Daily Life Arc: 2nd Year Middle School, 1st Term

Tsuna - 13

Mia - 13

Keep in mind that the school year starts at April so Tsuna and Mia haven't hit their birthdays yet that are in October and July.

Disclaimer: I don't KHR. I'm just a fan that has a very special place in her heart for it.

"What's up with you?" Mia asked him during lunch.

"Nothing it's just… I feel like there's someone watching us," Tsuna wearily announced. He then popped a squid in his mouth that turned his expression around into delight.

Mia was watching his face, amused at his reaction. "You're over reacting," she pointed out. He shook his head vigorously at her.

"No really! It's good." He said, happily digging in his bento.

Mia scoffed. "Some of the Japanese spices didn't work for me so I tried to give it an Italian flare instead. I didn't think it would work." She frowned and set her own bento – gifted to her by Nana – down on the ground to pull out her small notebook where she wrote important stuff. Tsuna just smiled, happy that he had such a unique lunch to eat and that Mia took his compliment.

Trying to make her accept a compliment was incredibly difficult, he found. It was like convincing someone that the sky was pink. He didn't understand it but his friend was being too hard on herself. He liked that part of her, he supposed. In contrast to himself that never put effort anything much.

The summer breeze on the roof was very cool but to Tsuna, who had just finished his bento, somewhat felt very cold. Something at the back of his mind was niggling at him and he couldn't figure out what. He had been looking over his shoulder since this morning almost to the point of paranoia. God he hoped it wasn't bullies out to get him. They haven't been a problem since April after Mia went straight up to the Pompadour Disciplinary Committee to request protection. Not having it anymore with her friend being bullied.

They declined her request.

"Why not?"

Tsuna couldn't recall exactly everything that she said but he remembered fondly on how she tore into them with a long tirade, taking shots at them for letting a couple of bullies running around freely under their very own noses and how effective their discipline was. There was a pun or two in there but he didn't pay attention, too stunned at how passionate she had been. He couldn't remember the last time anyone defended him.

The members were much chastised and Kusakabe-san actually conceded her request. Bullies couldn't get close to him without a disciplinary member around the corner until one day they just stopped picking on him. Apparently this arrangement was never mentioned to Hibari and Kusakabe asked to be silent of it for in exchange of their help. Mia and Tsuna agreed, seeing as the committee would want to keep their reputation intact and god knows what Hibari would do if they found out a thirteen-year old girl told his committee off.

Still, Mia warned him that there was more than one way to get back at other people and Tsuna was forced to agree. He edged closer to Mia until they were touching shoulders, alert for anything suspicious. Rather than pulling away, Mia leaned against him. Tsuna wondered at the ease they had with each other. As more days passed, Tsuna could sleep then on her lap or throw a casual arm over the other without thought. It was going as far as giving hugs. After Tsuna had gifted Mia a book called Wild Magic on her fourteenth birthday last June, she threw her arms around him so suddenly that he was shocked for a few seconds before relaxing and awkwardly hugging her back.

He should have known nothing stays awkward between them for long. After all, watching a horror movie in a theater usually calls for a hug of comfort. Mia called it 'clinging while screaming like a girl' and he argued that it was 'hugging' and not 'clinging' to save dignity. She laughed at that time and just let it go but would occasionally whisper lines from the movie to him in Italian just to annoy him. Still, though they didn't do often, hugs are welcome every now and then.

"You're starting to make me feel paranoid," Mia commented after a while.

"Sorry," he apologized. She shook her head, a bit exasperated.

"Honestly Tsuna, don't worry about it. It's no use if you let it bug you now. Just take it as it comes," she advised him.

Tsuna wanted to scoff that he couldn't stop it even if he wanted to but heeded her words all the same.

"All right, I won't worry about it." He could tell she was smiling without looking. "So," he casually drawled out. She raised her chin to look up at him. "When are we going to watch Matilda?"

Mia pretended to think about it. "My place after school?"

"Can we have tiramisu for dessert?"

"If you'll help me carry the groceries."

His answer flowed from his lips like air, "Sure."

When Tsuna came home around eight, he was greeted with a strange sight of a baby with his mother. Actually, what made it strange was the fact that it was talking. It shouldn't be talking or drinking coffee. He dropped his bag on the floor to go greet his mother, pecking her on the cheek – a custom that Mia often did when she came to his house that he adopted – and wearily eyed the fedora-wearing baby with the big black beetle eyes.

