Author's Note: Minako, how can you win if you didn't practice that much?

Disclaimer: I do not own Katekyo Hitman Reborn.

"Here are the results," starts the announcer. I sit on the bench calmly, I don't care for it much, I won't place high enough to make it to the next competition anyhow, I'm almost sure of it. I straighten out my black ice skating dress. It was tough finding one that Onii-san approved of. "In third place we have…" continues the announcer. I start to tune him out.

There is a loud applause, followed by silence. Then another round of applause. Then more silence. They're announcing the first place winner now. Nothing, there's no applause. I feel someone tap my shoulder. I look at the girl sitting next to me blankly. She's wearing a pastel pink ice skating dress and has her light brown hair up in pigtails. I remember her performance because the announcers said that she's only thirteen or so. "Aren't you Hibari, Minako?" she asks. I nod. "You won first place," she explains, her eyes are a bit wide, but she looks happy.

"Oh?" I ask. She nods happily.

The announcer calls out, "Hibari, Minako, please come and receive your prize."

I stand up and give the girl a small smile and a slight bow. "Thank you for letting me know."

I walk over to the announcer. I smile a bit and bow as I accept the award. There is a loud round of applause. I hear a group of male voices shout out. I know that people from Nami-Middle actually came but still, they came in a group? I manage to keep my eye from twitching somehow.

I check the scores, I got first place by just a little. I'm actually not sure why I won, the competitor was better, but I guess that in the end the practice paid off somehow. Naturally, I don't need the prize money. I usually just give it to Onii-san to use for the Discipline Committee. I bow a final time before I exit the rink. I walk back to the changing room quickly to avoid the mobs of people who will surely try to talk to me. I change back into my white t-shirt, light grey hoodie, and purple skirt. As I pull on my black sneakers, the girl with the pastel pink dress comes in. "Congratulations, Hibari-san!" she says happily.

I smile at her. "Thank you. You don't have to call me 'Hibari-san' though, that's my brother," I reply. I continue to pack my ice skating things away.

"Okay, umm…Minako-san," she replies. She looks so happy. I wonder if I was ever that happy. "I'll be there to root for you at the next competition, Minako-san!" she exclaims. "Your performance was so unique!"

I bow a little. "Thank you," I reply. "Your performance was very well planned though. It fit perfectly with the song," I start.

"Really? You think so?" she asks. Her eyes are sparkling.

I nod. "You must have practiced really hard too. Keep at it, you'll be wonderful one day," I say. She nods happily. "Good. I'll see you around then." I sling my skates around my shoulder and start to walk off. I wonder if Onii-san would approve… I let out a quiet sigh as I start to head for the back exit. She's a little kid. He and I both have a weakness for them.

I make it back to the airport in Namimori after school ends. I stop by the school to find Onii-san in his "office". I hand him the check. "Onii-san, good afternoon," I greet. He nods in return. "I got first," I say. "I'll see you with dinner in a few hours." I smile at him and leave. He's been really busy lately- students have been going missing. Sawada, Yamamoto, Gokudera, even the younger Sasagawa. Kusakabe called to tell me while I was at the hotel. It worries me that they've gone missing. Of course, I would never admit it out loud. I don't need to show any weakness. It's best that I don't.

Outside, I watch as a male starts to come running this way. "Sasagawa-senpai," I call out. He runs over, breathing a bit hard because he ran here a bit too quickly. "Have you found any of them yet?" I ask.

He crosses his arms and shakes his head. "No, there's no sign of them anywhere. They're well hidden to the extreme."

I frown. "They couldn't have just disappeared into nothing. There has to be a sign of where they went somewhere," I say seriously in a matter-of-fact tone. It sounds too blunt to me. "Maybe you missed an area? Anywhere? A place you didn't search thoroughly?" I suggest less bluntly.

He shakes his head. "I can't think of anything, but I won't give up!" he exclaims.

I nod. "I'll continue to search as well then." My cell phone starts to ring. "It's Kusakabe-san," I say as I glance at the caller ID. Then, I pick up.

"Mina-san, I assume that you've come back to Namimori safely?" asks Kusakabe.

"Yes, there was no trouble at all," I reply.

"Congratulations on your win," he says.

"Thank you, Kusakabe-san."

