The sky above was a dull gray, a perfect reflection of Chuuya's mood as he leaned against the window in his temporary room at the Vongola mansion. His hand absentmindedly fiddled with the Storm Ring on his finger, its weight a constant reminder of the new role he had accepted—whether he liked it or not.
It had only been a day since Reiji had officially welcomed him into the fold as the Storm Guardian, but the responsibility weighed heavier on him than any battle he'd ever fought. He had always been a lone wolf, accustomed to leading his own fights, solving his own problems, and protecting his close circle. But now, the dynamics had shifted. For the first time in years, he wasn't calling the shots, and the unfamiliarity of it gnawed at him.
Chuuya scowled, the reflection of the man in the glass staring back at him—distant, troubled. The storm within him wasn't just his power. It was a metaphor for the chaos in his mind. I'm supposed to support someone else? He chuckled darkly to himself. How the hell am I supposed to do that?
He hadn't asked to be a part of this famiglia. He hadn't asked to be responsible for anything more than his own survival. And yet, here he was—no longer fighting for just himself but for something greater. Reiji's words echoed in his mind: "We rebuild, together."
Together.
It wasn't the idea of working with others that unnerved him; it was the idea of not being in control. Reiji had a vision, a mission to restore the Vongola, but Chuuya wasn't used to following someone else's orders. He had always been the one leading his own path, and now he had to step back—take orders, support Reiji, and find his place in this makeshift famiglia.
The Storm Guardian shook his head, his hand tightening into a fist. It's not that I can't do it, he thought bitterly. It's that I don't know if I should.
His mind was a whirlpool of conflict. He could feel the power of the Storm Ring thrumming against his skin, as though urging him to embrace this new role. But no matter how much he tried to focus, doubt lingered in the back of his mind. His thoughts shifted to Reiji. The kid was tough, no doubt, but he was still raw—lacking the confidence and experience to lead effectively.
Yet Reiji had something that Chuuya couldn't quite put his finger on—hope. It wasn't the reckless kind of hope Chuuya had seen before, but the kind that planted itself in the ground and refused to be moved. Maybe, just maybe, Reiji had what it took to bring this mess of a famiglia back together.
Chuuya sighed, pushing himself off the windowsill. Time will tell, he thought, though the storm within him remained far from calm.
Reiji sat at a heavy wooden desk, papers scattered in front of him. His fingers traced the edges of an old, worn map that depicted the Vongola territories as they had been in the past. But the map was outdated, its borders now meaningless in a world that had forgotten about the Vongola. His mind raced with a hundred different thoughts, each one more chaotic than the last.
What's the next step?
Reiji had barely slept the night before, his mind consumed with planning. After recruiting Chuuya, the immediate danger from the drug syndicate had subsided, but Shogo was still out there, and the fight was far from over. Rebuilding the Vongola famiglia was more than just gathering Guardians—it was about securing power, protecting the people, and navigating the underground world that had thrived in the Vongola's absence. But how? Where would they even begin?
He looked out the window, watching as the mist from the forest slowly rolled in, obscuring the horizon. We need a plan. A real one. He drummed his fingers on the desk, thinking about the Guardians he had yet to meet. Shinya had been an incredible help so far, but Reiji felt that he was still missing pieces of the puzzle. They needed strength, alliances, and resources—things that he didn't have yet.
Frustration gnawed at him, and his mind wandered back to Chuuya. The Storm Guardian had agreed to join him, but Reiji could sense the conflict beneath the surface. Chuuya wasn't the type to play second fiddle, and Reiji had no idea how to lead someone like him without overstepping boundaries.
Maybe I'm not the right person for this, Reiji thought, leaning back in his chair. He had the vision, sure, but did he have the strength? Could he keep Chuuya, Shinya, and anyone else who joined them in line? More importantly, could he earn their respect?
With a sigh, Reiji stood up and grabbed his jacket. There was one person he could turn to—Shinya. If anyone had insight into strategy and leadership, it was him.
The sound of footsteps echoed through the hall, pulling Reiji out of his thoughts. Chuuya walked in, his usual swagger diminished as he ran a hand through his hair, still getting used to the weight of the Storm Ring on his finger.
"I'm calling Shinya," Reiji said suddenly, reaching for his phone. "We need to figure this out."
Chuuya raised an eyebrow. "Calling him for what? It's not like he's got nothing better to do."
Reiji smirked as he dialed the number. "Exactly why we need him."
The line rang for a moment before Shinya's gruff voice answered. "Reiji? What's up?"
Reiji quickly explained the situation, outlining their need for a plan moving forward. "We need to meet," he finished, hoping Shinya wouldn't brush him off.
Shinya let out a low grumble on the other end of the line. "You do realize I'm not as free as you, right? I've got my own investigations going on."
"I know, but this is important," Reiji urged.
There was a brief pause, followed by Shinya's resigned sigh. "Fine. Noon at the mansion. But don't expect me to play babysitter."