"Who's this?" he asked, putting on a pleasantly surprised face.

"Oh Tsu-kun, this is Reborn-kun and he'll be staying us for a while," his mother happily explained.

"So… can I ask why?"

"Ciaossu, your father sent me to tutor you." Tsuna blinked then scowled at the mention of his father. He turned to the baby and placed his hands on his hips, trying to make himself intimidating (which he really wasn't).

"Very funny," he grounded out. "Sorry, but I've already got one."

"So I've heard," Reborn said. "Your mother already told me."

"Mom?" He rounded on to his mother. She nodded enthusiastically.

"Reborn-kun came all this way to tutor you. I couldn't just send him home after your father sent him here." Then she started to blush. "Oh honey is so thoughtful," she gushed. Tsuna – like any kid who has a lovey dovey parent – twisted his expression into disgust, which earned him a playful slap on the arm from his mother. "Tsu-kun!" she scolded him. "Honestly, don't you have a problem with your Japanese subjects? Reborn-kun says he's willing to teach you."

"I can manage on my own," Tsuna protested. "And what's in it for him?" He pointed at Reborn.

Quick like lighting, Reborn slapped his hand away with a green stick used to beat futons. Tsuna yelped and cradled his hand to his chest, glaring at the baby.

"All I need is a place to stay and some food to eat," Reborn said, his beetle eyes flashing.

Uneasiness pooled in his gut. Something was wrong and this kid was weird. He didn't know how or why but a talking baby really doesn't feel right either way. But why was he here? Did his father really send him? Was he really going to tutor him? Why now? Just who was this kid?

Nana clapped her hands together brightly. "Now that it's settled, Reborn-kun, I'm sure Tsu-kun wouldn't mind sharing his room with you."

Tsuna instantly protested but his mother wouldn't hear any of it and sent him off to his room to show their new guest where he would be sleeping. Sulking a bit, Tsuna slammed his door open, frustrated that his mother wouldn't listen. He dropped his bag on his desk and took a seat on his bed. He waited, wary of the baby that examined his room.

"So, you really are going to tutor me?" Tsuna said.

Reborn smirked, pulling the rim of his fedora down to hide half of his expression. The pool in his gut started to churn uncomfortably.

"Dame-Tsuna." He flinched at the nickname that he hadn't heard in a while. "I was sent here from Italy to train you to become the next Mafia Don of the Vongola Famiglia."

Whatever he had bee expecting, it wasn't that.

He burst out laughing. "Nice joke kid," he chortled. Reborn continued to stare at him and his laughter faded.

That uneasy, queasy feeling he had? It was starting to settle like cement. "Eh?" Then when he could gather enough of his wits, "Eh" turned into "Hiiiiiiiieeeee!" although it was more of a long drawn out squeak. Reborn was completely and utterly downright serious. This was no joke.

"A Don? As in, a Mafia Don?"

He just noticed that Reborn had a lizard crawl out of his hat and to his hand. It was green and then it transformed into a fucking gun. Too late to react, he flinched when it was pointed straight at his face.

"I'm Reborn, the greatest hitman in the world. So Dame-Tsuna," The gun lowered and was used to straighten his fedora. Reborn smirked and said the next words that would change everything forever. "Prepare to be Vongola Decimo."

It was around six-thirty in the morning that a ring broke the early silence. It hadn't even reached a third ring when a tired brunette answered it with an exhausted, "Hello?"

"What's up with you?" Mia bluntly asked. Despite being tired, Tsuna managed to smile at her concern.

"No good morning?" he teased, getting up to rub his tired eyes.

"Good morning – now what happened? You sound like you got mugged." Mia always did go straight to the point. His mood instantly darkened. He hung his head, trying to recollect from last night. A surge of memories rose to the surface of his mind that forced him to contemplate on whether or not he should tell her. How do you explain to your best friend that they were next in line to be the boss of strongest mafia family ever?

"Tsuna?" Now there was a bit of worry in her tone. He tuned out her voice.

No, he didn't want her to get involved. If he really is the next heir then god knows what would happen – Mia could get kidnapped, even killed. A tremor went up his spine. A lot of unspeakable, horrifying thoughts started to plague his mind like a thick foggy cloud. He didn't want to, couldn't, wouldn't let anything happen to her.

