A/N:
@Lily3nna: I hope you pass your exam! Thank you for reading!
@ramamiss: Oh! I hope you've had a fun read. Thank you for reading!
@NoaRien: Thank you, and thank you for reading!
@Lunary: You are God-sent! Thank you for your reviews in every chapter. You almost gave me a heart attack when my notification went off continuously. Hahaha. Tsuna won't be able to meet Byakuran until the later chapter. I think it's about time fot Aria to give birth at this time in BNHA universe. Hahaha! Regardless, Thank you for reading!
I'm having a hard time finishing the other story I'm writing. Argh. Partly because of writer's block and laziness.
Anyway, go on. Hahaha!
Chapter Eighteen
"You're going for your father's agency?" He tried to verify. He got a nod.
"What do you think?" Shouto queried.
"What do you think?" Tsuna parroted, emphasizing the 'you'.
The red-white head looked down to his still full plate with a thoughtful look. "I wanted to see with my own eyes why he's number two. Experience how he does his works too."
"Be unbiased then?" He queried.
"It's not as if I'm forgiving him. I just want to know." Shouto nodded.
He reached out and ruffled the other's hair with a big grin. "It's okay. I told you, forgiveness takes time." He saw hope in those mismatched eyes as Shouto smiled back. "At least you're a step to at least understand or something. That's good."
"What about you?"
"I'm taking a place that's not that far. Kanagawa if I checked it right." He replied. "Someone who specializes with lifesaving activities."
"You are versatile with combat." They looked up to Hitoshi who sat beside him. "All you need now is more on helping and refine your skills."
"I can spar with Ojirou-san sometimes." He considered while taking some of his food. "I think Dad will be willing to assist me too. If you two want, we can have a joint study about it. And eat up. I'm not gonna let you go without those plates empty."
The two chuckled and started to eat.
"I'll think about it." Hitoshi replied. "It's not much of a bad idea since someone with a quirk like me has to defend himself from those attackers that can figure out my weakness."
"After one week?" Shouto asked, looking between him and the purple head.
Tsuna nodded. "Yup. After one week. If we have more time."
"I can't wait to wipe the floor with your asses." Hitoshi remarked.
"Don't be too excited, Shinsou. I might do it to you." Shouto retorted.
Tsuna shook his head as the two kept on threatening each other. Ever since the hero naming, he kinda linked the two. He put a connection between them, and they became buddies in a little while. He did receive looks when Shouto sat beside him on lunch, as well as Hitoshi. But he didn't mind. He invited them anyway. He's calling Shinsou in his name, since Hitoshi also permitted him to call him by that, because the purple head thinks it won't be fair to call him by family name when he can call the brunet with his nickname. They haven't clarified if they're friends though.
About the workplace, he did voice to his Dad that the agency Shouta was working gave him a nomination. Shouta kinda persuaded him to do take a workplace that is near their city, because he can't be the sky if he doesn't explore the world. He did consider the idea. The last push was when Shouta gave him a compromise. If anything happens, Tsuna will be the first one to be contacted. So he chose Kanagawa which was near Musutafu. His Dad approved of the place.
Lunch time came over in a blink of an eye, and the two parted ways with Hitoshi, who looked contented. They did their last classes before Tsuna and Shouto bid goodbye to each other. The brunet is avoiding Katsuki who hasn't gotten over the 'ten is the greatest number' speech. Even Izuku sweatdrops on how the blond viciously glare at Tsuna everytime the latter passby.
The next day, Tsuna packed his things with Shouta. He teased the man of missing him for a week, which Shouta denied. The brunet narrowed his eyes on him, causing to receive some threat that if ever he thinks of testing the hero of not texting and not replying to any messages, he will see to it. With that, Tsuna promised not to do it with a smile. (He was thinking of doing that. But his Dad knows him so well, so next time.)
The following day, the two of them went to UA to meet up with the others and get their costumes before they went to the train station. Shouta reminded them about their costumes and to mind their manners. When they got dismissed, Tsuna stayed a little longer, waving goodbye to Shouto while standing beside their adviser.
"Aren't you going too?" Shouta queried.
Tsuna scrunched his nose in a joking manner. "Excited to get rid of me?"
"It's not like that." The other admonished. "Just don't forget to take care of yourself."
He chuckled. "Shouldn't I be the one reminding you that? I can take care of myself. You're the one I'm worried of."
