A/N: Can't believe that I just updated this story now. Anyway, thanks to reviewers who "slapped" me back to life; I hope you continue in doing so hehe. So, enjoy! :D

Disclaimer: I don't own KHR

Summary: Sawada Tsunahime started to accept in her heart that she's no-good and began to lose her hidden radiance. Giotto, the awesome transfer student, has always lack a strong feeling in his life. Would this world-different people able to find that lost pieces of souls they searched? Fem27xGiotto! AU

Warning: AU (in setting, in time, and in plot), genderbend (Fem27), writing stuff?

Hints—G's Hypothesis

"If you only have a hammer, you tend to see every problem as a nail."
- Abraham Maslow

Previously…

Before he could even warn her, her feet stepped the floor only to slide forward. As if everything went into slow-motion, her back slowly fell through the thin air as her feet slipped forward. She closed her eyes in reflex at the surprising movement; her back should've crashed any time now. In the midst of the silent chaos, she could hear a swift cut in the air before she felt a pair of hands on her back and legs along with the sound of a bag dropped on the floor. She gasped and opened her eyes only to meet with blue ones who looked down at her worriedly.

"… Are you alright?"

The bell rang, signing it was break time. Sawada Tsunahime, however didn't move a muscle; the bell meant nothing to her as her head filled with nothing but that scene. Every time she tried to divert her thought, it came back and came back again to a certain blonde.

"Are you alright?"

Giotto's voice echoed in her ears. She would've snapped the pencil into two, in fact. Tsuna slapped herself mentally. Why is she overreacting? That's something any boys will do if a girl about to fall right? (No) But she didn't even thank him properly yesterday! And he went home right after checking if she's alright! And…

She's really having an overreacting issue is she? But she couldn't help it, she reasoned, not after such an act. And besides… Her expression changed troubled, 'Maybe because it's the first time someone protected me that I feel so… so…' She glanced at her classmates who were laughing from a joke from one of the group. Her eyes filled with longing, '…happy.'

Tsuna sighed. Well, with only an overly-jolly mom in your life what can you expect? Her father wasn't there to fill his role and there's always a piece of her heart that's missing. She always craved for something to fill it in. But nobody cared—if not making it worse. But it's the first time that she felt the hole's slowly being filled in. Although it's faint and little, but she already trusted the blond. She could only hope that he returned the same feeling as her.

"Oi, is that the transfer student?"

"What is he doing here?"

Sounds familiar… Tsuna, being curious, absentmindedly spun her head to see who's coming here. She soon regretted the fact though when she saw the blond smiled at her. 'G-Giotto-san!'

Giotto moved from the crowd and walked to the almost-empty classroom. Looks like he ignored the stares from the others as he walked to Tsuna's desk. Behind him, a teen with pink-like hair, crossed his arms and his eyes observed her closely. She felt like standing in the eye of the storm.

"Good morning, Tsunahime, I'm sorry if I came at the wrong time," Giotto said after seeing the palpable disbelieve look in her eyes. Tsuna gasped when she realized she was still in shock. Oh right, yesterday she told him to call him that. Yes, that's the one answer that has led to the incident of her falling. She tried to compose herself.

"N-no, it's fine, really…" she suddenly felt some intense glare by the door. She tried to look somewhere else, "Do you need anything?"

"Oh, I just come to check on you," Giotto said with a smile, still oblivious of the stares the fan girls are sending. "I'm worried if you got a sprain or something from yesterday."

"Yesterday…" Tsuna's head would've exploded right at the moment when once again the memory resurfaced. She tried to maintain her composure. "I'm alright you see. Thanks to you."

"Thank goodness," he chuckled a bit. "I don't know what I would do if you're really hurt."

"Eh?" That caught many off-guard—not excluding the timid brunette. 'What do you mean?' Tsuna inwardly asked but her lips didn't move.

"I wouldn't want anything bad happen to anyone," explained Giotto before his expression softened. "Especially to you."