"Tsuna?"

"Tsuna!" Mia suddenly busted through his door crying out his name, startling him so much that he didn't even managed to react when she threw herself at him, knocking him down straight into the bed.

"What is the matter with you?" she hissed angrily into his ear. Then she pulled away to give him a look. "And why are you still in your uniform? Did you sleep in them?" She moved to sit on the edge of the bed and began fussing over him.

"Why are you so upset?" she asked, when she saw his expression. She looked at him, her blue eyes so worried. He felt torn and didn't know what to do. It was all too crazy and too sudden. Lie to her. He opened his mouth but the words didn't come. Mia patiently waited for him. Head pounding from the lack of sleep, he decided that he wanted a hug. Wordlessly he spread his arms and Mia sighed. She gave him a hug and he just settled on placing his chin on her shoulder. The smell of apples and books soothed him.

"I hate my life," he mumbled to her shoulder.

Her tone was dry when she replied, "Congratulations, you've just earned an achievement for teenage angst."

"You're ruining my moment here," he whined.

"I was only feeling twelve percent of your moment so forgive me for ruining it."

"Hey Mia?"

"Yeah?"

"Shut up and thanks."

She pulled back and mock-glared at him. "If that's how it's going to be then sorry I'm not sorry for breaking your door."

"What?!" he exclaimed and saw indeed, the knob was hanging ajar. "What did you do to it?" he demanded, scrambling up to get a closer look.

She shrugged. "I kicked it." Tsuna couldn't believe she broke the lock!

"We're you feeling the rest of the eighty-eight percent when you wrecked my door?" he nagged at her. Mia paused, seriously considering it then nodded.

"In my defense I was worried," she quipped. He softened at that and gave a sigh. Running a hand through his hair he shot her a small smile that she returned.

"You two are adorable you know that?" Reborn piped up, appearing out of nowhere. Both of them jumped and Tsuna glowered at the hitman.

"Did that baby just talk?" Mia asked in a small voice.

"Yeah."

"Ciaossu!" Reborn greeted her. Mia waved at him hesitantly. Then to Tsuna she whispered, "Is it too late for me to feel one-hundred percent of your moment?"

Despite the tension in his body, his lips twitched upwards for a wryly smile.

Reborn, aware of their interaction, found it interesting how the girl stood beside Tsuna and not behind him. She didn't seek protection from him and didn't show fear for the unknown. From her stance and facial expression alone he could tell that girl thought she stood on equal ground. He found rather that he liked that.

He had researched for information the day before and found that Tsuna's grades only began to improve when he met Mia. He then did a background check on the girl and discovered that she was the daughter of two famous Italian archeologists, Nicola and Elaide Matteis. Her mother, Mrs. Elaide Matteis, died in an accident at an excavation site at the proving of Livorno, Tuscan Region of Italy while examining an old monastery seven years prior. A section of the floor gave away where Elaide had been standing during an unexpected earthquake and from there, fell twenty feet down to a cluster of jagged boulders. The monastery had been built on top of a cliff that stood above the Mediterranean Sea. What caused the earthquake was unknown.

After that, Nicola Matteis retired to becoming a Professor. Having graduated from Oxford University, his reputation and complex research had moved him to North America for a while, then to Japan to work with an old colleague in Tokyo. He left his daughter at Namimori to take a break from the city life. Apparently, Mia got caught in a car accident at Washington. Minimal injuries, from what her medical records say. Nothing too serious but it cemented her father's decision to move. The girl didn't have friends that much either, something that both of them share. From that, Reborn concluded that she was clean and had no ties to the mafia whatsoever.

It was kind of disappointing. If she were the daughter of a Mafia Don, her marriage to Tsuna would have strengthened the ties between their families and would have assured a long standing ally. But alas, she was just the daughter of two brilliant researchers and in Reborn's book that was good enough to be qualified for being a bride. Plus, she's smart which is a nice bonus. Just thinking about it had Reborn planning a bridal training itinerary that would be parallel with Tsuna's Mafia Boss' training.

With this, Reborn had concocted a plan to train both of them at the same time while having them bond more to each other until they have mutual feelings. Two birds with one stone.

Oh yeah.