"As long as you'll take care of yourself, I'll take care of me too. Be careful in there, and vigilante code,"
"Do not engage a villain unless necessary." Both said at the same time.
Tsuna smiled at his Dad, as the latter did. "I'll be going then. I'll message you once I arrive there."
"Got it."
He waved a hand as he walked backwards. When Shouta answered a wave too, he turned around and ran for his leaving train. He put on his headset and looked over the scenery that will be greeting him. It will surely be a long week for him.
The moment Tsuna stepped in Kanagawa train station, he was greeted with an hostage taking right in front of him. He had to drop his luggage to the side and tried to see what he can do. Well, something like that isn't really new to him. Not that he always encounters things like these in the new world. It's just something he comes upon in his old world. If it's not the kids, it'll be the girls. Sometimes Chrome, of all people to take.
Well, there are three types of hostage takers. Those experts who check their victims before doing it and has all the caution in mind. They know the rules and how to bargain with the other party. You can't threaten them though because they won't really hesitate killing their victims. In addition, they rarely get caught. There are the learning ones who are between going pros and being amateurs. They can read the vibes. Sometimes they get caught, sometimes not. They don't know how to bargain, but they know how to escape with the use of their hostage. When they get threatened physically or verbally, they get really really boastful, but all barks with no bites. Tsuna hates their guts most of the time. Then the amateurs who don't know how to hold their victims and always fumbles what to do. It's like they did it out of desperation. They get caught easily, but the problem is they have casualties everytime they're about to get caught. But what's so easy with them is that they get scared easily when threatened.
Right now, the hostage taker in front of him is an amateur, who took a woman with a bag as a victim. How stupid is that? One thing about women? Never scare nor anger them, they're always ready to retaliate. (Examples are Bianchi and Ipin.)
Tapping one person on the shoulder, he hushed to the man to go for the exit without getting caught. He did that to the remaining others, keeping a finger to his lips. Slowly, the people near the train started to decrease. Tsuna stopped when he noticed that most of the people have gone, leaving small possible problems. He watched the man threaten the people around him as he toed one of his shoe and held it with a hand. In a count of three, he cried 'run' to the hostage before throwing the footwear to the hostage taker. It was shoe meets face. The hostage doubled it by flinging her bag to hit the man's head.
Tsuna made a run for it as the woman got caught by some civilians, kicking the man to the stomach before making him roll on his front while groaning in pain. He took his tie off from his being and used it to tie the man's wrists with it. He sat on the criminal's back, and threatened him to dislocate his shoulders if he uses his quirk. The man didn't even struggle, eyes frightened with how Tsuna unconsciously makes his eyes glow orange.
When the police came, Tsuna was asked to come and give his word with the victim. He kinda hesitated and told them that he needed to go to the hero agency first before he has to come to them. The moment he said his name when asked, the police made an A-Ok. He didn't mind that. Before he left, the ex-hostage thanked him, even the people he told to escape but waited outside expressed their gratitude. He only smiled.
"You're late." Agent Rigorous stated, eyeing him.
When he got there, he was immediately ushered by a staff to wear his hero costume before he got guided to Graeme Hughes, also known as Agent Rigorous, office. His first impression to his workplace is it's too grey. Although the person who guided him, who introduced herself to be 'Starlight', was pretty amiable. Not even his intuition told him to be careful with her. Even Agent Rigorous, so it's okay he guess. As long as they're friendly in the end, he doesn't mind.
He bowed in apology to the man. Well, he was at wrong for being late anyway. "My apologies."
"What's your reason?" The man in his superhero suit queried.
Just then, the news about the hostage taking got viewed on the TV, with a picture of him passing the newscaster and got circled to say he was the one who saved the day. They didn't say his name which was good.
"I was at the train station." He answered honestly while straightening his posture. "The police wanted to get my statement about the hostage taking that happened in there. I needed to negotiate that I have to report here and ask for your permission first before I have to get there."
Green eyes tried to stare down at him before getting a nod. "Alright. You are?"
"Vongola Decimo." He answered automatically as he arranged his cuffs before mustering a smile. It is an automatic answer when he was still 'alive'. "You can just call me Decimo."
"Good." The hero stood up and gestured him to follow. "I'm giving you a rundown of what you're going to learn here in my agency."
