A/N:
@Kerria Flower: Haha! Tsuna doesn't use his second quirk that often, so even if they announce it, they'll eventually forget about it with how rare he uses it.
@lilsilverphoenix: Tsuna isn't the representative. His score is below Bakugou's. So if Bakugou got 78, he got 77 (as requested by Aizawa to Nezu back in the previous chapter). Hence, he can't do the speech himself. Another factor why he's down on the start of the UA sport festival. Peace.
@asdzaro999: Thank you.
@ramamiss: Thank you. Although... Tsuna? Losing? When Aizawa is watching? I wonder. Hahaha.
@bbbk027: Let's see if he loses though.
@Namikaze Yuuki: I stand corrected. Thank you.
Thank you for the reviews. Here is the update. Not a double update though. But I'll try to put another later.
Anyway, go on.
Chapter Fifteen
Tsuna moved his head to dodge Katsuki's punch on the wall. He glanced at the fist that dented the wall then to those red eyes.
"Use your quirks, dammit." The blond gritted. "Don't look down on us."
"I am not." Tsuna stated. "And I will never. Have I ever look down on you, Katsuki?"
Katsuki growled.
"If I made you feel like that, I'm sorry. I'm not really used to using my quirks. Even the enhanced one. Not even the Dying Will because it used to be a secret of mine." He explained. "But if it will make you feel better, I'll use it against Todoroki."
Bakugou pulled his hand and looked away.
"I'm sorry, Katsuki." Tsuna sighed. "I've been giving you troubles lately."
"Stop apologizing. You didn't do anything wrong. You're just down. You're not thinking straight."
He smiled weakly, slumping a little. "Maybe it's karma for laughing too much at the very first course? For enjoying myself?"
"What's wrong with enjoying yourself, stupid? You did your best like any of us, just without using your quirk."
"It's what made you angry." He uttered, closing his eyes.
"Tsuna," Caramel eyes fluttered open in surprise. "What's wrong?" The blond queried, frowning in worry.
Tsuna breathed deeply. God. He wanted to take advantage of a thoughtful Katsuki. It's so rare and so... So different. It make one so vulnerable that you want to spill your guts to him. How those usually scowling features turn soft. Those brows furrow in worry instead of annoyance and arrogance. And how those eyes stared straight, concern.
But the brunet controlled himself. He can't spill that everything that he hadn't told his Dad. That he misses his family terribly. That he feels unsure and feels wrong for doing these things. Because frankly, this is the reason why he wanted to become a vigilante. To hide. Vongola were feared yet hidden. And being open makes him feel vulnerable.
As he let goes of his breath, Tsuna smiled reassuringly.
"I'm fine. Just the emotional toll we had this lunch made its way to me." He stood up straighter and patted his P.E. uniform of dust. "I should get going. See you later, Katsuki."
"If you say so." The blond huffed, red eyes still on the brunet.
Tsuna waved a hand as he left the other in the hallway. He didn't see how those brows furrowed deeper though. Besides... It's not like Katsuki will stay with him forever. The blond will find someone to be with eventually.
"Now for the first match of the fourth round!" Midnight announced with her own grin plastered. "A battle between combustion quirks! Shouto Todoroki versus Tsunayoshi Sawada!"
The crowd went wild as the two mentioned students went out from the passage. Todoroki looked passive as usual, while Tsuna appeared lax. The two went for the stage and stopped when they got into their spots.
Mismatched eyes gazed at those warm caramel. It was like facing the other again in the trial of battle, but this time as equals. No hero. No villain. Just students, fight to win the sports festival and prove the world that they can be heroes and number one. He wonders what kind of flames will he feel today. As hot as anger and insanity he felt when he was young, or as warm as the home he got deprived of?
"Start!"
The crowd went 'oh' when Tsuna's flames flickered to life just above and between his brows. His eyes fluttered open, revealing amber eyes instead of usual orange. But for once, they don't seem focused. They look lost.
Todoroki gave the first attack, trying to freeze the other. But his eyes widened when he noticed the brunet was gone. He immediately ducked when he saw a swift kick that almost nicked him at the side. He was forced to do a hand to hand combat against his opponent who looked seriously considering of defeating him. Of killing him.
The stance, the loose muscles, the quick moves and fast retaliation. Even the alert reading, like his every moves were anticipated. All of them show how veteran his opponent is.
"Big bang-"
Todoroki's eyes widened when a flaming fist was about to hit him if he didn't summon enough ice as a shield to get away.
"-axle."
The ice broke into pieces, shocking not only him but also the audience, of how powerful the attack was.
"Huh. It still has the effect. I wonder how will the burning axle fare." Todoroki heard the brunet murmur, flexing his flushed hand.
