A/N: *SIGHS* So I had plans for this chapter for Fuuta, but then Kyoko and other things came up, so it was moved to another chapter. Enjoy another chapter and thanks for reading!

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Namimori Middle School
Year 1-Late September (part 1)

Chapter 10
A hint of change in the air

It was no surprise to have Kyoko Sasagawa won their class vote. There was a slight competition with some voting Takeshi, but the latter outright told everyone he wasn't running for the position. It took everything of Tsuna to convince Takeshi and Hayato to not put her name for voting.

As for Reborn, he became more brutal in teaching her and training her. Funny enough Sine wave wasn't a made-up word, take that Nezu-sensei!

"Thank you so much for your support! I will not let you down, but know this, together we would overcome those more in experience if we work hard, and stand tall for every fall. For it is not up to one person to win, but a combination of all our weaknesses and strengths we would realize together then we'll win!" Sasagawa-san beams at the class and bows before taking her seat. The class cheered and nodded in agreement.

"Now that's over," Nezu-sensei mutters to himself, oblivious at the heated glares aimed at him, he then speaks up with a snotty air, "Today we would be having a test for everything we learned these passed weeks. Hopefully you would not fail me."

The students grumbled, but took out their pencils and erasers while putting away everything else.

Tsuna sends out a mini prayer for anyone out there to have mercy on her pathetic self.

"Don't worry, Lady Yume, just remember Reborn's lessons," Hayato whispers behind her. Tsuna pales at the memory, distantly hearing Takeshi laugh nervously from his seat. They quickly cut short their merry walk on memory lane when their teacher dropped their exam papers on their desk.

Tsuna took a deep breath and began working on her exam.

"The x-intercept is not b, the bomb exploded that time, so it's the y-intercept as I screamed why Reborn and prevented the next explosion," her awareness of her surroundings was mostly ignored, still trying to remember everything Reborn made her learn.

"Agh! It was so easy that I slept through the rest of the time," Hayato whined from his spot next to the tree the trio decided to have their lunch on. The roof was off limits for now because they don't want to meet up with Hibari too soon.

"Going up the hill and down is the easy life that is a negative impact in the long run so negative of x^2 curve, while the ride down and up the hill is the tiring, but worth it that is of the positive x^2…"

"I actually guessed half of them. I guess Reborn's tutoring war games helped, right Tsuna?" Takeshi asked, but stared at the young girl who heard, but not quite out of the testing mode. She was only snapped out of it when she felt someone grip her shoulders.

"Hey, so what are we doing after school, now that is over?" Tsuna looks around her to find their lunch spot for today was chosen to the farthest part of the crowd of people, but within a nice shade under a large tree. Hayato was glaring at Takeshi in their small circle, or more specifically at his arm around Tsuna's shoulders.

As if sensing Tsuna's curious look, Takeshi ruffles her hair and let's go, "You think we can go to an arcade or play in the park again?"

"Don't you have baseball practice? You do have an oath to fulfill to Lady Yume, after all," Hayato narrows his eyes in suspicion.

"Haha," Takeshi rubs the back of his head, "Kind of? There is practice, but they told me and this other guy to not bother until next week since there is no space for extra players to play yet."

Hayato opens his mouth, but decided to close it as well as his eyes. He seemed to be counting backwards and Tsuna vaguely recognizes being Italian numbers.

She turns to Takeshi's faint sad look, before he musters up a smile. She looks back at the playing students, "Takeshi, maybe I'll see if Reborn would let us go to the park. We can tell him it's some bonding exercise over baseball."

Takeshi perks up and gives a small smile, "If it's alright with you, I wouldn't mind."

"Of course, if you wouldn't mind, " Hayato takes out his phone, "I'll send a text message to my boss to make sure to be a couple of miles away from where we practice just in case."

Takeshi's laughter was not quite broken, but his smile was lighter. Tsuna smiles, but only her clenched fists shaking on her lap showed her true feelings.

The bell rang, signaling their lunch period being over. They quickly put away their bento boxes and walked quickly into the building when they caught sight of Hibari stalking around the grounds in suspicion.