Agent Rigorous is someone who is highly respected by his co-workers, from what he observed. Wherever they go, the heroes greet the man. The brunet even suspected that some heroes respected the man with his abilities, and not just admiration. The man is good at his quirk, 'phasing'. Other than he can use it to himself to go through objects, he can also make other people do it with him by just letting him touch you, and never the other way around. He named himself Agent Rigorous because he will not do an operation with at least eighty percent success rate.
Tsuna acknowledged the fact that their agency's heroes have the lowest casualties in Kanagawa, with all their rescue operations are under Agent Rigorous's supervisions. When on the spot, they have to remember that the lives of those people they needed to keep safe are more important than the villains. Which was the reason why they have a low percentage of capturing villains.
When Agent Rigorous asked him if he is fine with the ideology of their agency, he honestly answered that he's fifty-fifty. Because regardless of how much you make sure everyone is safe, while the perpetrator is still out there, it will happen again and again. It will become a cycle. However, since the agency has other agencies by their side and trust them enough to get the villain, they could focus more on the lifesaving and leave the capturing to them. In a case, the agency's ideology befits his own. The man praised him for getting their philosophy.
"Hey there, Green Bean."
Tsuna turned half way to see who called him that as he clicked his phone off. It was a guy with black and silver in his costume, and smirking at him. "Hello."
"You're Vongola Decimo, right?" The other inquired, as if his hero name is not good enough or something. "I'm Dark Haven. I can control the darkness."
"Oh." He uttered automatically. "Cool."
"I know-"
"Wah!"
His reflex immediately kicked in as Starlight tripped. He took the lady's waist before holding Dark Haven's arm so they won't fall. The potted plant Starlight was carrying fell and broke though. He let the two get their balances before letting them go.
"Watch where you're going, Starlight!" Dark Haven scowled. "You could've dirtied my uniform."
"I-I'm sorry." The lady apologized.
Tsuna watched as the guy scoff and start to walk away. The latter didn't even mind stepping on the plant that got away from its broken pot. Starlight looked down to the plant that broke and her eyes watered at the sight of the stomped plant. She turned around and walked away.
Being considerate, Tsuna asked the people not to touch the scene and went for the kitchen that he noted when Agent Rigorous gave him a tour. He took a paper cup and a plastic spoon from there before going back to where the plant and its soil was. Pulling his sleeves and kneeling on the ground, he started to scoop the soil inside the cup before asking for a bond paper from the nearest person. He put the plant there and went for the kitchen.
He didn't notice a pair of green eyes observing him from afar.
Since he couldn't do it on the table, he opted to go for the window sill where sunlight is present. He arranged the soil in the cup before using the handle of the spoon to create a hole for the plant. With a finger laced with his dying will flame, he arranged the flower. He sighed when it didn't really go 'alive'. He flipped through his mind to see if he remembers any plant saving method he can use.
"What are you doing?" He looked to his side to see a morena woman in a white layered dress and a flower crown adorning her hair.
Unfazed with her sudden appearance, he answered. "I'm trying to revive a plant."
"What? Why?" The other questioned, skeptical at his answer.
Tsuna shrugged. "Starlight teared up over it. It must be really important for her."
"But you can just buy the same plant for her." The woman suggested.
Tsuna thought to himself about the suggestion. Yeah. Why did he do all the efforts taking things from another room, kneeling on the floor to get dirty and started to lament and get depressed on how to keep a plant alive from its dying state?
But then again, if that happens to him... If he was in Starlight position, will someone do the same thing for him? If the same thing happened to his Dad, or to Shouto, or to anyone he knows, will someone help them? Why not do it if he was there and can do it for them? Help them?
And what if it's important? What if those things that fell were important things? Like those times his things were being taken away from him when he was still a dame? Those things his Kaasan bought for him to use and he treasures very much get destroyed in front of him. Even if he buys a replacement, the sentimental value of that certain thing will never be as equal as the original.
So nope.
"It's not the same." He remarked while caressing the plant. At least it's not dead yet. "Even if we replace it, it won't be the same. Who knows, her loved ones might have been the ones who gave it to her. A sibling, a lover or the first gift she got when she started working here." His eyes glowed as he remembered his family here and then crying over those people they can't help when his mind flashed Starlight's sad expression. Plants have lives too, right? "Besides, I can't be of help to anyone if I can't save a simple plant from dying."
