A/N:

Have I told you that I don't know how to bake? But I do cook rice, and taking out the burnt part doesn't change the fact that the food is burned? Just tell me if my baking logic didn't make sense, and I'll change it for you. Although, Tsuna is a baking god here in this fic. XD

Anyway, go on.

Chapter Twenty-Nine

They turned to the movement they heard. With the softest rustle they witnessed, the brunet they requested from group three landed like a cat on the ground and jogged towards them. He doesn't seem to be panting even while patting away the leaves that stuck to his hair.

The girls looked at each other and giggled before nearing the brunet to help him remove the leaves on his hair. The said kid flushed lightly and expressed his thanks.

"Kimura-san, Maehara-san." Sawada greeted with a small nod before those brown eyes scanned them. "So... What's the plan?"

"We're to put a great distance between Karasuma-sensei and Koro-sensei." Maehara answered while pointing a thumb to the direction they'll take.

"We can go as far as we could until he catches us, but we have to stall a lot so when the time is up, not everyone is caught." Kataoka added.

Sawada nodded in understanding. "Karma said that our group will distract Koro-sensei by the pool too. It's a good plan." Then his face scrunched up a little. "I rather eat cake than have a double homework."

The four lit up from the innocent show of expression. "Yeah!"

"Mimura-kun! Out!" Ritsu's voice was heard from Okano's phone.

"Then he's near." Kimura nodded before they took their own spots.

Karasuma's eyes widened when he took in the sight in front of him after he pushed aside a branch of leaves. He took in Kimura, Okano, Maehara, Kataoka and Sawada by the rocks and trees ahead of him. Then he realized it. A five-man team of those especially excelling in mobility were in front of him, waiting patiently to challenge him.

It was pretty interesting.

He warned them of the cliff ahead before they started to run. He evaluated them and saw how the five mastered the basic. Well, it was commendable even though they were still lacking. He caught up with Kimura and tagged him out. Then Kataoka, before Okano. Maehara's reaction was comical too. When he turned around, he saw Sawada waiting for him. He smirked before giving chase.

To his surprise, Sawada's movement didn't look shaky and unsure. He was also fast and able to take terrains into three to four movements. The brunet evaded him five times before running back to his classmates who were waiting. There were even movements that he didn't really teach and were akin to parkour with necessary flips and slides.

The other four students were incredibly awed as they watched their teacher and classmate chase around. Sawada just jumps from tree to tree to dodge Karasuma-sensei. He uses both grown plants to swing around, hide and confuse Karasuma-sensei. Whenever they think he'll get caught, Sawada will dodge at the last millisecond and changes position by doing an unexpected move. They didn't even know if he was tagged out or not when he ran towards them.

"What? You haven't tagged Sawada out, Karasuma-sensei?" Maehara exclaimed in surprise as Sawada hid behind them.

"I told you, he's very good at it." Kimura bragged while patting the brunet's shoulder.

"Give up, Karasuma-sensei?" Sawada asked, completely curious. "The mountain is pretty wide for us to play."

Karasuma smirked. "I am impressed that you five have ran pretty far. But it'll soon be the last minute. If he moves, this cop and robbers' game will end with your loss."

He eyed Maehara who sat on a rock while snickering. "It's our win, Karasuma-sensei."

"What?" He asked, confused to their confidence.

"Because, Karasuma-sensei, you don't fly through the sky together with Koro-sensei, do you?" Okano queried with a smile.

"Of course not." He replied immediately. He can feel an irk mark going prominent on his forehead as he recalled all the stupid things the Octopus did during the game. Who even says he has an extra time to eat from another city and let the captured students go? "If I had that sort of leisure, I would've stabbed him."

"Then, Karasuma-sensei, you can't go back to the pool from here within a minute, can you?" Kataoka cheekily said as Kimura pointed a finger where the pool's direction was supposed to be.

His eyes widened in realization. "Damn it!" And was about to run when Sawada casually waved him a hand.

