Introduction: 1st Year of Middle School

Age:

Tsuna - 12

Mia - 12

Disclaimer: I do not own KHR, I'm just a fan.

He was smiling when he went into class that day and for once, he wasn't late. People seemed to double-take at the sight of him but he didn't notice as he sat down on his desk and began to grin. Now that he had a good night's rest, Tsuna fully appreciated the joke that his new friend said when they met. A warm feeling spread across his body at the thought of having to call someone a friend.

"What are you smiling about Dame-Tsuna?" Tsuna blinked as he was pulled away from his thoughts to look at the speaker. Takeda Sosa was one of his classmates that just jumped into terrorizing-Tsuna-bandwagon for no damn reason. He was a jerk that loved to make jokes on his expense. His smile turned down as he shrunk away from Takeda. His day was going so well too.

"Answer me Dame-Tsuna!" Behind him, Takeda's friends snickered.

He chose to remain silent. He might be a coward and weak but he always had enough dignity to have a little pride. Besides, it was a small comfort to defy his bullies even at the smallest of things. If he ever revealed that he had a friend, they would make fun of her too for hanging out with him. He didn't want Mia to see that he was the lowest of the low – lower than the geeks at the occult club or have her ridiculed. He didn't think he could stand the shame once she realizes that he was a loser. He was thankful that she didn't go to Namimori Middle. But then again, was she in Japan for a vacation or something? What in the hell was she doing out so late at night anyway? Was she even real? He started panicking. She seemed real. He wasn't even that far into hormones to come up with a girl in his dreams, he was sure of that. Hell, Japanese girls don't joke with strangers they've just met either.

"Sawada!" Tsuna was jerked out of his thoughts.

Takeda and his friends were staring at him oddly. Tsuna realized he had been thinking a bit too intensely and that his panicked expression freaked them out. Wow, he usually wasn't that deep into his thoughts. Sure there was the occasional daydream of getting married to Kyoko but he always managed to slip back before anyone noticed him drooling.

"Er… yeah?" he said.

"What a weirdo," one of Takeda's friends commented. Tsuna blushed and turned to fiddling his thumbs nervously.

Seeing that Sawada Tsunayoshi was acting weirder than his timid, dame self, Takeda turned away to talk about something more interesting, like Kyoko Sasagawa who just so happened to walk in on that moment looking like an angel. Tsuna stopped fiddling and was staring now. Kyoko looked very cute today – she had sakura hair clips on. He smiled silly at the sight of her. Kurokawa Hana stepped in after Kyoko and saw him. She said something – probably something insulting his intelligence or calling him a primate – and Kyoko gave her friend an admonishing look before smiling and waving her hand in Tsuna's direction.

Oh Kami he was in heaven right now. He took an arrow to the head at that. Wave back – his brain told him once it could function. Move your arm dumbass! A little bit enthusiastic, he waved back at her. She gave him a smile and turned to talk to the girls in class. There was a collection of sighs from all the boys around him. He felt like dropping sweat – the other guys must have thought she was waving to them. Whatever, he knew it was meant for him and that made it so much sweeter. He was daydreaming about a future with Kyoko when the teacher came in to start homeroom.

"Class, we have a transferring student today from America but she's really Italian. Please be supportive of your new classmate." A collective whisper broke out at that.

A transfer student? Big deal. His mind unconsciously brushed off.

"Waaaaaahhh! I hope it's a guy!"

"Please, please, please let it be a hot chick!"

"As if she'd be interested in you anyway man."

"Shut up!"

The room quieted as the door slid open and then a very familiar voice froze Tsuna. His neck whipped up so fast he knew it would ache later. There she was, standing there in Namimori Middle uniform and her blonde hair tied up into a messy bun was his not-imaginary friend. Her blue eyes were downcast as she nervously introduced herself.

"She's cute man!" Somebody whispered behind him.

"Ciao, my name is Matteis, Mia and I'm pleased to meet you and – Tsuna?" she saw him and beamed. She looked very relieved seeing him. He should be flattered, but instead he felt horrified.

He always liked to think he was an optimist – hadn't broken down yet after all – but when shit hits the fan, he can be a very pessimistic person. No no no no no no no no… she's going to find out. She'll hate me. He could feel every eye on him. He felt like dying then and there.

"Sawada, you know Matteis-san?" the teacher asked.

"He does!" Mia spoke brightly, not noticing his suffering. "We're friends."