"Why is he smirking like that? I don't like it." Mia whispered to Tsuna.

"Ever wonder why the devil is evil?" Tsuna retorted back. "He doesn't need a reason to be evil."

"Shut up, the both of you," Reborn said and pointed his gun at Tsuna. Mia looked confused yet tensed and eyed the weapon wearily. Good, Reborn thought. She had a good head on her shoulders. She didn't even comment on why a baby was talking.

"I was gonna wake you up but Ms. Matteis here beat me to it." He sighed sadly. "Leon is so disappointed too. He wanted to turn into a hundred-pound mallet for me to hit you with."

Tsuna spluttered, "Hundred-pound mallet?" the same time Mia asked, "Who's Leon?"

Reborn redrew his gun and it turned back into a green chameleon. "This is my partner, Leon. He's a shape-shifting chameleon." He introduced him, lifting his hand to give the girl a closer look. He gauged her reaction, seeing the wonder and curiosity shining through her eyes.

"Mmm-mmn." She said.

"That's all you're going to say?" Tsuna demanded.

Mia ignored him and looked straight into Reborn's eyes. "Who are you?" she asked, genuinely curious and not a shred of suspicion. Not breaking eye contact once, he replied, "I'm Reborn and I'll be tutoring Tsuna to be a Mafia Boss."

Tsuna made that annoying noise again while Mia laughed. "Ha! Ha! Ha! Oh that's a nice joke Reborn... wait, you're not buying into that are you Tsuna?" She slowly turned to look at him. He didn't return her look and shook his head.

"No way! It's just a joke!"

"Dame-Tsuna, I told you already," Reborn said warningly. "You're the only heir alive so man up and take it."

"Thanks but no thanks," Tsuna deadpanned. Leon transformed into a gun again and Reborn pointed at his new student who flinched at the sight of it.

"You'll change your mind soon enough," Reborn said, still pointing the gun threateningly.

"Well then gentlemen," Mia suddenly spoke up. She was pale, but there was a determined glint in her eyes. She stepped in between them. "I'm not sure what's really going on here but maybe we can settle this after breakfast?"

When neither of them moved, she turned to her friend. "Get ready and I'll meet you downstairs," she ordered him. Tsuna looked like he wanted to argue but decided it wasn't worth it and went away to take a shower, glancing behind him.

"Fine, fine," he muttered as he left.

She then turned to Reborn. "I don't know what's going on yet and I'm assuming Nana-san doesn't know so I'll have Tsuna tell me about it later but anyway, have you had breakfast yet Reborn?"

"Nope."

"Then what are you waiting for?"

To say that Mia was shocked was an understatement. Her best friend turns out to be a descendant of the founder of the most powerful syndicate family in the world and only heir. What the hell. Will wonders ever cease? What's even more shocking than that is the talking baby that is presumed as the greatest hitman in the world and is under orders to groom her friend into a Don. No wonder Tsuna was so upset and to be honest, she wasn't handling it that well either.

To think that Tsuna would get involved with something like that… it seriously made her worried for his sake. Funny enough, Tsuna seemed to be in the same predicament. They were walking to school – with Reborn annoyingly following them – when they came across Kyoko. She beamed at the sight of them. While Mia forced a smile, Tsuna genuinely brightened at the sight of the girl.

"Good morning Kyoko-chan!" he greeted her.

"Good morning Tsuna-kun, Mia-chan." Kyoko replied, smiling.

"Roses are red, violets are blue, it's great seeing you, so morning to you too," Mia said. Kyoko and Tsuna both clapped for her and she gave them a bow.

In Reborn's inner thoughts, a similar poem ran through his head. Roses are red, Violets are blue, an arrange marriage is waiting for you… He smirked.

"Ara? Who's this little guy?" Kyoko spotted Reborn and ran towards him.

"Ciaossu, I'm Reborn."

"Awww… he's so cute! Is he your little brother?" Mia nudged Tsuna, giving him a look that clearly said 'can you believe this shit?' He frowned.

"No, he's somebody else's."

"I'm not cute, I'm a hitman," Reborn said at the same time.

"I see, I see," Kyoko apologized and stood up. Turning to look back at Tsuna, she said "I'll go ahead now; Hana-chan is waiting for me. See you at school Tsuna-kun, Mia-chan!" Hastily, she left while quickly typing into her phone. Tsuna stared longingly at her leaving figure and sighed. Mia patted him comfortingly on the shoulder. He gave her an annoyed look but didn't shrug her hand off.

