chan, do you know what my brother and the others are doing?"
Her natural girlish intuition told her that it wasn't the sumo wrestling match they were talking about. She knew her brother didn't want her to worry, but she also wanted to know the truth.
The unknown can also be worrying.
Do you really want to know?
Yokawa Rei wasn't surprised at all that Sasagawa Kyoko would ask her. The truth wasn't pleasant, and even knowing Sasagawa Kyoko's nature well, she still had to confirm it.
Kyoko probably asked her out for this very reason.
Her brother, Tsuna, and Reborn will probably keep it from her, but Youkawa Rei won't.
Kyoko Sasagawa was the first friend she made at school. During their time as deskmates, she discovered that Kyoko was gentle on the outside but strong on the inside. She didn't need anyone to carefully nurture her in a greenhouse; she could thrive even in the wild.
After all, he dreamed of becoming a policeman.
"Yes, please tell me the truth."
Yao Chuanling saw the answer in those warm brown eyes.
“It’s a Mafia named after protection.” She stirred her milk tea, which looked like eight-treasure porridge, and said softly, “Tsuna is a leader in reserve, and Ryohei and the others are the guardians.”
She told Kyoko Sasagawa the truth, and then took a big sip of her milk tea porridge.
The girl opposite frowned with worry; her brother and the others were indeed doing something dangerous.
Yao Chuanling's gaze fell on the fingertips holding the milk tea. The nails had faded slightly, revealing a white undertone, indicating the unease in her heart.
"Thank you, Ling-chan. Maybe I should have a good talk with my brother."
Kyoko Sasagawa took a few minutes to process it before giving a genuine smile.
Rather than being deceived and remaining unaware for life, she would rather fight alongside everyone.
The siblings hadn't had a heart-to-heart talk in a long time.
Is the world quite accepting of the Mafia? Kyoko, as a truly ordinary person, quickly accepted this setting and wanted to fight alongside everyone, even though she hadn't yet tasted that cup of milk tea.
Is it the subtle influence of global consciousness?
"Kyoko."
Just as Kyoko Sasagawa was about to leave the bubble tea shop, Rei Yokawa called out to her.
The girl with chestnut-brown short hair turned around and saw a young girl sitting in a chair holding a milk tea, looking up at her with a gentle smile.
"I will support whatever you want to do."
Her heart seemed to skip a beat.
A year has passed since they met, but Kyoko Sasagawa still sees her as a cute, lively, and naive little girl.
“Our Ling-chan has really grown up.”
A year ago, Yao Chuanling would never have said such a thing. That elf, whose mind was always on eating, drinking, and having fun, might have known about her struggles and confusion, but she would most likely have just silently stuffed a bunch of food into her mouth.
"I've always been growing up properly."
Although I don't understand why Kyoko said that, it must be a compliment.
She also felt that she had grown up and even taller.
“We’ve all grown up, Kyoko.”
The elf's eyes curved into a smile, as light and nimble as a leaf twirling in the air.
Kyoko Sasagawa remembered those words for a long time, until ten years later, when they met again, and those words resurfaced in her mind.
That's when you truly grow up.
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