While Tsuna waited by her locker for her friends to get their things from the classroom, Tsuna caught sight of Kyoko talking to a couple of students from the other classes. It seems strange at the sight of the bubbly girl even more animated and not with Kurokawa at her side.

Then a female student parting the group with just a look, came down from the second floor. She had violet eyes and her dark hair in an afro. She strides were confident and stood taller than her already tall height, compared to the other students in their grade level. Tsuna didn't like the vibe of the smirk the girl gave to Sasagawa-san.

Sasagawa was either oblivious or ignored it and smiled in greeting, "Hello Hepburn Iris. May the best wins."

Then again, the faint predatory edge on Sasagawa smile made Tsuna wonder what does Takeshi truly see on the girl's recent change.

"The best indeed. It was rather a shame of Bluebell-sempai leaving. She would love these new changes and would stand with one of us at the Sports' day," Hepburn commented, giving her school bag to one of the four boys hanging around her.

"Of course! I just been messaging with her the other day and was very annoyed when I told her," Sasagawa shrugs, not all intimated by the looks she was getting from the four boys.

Tsuna looks back at the stairs, but her friends are yet to appeared. Tsuna looks back at the heavy air between Hepburn and Sasagawa, unsure if she should hunt her friends down or not.

"…she said something about Hepburn better watch for your arrogance?" a silence reigned in the hall, almost making hard for Tsuna to breath at the audacity of Sasagawa.

Hepburn on her part froze before shifting her eyes to Tsuna then at Sasagawa, "Same can be said of you Sasagawa. You may have Kurokawa-san at your corner, but what does the infamous Dame-Yume would help you? Best rid of any wasteful baggage."

Sasagawa silence pierced Tsuna, but only for a moment.

"Ara? Tsunayume-chan is my friend, and I don't like people who judge too quickly or rely in just rumors and gossip for information," Sasagawa-san chirps with an edge of something in her voice.

"Besides are you refuting Bluebell's chosen for her time in need? After all, it was there where we all saw how determined and hardworking Tsunayume-chan can be once given a chance. It's a shame no one wants to take such risk."

Tsuna eyes widen, shocked at the other girl's support. A burning need fill her soul, watching this young girl facing her problems head on. I want to be brave like her…but…

Her confusion at the new development was interrupted by a sharp voice.

"Hepburn-san get out of the way, you're blocking the stairs. You know how Hibari-sempai is for disrupting the peace!" Kurokawa showed up and casually dragged the smiling, but cold look of Sasagawa.

Tsuna hides behind her locker and sighs softly. Year of changes indeed, Tsuna looks back at the hallways and was glad at the lack of students. Quickly, she made her way up the stairs in search of her friends.

"—would've been great being our leader, Takeshi," a female voice sighed dramatically.

Tsuna frowned at the conversation in her classroom. Takeshi's laughter responded, "Yeah, but it would have been much better if Tsuna had a chance, right?"

Even from outside, Tsuna felt the temperature drop as her other classmates' laughter cut off. Taking a deep breath, Tsuna opens the door and sticks her head inside, "Takeshi, are you almost done?"

Takeshi turns and beams at her, "Yep!" He stands up from leaning over the few students still in the room and in no time left the classroom into the hallway.

"Where is Hayato?" Takeshi asks fixing his bookbag over his shoulder.

"Don't know," Tsuna frowns. Her best friend has been acting funny ever since Fuuta showed up in their house.

Takeshi tilts his head in contemplation. They stood there in silence, while Tsuna bit her lip, looking away Takeshi. Now that he is out with her, an idea formed in her mind. Although she isn't sure she wants to go through with it.

"Tsuna?"

"I—" She took a deep breath and looked up, "I really need a favor from you, but if you don't want to do it, its fine. I don't want to take advantage of your popularity, it's just it would help, but I don't want to insult you and—"

"Woah! Slow down Tsuna," Takeshi grips her shoulders and smiles lightly, "I only heard something about a favor?"

"You remember earlier when you said I could help someone be a leader?" Tsuna clenches her shaking hands.

Foolish dreamer who follow lame dreams!

She shook her head from an old memory from the year before, "I want to help Sasagawa-chan, but I don't know how, let alone talk to other people without freaking out."