"Letting a robber go, Karasuma-sensei?" The brunet slightly grinned. "Besides, it's done for. Karma, Nagisa and Sugino are in the pool at the moment. Might as well give it up and give us cake."

"Then it is our loss." He sighed, amazed at their plan. "Good job, you five."

The five students beamed at him.

"Let's go back." He called out and jumped on a tree branch. "Sawada."

"Yes, Sensei?" The brunet responded readily and keep pace with him.

"What Kimura had said?" He tried to pry while glancing at the kid.

"Ah." The student uttered in understanding. "Since you've known my situation before I entered Class E, I've been using free-running since I was in Elementary. I didn't really know it was free-running or parkour since I was just trying to escape my chasers."

He nodded understandingly. "I assume you know the dangers?"

"Been there, done that, Sensei." The brunet answered, eyes appearing caramel in the lights. "I only use it when I really need to. Not when I want to."

"Good." He nodded.

He glanced back when the student jumped down. He stopped too and watched the brunet wave over the four who looked exhausted from all the running they did. He made them sit on the ground and told them to breathe first before they go. Karasuma huffed in amusement at the obvious gesture of care.

He does know what was Sawada's situation before he came to Class E. He's the only student he investigated thoroughly. He discovered that the brunet is an orphan since seven, been working jobs here and there at that very young age, and lives in an apartment at a rundown building near the outskirts of Tokyo and Kunugigaoka by foot. What he was really surprised at was the fact that Sawada has been bullied for a long time. The scars they saw on the student last semester were evidences. There were even prominent bone structures that didn't look like they were placed nor treated properly before they healed.

Sometimes, he thinks all of the things the brunet knows now were all cultivated with the drive to survive the world. No wonder he had tried doing that. It makes him understand the student more.

"Karasuma-sensei?" He turned to them again. Sawada nodded. "Let's go, Sir?"

"Yes."

They went back to the school to meet up everyone. The moment the five joined their classmates, all of Class E cheered. They kept on shouting 'cake' and high five-ing among themselves. The class even honored the team three for having none of them getting caught.

Everyone changed back to their uniforms and went out as a group with Karasuma and Irina being pulled by Kurahashi and surrounded by some of the class. Even Koro-sensei is with them with his disguise. Sawada was about to bail out when Karma and Nagisa looped their arms on each of his and dragged him to join them. Even Terasaka's group didn't successfully evade the small outing when Hara got a hold of the three of them.

The brunet didn't even sigh when they entered the bakery the class went to during their win from Takaoka in the first semester.

"Welcome- Sawada-kun!" The owner called out happily with all the big warm smile that is usually directed to the brunet. "Oh. You're with your classmates and teachers?"

"Yes, Mio-san." The brunet answered as he bowed low in respect. "I'll be a customer this time around."

"Oh, it's fine. You've done us a lot of help in the past. Treat yourself every once in a while, alright?" The woman smiled while patting Sawada's shoulder. "Go and join your classmates. I'll send the others to get your orders. Eat a lot, alright?"

The brunet nodded. "I'll try."

"Oh. You're so adorable. Go now. Hi, Akabane-san!" The owner greeted as well to the redhead who cheekily smiled. "Looking cool as ever."

Karma snickered. "Hello, Mio-san."

"Don't praise him too much, Mio-san. It makes his head bigger." Sawada joked while pulling Karma to the class who were watching them from the spot they picked for the class.

"How do you know the owner, Sawada?" Isogai asked as they all settled when their two classmates sat too.

Brown eyes looked away while Karma grinned. "She's the wife of his job's manager. He helps around here when they need him."

"Oh."

"You have a job?" Sugino gaped. "That's cool."

A small nod from the brunet. "I can't divulge you more since our school doesn't approve of it. I apologize."

"It is okay, Tsuna-kun." Koro-sensei assured with his usual grin. "None of us will say a thing."

Brown eyes surveyed them as they all nodded in agreement. The owner of those eyes gave a nod of appreciation. "Thank you."

"Hello! May we take your orders?" Hiyori, one of the three servers assigned to them, asked politely.

