Chapter Twenty-One

"So what do you want to talk about, Sawada?" Recovery Girl asked.

Tsuna looked at her then to All Might. "Before we tackle to that, I would like to explain to you the nature of my Dying Will quirk." He opened his palm and let his orange flame take a form on it. "My flames is not really a 'flame of fire'. It's a manifestation of life force. And it has eight types with different uses. One of them is activation." He let his orange flame turn to yellow. "Under the classification of flames from my source, activation also means healing."

The two's eyes widened.

"Whenever this yellow flame gets connected with a certain damage, it will start the healing process. But of course, there's a limit." He took a pause to see their reactions. "Too much activation will cause cancer or more diseases. Then that's where my original flames come in." Then he let his flames mix, making an orange-yellow color. "My orange flames are known to harmonization. For example, an orchestra. When one instrument goes out of tune, the symphony get disturbed."

"And your orange flame will fill in the void and harmonize them again." Recovery Girl continued for him, getting his gist.

He nodded. "Yes. My orange flame is known to stabilize other flames, and guides. With it, the yellow flame won't go out of control and activate an existing disease inside a body or create a new one."

"Why are you telling us this?" All Might asked, confused.

Tsuna withdrew his flames. "One of the reasons why I got this yellow flame to manifest is because I wanted to help you, All Might-san."

The thin version of the Symbol of Peace sat still.

"I had a friend. She's a girl." He looked down to the middle finger of his right hand where he remembers his Vongola sky ring should be. "Before I met her, she got into an accident that destroyed her right eye and some of her organs like her stomach, kidney and other more."

The two gasped.

He took a deep breath as he remembers Chrome. "The only reason she survived was because she was able to manifest one of the other kinds of flames that can do constructions and illusions. She made her organs out of illusions to fill in the missing ones."

"W-What?"

"When she got older," Tsuna blinked as his mind looked back to those days. "the leader of our group found ways to get organs for her. All except for a stomach. It was hard to get a donor for a stomach that time. So ma-the leader's trusted adviser suggested a solution, create a stomach on the spot with the use of the yellow flames."

"W-What happened?" Recovery Girl asked.

He smiled, reminiscing how happy that time was. "It was a success. The organ was made on the spot and she lived. I bet she's still alive."

"Y-You want to do the same thing to me?" All Might queried, surprised.

Tsuna nodded. "I know you said your time is ending. But it doesn't mean you could just leave Izuku after mentoring him. He... He needs guidance for the power you gave him. And I want to grant him that. I also want to grant you the opportunity to live your life as a healthy person even without being a hero anymore."

Recovery Girl turned to All Might. "What do you say?"

"I can understand if you decline, All Might-san." He soothed. "Your injury, as you explained it, has been with you for years. Not even the most successful surgeons can cure it, and having someone offer you the opportunity to have your life again is not something you can accept on the spot. I am not pressuring you. Even I am reluctant to do this, but when I was able to help Stain live with it, it solidified my resolve to help you. Because if I can help you with your situation, I should do it, right?"

The hero sniffled as tears streamed down to his face. "You're such a hero, Tsunayoshi Sawada."

"I've been in a lot of hopeless situation, All Might-san. There were times that I get stamped from doing the right things to doing what I want to do. But if we can make a third option, why not? Instead of saving only one life between two, why not both? If your quirk is giving up on you and really going for Izuku, at least you can be as you are at the end of the day. The definition of Symbol of Peace regardless of the missing quirk. Our abilities do not define us. Our wills do. You are a Symbol of Peace. You are All Might. Even if you become quirkless, if you still want to save the world from all the trouble being dumped to it, you will still be All Might, the Symbol of Peace."

Recovery Girl smiled and handed All Might a box of tissue. "Even I am getting old. My duty here is almost done. I'm also losing my hope. But with your encouragement, I also want to give my all. So thank you, Sawada."

He smiled. "Happy to help, Recovery Girl-san."

"Took you long enough." Stain grumbled, making him laugh. "Laugh all you want, Kid."

Tsuna snickered more before he smiled at his fellow vigilante. "Sorry sorry. It's just that I'm glad you're still alive, Stain-san."

"It's Akaguro Chizome." The man huffed. "If I'm gonna rot here, at least I have someone who will remember my name."

