The cold ocean took you on a day I’ve counted down to the second.
I know the number. I carved it into my hair the moment the ice closed over your head.
And still, still, it feels like centuries. Like I’ve been standing on this shore since the world was young, waiting for a ghost that will never walk back out of the foam.
I keep trying to build you in my mind, piece by piece, but the pieces are crumbling.
Was your nose sharp or soft?
I remember the way it used to wrinkle when you were annoyed - that small, furious crease, but I can’t remember the shape of it anymore.
Your lips. They looked chapped, almost cruel, but they were so gentle when you forgot to be furious. Weren’t they?
I think they were.
I think I’m lying to myself just to feel something that is you.
And your brows, those dark, sharp slashes that made you look like you were always plotting new murder plan.
I can see them clearly, but when I try to place them on your face, your face dissolves.
Like smoke.
Like sea spray.
It’s stupid, isn’t it?
I know each part of you like a prayer.
But when I try to say the whole prayer, the words come out wrong.
The face I loved is becoming a shattered ice.
So I stare into fire now.
Flames, wild and hungry, they have your eyes.
That burning, unhinged light you used to pin me with.
I look until my vision blurs, until I can almost pretend the heat is you glaring back.
I drank whiskey tonight.
I hate it. Always have
But it smells like your collar. Like your breath when you leaned too close.
I held the glass like it was your jaw.
And gunpowder.
I keep a little pouch of it on my desk.
I don’t even like guns.
But it smells like your fingers, that blackened residue you never quite washed off, no matter how many times I held your hand.
I trace the grains like they’re your knuckles.Every time a bomb goes off in the distance, I think:
You could have made it louder.
More vicious. More beautiful.
You were always better at destruction than anyone.
But even that, even the sound of you is starting to fade into other noises.
Into thunder. Into gunfire. Into the ringing in my ears when I miss you too hard.
I’ve tried everything.
I’ve touched silk, wool, smoke, water.
Nothing feels like your hair.
I don’t remember if it was coarse or fine.
I don’t remember if it curled at the ends.
Xanxus.
Tell me again.
How did your eyes look?
Were they amber? Were they red?
Were they soft, just once, just for me?
Or am I making that up too?
Because if I forget your eyes, then I forget that you ever saw me at all.
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The pre-order period for this was April 6 to April 11, 10, 2026, while the event itself (together with simultaneous mail orders) ran from April 30 to May 13, 2026. Online orders are then scheduled to be shipped out from late-May 2026 onwards.
On the rooftop of Namimori Middle School, Kusakabe’s deeply respected Disciplinary Committee Leader, Hibari Kyoya, was lying down as usual.
Just like usual……
Or…..so it should’ve been….
And yet——
“What?”
“Uh…..No, it’s nothing….”
“………”
“Well….. Um…..”
“……Hmph.”
Hibari closed his eyes, as if to shut out Kusakabe's presence.
After a while, faint sounds of sleep could be heard.
Kusakabe, the Vice-Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee, knew well what would happen if he woke Hibari from his sleep.
“……Sigh.”
Kusakabe gave up on delivering his message.
However,
"............"
He couldn't help but be bothered.….
What exactly was the cause of this unease?
"............"
Kusakabe stared at the sleeping Hibari. If he stared too blatantly, Hibari—sharp as a wild predator—would notice in an instant and bite him to death.
He had to strike a balance: watching, but not obviously watching. Kusakabe continued his careful observation.
At a glance, nothing seemed too out of the ordinary. His lean, long legs were casually crossed. Both arms rested behind his head as a makeshift pillow. His flawless, unblemished face was serene. And like usual, Hibird was faithfully by his side——
“...Huh?”
Hibird was.…
Wait, hold on.……
Kusakabe rubbed his eyes, hoping it was just some weird smudge on his vision.
After a few blinks, he checked again, just to make sure he wasn’t losing it.
“This... can’t be real...”
It was real.
This wasn’t some optical illusion or a mirage.
It was undeniably, inexplicably there.
“Wh-why... why is this here...?”
It was a bird.
Of that, he was certain.
A bird, just like Hibird.
But at the same time, not like Hibird.
(A penguin!?)
Twitch—
Hibari stirred slightly, as though picking up on Kusakabe’s inner turmoil.
“!!”
Oh no, waking him up was not an option!
Kusakabe scrambled to calm himself down.
(But seriously... why is there... here of all places...)
Black on its back, white belly, webbed feet, stubby wings, a tiny beak, and those round, googly eyes...
It was a penguin.
There was no mistaking it.
At Namimori Middle School. Not a zoo, and definitely not Antarctica.
A penguin being here made no sense. None.
And the worst part?
“Oh no…..”
The penguin moved.
It shifted from where it was leaning against Hibari’s head and raised its face.
Pat pat.
“!”