"Hm," Takeshi lets her go and crosses his arms in thought, "So you want me to talk with everyone to vote for Kyoko-san? I could do that."

"No!" Tsuna shouted and blushed when a couple of passing students stared at her and snickers, "I mean, I want to help too. I cannot have you do all the work, considering…"

Thinking more about it, Tsuna felt horrible. She was basically sending Takeshi to face the people who hurt him and—

"Well, it's like Kyoko-san said, we are not alone. If we work together, anything is possible," Tsuna looks up in surprised and stares at his misleading smile, "After all between the three of us, we are the only ones to survive the constant exposure with Hibari-sempai."

Tsuna groans, covering her face.

At that moment, the intercom went off with the casual tone from the Vice President of Namimori Disciplinary Committee, "Those who are not part of after school activities or a special permission to stay after school, please make a quick, but safe exit of Namimori Middle, thank you."

"Not today, though," Tsuna quickly went down the nearest stairs, dragging Takeshi behind her, snickering.

They found Hayato who slightly panicked asking passing students where Tsuna and Takeshi were at the entrance of the school only to turn around to find Takeshi and Tsuna waving at him.

"I'm sorry I disappeared too long! I found someone I preferred not to meet, but I needed to know something," Hayato bowed low at her.

"Its fine," Takeshi puts in, but Hayato growls something about the apology not aimed for him. They walked toward the usual route to Tsuna's house.

"Do you guys know who's Hepburn Iris?" Tsuna asked her friends.

"Hepburn?" Hayato frowns, sorting through his large memory while Takeshi taps his chin in thought.

"She's the one with four underlings. Crazy rumors of how she has them working under her," Takeshi frowns, "She is as popular as Kyoko-san, but with underhanded means. Not sure how that works…"

Hayato narrows his eyes and looks at Tsuna, "She hasn't been bothering you, has she?"

Tsuna stares at him in confusion, faintly wondering if he heard the earlier conversation.

"There was a time when I spied over Big Sis to know when to hide and heard sometimes attacks are not always explosive and blunt, but quiet, piercing words and taunts done in the shadows," Hayato fingers toward his pocket.

Both boys turns to stare at her in worry. Tsuna gaps at them, "I've been bothered before, but nothing serious. The most I get was being made fun of. You've seen it."

Tsuna grips her school bag and distracted herself and from their silence by unlocking the gate to her house. They silently entered her house to find Reborn staring at them curiously from the stair's banister.

"We're home!" Tsuna shouts, still eyeing Reborn blank look, "What?"

He only grins to himself and nods before jumping down to the dining room.

"What was that all about?" Tsuna mutters to herself. She climbs the stairs while Takeshi and Hayato took their usual seats in her living room where a tray of snacks laid on the coffee table, ready for them. A couple childish laughter reached to Tsuna's ears before entering her bedroom to drop off her school things.

After dinner was served, the kids were being entertained by her friends, or more like Takeshi was while Hayato stare in confusion of his sister wearing violet goggles. Then Tsuna remembers something.

Tsuna turns to her tutor who sat on Bianchi's lap, "Reborn!"

"Yes?" Reborn nods before passing his mug to Bianchi's hands for refill.

"Can we move our tutoring lesson for tomorrow? I would like to have…a…um…baseball practice…for…bonding?" Tsuna felt shy and freaked out by the blank look Reborn gave her again. Yet she didn't look away, ignoring the ensuing silence at her plea.

"Of course! I need to update your results to my employer," Reborn turns to her mother, "Do I have permission to give my evaluation of my current student to my employer, Mama? He has been very interested in your daughter's progress."

"Oh my," Tsuna stares at him in suspicion, hearing this said out loud explicitly, "I wouldn't mind at all. Although if he ever visits, give me a warning so I can prepare a large meal as thanks."

"Of course, Mama, and him too?" Tsuna frowns at her mother's hesitance before beaming strangely. Him too? Tsuna wondered internally.

"Oh, you have contact with him too? Wonderful! You could only after I write a special message for him to hear from me."

"Naturally," Reborn smirks then eyes at her then at her friends, "Well are you going? Unless you want to play another game with Leon?"

They quickly excused themselves and ran out the door.

