"You look... troubled," Saya said while held in the young man's arms. He held her firmly to prevent her from drifting away. "...I don't know when the flame will change... truly, I should have the bracelet, but it's gone—lost in the Elemental Auction House."
"..." Giotto remained silent for a moment. "Is there anything else I need to know about looking after you?"
"The Sky flame is my primary element," Saya answered, murmuring and avoiding his gaze. "Originally, I didn't have all seven flames in my body..."
"Then why...?"
"I can only say it was an accident," the girl said, wrapping both arms around Giotto's neck. "It feels strange if my hands aren't holding onto anything. And I thought your neck would be better."
"...Do you always speak your mind this much?" Giotto asked.
"Well... staying in a situation where a man is holding me this tightly, even if it's necessary, is a bit weird," she said, her face beginning to flush. "If you don't want to be misunderstood, then control the flames for me already."
Giotto gave a small smile, igniting his flame while holding her with one arm, but he still refused to balance hers.
"And... who would misunderstand? We are all alone here," the young man said, his smile widening. "No one is watching, right?"
That's exactly what's suspicious!
"But the rumors..." Giotto's face remained indifferent. Saya's mouth hung open—was he getting back at her for earlier today? "M-Mr. Giotto, regarding this afternoon, I really had to do it."
"I could balance it for you, but shouldn't you try balancing it yourself first? Like I taught you."
"The side effects are terrifying..."
"That's exactly why you must learn." With that, he removed his own ring. It was different from the Guardians'—a ring with a blue gem in the center housing the Vongola crest. Small, wing-like gems of various elemental colors flanked the sides, with 'Vongola' written above and 'Famiglia' below.
The girl looked at him, realizing he wasn't going to budge. "You're really going to make me do this myself?"
He didn't answer but said, "Give me your hand." She met his blue eyes before extending her hand for him to slide the ring on. The Sky flame began to spark and leak from her body bit by bit. "Raise your hand and pray."
Giotto still held her, noticing she was trembling—a fact that even surprised him. Her moon-like eyes flickered with fear, but he didn't let go, nor did he help. He wanted her to learn to control what was inside her and overcome the fear associated with it.
He had sensed her fear since the Rain flame incident. Though he wasn't sure what she had been through, his intuition told him it was far from ordinary.
Since he had to look after her, he would do it his way—to ensure she could eventually rely on herself. In this brutal era, the weak were swallowed by history; he had witnessed it time and time again.
"I... ask a boon from the stars in the sky," Saya uttered, closing her eyes. Tears pricked from the pressure of the Sky flame, but her heart began to steady. She felt as if she were becoming one with the firmament, that the sky was listening. "Please grant me the blessing of balance... I..."
"Praying to the stars requires no chants; it's a prayer from the heart," the young man said softly. "Don't overthink it. Use whatever words you like."
"Please, stars, save me from despair and grant me new hope," she said. "Please remove the fear from my heart and help me control this flame."
As the Sky flame continued to erupt, Giotto spoke again. "Face it honestly."
Saya repeated the words, her body shivering until he pulled her closer, whispering in her ear to keep facing it while stroking her hair gently. Eventually, the erupting flames subsided until they remained only at her hands. Her shivering stopped, though she didn't stop praying. Sensing something, Giotto slowly released her, making sure she didn't notice.
What is this? Giotto let out a soft chuckle when he saw Saya floating exactly where she was, still in a prayer pose. Her hair drifted in the air, but she remained stationary—neither rising higher nor drifting away.
Sensing the warmth and the faint scent of perfume vanish, the girl opened her eyes. She saw the young man standing a short distance away. "You did it, Leyla. Very well done."
"Eh?" Saya looked around and realized she was floating before her body began to rotate in mid-air. "W-What is this?!"
"Hmm... reminds me of the days I used my gloves to fly," Giotto walked over to steady her. He ignited his own ring and took her hand. Her feet slowly descended until they touched the grass. "If you can really fly, I'd like to teach you."
"Fly?" Giotto ignited his Dying Will Flame and hovered for her to see. Saya's eyes widened as his usual leather gloves transformed into something extraordinary. The way he flew was so similar to Tsuna's, though the gloves were different.
"Something like that," he said. "Would you like to try flying once?"
"Fly...?" Saya pondered before flapping her arms like a bird. The young man was stunned.
"What are you doing...?" he asked. "Don't tell me you're trying to fly like that."
"But you said you wanted me to try! I'm a Sky flame user, so I thought if I flapped my arms like a bird, I'd take off."