The class gave their varied orders of drinks before agreeing on a cake recommended by Karma, who turned to Sawada. For some reasons, Nagisa, Sugino, Kayano, Kanzaki and Okuda got the gist on to why Karma kept on subtly teasing their classmate. Karasuma had an inclining feeling as he observed the two. It didn't even take a second for Nagisa to jump on the conversation with the two and started to point out what dessert looks pleasing. While the class chattered around too, Nagisa can clearly hear how Sawada gives specific points about the desserts on the menu.

Kayano was able to join in too. It can't be helped that they were talking about sweets. The greenette and the brunet went to specifics that the redhead and the teal-head can follow along with how the brunet uses simple words in his answers and replies. Kayano's green eyes were twinkling with excitement when the brunet praised her pudding recipe. If ever, Nagisa was truly surprised at the fact that Sawada went on and entertained Kayano while answering their questions. It was an amazing skill to be attentive on two different things.

(Sawada facts no. Thirty-nine: He's a good multi-tasker.)

"Excuse me." They all turned to Hiyori when she called out to their group. She looked panicked.

Sawada stood up and put his bag down. "I'll be there."

"Thank you, Sawada-san." The lady sighed in relief and followed the brunet who excused himself.

The class watched the brunet cross the counter while talking to Hiyori. Even Mio, the owner, came out and sighed in relief after seeing the brunet come in the kitchen. The class went quiet and glanced at each other before they all went to move.

The servers only giggled and let them in to see the big glass pane where the kitchen can be seen. They asked Karma why was it glass, and the redhead answered that it's for transparency and to let the customers know that everything is freshly made. Everyone anticipated on the brunet's move as he pulled his sleeves while eyeing the trays of big sponges in front of him.

"Icing?" They heard Sawada say.

"On the process, Sawada-san." One of the chefs answered.

"I want that in thirty. You said the sides were burned, was it?" He asked again while inspecting the three trays with quick scan. "Knife."

"Here." Another chef handed him a bread knife.

"When something like this happens," He started to precisely slice off the obvious burned parts. "cut off the burned parts before it cools down. In that way, it won't affect the whole sponge's state." He put the excess in a stainless bowl. "It's usually hard to do, but timing is a key." Then he moved to another. "Sometimes, you don't need to touch the cake, but as long as your knives are sharp. This one need more or less five swipes to sharpen more."

"Yes, Sawada-san." The chefs answered in unison.

"The icing. Watch it so it won't get overmixed. Listen while doing your work. You won't survive in the kitchen if you don't have all coordination."

Two of the five chefs scattered to check on their icings while he went for the last sponge.

"In fifteen," He said aloud as he put aside the knife and bowl, then stacked the two differently sized sponges on top of the bigger one. "I need those icings bagged and ready."

"Yes, Sawada-san."

"Is he that strict?" Kurahashi asked to Karma who hummed.

"Not really. He doesn't even talk to them mostly, unless they did a misstep and he needs to step up. This is one of those times that he teaches them what to do if something like this happens. It's not like he's available everyday to solve their problems. They needed to learn and be creative too, and he doesn't originally work here. So, it's not everyday that they get lectured."

"He sounded so strict." Mimura commented.

"But isn't that how he taught us in English last semester?" Sugino queried to them. "He was quick and really easy to understand. He sounded strict too, but he just sounded serious. It's like he really wants us to understand the lesson and don't take it lightly. Like this one."

"Wait." Maehara called out as Sawada started to put coating on the cake. "He rarely works here, right? So how did he know what the cake looks like?"

"He made it himself." Karma offhandedly answered while watching his friend expertly coat the cake. "Most of the sweets you saw in the menu are his recipes and original creation."

"Then you recommended that cake because..." Hara trailed off as Sawada made the stand of the tray to spin slowly and iced it.

Karma grinned, making Nagisa sweat drop. "It's his favorite among his creations. So, what's the best thing that should be ordered other than the item the creator wanted to eat himself?"

"Oh. Wow." The whole class exclaimed as they watched Sawada iced the cake in a matter of minute before starting to do more decoration.