Takeshi left halfway, realizing they had nothing to use to play baseball with ("I meet you at the park, I'll catch up!" "But we can come with you—" "Just save a spot, I'll be back before you know it!").

Now waiting for Takeshi to return, Tsuna looks around and sighs. Hayato was on his phone, very focused in reading something. Curious, she asks, "What are you reading Hayato? Is it another UMA sighting?"

"Hm?" Hayato blinks at her and looks down guiltily, "Kind of?"

Before Tsuna can ask him to elaborate, a sense of dread wash over her, "Hayato…"

He quickly reached for his hidden stash of dynamites only for his hand be grab by Tsuna. She barely shook her head and loudly says nervously, "Takeshi is sure taking his time, right?"

"Baseball idiot probably got sidetracked by a little butterfly or something on his way here," his hand goes to his side once Tsuna lets go.

"Aw, what a shame we cannot have the trio together, it would make our talk more interesting~"

Tsuna turns to see a young man with a thin beard that covered the bottom of his chin and a line up to his lower lip. His bloodlust brown eyes show a hint of familiarity to Tsuna who isn't sure where she saw him before. Still the uneasy feeling that he and his group of men surrounding him gave her, didn't comforted her.

"You must be Paulo of Todd Famiglia," Hayato steps forward, while keeping Tsuna behind him.

"And you must be that runaway from the Gokudera mansion. Funny no one went on an uproar when you left. Then you decided to live with civilians, hoping they wouldn't see your bloody—"

"Maa, maa," Takeshi shows up behind them and caught their attention, "I thought we were going to play baseball just us three, but you know what they say, more the merrier."

Paulo stares at the casual and unafraid stance Takeshi had at the sight of a group of men in suits, looking obviously dangerous. Hayato in the other hand glares at Takeshi, but as if an idea come to him, he turns to shout at the suited men.

"I invoke the Vongola Law Number 80!"

RANKING * FLO~ATING|_ ***_| FLO~ATING RANKING *

The young light brown haired boy bites his pen before quickly writing another rank in his book.

"I wonder if that is what it felt to be at the stars," her eyes twinkled with mirth.

Fuuta looks up at the sight of Mamma brushing down her hair and her apron. He sat frozen as Mamma slowly walked to him. She smiles softly as she kneels a couple feet from him, giving him enough room to run out of the room.

"Don't worry, I'll pretend I didn't see anything," she puts her finger in front her mouth as signal of her silence. Fuuta stares at her in confusion, waiting for the moment when everyone asks for a rank from him or show off his ability.

As if reading his mind, she smiles sadly, "There are many who love to taint such pure specialness especially of children. If you don't want to show it, then don't. Do what you feel safe and makes you happy, Fuuta-chan."

She slowly reaches over and pats his head, "Bianchi is about to go to the store. Do you want to go or stay here to help Lambo-chan and me with the laundry?"

Fuuta frowns. He looks at his book and slightly nods, "I need more pens. May I go with Bianchi-nee?"

Nana nods and slowly stands up, "Be careful, alright. I heard on my last grocery shop trip there has been some foreigners."

Could it be that they found me? Then looks at Mamma who seems torn with worry, but smiling at him, its best if I go out in case they find my trail here and hurt them. Bianchi is one of the best hide and seekers after all.

"Don't worry, Mamma. Bianchi will protect me with her poisoning cooking skills!" Fuuta stands up and goes to meet up Bianchi who was just readying herself to leave.

"Be safe!" Mamma shouts behind them.

"Don't forget to bring Grape candy, Bianchi-nee!" Lambo shouted from the living room, watching cartoons before they went out the door.

They walked to the motorcycle hidden at the front of the Sawada house. Accepting Bianchi's second helmet, she casually asks, "Springing the trap?"

The boy froze, halfway putting on the helmet. He stares at the helmet, barely reflecting his face. He nods firmly and puts on the helmet.

"Are all little brothers self-sacrificing martyrs?" she mutters. She starts the bike and they were off.

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A/N: I had no idea this mini arc wanted to go in that direction, but it won't be too long…Is this the famed story writing itself *eyes shining*? Upcoming next is the results of the invoked Vongola law. Until next time, LaniAhava out!