Oh, in this chapter there is a small reference about my other fic ("Hear me"), so... it's probably better to read that too... I think...

Disclaimer: I don't own Katekyo Hitman REBORN!

Warning: Mentions of bullying, violence, depression.

Kyoko liked to smile.

People liked her smiles and her grace. They said it gave her a sense of innocence, some even said it was her obliviuness; she smiled because she couldn't see the bad of things.

They were wrong.

Kyoko smiled because she knew the hurt of the reality. She wasn't a fool. She understood that life wasn't a fairy tale. She smiled, because it was better than cry and, more than anything, her brother said that her smile gave him strength.

She was proud of her smile.

So when the boy — Sawada Tsunayoshi, not Dame-Tsuna — showed his notebook, Kyoko was happy (and embarrassed).

She knew a little about him. He was one of her classmates and he didn't talk. The girl never saw he truly interact with someone, usually was just everbody making fun of him. She pitied him and wanted to help, but she was afraid.

Kyoko wasn't someone that could easily talk back to the others; she too, was just a teenager scared of being judged and hurt. And so, she couldn't — wouldn't — do anything.

But she admired him.

Sometimes — rare times — the girl saw he smile. Like when he together with his mom, helping her with the groceries, or when he stopped at the park and looked the kids play (somehow he had a sad atmosphere around him on those times, though).

Kyoko liked his smile.

When everything was over and Tsuna beat Mochida-senpai, she gathered her courage and talked to him. She praised him, because he deserved.

Tsuna was strong in his own way and Kyoko admired that; she also wanted to be strong. She wanted to be by his side and be his strength like she was to her brother.

That's why she was mesmerized when he moved his lips ("Yeah", he meant) and then smiled. It was an awkward one, his lips were trembling and in the corner of his eyes tears gathered, but for Kyoko it was the most beautiful smile she had ever seen.

She hoped that from now on she could get more of them.

Because to Kyoko, smiles were important.