As the battle goes on, the audience listened to Present Mic's commentaries.
"That was one powerful punch Sawada did there. Something we haven't seen since the preliminaries, nor on his first, and second battles. What do you think, Eraserhead? Did he use both of his quirk in that attack?" Present Mic asked to Eraserhead.
"I don't think so. Sawada is not someone who will use his other quirk on frequent occasion. He only uses it when he really needs it." Eraserhead answered in his usual monotone.
"Hm. Very true. He does resort to it as the last option- Oh! He had forced Todoroki to use his fire quirk. Now this is an even fight. And since we are at it, if we talk about hero's child, we all know that Shouto Todoroki is Hero Endeavor's son. So what about Tsunayoshi Sawada?"
The crowd put their eyes on the brunet who had started to grin as fire and ice began to attack him.
"According to our records, Tsunayoshi Sawada is the son of Young Lion and Seven. We all know who these two are, yes? Young Lion is famed to have the same intensity of flames as Endeavor's, while Seven is known to be a powerful deceiver. And per say to what I've heard, both are unfortunately still in coma due to some villain attack eleven years ago, leaving their son, that just turned four back then, to fend for himself."
The audience gasped for the information they have acquired and for the powerful explosion that happened on the stage. Both students are in toe to toe, enjoying themselves with their fire and flames dancing around them, having their own rhythm. As if just playing around instead of biting each other's throat.
"With how tragic the time was that for him back then, Sawada's didn't really have a hard life. He was adopted by a very kind man, according to the student." Present Mic cheered.
"You don't need to sugarcoat anything, Mic." Eraserhead chided.
"It cannot be helped if it is the kid who said those, Eraserhead. Your adopted son is quite a fascinating vigilante as yourself too, albeit not as hero at first." Present Mic hummed. "Such amazing power, being able to match against the number two hero's son."
"This is not about being whose heroes' sons. The two are fighting for their way to the top."
Just then, a merry laughter was heard from the center of the wrecked stage. The brunet is encaged in an ice from his neck to feet. The unbelievable about it is how fast the ice is evaporating instead of melting.
"But for someone who is in the middle of a fight, Sawada is enjoying himself. Oh, look. Even Todoroki is grinning. Did you teach him that?"
"No. I never taught Sawada anything. Except those lessons he needed to understand when he was a child. From the moment he stepped on Yuuei's grounds, he knew I will never give him special privileges. And even if I offered, he will be the one to decline. As strong as his sense of justice, he has remarkable sense of responsibility and equality. He is like any of my student, volatile, adaptable and unpredictable."
"Hah! Spoken like a true father!"
"Focus on your job, Mic."
The audience watched as both fire users started to dance and burn one another with their quirks. Regardless of how they use their second quirks, the two will always resort to using their combusting sides. Every moves are erratic, like they were thought on the spot and never planned. Retaliation after retaliation, answers after answers. And it excites the spectators how such two students can enjoy such fight like its just child's play.
And after a long time of fighting, Midnight called the fight out. Todoroki's upper uniform is in pieces. While Tsuna's were burned off from the fire. Both looked singed, scratched and hurt. But everytime the two eyed each other, they'll grin like children who did something fun.
"Since both haven't put one out of bound nor immobile, this fight is called for a draw!" Midnight announced.
The speculators shouted in agreements and cheers.
"Both will go to the finals and fight against the third competitor between Tokoyami and Bakugou!"
The bleachers went wild as the two sealed their match with a hand shake before they both went down to their respective passages.
Tsuna covered his upper body and he went in. He feels naked. But the grin on his lips can't be lifted. He was turning to the side where his waiting room was, when he got greeted with Endeavor walking towards his direction. Tsuna didn't mind and continued on his way. He shifted to give the man a big way as they passed by each other. He was about to open to his room when he heard the other speak.
"How is Young Lion?" Endeavor questioned.
Tsuna glanced as the back turned from him. "He is well, although regrettably in coma for more than eleven years, Sir."
The hero looked back to him. "You inherited his quirk."
"No." He replied as he opened his door. "My flames and your fire are different."
"Enlighten me, child."
Caramel eyes turned orange as they eyed the hero. He wasn't even aware that he's exuding his authority. "My flames are for justice. Your fire are ambitions. Please check your definitions. Even toddlers can differentiate the two. Unless, of course, you don't know how intelligent a child guided with proper care is. Anyway, good day, Endeavor-san."
Tsuna bowed his head in farewell before going inside. He quickly went for the spare uniforms and put an upper shirt. Sighing, he took one chair from the table nearby and sat there. He rubbed his burnt hands. He kinda overdid it a bit. It wasn't his intention to go a little out, but Todoroki used his fire quirk and he just couldn't resist fighting against it too. Having someone who can go against him on full force made him let loose. What pleased him more was the fact that Todoroki enjoyed using his fire quirk in his own acoord. Grinning at him too whenever they parted to at least breathe from the thing they were doing.