It was like a punch to the gut. Whispers were breaking out once more. Whispers that he did not want to hear. He didn't want to see her face once she realizes that he was a loser. What people called him being the name she will call him from now on. He won't be a 'friend' to her any longer. He was starting to grieve for his loss already.

"I see then – you can take a seat beside Sawada-san."

When Mia passed him, she did something rather unexpected. She lightly nudged his forehead with the tip of her finger, bewildering him. "I still think I need to call the police," she said, using the same joking tone from last night. Then she promptly sat down, smiling and a bit more relaxed than before. Just like that, he felt his worry draining away as he realized she was referring to what she said when they met. He let out a small, unbelievable snort that had her grinning at him.

"Police? What was that about?" one of the girls whispered to each other.

"So…" he started after a moment. "You're from Italy?"

Mia was going to answer but then their teacher had conveniently left and a mob of students suddenly surrounded her, blocking her from his sight. His heart started to sink. He'd give it probably ten minutes and then she won't be joking with him anymore. While Tsuna was wallowing in his misery, Mia had a hard time fending off her classmates.

"What's Italy like?"

"Why are you studying in Japan?"

"Ne, ne, you're so cute Matteis-san!"

"What's your phone number?"

Mia had a strict need-to-know policy that she followed dutifully, answering general questions that weren't too personal and ignored others that she deemed a bit too stalker-ish or personal for her liking. She wanted to talk desperately with Tsuna but this blockage of bodies made it really hard to do that so she resigned herself to getting to meet her new classmates. The girls were nice, especially Kyoko Sasagawa but Mia didn't seem to think she can be friends with them. For one, they were too… girly. She cringed when one of them called her cute and tried not to show her expression on how she felt being called by that. So she laughed – a bit forced if anyone was smart enough to notice it. Second, they were all about all the sugar, spice and everything nice from the looks of it – except maybe Hana Kurokawa. That girl could make a career of being a lawyer from that face of hers.

Uh, no. Mia was a girl, but she wasn't that girly.

The guys though… it's like they were deprived or something. They kept asking a lot of personal questions that were annoying. It was starting to grate on her nerves but she resisted at making a very sarcastic answer. Her teachers in Italy never approved of cheek, she wondered how Japanese people would. Probably throw a huge cultural shock. So she tried her best to polite, until a question from Kurokawa (she finally figured how to use honorifics. It was embarrassing to have called Tsuna "chan") came out of nowhere.

"So how did you and Sawada meet?"

"Yeah, how did Dame-Tsuna even make friends?" One of the boys wondered, causing a chain of laughter around her. That caught her attention. Through the slips and cracks of people, she saw the mop of brown locks flinch. Mia seriously hoped that she just mis-translated what the guy said. Apparently, she was right at what he meant and frowned. She didn't know what 'Dame' meant though she doubted it was anything but good.

There it is, Tsuna thought. He braced himself for what is about to come.

"We just did." Her voice rang out, strong and a bit sarcastic. It silenced the people around her. Tsuna could feel his heart beating wildly in his ears. He hardly believed what he was hearing. She sounded… aggravated. "I walked into him, made a joke and became friends."

"That's it?" Takeda explained, stunned at her blunt reply.

"When you make friends don't you usually socialize with them?" Tsuna bit his lip. He could seriously see the expression in her words. It like she was stating the obvious and that they were too stupid to realize that.

"Well yeah," Takeda faltered.

"Is there a custom in Japan on how to be friends? Blood oaths or exchanging cups of wine?" She quickly followed up. He felt like cracking then and there from laughter.

"No but he's dame-Tsuna!" There was a chorus of agreements. Did people really think of him like that?

"And that is supposed to make me feel what?" Her voice was bland when she replied.

It was a good thing that a teacher came in at that moment – they had impeccable timing – and the students dispersed to go back to their seats. Some looked a bit disturbed but Mia seemed content at what she had done – which was literally insult (a bit subtlety) some of their classmates and declare that she was Sawada Tsunayoshi's friend. As lessons began, he snuck a glance at her.

Mia caught his eye and winked.

Feeling like he worried for nothing, Tsuna turned to look at the sheet of paper that was just handed to him.

Oh fucking shit. He forgot. There was a math test today. Damn it!

Author's Notes:

Originally, Tsuna was 14 when the Manga and Anime started. I know, I know.

Japanese kids usually start middle school at the ages of 12-13 and the school year starts in April for them. Neither of the two has hit their birthdays yet, so for the Introduction part, they're both 12 for now.

Don't worry, when we get around to the canon arcs, Tsuna and Mia will be 14 like it was in the show and manga.