"…!" Tsuna would've blushed but to the world's shock, she didn't. Well, she did, but only slight pink cross her cheek. She was more touched than feeling hormones to the boy. Her lips parted oh-so slightly, 'It's the first time…'

"Thank you… Giotto-san," whispered Tsuna breathlessly. '…someone said that to me.'

Giotto smiled in relief. Meanwhile, his pink-hair friend looked as if he was amused by this. He raised an eyebrow and recalled how much Giotto has been staring to the window instead of the blackboard. So this was what's bothering his mind. Well, in his long years of friendship, it's rare to see the blond cared so much in a certain way for a girl. He certainly have to ask him later.

"You're welcome, Tsunahime," he said, but in his tone he meant much more than that. The pink-hair once again stifled cocking an eyebrow. "Do you mind if I come with you later?"

"Eh? To…?"

"I wanted to visit the kindergarten again," Giotto said and he didn't lie. Tsuna was impressed that someone like him could be so considerate toward others. And moreover, Tsuna felt like her feelings has been organized after meeting with him like this. Suddenly she felt like there's no one but the two of them in the classroom. That feeling again…

"I'm sure the children will be so happy to meet you," Tsuna replied, now for the first time in the whole day, she smiled. Giotto was reassured seeing that smile. He's been worried that the incident on the other day affected her.

"Then, I'll see you after school. Oh, and," he moved aside by a step. "This is G.; he's my childhood friend who also transferred here."

"N-nice to meet you," Tsuna immediately stood up and bowed politely.

"Aah, same here," was the reply before the bell rung once again. Looks like the magical moment didn't last long. Giotto left with another smile before he and G. went back to wherever their classroom at. Tsuna sat with a thump. She felt it's so unreal.

"Eeeh, Dame-Tsuna, what happen between you and Gio-sama yesterday?" the crowd of fan-girl quickly surrounded her. No courtesy needed. Tsuna was startled and instantly felt cornered from the intense stare they send. If anything's wrong from yesterday, it's this.

"N-nothing happened! Giotto-san only helped me when I slipped yesterday," Tsuna tried to explain as best as she could. The girls stepped back but still with dissatisfied look.

"Hmm… is that so," one of the girls hmm-ed and raised an eyebrow. Tsuna felt somewhat uneasy seeing the boss-like gesture. "Then it's fine. As long as you didn't step out of the line."

'Eh?'

"Hey, you girls, it's bell already! Get back to your seats," the teacher came in with an annoyed look. The girls scoffed before they're dismissed and went to their respective seats. Tsuna wondered as the teacher start explaining about the world's history. Now what's revolving on her head wasn't that slipping-accident anymore; it's his words that warmed her heart.

She rested her head on her hands as the words went through her head, 'He actually cares… for someone like me…'

Meanwhile…

"Oi, Giotto, what the hell was all about just now?" G tapped his best friend's shoulder. Giotto 'hmm'-ed and the grip on his shoulder tightened. "I said, what's your relationship with the girl?"

"You mean Tsunahime? Well…" Giotto smiled. "I don't really know exactly."

"Huh?" G tilted an eyebrow but already retreat his hand.

"But if I have to say… hmm," Giotto paused. "I guess I kinda see her like you and Hayato."

"You mean, sibling-like?" G asked. Giotto stayed silent but then shrugged and nodded. G sighed. "Geez, of all people it has to be her huh?"

"What do you mean?" there's a sharp edge in his tone, and G noticed it, but decided to pry it further. After all, this is one of the few ways to reveal Giotto's inner feelings. Although it can ended quite scary but he's willing to take risks. Sometimes his blonde best friend just hid some important secrets that shouldn't be a secret. Phew—here it comes.

"That girl, Sawada Tsunahime…" G mentally exhaled. "She's who they called 'Dame-Tsuna' right?"

G was more than surprised to see the intense glare from the blonde—which is a rare feat to see indeed. He muttered, "She's not like what they say about her."

"Hm," G merely responded. By then they already reached classroom and the students rushed in as the second bell rang. Giotto sighed as his eyes softened before he too entered the class. G stood still for another second, relieving from the shock, before he followed suit and went into the now-noisy classroom.