Maybe he should go for Recovery Girl to make her heal it for him? He nodded to himself. Yeah. Maybe he should. Katsuki will yell at him again if he let it be.
After deciding what to do and checking the info in his head where the doctor will be, he went out of his room and inspected the hallways. Since no one is there, Tsuna started his journey to go to the infirmary. He was about to reach an intersection when he heard someone talking in a panicked worried voice. Instinctively, he stopped walking and inevitably listened.
"W-Who attacked him, Mom?" It was Iida. "Hero Slayer Stain?... Alright alright. I'll be there... No no! It's alright. I'll tell my teachers. It's an emergency. They'll understand. And I'm on my way there."
Tsuna eyed the wall hiding him as he can hear Iida's footsteps fading. When his intuition assured him that Iida is out, he continued his way to Recovery girl. His mind swirled about the information he just heard. Hero Slayer, Stain. A fellow vigilante who does not help the citizens, but more of attacking the heroes who are only 'heroes' to be famous and for money. He actually killed a lot of heroes and crippled twenty-three without any full recovery.
The brunet shook his head to remove the things in his mind. He had filtered too many things that day, since afternoon to boot. Why can't his mind just rest? Wait. Why is fate kept on pushing him to do things when he doesn't want to? When he shouldn't get involved? Kawahira telling him fate likes him shouldn't justify this
"Yes?" Recovery Girl responded when he knocked and slid the door opened a little. "Ah. Sawada. Are your hands burned again?"
He sheepishly smiled and nodded. "If it's not a bother?"
"It's fine, child. Come here."
Tsuna shuffled in and sat on the stool provided. "Thank you, Recovery Girl-san."
"It's my job to heal you, so you can come anytime you want." The doctor relied while taking his hand and kissed it. The burns on both hands started to heal. "How's your fight against Todoroki?"
"It was fun?" He replied in an unsure manner. "He was smiling and I was laughing, so it has to be, right?"
"Students nowadays are too competitive." The doctor sighed. "You're the only one I knew who didn't take things seriously."
"I just wanted to make my Dad proud." He smiled as he clenched his hands. "Thank you for healing me. I wish I could at least help you healing others too."
"It can be fixed if you want to know more." The medic chuckled. "Go on now. You have a fight against Bakugou and Todoroki."
caramel eyes looked up to the screen where Bakugou is being shown as the winner of his fight against Tokoyami. "Yeah."
He stood up and bowed his head to the doctor before going out. He should get ready too. Plan how to get second place without Katsuki or Todoroki getting mad.
"Ah wait."
Katsuki looked back and scowled. "If it's about Deku-"
"About Tsuna." Shouto cut off, flexing his hand that hadn't been healed by the brunet. It was always his ice side that gets the warmth. "Is he always like that? Cheerful? And talkative?"
Red eyes stared at the other, scowl ebbing away while remembering how Tsuna smiled at him before going for the stage. "He's not. He started changing when he entered Yuuei."
"Oh. His flames. Are they always that..." Shouto's brows furrowed a little in search for the right term. "Warm?"
Katsuki shrugged as he walked out. "I don't know how it feels without having to touch it, Bastard. Ask me again when I experience it."
Shouto and Katsuki walked for their own passages without seeing Tsuna. As they walked out to the field, they saw the brunet walking from the middle passage. He appeared relaxed. As they go up the stage, the three of them glanced at each other, gauging their opponents' strengths and abilities.
Katsuki saw how powerful Shouto's ice and fire quirks, to the point that the match against the other and Deku were interrupted by their own teachers. He can do some combat but needs polishing.
Shouto knows how explosive Katsuki is. His quirk is like his, but more direct and destructive. Completely volatile and he had the tendency to keep going until he's satisfied. His moves are completely unpredictable, something that will be annoying in the long run.
Red eyed and mismatched ones gazed at the brunet who is staring at floor, humming to himself. Tsuna is the most dangerous to engage. Shouto may have experienced the brunet's power, and Katsuki was one of those who watched their fight, but the limit is not predictable. It's like Tsuna can do more than he could, can show more, and can be more threatening than they can say.
"We reached the finale at last!" Present Mic's voice boomed in the stadium. "The top student among the Yuuei's freshmen class will be decided right here! Our final match! Todoroki versus Bakugou versus Sawada!"
The three glanced at each other.
"Ready!"
Some shifts among them.
"Start!"
The first one to attack was Shouto, summoning a wall of ice. It didn't really reach Tsuna who let out his flames before disappearing. Shouto's attention turned to Katsuki who suddenly appeared. Katsuki flew and took the other's back of shirt before hauling him and throwing him away. Shouto gritted his teeth as he summoned his wall of ice to stop himself from falling over.