"Anyhow, we've searched the assigned area, but there was no sign on them. Should we move onto the next area?" Kusakabe reports on the other end.

I frown. "No sign at all?"

Kusakabe's voice is solemn as he replies, "No, I'm afraid not." He says softly, "I'm sorry, Mina-san."

"It's fine," I reply, my voice emotionless now. I won't show any weakness. "You can all break for the day. You've all worked very hard today."

"Mina-san, are you sure?" Kusakabe asks.

I reply firmly, "Yes, I'm absolutely sure. So, all of you take a break. We'll pick up the search again tomorrow morning."

"Mina-san…" I hear Kusakabe mutter on the other end. He knows that I'm worried.

I let a small smile form on my lips as I reply, "It's fine, Kusakabe-san. Take a break. Thank you for your help today. Good-bye." I hang up and put my cell phone away. Sasagawa looks at me expectantly and I shake my head. Sasagawa yells in frustration. For once, I don't say anything. He gives me a weird look as I start to walk away. "Your sister usually makes dinner for you, correct? I'll have dinner prepared for you tonight around six. Show up, or Onii-san will get mad."

"Why?" he asks. I can imagine him with a confused expression as he asks this.

I don't turn around, but I keep walking as I reply, "I can't have students scouring Japan to find other students and passing out because they don't have food."

I sit there awkwardly at the table as Onii-san glares at Sasagawa. There's some tension in the room. "Um, would either of you like something to drink?" I offer quietly.

Onii-san turns to me and I see his expression soften just slightly. "Tea," he replies. I nod.

"Water, please," Sasagawa replies. Then he declares, "Water is extreme."

I nod. "… Of course," I reply a bit too slowly. "Give me a minute, if you'd please." I stand up and walk over to the kitchen.

When I'm in the kitchen, I hear Onii-san start to talk to Sasagawa. "Why are you

here?"

"Your sister asked me to come over."

"Why?"

"I don't know. I didn't understand to the extreme," replies Sasagawa. I sigh and

start to make Onii-san his tea and pour water for Sasagawa. I walk back outside and serve them their drinks after Onii-san's tea is done.

Onii-san asks, "Minako, why is he here?"

I bow a little in apology. "I'm sorry Onii-san, but it's just that Sasagawa-san usually cooks meals for Sasagawa-senpai. Since Sasagawa-senpai went out to help search for the missing students out of his own will, I wanted to thank him," I explain. I smile apologetically. "Plus, since Sasagawa-senpai was basically scouring all of Japan, I didn't want yet another missing student because Sasagawa-senpai fainted as he was searching."

"Hn," replies Onii-san. He doesn't say anything else, so I assume that all is forgiven. I watch as Sasagawa scarfs down the food. At least I know that it tastes good to him. Onii-san has an annoyed look on as he eats in his usual manner. These two are so different… They're like opposites. I even have a vague recollection of what Onii-san said when they first met a few years ago. I almost sigh, their relationship hasn't changed much. It's very likely that I won't ever change even. They finish their food and proceed to glare at each other.

"This guy gets me extremely mad! What is with you, Hibari?! You haven't matured since I met you!" Sasagawa shouts suddenly.

Before Onii-san can say anything I say firmly, "Thank you for being on time as I requested, Sasagawa-senpai. I highly suggest that you don't waste any more time here with… idle… chatter though. They're all still out there somewhere."

He nods. "Yeah, thanks for the extremely good meal!" Then, he lets himself out, shouting, "Kyoko! Kyoko! Where are you?!" I let out a quiet sigh. Onii-san seems to feel less annoyed now.

I decide to take the night patrol in place of Onii-san to make up for having Sasagawa come over for dinner. I walk down the dark street, half paying attention. After some time off, of course something odd happens with Tsuna and the others. I hope that Onii-san doesn't get involved again like last time… I sigh and continue to walk down the street, following Onii-san's usual route. I catch some odd movement from the corner of my eye. I continue to walk without faltering, not letting whatever is around know that I've spotted them. I look up suddenly because there's a noise and realize that it's too late. The purple bazooka falling from above drops on me and I hear it fire.

My eyes widen as the pink smoke clears. I stare at the man sitting across the table from me and I ask a bit hesitantly, "O-Onii-san?"

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