He hummed. "Then call me Tsuna, as an exchange."

"You really went out of your zone to save me, didn't you?" Stain stated, eyeing him. "You're too careless, kid."

"My Dad is mad at me actually. I told him what happened. Even more when I expressed how I want to see you." He chuckled.

"Then is this your first and last visit?"

"Pft. Of course not." He waved off as he sits back. "I may come twice or thrice a month, and spend my whole time here with you. If you want, I can camp here just to give you company."

Both of them looked over his shoulder when they heard a 'thud'.

"Oh. I think he's angry." Stain smirked.

Tsuna chuckled as he looked back to his fellow vigilante. "It can't be helped."

After he talked to Recovery Girl and All Might about the surgery, Tsuna went home alone. The apartment was quiet when he came in. He cooked their meals, ate alone and lounged inside his room to do his homeworks and get ahead of studying. Shouta checked on him when the hero arrived and let him be. It was the same the next day and the other next.

When sixth day of cold shoulder came close to an end, Tsuna tried to ask permission from his Dad to visit Stain. The hero had a fit, but he only listened before making him understand that he's the only one who can talk with the hero killer without getting threatened. Even the police can't come close to the vigilante. In the end, he was permitted. But with Shouta with him. He didn't mind. Even the cold shoulder because he knows he deserves that.

"Maybe I'll come visit again before we go for summer lodging." He stated. "I'll be busy with my exams, but that will be fine."

"My least favorite subject back then was Math." Stain chimed, relaxing on his seat.

Tsuna chuckled. "Tell me about it. But one of my friends loves Math. Who does that?"

"I don't want to meet him. I might slice him in half."

The brunet cackled. "I'd like to see you try."

Stain grinned. "You're too relaxed, Kid."

He rolled his eyes. "Don't go spoiling the mood, Chizome-san. Appreciate my company."

"I will if you brought food."

"Is food even okay to give you? They might think I'm smuggling you something to escape." He asked as he readied the plastics he brought with him. "But then again, no one forbade me from carrying anything or putting it here, so it's okay I guess."

"I don't even know if I should laugh at how you bind the rules."

"Is it my fault I don't give a damn about rules when I want to do something?" He asked as he slid a plastic of food inside the hole. "And no. You can't keep the plastic and chopsticks. I will know if you stole them."

Chizome groaned. "You're unbearable."

Tsuna grinned before cracking an awful evil laugh. "Aw. I know!"

While the two bantered and talk about random things, the guards with Shouta and Naomasa watched with bafflement. To think, that a teenager can make the hero killer talk so freely besides his ideology and desire to kill hero wannabes.

From the moment the teen came in with this calm aura around him with a bag of plastic containers and chopsticks and some thermos, they just know it will be a long surprising day. When they told Stain he has a visitor, the man grinned like he received the most beautiful gift in his life. Their greeting was normal, like friends who hadn't seen each other for days.

What they know about Tsunayoshi Sawada and Hero Killer Stain's relationship is the two do not interact that much. The teen said so himself, but he took it upon himself to visit the man because they're acquaintances. He did swear he wont let Stain go out of prison without any good reason. He's just there to visit and have a chat over a meal.

"You're still mad at him?" Naomasa mused while they listen to how the two shot off stupid innuendos even them can snicker at.

"I'm not. Just giving him a cold shoulder." Shouta answered as he covered half of his face to cover the smile that came out after Tsuna gave a good comeback to Stain's line. "He knows he deserves it that's why he's not really complaining."

"You do understand that if he didn't keep it from you and told you the moment he came in, you would go to Kanagawa to know if he's okay or not." The officer answered as he watched the brunet laugh with Stain, trying to keep it low to drink water without choking or something. "It seems his radar is not exempted to anyone but you."

"It is not. He had saved Present Mic in some days in the past." He waved off as he leaned back. "He's just really..."

"Protective of you." Naomasa finished off. Stain started to tease the brunet about past things only the two knows. It makes the brunet blush like red tomato. "His views of vigilantes are really far from what we know."

"I honestly have no idea where that mindset of his came from. Maybe watching in the news about heroes failing to save people? Or the thirst to help others has been down on him for so many years that he started to do it at the very young age. I haven't interrogate him, and he's willing to tell me things if I ask."