Well, Giotto didn't have a younger sibling and he's the protective type as well, so it's not really surprising for him to respond that hostile over the insult for his 'little sister'… But still, G just couldn't help but suspect that those feelings were just a prologue before the real feeling revealed.

Evening…

"Kendo?" Tsuna asked with her mouth full. Giotto nodded as he took another bite of the strawberry cheese cake.

"Yup, my friend's really good at it and I also heard that he has a younger brother in your class," Giotto explained. "Although his younger brother was having an international competition right now, so he's going to next town for the match."

"Heeh…" Tsuna then wondered whoever the big shot is. "The one who's absent lately is…" she pouted her lips, "…Yamamoto Takeshi?"

"Yup, that's the one," Giotto pointed out.

"Hoo… isn't he playing baseball?" Tsuna said as she also took a bite from the cake. 'And you expect me to befriend with someone popular like him?'

Giotto nodded, "But his brother play kendo and flute. They have talent."

Tsuna nodded in agreement, taking another bite of the sweet.

"And another good news is that G's younger brother will be transferring to your school too," Giotto said, making said friend twitched. "His name is Gokudera Hayato and he's the same age as you."

"I didn't know that," Tsuna said in awe and wonder what's this 'Gokudera Hayato' look like. Does he have the same hair as G.'s…? G put down his fork.

"Well, he's still a brat though," G said with a mild frown. "And hard to handle."

"Well don't say that G," Giotto said with a smile and G knew what's coming. "You look so happy when you taught Hayato how to play the piano."

"You play the piano, G-san?" Tsuna asked with sparkling eyes.

"Tch, just some simple songs, anybody could do it," G shrug it off but Tsuna think otherwise. 'If only he could play the piano for the children here…'

"If only you can play the piano for the children here G, I'm sure the children will be overjoyed," Giotto said meaningfully. Tsuna almost dropped her fork; how could he think the same as her? 'Telepathy?'

"Hmph, as if," G said, taking a bite of the cake. Tsuna chuckled wearily in her mind, 'Of course…'

"Umm… you two are so close; when did you first meet each other?" Tsuna asked, changing the conversation. The two boys looked in deep thought before sharing a glance.

"Well, it's just a normal thing actually," G shrugged. "Nothing special."

Giotto nodded, "We lived in the same town and our uncles were close to each other and all, so there it is."

"'Uncles'?" Tsuna tilted her head.

"Yeah," Giotto glanced at G who shot back at him with a meaningful look—but approval too. Giotto continued, "Our parents were both… dead. My parents died from disease while G's parents got into an accident; we're both five years old and been closer than ever since then."

"… Oh… s-sorry," Tsuna rested the metal fork on her lips. Now she didn't know what to say. But she felt a strong camaraderie—it's not just her who felt such a thing. Perhaps that's why Giotto was so kind to her… But he still didn't know anything about her family has he?

"It's okay; we both got each other anyway so we make it through," Giotto said, turning her mood. Suddenly she felt like hearing a happy fairy tale. G scoffed but he also looked pleased with the fact.

"That's so nice," Tsuna said, clapping her hand. "I wish I also have a friend like you."

"Well, now you really have one," Giotto joked and it led them to a hearty laugh. She, most of all, because it's really like a dream come true to have friends like them. They wouldn't hurt or turn their backs at her, she's sure. Or, well, hoped. She smiled.

"Thank you, Giotto-san, G-san," she said. "I really-"

"Giotto-nii-chan!" A high-pitched voice successfully broke the dramatic silence. Looking down, turn out to be Matthew. He was grinning widely at Giotto. Giotto replied with a smile as he lifted the little boy by his arm pit.

"Good evening Matthew, I hope you're doing alright after yesterday," Giotto said with affection. Not unlike a big brother, Tsuna noted and watched with amazement. The scene was so fluffy—especially since she longed for an older brother all her life.

"Un, I drank three glass of milk today," Matthew lifted three fingers. Giotto chuckled and ruffled the boy's messy hair. Tsuna's eyes sparkled as she imagined herself being ruffled by an imaginary older brother… before she slapped herself mentally, 'Enough Tsunahime!'

