At the Sawada household's front entrance on a Saturday morning, a boy was crouched down, tying his shoelaces.
Once he finished, he straightened up from the floor.
Click!
The door opened, and a stream of sunlight spilled over his face. The brightness made him squint and instinctively shut his eyes for a moment before blinking them open again.
"The sun's already this strong in the morning?"
The moment the door opened, the sound of cicadas outside became sharper, louder, filling the air.
"Summer always gets noisy like this."
He grumbled, shaking his head as he picked up the backpack waiting by the door.
The bag was almost half his height, stuffed to the brim and solid black. You couldn't even tell what was inside, but he hoisted it effortlessly, like it weighed nothing at all.
After adjusting the straps, he grabbed a metal toolbox and a fishing rod beside it.
"Tsuna."
Just as he was about to step out, a woman's voice called from inside.
He turned his head. A woman in casual home clothes stood there, her face framed by a warm, radiant smile that could melt away anyone's irritation.
"Tsuna, how long are you planning to camp this time?"
"About three days."
"Did you pack enough food?"
"Of course. Besides the wild fish I plan to catch, I brought plenty of ingredients—enough for three days at least."
He patted his backpack proudly. Everything he needed for camping was already prepared.
"Don't worry, Mom. I know that place like the back of my hand. If I run out of food, I'll just come back early."
Seeing her son so confident and ready, Nana Sawada's worry faded.
She walked over and ruffled his hair.
"Alright. Just make sure to stay safe."
"I know, I know."
Tsuna's face flushed with mild embarrassment. Even at thirteen, being patted on the head wasn't exactly his favorite thing. No guy that age liked being treated like a little kid—especially by his mom.
"Then I'm off."
With that, he picked up his fishing rod and box, and stepped out the door.
"This kid..."
Nana smiled at her son's shy retreating back, shaking her head as she closed the door and went back to her chores.
Beneath the blazing summer sun, Tsuna walked down the path toward the back mountain campsite, his mood bright and light.
Today wasn't special just because he was going camping. It was special because it marked the final day of his six-year effort—his long journey to finally "harvest the fruit of perseverance."
His name was Tsunayoshi Sawada. From the moment he was born, he had memories, awareness, and knowledge from his previous life.
He remembered everything clearly—thirty-three years of life, ending in a stupid, anticlimactic death when a gas leak filled his apartment.
But death hadn't been the end. He'd opened his eyes again—reborn into a world he knew all too well from his last life:
Katekyo Hitman Reborn.
Yeah. The instant he heard his new name, Tsunayoshi Sawada, he'd realized exactly where he was—and what kind of chaotic, twisted future might await him.
Unfortunately, as an ordinary human and a newborn baby, there was nothing he could do to change fate.
But luck hadn't abandoned him. On his seventh birthday, strange glowing words began to appear before his eyes:
[Eat properly]
[Exercise after meals]
[Go to bed early]
Each phrase acted like a daily goal. When he completed one, it turned green. After finishing all three, a small red number appeared above them, tracking how many days he'd succeeded.
Tsuna figured this must be his Cheat—his unique reborn ability. So, he followed the instructions.
Honestly, they weren't anything unusual. Eat well, get some exercise, sleep early—pretty basic stuff. The only new habit he really had to build was that "exercise after meals" part.
Still, having visible goals motivated him more than he expected.
Every time he completed the three tasks, he could feel it—his strength and stamina growing bit by bit. Not by much each day, but after 2,160 days of steady effort? It added up.
At first, Tsuna used to complain a lot. The progress felt painfully slow—nothing like those fantasy protagonists who turned their lives around overnight.
But as the years went on, he let go of that frustration. Even a small gain was still a gain. Better than nothing, right?
That mindset kept him going. He stopped worrying about how "strong" his Cheat was and just focused on living like a normal kid—doing his three daily goals without fail.
Eat well. Exercise. Sleep early.
No matter what the future threw at him, the strength and stamina he earned every day were real. That was enough.
Then, just yesterday, after finishing all three goals as usual, the numbers turned green—and a new red-outlined gift box appeared beneath them, with a small counter beside it:
[2190 / 2191]
That's when Tsuna realized it. The past six years had all been buildup. All this time, he'd been working toward unlocking that mysterious reward.
And now, he was only one day away.
"What could it be?"
Excitement flickered across his face. Since morning, he'd been wondering what might come out of that box.
Carrying his backpack, toolbox, and fishing rod, Tsuna made his way up Namimori Mountain.
The mountain was vast, covered in thick greenery, teeming with hidden wildlife. According to local legends, even bears lived deep in its heart. No one had ever proven it true—or maybe those who tried became bear food.
Either way, no one was eager to find out.
Tsuna wasn't stupid. Sure, after six years of effort, his body was stronger than most kids his age—but he was still a thirteen-year-old middle schooler. "Teenager" or not, he was no match for a full-grown bear.
At best, he'd be a slightly tougher snack.
That's why he'd picked his campsite carefully—far from the deep woods, far from the river, and high enough to stay clear of any wild animals.
Safety first, after all.