"But you're hesitating." The officer nodded as a coy grin got plastered on Tsuna's lips and started to get into more serious discussion with Stain about what happened two weeks, in their fight. "Is it because you don't want to know how complex his mind?"

Shouta didn't answer. Eraserhead knows to himself that his son is not normal. No one will be willing to talk to a hero killer who swore to clean the hero society. To someone who can kill his own family. At the back of his mind, he knew that Tsuna is trying and slowly coming in terms of understanding Stain's ideology. With how serious their conversation about life at the very moment? Tsuna is absorbing every word, every views, every points as he understands.

Encompassing Sky: Vongola Decimo.

The moment he heard that, the first things that came to his mind were what happened eleven years ago and what Takeshi Yamamoto had told him when he came to visit with the use of what Tsuna called as 'magic'. Firstly, the encompassing sky. When Takeshi Yamamoto told him that the sky encompasses everything, his mind swirled what that means. After hearing Tsuna's explanation about his title, he realized what the man was pertaining. The ideas of 'family' and a friend of one family member is a family, are not something Tsuna established when he was seven just out of whim. Those thoughts were already in him. He just doesn't want to protect the world as a hero, he wants to protect it like they're his 'family'. The pearl protected by the shell he is.

The hero name, Vongola Decimo, made him think back to that time the Sawada family was attacked. The intruder said about a man with orange eyes, an inferno and vongole. It wasn't Iemitsu or anyone who scared the intruder. It was Tsuna. The orange eyes were already an indication. Add on how powerful his flames are, to the point that he can evaporate Todoroki's ice, maybe even melt metal when he wants, it can already be classified as an 'inferno', which explains the scorch marks. And if they let the intruder and Tsuna meet, he'll know the former will be frightened. Because Vongola Decimo was the one who defended his family that night. Tsuna already stated he is Vongola Decimo at the age of four.

What made him worry was when Aoyama pointed out that the Vongola is a notorious organization in the underground based in Europe. It's not that fact that made him feel anxious, it's the knowledge that Tsuna knows it, acknowledges it, and as if he had known something about the group. It's like everything is linked. The way he explained about the number ten makes him think that his son has something in mind. Like what the brunet narrated, one takes the step, two changes everything until nine, and ten brings back everything to start over again.

Then there's the flames. When Tsuna called him that evening, panicking and worried because he manifested one of the seven types of flames, except his, he just knew something was wrong. The unnamed group, the unfamiliar names, even the characteristics of those flames. It's like Tsuna knows them by heart, and didn't stumble on them when he was just a child and up to the age he is now. Heck, the mere fact that he's friends with a middle aged man named Takeshi Yamamoto, even called him one of his best friend and point out a 'nickname' like they've known each other for years, was already questionable. The unnamed group is questionable. Even the flames, which he said to be not quirks but manifestations of life forces, is questionable.

Everything around Tsuna and his being is questionable.

Shouta's eyes widened when he realized something.

Shit. Why is he doubting his own son? Regardless of how Tsuna behaves, the brunet is with him for eleven years. Smiling at him, welcoming him, talking to him and protecting him. Always, and always accepting him. He's the only person Tsuna runs to when he's having troubles. Those panics, the doubts, even the frustrations. He's the one who has been there to see them. He knows Tsuna's personality and attitude by heart. And he got a promise that he will know something about his son. So why did he thought such things? Why question his own son?

"Dad?"

He jolted in surprise and looked up to Tsuna who's staring at him with worry. Warm caramel eyes stared straight into his eyes, searching for something.

"Are you okay? Did I scare you?" The brunet queried.

Shouta took a deep breath before shaking his head. "No no. I'm alright. How was your talk with Stain?"

"It was okay. I wanted to introduce you to him, but he declined." Tsuna crouched down beside him. "You look horrified when I called you. Were you thinking of something?"

He didn't answer.

The brunet studied him with pursed lips before smiling understandingly, making Shouta guiltier. "I'm taking a guess right now, and I think I'm right about it. I'm not mad, if you're thinking I am. I've known it will happen one way or another, that's why I'm the one who said the promise between us remember?"

Shouta buried half of his face on his capture weapon, making his son laugh while putting his head on the man's thigh.

"I'm gonna tell you something right here, Dad."

"Ha?"