"Wow."
The brunet focused when the woman interjected something. His eyes widened at the sight of yellow flames dancing on his finger and transferring its energy to the plant. He quickly retrieved his hand in shock. He stared as the plant started to grow its broken, stomped limbs and become healthy again.
But his mind wasn't there already. How the heck did he get sun flames?!
"I don't know." Tsuna gritted in frustration.
"Hey hey. Breathe, kid." Shouta advised from the other side.
He did what was said as he sat on the couch of the given room he was in.
After he witnessed his hand glowing yellow with sun flames, he immediately put the plant on the soil and gave it some water before letting it get some sunlight. The woman, who introduced herself as 'Deva' with plant quirk, praised him for reviving the plant and offered her services to look after the plant while he's away. He expressed his gratitude before excusing himself to go to Agent Rigorous who called for him.
When he got invited to do some patrols, his mind didn't let go of the sun flames on his fingers. Even when he went to the station to give his statement about the hostage taking. When he got to his 'apartment' for the week, he immediately called his Dad and told him what happened. And being clueless made him frustrated.
It's not that he hates not knowing things. That's Reborn's problem. He's just being conscious because too much flames can cause problems. For example, too much sun flames can cause cancer, or too much rain flames can cause comatose. Heck, Hibari was able to kill a despicable mafioso by just multiplying all his organs. Nope. He doesn't want to remember that. The only flame that can't cause problem is sky flames. Although it can literally burn and petrify things, Reborn never said that too much sky flames can cause any damages. More like his sky flames can't cause any damages except obsession over him? He knew that was a joke.
(Reborn was pertaining to always craving the brunet's company to the point that their family is always within the vicinity of their mansion.)
(Of course Tsuna doesn't know. Reborn rarely tells him things about what he sees in his student.)
"Are you calm?" Shouta asked.
Tsuna sighed. "Yeah."
"Okay. Now explain to me what you know."
"My Dying Will flames are known to have eight different kinds."
"This came from Takeshi Yamamoto, right? The older one?"
"Him and our little group." He answered, feeling nostalgic. "Okay. So Dying Will flames are named with the sky and its weathers, and distinguished with their colors. First is the red storm flames, which are known for degeneration or disintegration. It's like Shigaraki's, but different. The storm can do it at will, Shigaraki, as explained, needs his five fingers. Too much storm flames can cause self-disintegration. Uhm... Second, the blue rain flame is known for tranquility. You know, calmness, sluggishness and numbness."
"Like what Yamamoto did to my injury."
"He's known to be a walking painkiller, Dad. We have these two people in the group that like to fight all the time. Whenever they get hurt, and by chance that Takeshi will be the very first to see them, he'll give them small dosage of rain flame because too much will cause sleep or comatose. But it will need a lot of control for it not to arrive to that. Your case was the same. He said it was for two weeks, right? And the numbness really stayed for two weeks. But when someone is panicking, put them beside Takeshi and they'll calm down. Then third is yellow sun flames. Sun flames is for activation. Exuberance, excitement and happiness. Other term is healing. It's like Recovery Girl's, but too much will cause cancer and multiplication of diseases when not controlled. It can also be used for combat, and it's as strong as the literal sun.
"Fourth is green lightning flames. It's for hardening and shield. Nothing can penetrate it as long as the user's resolve is strong and unwavering. Hardening because when an object is reinforced with lightning flames, it's more harder than a rock, steel or anything else you can think of. Too much flame of this will cause electrification. Much stronger than Kaminari-san could give." He winced at the thought. Lambo did give his skin a practice to become electro cuoio from age five to ten. "Then there's purple cloud."
"Don't tell me cloud is more frightening that's why it's second to the last?"
"It's actually fourth to the last. It's like the literal cloud that multiplies to number. Like imagine a ball, put cloud flames, it will multiply to two to hundreds to thousands. Well, too much will cause flood of objects, and in humans..."
Silence.
"... Burst of organs?"
"Kind of? Kyouya was once kidnapped and got bind. His weapons were confiscated and initially destroyed. When he was able to let go, he kinda forced his cloud flames to the one who destroyed his weapon and his victim died bursting? And no. Kyouya was too vindictive to be disgusted with all the gore."
A cough. "What's next?"