"Forgive me," Giotto turned away, his shoulders shaking as he covered his mouth to hide his laughter. Saya narrowed her eyes and puffed her cheeks. Realizing he was about to be sulked at, he turned back, biting his lip to suppress the grin into a mere smile. "You... just have to... ride on my back... Leyla."
"Maybe next time. I'm exhausted today," Saya said, walking away with her hands behind her back. Giotto called out.
"That's a shame. The weather is so nice, the stars are beautiful, and as the Vongola Boss, I'm free until morning," he said. "The sky is vast, but it's not scary."
The girl stopped and turned, squinting at him with a deadpan expression. "Please? We've both been through a lot today. Can't we help each other relax for a day? I've had a very taxing day myself."
"Because of me?" she teased with a smile. He shook his head. "Or because of what Mr. Ugetsu said about the comet?"
"Many things combined... I haven't really rested since the mansion was attacked last time." Saya went to ask more, but Giotto placed a finger to his lips. "I... just want to rest."
"...Alright," she sighed as if defeated and walked back to him. "Just a piggyback ride, right?"
Giotto nodded, tightening the cloak around her shoulders. "It will be cold up there, but as the Vongola Boss, I guarantee it'll be worth it."
"...I've been on a plane and stargazed before, but this is a first." Giotto knelt before her, and the girl wrapped her arms around his neck. He stood up. "Hold on tight."
"Okay." Giotto ignited his flames and slowly ascended. Higher and higher they went until Saya saw the stars and moon much closer. They burst through a layer of clouds, entering a space where the sky was perfectly clear.
"We can't stay long, but look there," Giotto looked up. Saya followed his gaze and saw the stars brilliant and sprawling, the Milky Way cutting through the dark like a white ribbon. The yellowish-white moon glowed brighter than it ever should. "When I'm troubled, I come here to let the sky and stars comfort me."
"That's why you always pray to the stars," Saya said. "It feels like all the worry has vanished. It's like being in heaven."
"I've only seen heaven in paintings; I don't know what the real one looks like. Artists just paint their ideals, after all."
"That's true." The girl's breath came out as white mist. She began to find breathing difficult due to the altitude and the biting winter chill. She clung tighter to him, shivering.
"Let's head down before you get sick," Giotto said. Their breath continued to mist as they descended back to the ground. They walked back to the mansion, talking as if the day's chaos no longer weighed on them.
"I think you should talk to Lampo," Giotto suggested. "If you speak to him kindly, he'll surely listen."
"I was planning to," she said. "But I don't know what to say. I've dealt with this before, but becoming someone's inspiration to change themselves... I've never done that. I'm afraid he'll lose his purpose."
"Hmm..." Giotto pondered. "From Lampo's perspective, he just wants a chance. He's only sixteen, after all. Still an age with much to face."
"Eh... sixteen?" Her eyes widened. Giotto nodded.
"His father sent him to me for training, among other very important reasons. I didn't actually want to take someone so young as a Guardian." He paused as if weighing his words. "You've heard about Princess Irina, right?"
Saya nodded. "I'm sorry. I don't know if I should say it, but... the death of someone is always sad for those left behind. Especially for Mr. Daemon Spade."
Giotto glanced at her before continuing. "Princess Irina was like a distant relative to Lampo. Lampo is naturally cowardly and a bit lazy; his father was at his wit's end."
The girl laughed softly. "He's just worried about how his son will live. It's a father's love... at first, I heard the rumors, but when I taught him myself, I was also at my wit's end. He only started improving when I told him what he needed to do to help you. It seems Lampo really likes you."
"My, I feel like I have to think even harder before I answer him now."
"I don't know how many years in the future you are from, but something must happen by then, right?" Giotto asked. Saya nodded. "Then may I ask... how many years from now?"
"I don't think I should answer that. I shouldn't meddle with the timeline too much. If the future changes too much, who knows what will happen? If I trigger something, people in my era might not even exist. What should be there might vanish. My friends, those who wish me well... they might disappear. By then, even if I could go back, there might be no home to return to—if I ever get to go back."
"I understand," Giotto said. "If I imagine a world without Vongola, I don't know how I'd go on either. It is my life; I built it with the purpose of helping, even if it uses power from a dark world."
They stopped at the door. "Between someone who stands in the light but is evil, and someone who is good but swallowed by darkness... which do you think is better?"
Saya went quiet, looking down. She thought for nearly five minutes before speaking. "If it were me, I wouldn't choose either."
"And why is that?" Giotto raised an eyebrow with interest.