Caramel eyes peered at him from their hidings. "Sky flames users are known to have cognitive abilities. Like future visions, high intelligence, parallel world visiting. It's probably the reason why I could classify my Dying Will as a quirk as well even if it's a manifestation of life force, regardless of how much I deny it. My ability is called hyper intuition."

"What does it do?" Shouta queried, getting interested.

"It tells me what's right and wrong, who to trust, if someone is dangerous. If someone is in danger. It's the reason why my head aches whenever danger is brewing, or I have this urge to go somewhere, or do something. It's like an alien or a voice inside my mind that either kicks me to do something against my will, or agrees with me to do a certain decision it approves. Like an instinct but instead of just a feeling, it urges me to do something right away. It's like its the smarter me. So when I say I'm taking a guess, I'm eighty to hundred percent accurate about my guesses."

He didn't tense up as he felt a grip clutching his pant as caramel eyes hid again.

"And right now, I'm telling you this because I know you deserve it, like how you deserve knowing the flames. I'm sorry I can't tell everything right now, Dad. Because... Because if I tell you now, I-I don't think I'll be able to handle your reaction. Or even when that time comes. Even my intuition is telling me not to say it."

Shouta freed a hand from its position across his chest and put it on the fluffy mane. At least he knows now the source of maturity, the views and logic, right? "Thank you."

He got a small nod as a response.

And they stayed like that for a while.

"Now this is fucking frustrating."

Tsuna looked up to see the blond glowering at him. "Hey, Katsuki."

"We can't have the two of us being depressed." Katsuki kicked the table leg. "Get out from there. I'm the only one allowed to be depressed between us."

The brunet sighed before nodding. "Okay. What do you want me to do?"

"I don't know. Tell me something?" The other dared.

Tsuna glanced at the wall clock. "Do you have plans right now?"

"Studying?"

"Eh. I want to go to the arcade. Wanna go?" He asked while putting his notebook and pens inside his bag before zipping it close. "Just for an hour."

"Right now?" The blond boggled.

"Class is done. Come on."

Tsuna went out as the blond collected his stuffs. He was passing the staff room when Katsuki caught up with him. They shared silence. They were nearing the gate when the blond reached out for his other ear and took one of the buds to wear. Katsuki took his phone and scanned through the playlists before clicking a song. It was an English song with an upbeat melody. He never minded his phone being kept by the other.

When they arrived in the arcade, Tsuna pulled the other in the shooting game. He let the other have the remaining bud before putting his bag on the side. Going for the platform, he scanned the ranks. Humming under his breath, he pulled a coin from his pocket to insert in the slot before taking the connected gun, he took a stance with the gun raised before he held it with both hands and started to shoot the incoming waves of zombies.

"Shit. Is that Sawada?!"

Katsuki peered to his side to see three middle schoolers with eyes wide.

"Damn. Is he back to beat the highest scores again?" The middle one cursed as they heard continuous gun shots.

"He has been away for running six months, of course he will do it again!" The other stated like a fact.

"Fuck."

Red eyes turned to the brunet who cursed silently as he shots three more zombies. Well, hearing the brunet curse is rare. The only time Katsuki heard him curse was when the class had that discussion about his relationship with Eraserhead and his works as a vigilante hero. Fuck the law, he says.

He honestly didn't know what to say when he searched those achievements. He has vlogs featuring him, some articles, even news reports. Citizens he had helped left and right are searching for him, even heroes and authorities are. And to think, that the Yuuei Academy of heroes had been searching for him too. It was a privilege. Heck, the fame is already there. But it's the brunet who's avoiding it.

If he wasn't busy with Deku and his developing growth, even copying his style, he could've observed Tsuna more. But what can he observe if the same topic at hand is not doing anything? If Tsuna is just doing mundane things, rarely connecting with anyone. Well, except for half 'n half and that certain student in Class C. When Soy Sauce face (Sero) pointed out that Tsuna is more aloof than before, the blond can't help searching for it.

And he did. He saw it. The thoughtful, vulnerable expression that no one will notice except when someone looks closely. It's not because Tsuna is aloof, that he's becoming distant. It's because the brunet is lonely. And Katsuki knows why. It's because of the invisible gap between him and them. He doesn't know if it's the power, the experience or the awareness. There's just this huge gap between him and the people around him. And even if Katsuki tries and really tries to get close, he knows he can't. Because how can you get close to someone who doesn't want you to enter his life?