Interesting, Reborn thought. Tsuna had a crush. Just imagine the complications it would bring – made his smirk grow wider. Well, speeding things up wouldn't hurt.

Mia nudged Tsuna again. "Look, he's smirking again," she whispered.

"I don't feel so well all of a sudden," Tsuna confessed.

Annoyed that they were talking behind his back, he pointed his gun at Tsuna's head. "Tsuna, I suggest you go and confess to Sasagawa Kyoko with your Dying Will."

"What?" both of them exclaimed.

"Die." BANG! Then Tsuna dropped dead.

"What did you do to him?" Mia screeched. "I thought you were here to tutor him, not kill him!"

"Wait for it," Reborn advised her.

A second later, Tsuna straightened like a board, a flame igniting on his forehead. "CONFESS TO KYOKO-CHAN WITH MY DYING WILL!" he shouted wildly, then at that moment his clothes came off leaving him nothing but in his underwear and then dashed away, leaving his friend in his dust.

"Non è il mio migliore amico solo flash?" Mia asked herself blankly ("Did my best friend just flashed me?").

"Sì l'ha fatto," Reborn smugly told her ("Yes, yes he did").

She shook her head and ran after Tsuna. When she found him, she had just seen Kyoko running away screaming and Mochida-senpai challenging Tsuna to a duel for Kyoko's hand after class. The fire on his head was extinguished and he was left with nothing but his boxers. People were whispering to each other, things that she didn't like, and Mia decided to shove them aside. He was absolutely mortified as he desperately looked around for something to cover himself.

Pity tugged at her heart. "Tsuna!" she called but he didn't even look at her.

"What are you herbivores crowding around here for?" Hibari suddenly appeared. People immediately dispersed until it was just the two of them and the murderous prefect. He eyed Tsuna but didn't question his state of dress and instead turned to address Mia.

"Classes will start soon," he told her and left.

Mia smiled faintly at the prefect. "He's not too bad after all," she muttered and turned back to Tsuna. Reborn came flying down on a parachute and from there, began to explain that what he did earlier was called a Dying Will Bullet. He also thankfully brought spare clothes for Tsuna.

After that, Mia couldn't help but comment blandly on it. "Second chance for the price of dignity?"

"Yup!" Reborn chirped.

"Well I'm not going to fight Mochida-senpai," Tsuna announced, after buttoning his shirt.

"Why not?" Mia questioned him.

"Because I'll just lose," Tsuna told her. Taking his bag from her, he squared his shoulders like a man getting ready for execution and left to go to the classroom. Mia ran to catch up with him. "I mean have you seen me? Of course you have - don't answer that! I'm just going to get beaten up!"

"Mochida is such a dick. I hope somebody brings his ego down to size." She muttered the last part darkly. Tsuna raised an eyebrow at her.

"What did he do to you?" he wondered.

"Nothing."

He was gonna ask more but then they were in front of the classroom and the whole class jeered at him. He flushed pink and tried to ignore them all, not wanting to attract any more attention that he already did. It was bad enough that Kyoko wouldn't look him in the eyes and now this! Stupid Reborn, stupid Dying Will bullet, stupid Mochida...

His mind drifted to what Mia said earlier today. Thankfully she wasn't picking fights with anyone for his sake but he wondered what Mochida did to make her dislike him so much. His classmates whispered and his grip on his pen tightened. Please let me go home, let this be just a bad dream and that everyone would just forget it. When lunch rolled around he tried to make a run for it but as soon as he opened the door, a group of seniors were waiting outside of the hall for him.

He froze and one of them threw an arm around his shoulders. "Oi Dame-Tsuna, where you going buddy? You're not thinking of running away are you?"

Tsuna let out a nervous chuckle. "O-Of course not Senpai... wouldn't dream of it."

His senior nodded his head appreciatively. "Good, good. We're looking forward to your match with Mochida later. Try not to loose too pathetically alright?"

"Ha-Hai..." Just leave me alone already...

Mia suddenly squeezed herself in between them and forced them apart. Holding on to his arm, she glared at them icily. "If you excuse us Senpai, its our lunch break. Try not to block the hallway too much or Hibari might think you're crowding where you're not supposed to."

