Bite To Death

"Hey, everyone!" Takeshi cries happily into the microphone, relaxing back into the chair. "I've been away for a while, occupied in Tokyo with the rest of the Patrollers." He huffs in laughter. "I guess I have a lot of school work to catch up on."

The half-hearted laugh trails off.

"I don't…know how to say this," he says slowly. "So I guess I'll just speak plainly."

...

Shoichi slumps back in his seat, Verde on one side and Spanner on the other as they listen to the radio host.

["We have Japan."]

Smiles bloom on the inventors' faces.

...

A shocked laugh escapes the radio speakers, echoed by Kensuke. His little brother reaches across the dinner table to turn up the volume.

["That's… that's it, I don't know how I can explain that in any other way."]

...

["We have Japan,"] the radio host repeats.

Tetsuya smiles and raises a toast with the rest of the Disciplinary Committee. It's been a while since they were all in the same place and it's good to catch up with each other.

...

"Namimori has Japan," Takeshi corrects, staring sightlessly into the microphone, rolling that thought around his mind.

Tsuyoshi places a hand on his son's back, sitting in a chair beside the teen. They grin at each other.

...

["Namimori is Japan."]

Mukuro rolls his eyes at Takeshi's dramatics, but he can't keep the smile from his face anyway. Chrome rests her head against his shoulder, having returned home a few hours into the Disciplinary Committee's party, and in the background Ken and Chikusa argue over the last slice of cake.

...

Laughter comes from the radio, sounding incredulous.

Colonnello swings Lal around the living room to inaudible music and brings her down into a dip, planting a kiss onto her smiling mouth.

Skull makes loud, grossed out sounds from the couch until Oodako flops into his l.a.p and Skull gets distracted by the octopus. Fon smiles at the two dancing, while still racing Mammon in a game of speed poker.

...

["We did it, everyone!"]

Enma barely hears the words over how loud his friends are, and he loses track of the radio when his little sister launches herself at him and demands a piggy back ride. His parents, snapping pictures of absolutely everything, do nothing to help Enma.

...

["We cleaned the entirety of Japan."]

Lambo ducks the dumpling and pops up from behind his chair barrier, pegging a handful of noodles at I-pin with a huge grin on his face.

Fuuta smacks him in the side of the head with bacon, but Lambo isn't complaining.

...

["I mean, yeah, I was expecting it. But it's only hitting me now. F.u.c.k."]

Ryohei quickly lunges across the room, dumping a rather startled Hana out of his l.a.p as he puts both hands over Kyoko's ears at the swearing.

Hana drags him away from his laughing sister by the ear.

...

["Holy. Shit."]

Hayato grumbles but hugs Bianchi back nonetheless, her goggles pressing into his shoulder. Shamal tries to join the group hug but both siblings punch him in the throat.

...

["Just – just everyone, thank you so much."]

Byakuran has to tilt his head to the side so he could catch a marshmallow thrown at him by Bluebell with his mouth.

A beat later and all of his Guardians' throws hit him in the face, the fluffy treats bouncing off Byakuran merrily.

...

["And Kyouya, you insane monster, never change."]

Chrome rolls her eyes this time, more at Chikusa using his yoyos as a garrote to choke Ken.

Mukuro taps her on the shoulder and points out of the window where bright splashes of colour appear in the night sky, accompanied by the bang that all fireworks carry.

...

["Zombies? Yeah, sure. Apocalypse?"] The laughter from the radio builds.

"It's only an infestation!" Dino and the rest of his Chiavarone chime in with Takeshi and collapse over each other laughing, already completely drunk.

...

["To those of you listening from outside of Namimori, I'd just like to say; Japan is here, and it's entirely zombie free."]

Xanxus roars in anger when Squalo wins again. "F.u.c.k, I hate this stupid game," he snaps, tossing the controller down.

"My turn!" Belphegor cries, throwing himself over Xanxus' l.a.p to reach the discarded item, but Fran gets there first.

"Don't be a sore loser, shitty boss," Squalo cackles.

Bester huffs at Lussuria, the man only just taking out the curlers to reveal Bester's new, stylish fur.

...

["But if you can't make it…"]

Gamma sways with Aria to a slow song, Yuni spinning around them both on Reborn's feet, the girl helplessly giggling as she's lead around in a fast paced waltz.

...

["Well, Namimori is going to start cleaning the rest of the world anyway."]

Hana frowns with her arms crossed but Ryohei's wide, sheepish smile makes her lean over to hug him in the end. Kyoko and Haru coo over the couple's adorableness loudly.

...

["Just sit tight, because we've got a Disciplinary Committee."]

Tsuna smiles softly in his sleep, dreaming of a gentle warmth.

Nana and Iemitsu slowly retreat from the bedroom threshold, closing the door behind them after checking up on their son. They stare at each other with love filled eyes and head to the rooftop to star gaze.

...

The bright splashes of fireworks is a faint, far off light that doesn't illuminate the area at all. The noise can't seem to reach this place either. There are no crowds here, all of the Namimori citizens gathered with family and friends at home or in the main streets to celebrate.

A still figure stands on the hill overlooking a gated ground, the surroundings empty and devoid of life. The long black coat blends in with the night, and a cold wind sweeps their hair to the side. They shiver but they don't move until dawn peaks over the horizon.