As the two kept at it, with Katsuki provoking and munching off Shouto, no one paid attention to a certain brunet who is lounging on a piece of ice. Just when Midoriya shouted for Shouto not to give up, and the latter complied by giving his own kind of attack, Tsuna stepped out of the bounds and watched the match from there. It didn't even take minutes for Katsuki to fall too, out of exhaustion, after discovering that Shouto fainted after doing his own attack.
"Student Todoroki is out of the arena!" Midnight announced after checking the two. "Bakugou collapsed and Sawada- Wait. Where is Sawada?"
Tsuna raised a hand from his perch, smiling brightly to the teacher. "Here, Midnight-sensei."
All eyes went to the brunet who is crouching outside the lines of the arena. Their eyes boggled at his uninjured and no sing appearance.
"What are you doing there?" Midnight blinked.
"I bailed out?" Tsuna shrugged, undecided of his choice of words. "I was waiting for one of them to fall so I can fight the one who won between them. I didn't really see the line when I stepped back. Before I knew it, I was already out. If I go in, I'll be cheating. So I stayed."
The teacher blinked again as the audience went 'Ha?' before a student started to laugh, until everyone of them laughed.
"Nice one, Sawada!"
"That's a sport!"
"A klutz but not a cheater! That's a true hero!"
Midnight glanced at the commentators' box before raising her hand with an amused smirk. "Sawada is out of bounds! Therefore, Bakugou wins!"
"And now the tournament comes to an end! The winner of this year's Class One Sports Festival is Class A's Bakugou!"
The crowd cheered as Tsuna jumped over the ice and tried to help the two teens. He doesn't know that most of the UA staffs and a hero knew what he did.
Tsuna sighed and looked over to Katsuki who is being restrained. He's sharing a stage with Todoroki who looked confused. He bumped the other's shoulder to get his attention. Heterochromatic eyes slid to him, so he smiled softly.
"Want to know something?" He whispered.
Todoroki stared at his unknowingly twinkling eyes before nodding. He felt coaxed to hear thing the brunet says.
He took the other's left hand and let tendrils of sky flames latch in there. "A philosopher once said, that when you feel uncomfortable, talk to someone. It will decrease the burden in your heart and on your shoulder. When in doubts, know the reason why you're doubtful. Search for the very roots. When still in doubts, never do it."
A snicker went out of the teen's mouth. "What?"
Tsuna smiled in relief. "I told you, a philosopher said them. But what I'm trying to say is," He let go of the hand after making sure that Todoroki is alright. "if you need a shoulder to lean on, while you're still adapting to our class, you can call for me. Or Izuku. I bet he won't mind."
"Now, you two." They turned to All Might who is holding two medals.
"I thought we were splitting the medal in half." He joked, earning a chuckle from the hero.
"Of course not. Both of you deserve your awards." All Might answered goodnaturedly before he looked at Todoroki. "Todoroki, my boy. Congratulations."
The teen bowed a little as the Symbol of Peace gently slipped the medal over the former's head and let it settle on the chest.
"You must have had your reasons for suppressing your left side during the final match, right?" All Might queried understandingly.
"The fight with Midoriya triggered my confusion..." Todoroki remarked. "And I lost grasp of what I should do. I have feeling I understand why he's been weighing in your mind." Caramel eyes blinked when turquoise and brown-grey glanced at him. "Tsuna forced me to use it too. And for the whole time we fought, I forgot my confusion and only thought of having something fun for the first time. It was something like I got back a certain object that I lost for a long time. I wanted to be a hero like you. But, I thought if I tried to get over it all just by myself, that would be wrong. There are some things I need to come in terms with."
All Might gave Todoroki a soothing hug. "Your expression is completely different from before. I won't pry any further. But I know that now, you can come to a reckoning without a doubt."
Tsuna can't help himself from standing straighter when the hero turned towards him after pulling away from Todoroki. "Young Sawada, congratulations."
He can't help smiling as he bowed his head and let the band go over his head and feel the heavy metal get pressed on his chest. "Thank you."
"You are an exceptional for being able to go far without using much of your quirks. Your vigilante tendencies must have made you careful of battling others. Although a bit 'clumsy'," The brunet chuckled under the knowing look that was given to him. "do not let your restraints control you too much. You need to let loose of yourself." All Might gathered him into his massive arms and gave him a proud hug. "Even you need to listen to your own advices, my boy."
Tsuna nodded as the hero parted from him and focused on Katsuki who started to raise hell again. He watched the blond's reaction and laughed at how stubborn he is. But what All Might told him weighed in his mind.