The penguin smacked Hibari’s head like it owned the place.
“Wh-What are you doing!?”
Kusakabe panicked. He had to stop it.
If Hibari woke up now, it wouldn’t just be the penguin in trouble—Kusakabe’s life was on the line, too.
Just as he reached out——
“You’re still here?”
Hibari’s voice, low and lethargic, cut through the air as his eyes fluttered open.
Kusakabe froze like a deer in headlights.
“Ah...!”
The terror of being bitten to death left Kusakabe utterly speechless.
Even so, he managed to summon every last shred of courage within him.
“S-Sorry for the bother!”
He bowed deeply toward Hibari, practically folding himself in half.
Staying in that position, he silently prayed for Hibari’s anger to subside.
And then—
“.….Hmph.”
The sound of steady breathing returned.
The moment Kusakabe heard it, all the tension drained from his body like water through a sieve.
He cautiously lifted his head to confirm that Hibari had fallen back asleep.
Relief was short-lived, however. His gaze shifted to the penguin still sitting beside Hibari, and his expression turned….. indescribable.
Why was there a penguin next to Hibari where Hibird usually is? Was this some sort of decision Hibari made? Or just….. what?
But Kusakabe couldn’t just leave things as they were.
If he did, there was no guarantee the penguin wouldn’t pull another stunt like before. And as Hibari’s subordinate, he couldn’t allow that.
The problem was, trying to physically separate them could backfire greatly.
If the penguin resisted, Hibari’s sleep might get disturbed.
Even worse, he might blame Kusakabe for disrupting his nap just by approaching.
(What do I do...?)
Kusakabe wracked his brain.
There had to be some way to lure the penguin away without getting too close—
(...Wait! That’s it!)
An idea suddenly struck him like lightning.
The best way to lure an animal? Bait.
(Penguin bait... Fish? They eat fish, right?)
But of course, he didn’t have any raw fish on him.
And even if he left to get some, there was no telling what the penguin might do to Hibari in the meantime.
Which left him with only one option—
“.…..”
Kusakabe hesitated for a moment.
But then, steeling himself, he made his decision.
(No choice. I’ve gotta do this.)
——Thud.
Kusakabe flopped down onto the floor, lying facedown.
——Flap, flap... fl-flap.…….
Kusakabe lay flat on the ground, arms and legs stretched out like he was preparing to be chalk-lined. Then, with determination unmatched, he began to wiggle side to side.
His movements resembled something—or rather—
(Please…..)
With his black school uniform and his large frame combined——
(I am….)
There was no denying it.
(I’m a fish… A FISH!)
Whether it was a tuna, a mackerel, or something in between, Kusakabe’s imitation of a fish was…. earnest. Ridiculous, but earnest.
(What’s the matter……I’m a fish……y’know…..?)
Kusakabe flailed and wriggled as if his life depended on it. But despite all that, the penguin didn’t move an inch closer.
(Do I…… Do I need to do more?)
Desperate, Kusakabe threw his whole body into it, swaying with the ferocity of a tuna in open waters.
His movements became wilder, his face burning red.
(Please… just… hurry up already……)
Even among the sternest of the disciplinary committee, Kusakabe was known for being the most rigid, the most serious.
And yet here he was.
If someone were to see him like this——
(Not enough? Is this still not enough?)
Determined, Kusakabe channeled all his focus into imagining himself as the freshest, most tempting fish the penguin could ever dream of.
A fish…..
Something fresh and straight from the ocean…… something a penguin couldn’t possibly resist…….
(Wait—!)
Kusakabe’s brain clicked. He remembered Yamamoto Takeshi, one of the baseball club’s key players. His family ran a sushi restaurant called "Take-Sushi."
(A sushi chef….. A master of fresh fish… The kind of guy who’d dream about reeling in a prize catch for his restaurant….. If I channel that kind of energy……)
In his mind’s eye, Kusakabe pictured Yamamoto standing on the deck of a fishing boat, casting his line into the vast, rolling waves. The hook shot through the air, slicing toward the sea with purpose.
The hook entered the water, slowly sinking, bobbing gently with the tide. In front of him, the hook swayed tantalizingly in the depths, shimmering like——
(Now’s my chance!)
Kusakabe lunged forward with his mouth wide open, snapping down like a fish caught on the line——
“What the hell are you doing?”
Kusakabe froze mid-bite, his jaw hanging so wide it was on the verge of unhinging.
“……………………………”
Hibari was watching.
His glare could freeze magma.
“Wh… Wh-Wha….. S-Sir, this is….. uh, um…..”
Kusakabe’s face burned so hot it could’ve cooked sushi on the spot.
“This is….. it’s for your sake, I swear! It’s to keep the penguin from——”
THWACK!
The tonfa slammed directly into Kusakabe’s face, leaving no room for excuses.
“AARRRGHHHH!”
