One minute until the final bells rings to start the summer. I finished my last final exam for the year a while ago, with my name, Hibari Atsuko, on it and everything. I really had nothing else to do but to read a book. My two closest friends, Kanri Ami, and Fuuta de la Stella, are in different classes.

Ami is a cheerful, hyper girl with blonde, wavy hair, and sea blue eyes. I used to be as hyper as her, but then I found out that my older brother, Hibari Kyoya, was in a mafia called the Vongola. Somehow, other mafia families found out about my existence, therefore, dubbing me as 'his weakness', have been after me ever since. I ended up having to take martial arts and self defense classes to protect myself when Kyoya isn't there. Having the mafia constantly hunt me down, made me pessimistic and paranoid, leading me to build up walls around my heart. I've been friends with Fuuta since I was nine, so I trust him wholeheartedly. The only people I trust are Kyoya, Kusakabe, Fuuta, Ami, and the rest of the Vongola.

My thoughts were interrupted when the bell rang. My stuff was already packed up, and I didn't even take that book out that I was planning to read, so I just grabbed my bag and left the room. Immediately, I was nearly tackled to the ground by none other than Ami.

"Atsuko-chan! Its summer!" She let go of my waist, only to grab my arm instead. "Lets go celebrate at my house!"

"You know I can't do that, Ami."

"Why not?" She whined, pouting.

"Because Kyoya wants me home immediately," I sighed, "I can go home and ask him, though."

"But he hates me!" I knew that what she said was true, but I really couldn't figure out why. "Can't you just ignore him for once, for me?"

I stared at her, "No!" She's never said anything like that before, so why now?!

"But I want to show you something, and it can only be shown today!"

That explains a bit of it, but still! "You know how my brother is!"

"Just for a couple of minutes?"

"My brother is the strictest man I know, Ami. I can't be 'just a few minutes' late. I'll get the scolding of a lifetime."

"Please…!" Great, now she's giving me the puppy dog eyes.

"For the last time, Ami, no! I won't agitate my brother just to hang out with you!"

"But I really, really want you to see this!" She's still trying, and it's actually starting to get

annoying.

"Ami, the best I can do is to ask my brother if I can go later on."

"Fine! But I just know that he won't let you come!"

"He's not that predictable," I shook my head, "I really don't know how he'll react.

Ami pouted a bit again, but gave in soon after. "You better be there!" She called out, running off.

I watched her back disappear around the corner, walking towards the front entrance, seeing Fuuta waiting there.

"Atsuko-chan!" He called out, waving with a gentle smile on his face

"Hey Fuuta!" I stopped a foot away from him, but I still had to look up to see his face.

He chuckled a bit, "We don't want to keep your brother waiting, now do we?"

"Nope! I've gotta ask if I can go to Ami's later on today, she was so insistent!"

"Do you know what for?"

"She just said that she had to show me something, and to celebrate summer."

"Well, thats Ami for you"

I looked ahead, seeing as we just passed through the gates, we turned the corner, walking to my house. "Yeah, but he hates her for some reason."

"You could always ask Kusakabe-san?"

"I did, but he didn't quite understand either."

Fuuta didn't respond after that, looking deep in thought. After a while of silence, I saw Tsuna's house in the distance, "Bye, Fuuta"

"See you later" Fuuta waved at me, as I went down a different path.

"No" Kyoya was crossing his arms, eyes narrowed as he stared at me from his spot in the tatami floored room.

I wanted to say something, but I knew it would only make his mood worse. To be honest, I'm shocked that Ami was right about him not letting me go.

"K-Kyo-san" Kusakabe cut into the thick silence, "She's just going to a friend's, right?" His voice was shaking, but I knew he rarely ever spoke out against my brother like this.

"Tetsu, I don't trust that woman" I still don't understand the reason why he doesn't, but I'm sure Kyoya has his reasons.