"First, we can't truly know if those in the light are evil because of what, or in whose eyes. Or what they've done to whom." Giotto's eyes widened. "You have to observe very carefully. If you ask the wrong person, or someone with a bias or a debt of gratitude so great they praise them blindly, it's dangerous. Am I overthinking this?"
Saya scratched her cheek sheepishly. "But this thought doesn't apply to every case; you have to see what kind of person they are, their status, and where they stand."
"I see," he nodded. "That's quite an eye-opening perspective."
"...As for the second one," she said. "No matter how good they are, don't forget that darkness has dyed many people. I just want you to be careful; it's truly dangerous. Good people are changed by stories in the dark all the time. But I believe there are still those who maintain their senses; I just don't know how many."
The young man laughed softly. "You say this right in front of a mafia boss. Quite brave."
Saya stammered. "W-Well... you asked me! Next time, tell me what kind of answer you want—flattery or something else."
"I like this kind of answer. I like an answer that comes truly from the heart," Giotto said, leaving Saya speechless. "In return, I'll tell you how to talk to Lampo."
"How?" she asked. As Giotto finished explaining, the door opened—it was G.
"I've seen you two talking out here for ages. Come in already; dinner is getting cold."
Dinner ended quickly. Giotto, G, and Ugetsu had duties and excused themselves, but they ordered Kayo and Daza to prepare warm water for Saya since she had been out in the cold. Lampo and Saya were left alone, but neither spoke.
The meal ended in a slightly awkward silence. Lampo wiped his mouth, removed his apron, and walked out. Saya felt she had to speak, so she hurried after him.
"Lampo," Saya called out as he turned right up the stairs. "I want to talk to you."
"U-Uh..." Lampo nodded uncertainly. "Go ahead."
"It's about your feelings for me," Saya said. "I'm sorry for being rude earlier."
"It was rude. No woman has ever done that to me in my life," the boy said, looking away. "So, what about it?"
"I... want to thank you for your feelings," Saya said. "But for me, everything is moving so fast—the meeting, the time we've spent. I was caught off guard."
"Sometimes feelings aren't complicated and don't need that much time. If I like you, I like you. That's it for me," Lampo said. "But... I don't expect an answer now. I want to keep pursuing you."
"Well... as long as it's not too overwhelming, that's fine," the girl said. "I think taking it slow is better."
"Uh... you can just tell me gradually," Lampo murmured, stealing a glance before looking back. "I... Oh! For goodness' sake!"
"Is something wrong?" Saya approached, but Lampo raised a hand to stop her, covering his face.
"You... just go back to your room! Go!" With that, Lampo ran into his room and slammed the door, leaving Saya alone.
"Eh...?" She stood there confused. Suddenly, a large painting on the wall behind her swung open. G and Giotto jumped out, followed by Ugetsu and Pedro. They all climbed down quietly.
"That Lampo... he's even more innocent than Leyla," G whispered, an unlit cigar in his mouth.
"One has never known love before, while the other is beyond her years but actually lacks real experience," Ugetsu noted after hearing the story from Giotto and G.
"They still have much to go through. Just like we still have to learn from them; the era changes constantly. This world never runs out of things to learn," Giotto said, his blue eyes fixed on Saya. "The words of someone from a different era are truly fascinating."
"It's your shift tonight, Giotto. I'll leave it to you," G said, turning back to his room. Ugetsu handed a book to the golden-haired man. "The book for Lady Leyla to translate."
"Thank you." Giotto took it. Pedro excused himself, and after the painting swung back into place, Giotto walked toward Saya.
"How are you?" he asked. She gave a sheepish smile and looked away.
"Give him some time." Saya nodded, then her eyes widened at his next sentence. "It's my shift tonight. I'm here to ask which is more comfortable for you—me sleeping in your room, or you coming to sleep in mine?"
To avoid bothering Giotto too much, they ended up in his room, which was connected to his office. The room was filled with inventions—telescopes, strange lenses—and shelves full of books; it was like a small library.
Kevin had once told her Giotto's room was like a magical place. In the candlelight, she felt as if the lost history of humanity was gathered here. It was a grand thought, but not far-fetched.
After bathing, she was in her pajamas, as was Giotto. They agreed that Saya would take the bed while he slept on the sofa. Since he didn't know much about the Sky flame's effects beyond making her float, he thought it best to stay close.
After blowing out the candles, the young man lay on the sofa while the girl huddled under the large blanket with a bolster.
"Rest today. We have to go into town tomorrow; I have to check on things about twice a week."