“Next time, I really will bite you to death.”
With those chilling words, Hibari closed his eyes again.
Kusakabe writhed on the ground, clutching his face and attempting to stop his gushing nosebleed. Ironically, this was the most fish-like he’d looked the whole time.
(Wh-Why…. How did it come to this…?)
With resentment in his eyes, he glared at the penguin.
The penguin, as usual, was lounging contentedly by Hibari’s side. Hibari, on the other hand, didn’t even look like he cared about the penguin’s presence.
On one hand, Kusakabe thought this might be fine—maybe things were just meant to be this way. On the other hand, a fire of determination burned within him.
What if that penguin was a threat!? What if something happened to Hibari? What would he do then!?
(No choice. I have to eliminate the penguin…..)
Kusakabe’s resolve flared up like a blazing inferno.
(I’ll stake my life on it if I have to!)
Penguin vs. Kusakabe—!!
It was a battle of pride between bird and man, and it was about to begin right here——
Just then,
Green~~~ that trails Namimori~~~♪
Big or small, it’s all the same~~~~♪
The school anthem blared suddenly from Hibari’s phone.
“Hmm…”
Kusakabe froze as Hibari’s sleepy breathing stopped. Hibari stretched his limbs, then, in a calm and fluid motion, put the phone to his ear.
“…It’s me. Hmm… Got it. I’ll head over now.”
Hibari closed the phone and stood up. He casually adjusted his wrinkled uniform, walking past Kusakabe like he wasn’t even there.
With the penguin still perched on his head.
“Ah… W-Wait, President!?”
Kusakabe scrambled to follow, his mind racing with a million questions. What was the deal with that penguin? Where did it come from, and how did it end up with Hibari?
Hibari, without breaking stride, continued walking nonchalantly as the penguin clung to him.
“P-President! PLEASE WAAAAAAIT!”
The Next Day.
In the end, Kusakabe would eventually hear a story about the penguin going missing on its way to the zoo.
But, until that moment came, his battle would keep going.
Xanxus who had to make up the 8 years he was in ice, Squalo who waited for him the whole time.
Teenage XS, two young boys full of ambition making a promise together, just to realize it will never become true, not because they don't have the ability to - but because they just couldn't, the fate would not allow that.
Squalo who said "I couldn't save him again" he was blaming himself for full 8 years, just to watch Xanxus suffer the same fate while he wasn't able to do anything, when he finally thought he was strong enough.
I can't explain alk I want because im bad with words,so that it.
When your whole life your crazy mother told you were the future 10th boss, and then Nono actually says she is right and can be the 10th boss, raises you as 10th boss, and everyone treats you like the 10th boss, JUST TO TAKE IT ALL AWAY, you were NEVER NEVER the 10th boss, you are just a cheap fake for everyone to laugh at, your mother was just a crazy and your "father" was a damn liar! YOUR WHOLE LIFE IS A LIE.
Xanxus, Squalo and Dino are truly the favorite trio ship to me because I think there's such a fascinating disconnect between Xanxus and Dino.
I don't think Xanxus understands why Squalo ever befriended Dino. Dino canonically laments about being unable to understand why Squalo, who is too prideful to be forced or intimidated, gives Xanxus his undying loyalty despite the way Xanxus treats him.
Dino and Xanxus are such opposites as far as personalities go, and really embody the wide variety of ways in which Skies' magnetic personalities can pull people in. Dino is loving and affectionate; he gives loyalty and inspires it in return. Xanxus on the other hand is forceful; he inspires fear and respect. The Varia follow him primarily because they respect his strength and his right to lead them.
To Dino, Xanxus looks abusive and tyrannical. He cannot fathom wanting to be loyal to such a leader.
To Xanxus, Dino looks soft and pathetic. He cannot fathom ever trusting such a leader to do what needs to be done.
Squalo clearly likes Dino, even if you don't read it as romantic. He cares what Dino thinks, when he sees Dino again he brings him a comically large fish (and I choose to read Dino's nonchalant response as a sign that's happened before). But he also respects Xanxus, as much as he doesn't say that out loud either. He doesn't stay by Xanxus's side because he's scared, he stays by Xanxus's side because that is where he wants to be (and that is what Dino fundamentally cannot understand).
They are three people who are just so fascinatingly, fundamentally operating on different levels. It makes for a really fun dynamic to play with.
The fact that Vongola’s past, present and future bares their neck to fourteen-year-old Tsuna, will never not be funny to me. “Yeah you can destroy whatever we built but please, at least have the resolve to try.”
The only reason XS isn't my first edit on here is because this one was made out of spite :)
hey look, a bunch of well-adjusted, mentally stable mafiosos! i sure hope nothing happens to one of them that leaves the rest of the group with a gaping hole where their sense of belonging used to b- *gets frozen in ice for eight years*