At the mention of the Demon Prefect they jumped, giving each other looks before hurrying away but not before giving her some mean looks. Mia tugged at his arm and led him outside. "Are you okay?" she asked him when they were out of sight.

No, he wasn't. He's terrified that he's going to be humiliated again. He thought he was past this - that he was getting better. That he wasn't just useless anymore but it seemed that he was wrong. Stupid Dame-Tsuna.

He was startled when he felt Mia's soft hands guided his head to her shoulder. She hugged him and patted his head.

"It'll be okay. We'll figure something out."

Warmth flooded his stomach and he returned her hug. When was the last time anybody told him that it was going to be okay?

"I don't know what to do." He admitted.

"What is it that you want to do?"

"I don't want to fight." He didn't like violence. He didn't understand how people could just hurt each other like that. She sighed and squeezed him one more time before letting go.

"At this point, that might be hard to do." Mia frowned and turned away from him, thinking deeply. He could hear her muttering, trying to come up with ways to get them out of this but she was right, whether he wanted or not, he had a match with Mochida after school. Running away wasn't an option, Mochida may have sent his friends to watch over him and he really couldn't leave Mia alone.

"Ne Mia... why do you dislike Mochida-senpai so much?"

Mia paused, surprised. "Eh? Well for one he still treats you like dirt." She scowled. "He's also a loud, obnoxious, self-centered arrogant asshole - did you see how he was talking about Kyoko-san?" She shook her head in disgust. "She's not a thing to win over and this whole match feels like its pressuring her to date him if he won."

He gaped at her. He hadn't realized how deep her dislike went but she was right, he slowly realized. Mochida was treating Kyoko-chan like she was some trophy to be won over. Hands curling into fists, he frowned. "That's not right."

Mia eyed him, gauging his expression. "Are you going to do something about it?"

He grimaced. "I... do you really think I could take him on?"

She smiled. "Without a doubt."

And just like that, he was there at the gym after school. The whole student body seemed to have gathered to watch him and Mochida. Another senpai had just explained that they were going to battle each other using kendo and Tsuna panicked, starting to have second thoughts. Could he really do this? He caught sight of Kyoko, then Mia who was glowering darkly at Mochida. Wow, she really did hate him. Then Mochida turned and saw her and then he winked.

Disgust rose to his throat and his blood boiled. Bastard was hitting on Mia. On his best friend.

Something inside him switched and then he suddenly felt determined to go through with the match.

Meanwhile, Mia flipped the bird at Mochida in response then met with Tsuna's eyes. Her expression faltered, realizing that Tsuna caught her and Mochida's exchange. Her shoulders dropped and she awkwardly shuffled on her feet.

How long was this going on? Tsuna demanded in his mind. Mochida wanted to date Kyoko but was flirting with Mia? Oh it was so on.

Tsuna still wasn't sure that he could beat him but at least he'll go down trying. If worse comes to worse, he'll just tackle him to the ground. Turns out he didn't need to as half-way through the match he had been shot by a Dying Will Bullet. He beat Mochida and rendered him bald. Despite the fact that he was just in his boxers, he felt good. People congratulated him and Kyoko thanked him heartily for defending her honor.

Mia gave him a sly look when Kyoko left. He shoved her lightly, knowing what was on her mind. She laughed and handed him some spare clothes that he took gratefully.

"Thanks," she said softly, smiling warmly at him.

He could feel his cheeks reddening and he covered it up by slipping his shirt on.

"You're welcome."

Up above the balcony, Reborn was watching the whole thing from above and smirked. Oh it was going to be so fun to mess with these two. A sudden thought occurred to him then, he remembered some girl hiding in the bushes when they met up with Kyoko this morning. Her eyes were sparkling while she watched him and Reborn suddenly had another girl to factor into this love triangle. The coming days started to become so much more appealing.

Translation:

Non è il mio migliore amico solo flash? - Did my best friend just flashed me?

Sì, sì l'ha ditto - Yes, yes he did.

Author's Notes:

In this chapter, Tsuna and Mia are 2nd year middle students just starting. Reborn had been waiting since the the first week of term to be called in but was just now introduced because Iemitsu had given outdated info and Reborn had to recollect and come up with a new approach to get close to Tsuna as Mia had basically done part of his job.