"Thanks, Shinya," Reiji replied, relief washing over him. "See you soon."
By noon, the mansion's once-still atmosphere had grown tense again. Shinya arrived as promised, his familiar cold gaze scanning the room as he entered. His long coat swayed slightly with each step, and he looked like he'd been up all night with his own matters.
"You said it was important," Shinya muttered, crossing his arms as he leaned against the wall. "What's the plan?"
Chuuya, who had been lounging on the couch, stood up and joined them. "Well, we're waiting for you to tell us that, Mr. Investigator."
Shinya shot him a glance but didn't respond right away. Reiji stepped in to diffuse the tension. "We're at a crossroads. Chuuya and I can't do this alone. We need more people—Guardians. But the problem is, we're not exactly swimming in candidates."
Chuuya crossed his arms, the red glow of the Storm Ring faint but present. "No matter what your grand vision is, Reiji, the simplest thing is obvious. If you want to rebuild the Vongola, you need people. And right now, the first thing you need is Guardians. Like it or not, you're not going to get anywhere without them."
"I know that," Reiji said with a sigh. "But it's not like I can just walk up to someone on the street and say, 'Hey, want to join my famiglia?'"
"Maybe you don't have to," Shinya interjected, his voice calm but thoughtful.
Both Reiji and Chuuya turned to him, intrigued.
Shinya straightened up and glanced out the window. "I've been investigating some leads, and I came across someone who could be a good candidate. He's strong, powerful, and a bit… unconventional."
Chuuya snorted. "Unconventional? Great. Let's hear it."
"There's a debt collector named Tom Tanaka," Shinya began, ignoring Chuuya's sarcasm. "He's not the one we're interested in, but his bodyguard—Shizuo Heiwajima—is someone you should meet. He's renowned in certain circles as a strong fighter with incredible strength."
Chuuya raised an eyebrow, clearly skeptical. "So, now the special police investigator is suddenly concerned with debt collectors?"
Shinya shot him a sidelong glance. "Not the debt collector. Shizuo."
Reiji leaned forward, intrigued. "What makes him so special?"
Shinya smirked slightly, as if recalling some distant memory. "Shizuo's a monster in human form. His strength is almost supernatural—he doesn't need weapons or SP abilities to take people down. He's the kind of muscle we need."
Reiji crossed his arms, his mind racing with the possibilities. "And Tom Tanaka? What's his deal?"
"Tom's clean. Well, as clean as someone in the debt collection business can be. He runs a tight ship, and in the grand scheme of things, he's not a police problem. He's known for treating his clients fairly. But you know how it is—people with SP abilities, especially ones like Shizuo, always need to be watched."
Chuuya snorted. "Sounds like a headache."
"Could be," Shinya agreed. "But it's worth it. You want strong people, Reiji? Shizuo's one of the best."
Reiji nodded, feeling the weight of the decision settling in. It wasn't going to be easy, but nothing about rebuilding the Vongola was. "Alright, I'll go meet him. But what do I say to someone like that? I can't exactly tell him to join a fight he knows nothing about."
Shinya shrugged. "You don't have to start with that. Just talk to him. Get a feel for his situation, see where his loyalties lie."
Chuuya, still leaning casually against the wall, rolled his eyes. "So, what, we're just gonna approach him like this is a job interview?"
"Pretty much," Shinya said, smirking. "Except, in this job, you don't quit."
Reiji chuckled, though there was a nervous edge to it. "No pressure, then."
As the conversation wound down, Reiji felt a new sense of determination. Finding Shizuo could be their next big step, and with someone like him on their side, they'd be stronger—more capable of taking on the enemies that lay ahead.
That night, Reiji couldn't sleep. His mind was spinning with the thoughts of what tomorrow would bring. Meeting someone like Shizuo would be a gamble—one that could go either way. He had no idea what kind of man Shizuo was, but Shinya's words echoed in his mind: "Don't piss him off."
Reiji couldn't help but chuckle to himself. Easier said than done.
Across the room, Chuuya was still awake too, staring at the Storm Ring on his hand. It caught the faint light of the moon as he turned it over in his fingers, his thoughts unreadable.
"You ready for tomorrow?" Reiji asked, breaking the silence.
Chuuya didn't look up. "Yeah, sure. But this whole 'following orders' thing is gonna take some getting used to."
Reiji smiled. "I get that. I'm still getting used to giving them."
Chuuya huffed out a breath, his eyes finally meeting Reiji's. "Don't screw this up, alright? I didn't sign up for a sinking ship."
Reiji nodded, understanding the unspoken weight of Chuuya's words. The Vongola was his dream to rebuild, but he wasn't alone in it. He had Guardians now—people who had their own struggles, their own conflicts. And yet, they were all connected by the same fight.
The dawn would come soon enough, and with it, the next step toward rebuilding the legacy that had been left behind.