Clatter!
Loose gravel tumbled down the cliffside, falling nearly thirty meters before splashing into the narrow stream below.
"Phew… still as dangerous as ever."
Pressed flat against the near-vertical rock face, Tsuna clung to the mountain with a bulky backpack strapped tightly to his back. His feet braced against jutting stones, and his fingers hooked securely into cracks in the rock.
Even in this death-defying position, Tsuna lifted his gaze upward, quickly locking onto his next handhold.
His fingers dug in with an inhuman grip, his legs springing as he leapt higher, moving with the agility of a mountain goat—or maybe a monkey. His climb was fast, fluid, efficient.
In less than three minutes, his hands gripped the top ledge. With a solid pull, he swung his body and pack up onto the cliff.
Tsuna stood, breathing lightly, and glanced down the way he'd come.
"Every time I look down from here, I can't help but admire my own stupidity—who in their right mind decides to free climb this just to test something?"
He let out a short laugh at himself. Each time he reached the top, the same thought always came back—equal parts awe and disbelief.
"And all this just because I wanted to see if I could awaken my Dying Will Flame."
A helpless sigh escaped him.
No matter what he tried, it never worked.
He'd pushed himself to the brink before—fear, pain, even that desperate will to live—and still, nothing. His Dying Will Flame stayed silent, stubborn, like it was mocking him.
"Whatever."
He shook his head, brushing away the disappointment.
Six years had passed. If the Dying Will Flame were ever going to awaken on its own, it would've happened already. Maybe he was doing it wrong. Or maybe he needed a Dying Will Bullet to trigger it—like in the anime.
Tsuna set his backpack down and tugged on the line still connected below, hauling up his fishing rod and toolbox one by one.
Once everything was up, he unzipped the pack and began pulling out his gear: collapsible poles, folded fabric, and a rolled-up tent.
He assembled the poles and slotted them through the fabric's loops, forming the tent's frame until it stood firm—like skin stretched over bone.
The outside looked good. Now the inside needed padding. Without a soft, waterproof mat, there was no way he'd get any sleep.
He spread out the mat, unrolled his sleeping bag, and sprayed the interior with bug repellent. Shelter: secured.
As for the stove, that was easy.
He built a small fire pit from river stones, arranged in a circle with a hollow center. Then he opened his toolbox, pulled out a metal grill, and set it on top. For the next few days, grilled food would be more than enough.
"No need to fish today. With this heat, I'd better finish the fresh stuff before it spoils."
From the bottom of the box, he pulled out a pack of beef sealed in a cooler bag and a small sack of charcoal.
He stacked the charcoal under the grill, splashed on a bit of alcohol, and lit it. The flames caught quickly, growing hotter until the coals glowed red.
When the fire was steady, Tsuna laid slices of beef across the grill. He brushed on oil, watching as the meat sizzled, fat popping and juices dripping into the coals below. A sprinkle of chili powder, a dash of salt—and soon, the air was filled with the mouthwatering scent of searing meat.
"Mm~ nothing beats good beef."
Compared to vegetables, Tsuna had always been a meat lover.
He flipped the slices, cooking more, picking up the finished ones with chopsticks. He blew on them a few times before popping one into his mouth.
Thin cuts meant they cooked fast, and with just the right blend of spice and salt, the flavor hit perfectly—smoky, juicy, with just enough heat to make his appetite surge.
Ever since his body had grown stronger, his energy needs skyrocketed. His appetite had followed.
By the end of lunch, he'd eaten half the beef.
"Guess the rest's for dinner."
He wiped the grease from his lips, patting his full stomach with satisfaction.
He tucked the remaining meat back into the cooler bag, where chunks of ice kept it fresh for the evening.
Yeah, dinner was going to be good too.
"Summer, huh…"
After eating, Tsuna lay down inside the tent. Out here, far from the city, he could clearly hear the chirping of insects and rustling of leaves. The afternoon warmth and the hum of nature were enough to lull anyone to sleep.
"The story starts in my second year of middle school… about a year from now."
He exhaled, half-dreading, half-anticipating the future.
"Man, I really wonder if I'll be ready for that kind of life."
Having a strict, responsible teacher wasn't the problem—it was the type of teacher he'd get. One who didn't hold back, who came down hard the moment you slacked off. A year from now, life definitely wouldn't be peaceful.
Not that it ever could be again.
The life ahead of him—if it followed the original story—would be anything but calm.
Tsuna couldn't help but worry a little.
Back when he'd first realized he'd been reborn into this world, he'd been full of energy and excitement, dreaming of the wild adventures to come.
But now… after years of living quietly—eating well, studying, growing up with his gentle mother—those fiery ambitions had dulled.
Still, there was one thing he hadn't stopped longing for: power.
That same yearning burned in him even now—the hope that someday, he could ignite his own Dying Will Flame. To soar through the sky, unbound by the limits of ordinary humans.
Even while basking in the peace of summer, that desire still stirred deep inside him.
His gaze drifted to the invisible interface of his Cheat, and a grin tugged at his lips. His eyes curved with excitement.
"Tomorrow, huh… can't wait."