"What if, Chrome-san goes with her?" Kusakabe suggested, straightening his posture, sure that Kyoya would accept.

My brother looked at Kusakabe blankly, before he gave a small, barely noticeable nod.

Kusakabe was relieved, "I'm sure that Chrome-san is strong enough to protect her, especially since Atsuko-san's important to her as well" I smiled a bit, happy that Kusakabe was willing to help me out.

"Hn" Hibari turned his back to us, signalling that we were allowed to leave now.

I walked out of the traditional Japanese house, Kusakabe wasn't far behind. "I'll go with you until we get to Chrome-san's apartment" He explained, I looked back at him and nodded, turning back forward to pay attention to where I was walking.

"Thank you, Kusakabe" I said, feeling his questioning gaze on me, "I wouldn't have been able to convince him without you."

"I understand how much you enjoy spending time with Ami-san, but…" Kusakabe trailed off.

I stopped and sent a curious glance back towards him, "...But what...?'

"I...I just hope that trusting her won't get you hurt, I suggested Chrome-san watching over you guys for your sake as much as it was for his."

"I've known her for a long time, though" I responded, sure of myself, "she's not like that…"

Kusakabe chuckled behind me, "Yes, I'm aware. Just be careful, alright?"

I nodded, sighing. I saw the door to Chrome's apartment and approached it, knocking on the door.

It wasn't long before a girl with long, purple hair and black eyepatch came to the door and opened it, looking at me with confusion swirling around in her visible purple eye. "Atsuko-chan…?"

"Chrome, can you watch over me when I go to Ami's house, its the only way for Kyoya to actually let me go"

"Why not Kusakabe-san…?" She looked at said man pointedly,

"Uh…?" I turned to look at Kusakabe, wondering why he decided it'd be better that Chrome came instead of him

"Ami-san might feel uncomfortable if a random, grown man was listening in on your conversations" Kusakabe explained, "So its much better for Chrome-san to watch over you"

"Ah…" Chrome nodded, "..if that's the case, then sure"

"Thank you, I appreciate it"

When I said that, Chrome smiled down at me, "Just let me get ready first, okay?"

"Yeah!"

"Then, I shall get going" Kusakabe bowed, before walking away.

It didn't take long for her to come out in a white dress shirt and black pants, with her bag hanging off her shoulder. "..lead the way…"

I nodded, leaving and starting to lead to Ami's house.

The way there was mostly silent, although it was a more comfortable silence. Chrome and I were really close, she's a lot like an older sister to me, so she's one of the four people that I trust the most, the other three being people who were there for a lot of my childhood, Hibari, Kusakabe, and Fuuta.

Once we arrived at Ami's western-styled mansion, I couldn't help but notice that she never told me what her parents did for a living, but I decided to brush it off. They're probably never home, so she doesn't like to talk about it.

"Atsuko-chan! You could come!" Ami suddenly burst through the doors, tackling me for the second time that day.

"Gyah!" Thank goodness I didn't hit my head! "Yeah, but on the condition that Chrome watched over us. I pointed up at the girl who was looking at us silently.

"Eh? But I want to talk to you, alone!" Ami complained, pouting.

"...sorry…" Chrome said, but not anything more.

I looked back at Ami to see-?! Was that a glare on her face?! I blinked and it was gone. There's no way that Ami of all people would glare! I've known her for two years, and not once have I ever seen her glare at anyone.

Ami sighed, "Fine…" She then perked up and grabbed my wrist, pulling me with her to stand up, then she dragged me through the doors of her mansion.

"A-Ami, slow down!" I exclaimed, barely being able to keep up with her excitement, and it seemed she was running, almost. I looked behind me to find that Chrome wasn't far behind us, she wasn't having a hard time keeping up, either.

"Nope~ You took too long to get here, Atsuko-chan!" Ami huffed, not slowing her pace down at all. "I want to introduce you to my family!" Ami exclaimed, stopping in front of a huge set of double doors.