"Good for you," Giotto said. It's a lie if he said he didn't notice the look from Tsuna. But what can he do? G would've blasted at him if he do anything "out of the line" in G's opinion; although that can mean something so trivial in normal opinion.

"Ah, Giotto-kun, G-kun," another voice acknowledged as she came in with a sleeping girl on her arms. "Do you want to have a dinner? It's already late."

"Oh, that's okay ma'am, we'll be fine," Giotto said along with G's nod of agreement. "You don't have to go all that trouble."

"But…"

"I'll cook," Tsuna interrupted and the eyes went on her. Suddenly she felt like she's already stepping a mine. Oh no. "I-I can cook something for you if you want. At least so you won't be hungry."

"I think the cake would suffice," G said, surprisingly polite despite his challenging look earlier. But for her, she felt like she has known them much better. Tsuna shook her head.

"That's not good; you should eat plenty of good and healthy food otherwise you'll get sick," Tsuna said, standing up from her chair. Giotto and G sweat-dropped when it suddenly felt like back home when they're scolded by their parents. "It'll be finished in just ten or fifteen minutes so you won't be going home too late."

"I'll also help too so it won't take long," Nana chirped in.

"Eh? But…"

"You have to eat Giotto-nii-chan," Matthew pouted. "Otherwise Tsuna-nee will be mad. She won't even let me go to the bathroom without finishing the tomato in the salad."

"…!" Giotto and G almost burst into laughter seeing the dramatically-pained look on Matthew's chubby face while Tsuna blushed furiously. Why the boy has to be so innocent?

"Then we'll take the offer," Giotto said, chuckling a little. Somehow he found that motherly-side of her to be amusing—and sweet. He liked that. "Thank you, Tsunahime."

"… N-no problem," Tsuna said with a tint of red before she and her mother disappeared to the kitchen. G watched his friend looked with longing on his eyes. There's certainly something out of normal going on here. That warm stare of Giotto's… Ah! G would've exclaimed "eureka" if he's one of those loud types, 'So that's why…'

The pair of blue eyes turned to him obliviously. "Hm? What's wrong G?"

"… Nothing," G answered. Giotto merely shrugged at the lie as he stood up from his seat.

"Then I'll get Matthew back to the room first," Giotto said, adjusting his hold on the little boy. "Tsunahime won't like it if Matthew catches a cold."

'Is that so?' G sighed, imagining how his friend's brain works. G followed suit as he stood up, "I'm coming with you."

Meanwhile in the kitchen…

'Has Matthew returned to his room I wonder?' Tsuna thought as she melted the butter on the pan. 'I don't want him to sleep late, but I also don't want to trouble Giotto-san and G-san...'

Tsuna's hands then continue stirring absentmindedly. Nana frowned in disapproval seeing her daughter's emotionless movement. She put her hand on her hip, one on her chin as if playing a detective.

"Tsu-chan, you remembered what I always told you right?" Tsuna paused and looked at her mother.

"What?"

"Cooking isn't just making something cooked—it's also about art and feelings remember?" Tsuna sweat dropped hearing her mother sounding like some kind of poet. 'And what she said doesn't even make any sense.'

A sigh. "I know, I know mom. I'll do my best and put on feelings and all the good stuffs," she said almost uncaringly.

"Hmm…" Nana continued observing her little girl. Then it occurred to her. "Ah!"

"What?" Tsuna spun worriedly, afraid if something goes wrong.

"I know what you lacked!" Nana pointed and Tsuna stifle herself doing a face-palm. What came next was a complete surprise though, "You lacked love in your cooking Tsu-chan!"

"…" then it drowned to her. Love. Love. Her eyes went blank before she shrieked, "EEEEEHHH?!"

A/N: Haha what did G discovered at the end? Hoho stay tuned if you wanna know XD Btw, thanks for reading this until the end! Mind leave a word or two? :3

P.s. sorry but there are no question-and-answer corner in this chap because it has been so long (exceeded my own personal quota of words)… so if you wanna ask about anything, do tell in review or PM :D