(* Sawada facts no. Forty: He's a baker and a chef!

* Sawada facts no. Forty-one: He's firm in teaching things.)

"Tsuna-kun never ceases to take out a hidden knife in the right time, does he?" Koro-sensei remarked.

"Yeah." Sugaya agreed. "It's like he has so many holsters hidden around his body when he's just wearing a simple shirt and a pair of pants."

"Take it from Tsuna-kun. I said so last semester, right? Have your own hidden weapon and sharpen it as you grow up." Koro-sensei remarked. "Everyone is capable of that. You just have to find the right one and something you can be very proud of."

"Got it!" The class responded.

"What are you doing here?" They all turned to Sawada who is wiping his hands in a white cloth. He looked perplexed before his face colored red and his eyes went for Karma who snickered. "Karma."

"That's so awesome, Sawada-kun!" Kayano exclaimed. "No wonder you know a lot of sweets and all the procedures!"

"Uh-"

"Don't overwhelm Tsuna-kun." Koro-sensei placated.

"Let's go sit again." Karasuma ordered as the brunet came out from the kitchen, still looking red.

"Sorry, Sawada-kun." Fuwa apologized cheekily. "But really, you were awesome."

"Yeah!"

"Next time, let's cook in Home Economics together!"

"Let's exchange sweet recipes!"

Nagisa extracted Sawada from the group and made him sit by their table. The brunet was really red that Nagisa had to distract him. Good thing the class stopped with the praises and went to their own topics. They all looked at the cake that was being carried to their table. It didn't take Koro-sensei a second to cut it up and distribute it to their plates. The servers carrying their drinks were perplexed when they saw the tray already empty and the cake was distributed. They all turned to Sawada who only shrugged while inspecting the sponge.

"Tell Daito-san that he did a good job with the sponge." The brunet openly praised as the drinks were given to their designated owners. "Burned parts aside, I can tell they all taste good."

"Yes, Sawada-san." Hiyori answered excitedly before turning back to rely the message.

"Now, everyone. Let's eat." Koro-sensei called to remove the class's attention from Sawada who went red again.

"You're so cool." Karma whispered to his friend who went redder.

"Karma-kun, stop teasing Tsuna." Nagisa chided softly before smiling at the brunet. "Go on and eat too, Tsuna."

"Thanks." The brunet said and took a forkful of the cake.

By that, everyone went off their ways after eating and chatting, with sated sweet cravings and a memory of one Sawada Tsunayoshi taking control of the kitchen.

(* Sawada facts no. Forty-two: He can't take compliments well. (He gets really embarrassed.)

* Sawada facts no. Forty-three: He's easy with praises.)

(Karasuma didn't even know that he paid only a half of the cake's original price, a discount for bringing the brunet in the bakery at the right time.)

(Mio was planning to give them a discount in the very first place, but with that situation happening, she made it as a scapegoat so the brunet won't feel ashamed of the circumstances. He's pretty shy.)

(That night, Koro-sensei tried to interrogate Tsuna about the cakes and sweets the latter brings back since they met, but the brunet kept his mouth tightly closed and often times distracts the yellow teacher who gets distracted very easily.)

xxx

"An underwear thief specializing in targeting large-breasted women." Kataoka read as Koro-sensei follows since he has his own copy of the newspaper. "The culprit is a large man, with a yellow head. 'Nyaruhuhu' he laughs, and leaves behind a mysterious goo at the scene of the crime."

Brown eyes scanned the class before taking the newspaper Kataoka put aside. Hm. Fishy.

"That is totally you, Koro-sensei." Okajima said as Koro-sensei stared at the newspaper with wide eyes.

"Honestly, I'm disappointed." Mimura remarked with this 'expression'.

"How could you do this?" Okano accused.

"P-Please, wait a minute! Sensei doesn't know anything about this!" Koro-sensei tried to defend.

"Then what's your alibi?" Hayami voiced, giving Koro-sensei benefit of doubt. "Late last night, when this incident occurred, where were you, and what were you doing?"