"Indigo mist flames. Illusion and construction. Make an illusion of a flower, the construction will take place if you choose to solidify it. It's like making the perfect ideal thing you have in mind to materialize. Too much mist flames will make you go insane." His mind went to Mukuro and Chrome. "Sometimes it's powered by pain. When you're in pain, you get a little more creative. Anyway, black night flames."
"Night flames?"
"It's the opposite of mine. It comes from despair, revenge and anger. It's usually used to link things and transport. Like you can go from one place to another in just a sec with a use of wrap? Like Black Mist. But it's more of portal, not a mist. What's dangerous with it is the more you hate, the more powerful the night flame is.
"My sky flames, its opposite, is known to be rare and seen to be orange. The usual color you see in my forehead and my hands." He combed a hand to his hair as he explained further. "Sky flames users are known to be literally me. Hopeful? Cheery? Always smiling? We... We were said to be natural leaders. Another reason why I feel so natural in organizing stuff and barking orders when in a pinch? I can use it to calm a person too. Like when you... You cried after telling me about Oboro-san? You feel like calm but still crying? I naturally do it and can willingly turn it off. Sky flames can burn and petrify too. I can make an ice with it too. Like that ice not even Endeavor's fellow agency heroes can melt? Other than those, it harmonizes all those seven elements of the sky. We balance them so they won't provide too much."
"Tsuna-"
"It's just that Dying Will flames are like auras; manifestation of life forces. And- And I'm scared that I might not be able to... To control the sun flames. W-What if I have more of those flames? What if I can't control them? What if I cause more destruction than help people?"
"Can you tell me where does this Dying Will come from?"
"Well, Dying Will flames come from resolve. The will, determination, resolution, and all the synonyms you can think of can make it manifest. Like when I want to protect you. The more determined I am to protect you, the more powerful my flame is."
"When you saw your hand glow with sun flames, was it?"
"Yes."
"What were you thinking before that?"
"I wanted to make the plant live. It was important. Then I remembered that time you were injured by the Noumu. If-If only I have sun flames to help you heal. So your arms won't bother you for five weeks, and I can help Izuku with his arms. I can help..." 'All Might.' "I can help injured people. But mostly the plant."
"Then maybe the will to help people with their injuries got added to your resolve to protect."
Tsuna blinked before he cringed.
"You said your sky flames can harmonize. It can control. So what if you use it to balance the activation part of the sun flames? Besides, you just manifested it. You don't know yet if it's as strong as your sky flames. Remember, you obliterated a big robot, you evaporated Todoroki's ice and you made a crystal ice to trap those villains. I want to see that petrification though. If you can do all of those, you can control that sun flame too. Anyway, it's to early to say that it can cause cancer whenever you use it without testing it first."
The brunet can't help his laughter as he fell sideways to the plush of the couch.
"Are you okay now?"
"Yeah." Tsuna answered as he curled into a ball. "I feel so relieved."
"You must have been scared shitless."
"The understatement of the century." He breathed. "Thank you, Dad. Really."
"You can always come to me, Tsuna. I'm your Dad."
"You're my family." He supplied as he closed his eyes. "I wish I'm there."
"Too bad then." A sigh. "If you decide to practice, give me updates, alright? Never hesitate telling me things."
His heart clenched at the last sentence. "Dad..."
"Hm?"
"When... When the right time comes, I'll tell you something, okay? I'll confess something, and I hope you... You'll understand."
Silence.
"I don't want you to make a promise." Tsuna closed his eyes tightly. "Because we both know that if that moment comes, it's either you'll understand or not. You don't want to break any promises that both us will regret at the very end. I just want to tell you this because you deserve this. Even the explanation of the Dying Will flames. Even if this didn't happen, I'll still tell you about them once I come back."
"Okay."
"And it's not because I don't trust you that's why I didn't speak of them yet. I just know that you won't take them well if I tell them to you earlier. I apologize for that."
A chuckle. "Tsuna, we both know that. So I understand. I know you won't do something without a reason. You're a child who moves with a reason. You will never do something without one. Even when you say we need to celebrate, you're reason will be just for the heck of it, to have fun and to bond. So if I don't understand it at first, give me time. My head will come around it."
The brunet nodded. "Okay."
"Now, get up and make your dinner. I am not eating alone."
"Right away!" He replied as he gets up.
Both cooked their dinners together and eat together. And before Tsuna went to sleep, he planned out what he was going to do the next day.
To train.