"...Can I ask for an advance on my wages tomorrow?"
"If it's not camphor or perfume equipment, I'll consider it," Giotto said before closing his eyes, making Saya sigh into her pillow. "Is making perfume that important?"
"If I told you this perfume could save at least two or three hundred lives, would you believe me?" she asked.
"Tell me the story. I like bedtime stories," Giotto said, but Saya went quiet. "But if you feel it affects the future timeline, it's alright."
"...I don't know where to start so that it doesn't affect the timeline or scare you," Saya said. "But something very terrible is going to happen. It will happen slowly, like an underwater current... and I think it's already started."
"I admit something is happening," Giotto said, making Saya open her eyes in the dark. "But it hasn't had any impact beyond border battles and the death of people as usual..."
"...Mr. Giotto," Saya interrupted. "The underwater current I mean isn't war. Death... doesn't just come from war or murder."
"Do you mean... illness?" Saya remained silent—neither confirming nor denying. "I can only think of..."
Suddenly, Giotto bolted upright. He was trembling, breathless, as if something invisible had touched him. He felt a chilling cold as if a skinless, fleshless hand of a reaper had just brushed against his body.
"Go to sleep, Mr. Giotto," Saya said. Her body was also trembling, as if what she had just done had reached the ears of the reaper, and the reaper was staring back at her. It was likely the reaper called 'Timeline Effect' growling a warning. "It was just a bedtime story."
Saya had long fallen asleep, but Giotto remained awake.
His hand released the chain of the pocket watch he had received from Kevin's father about seven years ago—even before the man was married or had Kevin. It was a gold watch with "Happy Birthday" written in Italian on the inner lid.
He remembered that day well. He, Anis, and Simon had gone to a restaurant in Venice to celebrate. Simon had given him a piece of art he'd wanted for a long time—something Simon had bid on himself. Anis, the golden-haired man with small but gentle eyes, wore his long hair in a ponytail. His clothes were simple, despite being able to afford the finest.
He was a peace-loving man with no ambition but supported what the two of them did. He was a famous clockmaker, one of the heirs of the Giordano lineage. Even the influential Medici family had once tried to recruit him as their artist.
But he had refused the inheritance and the Medici offer simply because he loved the simple life of creating without pressure. In one year, Anis would produce only four watches, each with its own unique characteristics—truly one of a kind.
"Giotto, do you believe in the miracle of Giordano?" Anis Giordano's voice echoed in his head. "The watches I make have special powers... when they are made as a gift for someone important to a Giordano."
"Here he goes again," Simon had muttered, eating sea urchin spaghetti. "The power of Giordano is just a legend. Rumors fly so much that your family is kidnapped or bought out constantly, isn't it?"
"I believe in the miracle of the stars," Giotto had said. "But if Anis wants me to believe, I'll believe with you as a friend."
Anis had laughed, making Giotto and Simon smile and laugh along.
"They say one clockmaker can grant the miracle of Giordano only once in a lifetime. And it can only be used once at a critical point in life. At that moment, the miracle of Giordano will appear."
"Though I don't believe in this much, I made this pocket watch for you, Giotto. Happy Birthday. And after this, if you want a normal pocket watch, come see me again."
"Of course," Giotto said. "You make watches so beautiful I don't care for the work of anyone else in your family."
"But... I secretly hope the miracle of Giordano brings you your soulmate, Giotto. Someone who will truly love you with their heart—as Giotto, not the Boss of the Vongola Family."
Anis had smiled at Giotto, a gentle smile, as Giotto smiled back. "Thank you, Anis. You are truly a good friend."
Simon, eating spaghetti, had rolled his eyes at them before setting down his fork and propping his chin on the table. "You two seem closer than I thought. Why don't you just become each other's soulmates instead?"
Giotto and Anis had shivered before turning to Simon, who raised an eyebrow. "Did I say something wrong? Hmm?"
However, ever since Kevin's mother died in a carriage accident, Anis had been busy raising Kevin alone and rarely made watches anymore.
It had been seven years since that day... and now was a critical point for both his life and Vongola.
A critical point called 'The Future Standing.'
The young man looked at the pocket watch before looking at the girl, who looked like a goddess sleeping on the bed. He walked over quietly and sat beside her. His eyes gradually adjusted until her form became clear.
Giotto held the pocket watch over Saya, guided by some intuition. At that moment, the watch began to glow with a gentle orange light. He quickly pulled it back into his palm, fearing the light would grow brighter and wake her. He closed his eyes and thought.
My future self must have used Anis's watch to send her here.