"Well, I was shaking around some French fries while moving up and down between the heights of ten thousand meters to thirty thousand meters."

"Who the hell could confirm that?!" The class shouted.

"There's no point in having an alibi in the first place." Yoshida dismissed, glaring at Koro-sensei.

"No matter where he is, for the most part, he can return to town in an instant." Hazama seconded, looking at the teacher with disgust.

"Wa-"

"Hold on, guys!" Isogai called out, standing in front of Koro-sensei. "We can't just accuse him like that! It's true that Koro-sensei has a lot of little worldly desires. But, if you think about all the things he's done until now, the worst he's done is picking up and reading porno magazines and being bribed by photos of girls in swimsuits, and staring at gravure magazine during break like he's lost it, and he'll write out 'hand bras won't do, please let me give you a tentacle bra' as requests on postcards and..."

Tsuna looked up to see their male representative struggling to say more.

"Sensei, please tell us the truth." Isogai gave up.

"N-Not you too, Isogai-kun!" Koro-sensei lamented before he turned to the door with determination. "Sensei is innocent, the nerve! Alright, everyone come to Sensei's desk in the preparation room! In order to prove the strength of Sensei's mind, I will throw away all the gravure magazines in my desk this instant!"

The class glanced among themselves before following their teacher who went out. Tsuna was about to stay, but he got pulled by Karma who arrived. The redhead asked him what was going on, and he gave the primary knowledge.

That morning, Tsuna came in with the class reading over the newspaper article that was discovered by Okajima and Mimura. It was shared to him by Kanzaki and Okuda. Well, it can't be helped if they do suspect Koro-sensei. All of his physical attributes were listed there. Even the way he laughs was stated. Well, except for one thing. Tsuna and Koro-sensei were together when the crime happened. Why? Because Manager Ota closed the shop that night at ten in the evening because Hiraku, the shifty, was sick and called the boss.

And even if Koro-sensei did do it, he'll say so to Tsuna and the latter will order him to return it. Not like the teacher will really do it. Hitmen and assassins are naturally gentlemen. They could just pick up girls with their charms, even if Koro-sensei looks as he is right now.

The two of them came upon the preparation room with their classmates staring at Koro-sensei with horror and disgust. Apparently, there were girls' upperwears on the teacher's desk and in his food preserving box, and there were girls' list of cups on his roll call book. When Tsuna saw the teacher's face, he can't help raising his hand to get his classmates' attentions.

"If you can't believe Koro-sensei, maybe you'll believe me?" He tried to placate.

"Sawada, you don't need to lie for Koro-sensei." Maehara assured.

He blinked. "When did I ever lie to you?"

That question froze Class E.

(Sawada facts no. Forty-four: He has never lied to the class.)

"Koro-sensei has been visiting me since last semester, every night to eat with me. He's a chatterbox. He maybe shy to tell you what nefarious things he does since you are his students, but he doesn't with me outside this campus. He had told me about all of his collections, all his types, all of the things he likes. But one thing is for sure, he doesn't do that kind of stuffs like collecting women's garmets and looking over cups, especially of the girls in his class. He maybe has the most motive, but he won't do that to the teens he respects and respects him back. What is he going to do with them anyway? Put them in a shelf and admire them when it won't last long since he'll gonna blow up Earth if you don't assassinate him any sooner?"

That made the class quiet and be contemplative.

"And what he said about shaking a bag of fries, he really did it." He pointed out and showed his thumb and forefinger that were pinkish. "We shared the fries and I dipped them on ketchup while he ate them with cheese alone." He turned to the time and nodded to the teacher who is gaping at him. "Lesson time, Koro-sensei. We're fifteen minutes behind."

"O-Oh. I-I'll be there." Koro-sensei answered with a nod.

"I'm keeping the paper." He called out as he walked back to their classroom. "This is really fishy."

The class looked at each other before following the brunet. The tension in the air eased up a little, but there is still doubt. However, Tsuna is glad that he was able to help his teacher and classmates.

Now, he needs people to help him with the case.