However... Tsuna is approachable. Even with the distance, the brunet is willing to reach out a hand to close that gap for a while before backing away. It's like he's not limiting himself, willing enough to get close as the other does. As long as the other party accepts. It's the reason why Katsuki turned to him when he was angry and frustrated with Deku's stupid growth. Because the blond felt like the brunet will understand and accept his emotions. Make him feel alright, and assure him that it's fine to be angry.

So when he saw the other looking lost while staring down on his notes, he demanded. Because even if he doesn't know what's going on, he'll accept.

He blinked when he heard thunders of claps as the brunet brought the gun down. Tsuna is a little sweaty, but the grin on his lips was relieving. When the blond looked at the screen, he willed his jaw not to unhinge. He got the highest score with his complete name written over the seven digits.

"Hoo!" The brunet laughed as he went down the platform and took his bag. He greeted some people giving him congratulations before standing beside him.

"You took your time." He commented. He felt pride when the other smiled widely. Heh. He brought back that smile.

"It has been months since I touched that gun." Tsuna cheered before nodding to the other games. "Wanna play air hockey?"

Katsuki's left eye twitched at the challenge. "Bring it on. I'll fucking kill you."

The brunet only laughed at his threat.

The rest of their time were spent by playing all of the games they could play together. It was obvious that the brunet is a frequent customer with how the people around them murmur about him. He even heard about a tournament on the air hockey. And before they went out, Tsuna pulled him to the toy crane and tried his luck there. He was able to get five animal plushies. He received a white dog, which he put inside his bag while yelling at the brunet for giving him one.

After buying five phone charms (he got a green grenade amidst the All Might bicep, a red and white dice, a cat paw and an English letter 'S'), he was invited to eat an ice cream before going home. He was going to decline, but Tsuna already gave him a vanilla ice cream.

"It matches your hair." The brunet snickered while licking his way to the ice cream, the other hand is carrying the bag of plushies.

"Look who's talking." He snorted, eyeing the brown chocolate ice cream which is a little shade darker than the other's hair.

"Na, Katsuki."

"Hm."

"What do you think of our classmates?"

"Extras." Was his immediate answer.

The other chuckled. "Honest answer. Think about it for a sec."

He scowled but complied anyway. "They're okay. Good for a bunch of extras."

"Do you have... Like someone you can vibe with?" The brunet asked as they rounded a corner.

"Well, Shitty hair is alright." He nodded, remembering the chivalry battle. "Tape arms too and Racoon eyes. They helped me get into the battles."

"That's good." He turned to see the other smiling like he's relieved. "At least you have them."

"It's not like you don't." He grumbled as he took a good mouthful of his ice cream.

"Sometimes."

Red eyed widened. "W-What?"

"Sometimes I don't feel like I have them." Tsuna toyed his bud before putting it on his ear. "I'm not saying this quirkwise or something. But sometimes, barriers are just there. It can't be helped."

"You-"

"Oh. This is your stop." The brunet smiled at him as he stopped by his house's gate while the other turned to him a little while still walking. "Study hard, yeah? Thanks for accompanying me."

"Oi! Wait!" He shouted when the other started to walk away. "Fuck! Tsuna!"

The brunet looked back, stopping in the process.

"You can't keep saying things like that!" He yelled. "If you want to be friends with someone, don't hesitate to ask! You're the one who started to befriend them, so why are you distancing yourself?! Don't be a coward!"

"But I am one." He stared at how weak the smile became. "Maybe someday, I'll open up. But I don't think I can at this time. I don't think I'll be able to do it. Because if I do it, I might go insane. Takeshi already told me it's okay. But I'm the one who's unwilling to let go. I'm the one who's still clutching on the impossible. I..." Caramel eyes dimmed as unreadable emotions swirled into them. "I don't belong here in the first place, Katsuki. But thank you. Thank you for trying to encourage me."

The blond just stood there as the other turned around and started to walk away. He stayed there for awhile, processing what was said before he went inside. His Mom tried to ask him what happened, but he didn't answer. He threw the melted ice cream on the trash, washed his hand and went straight to his room. He let himself fall on his bed, staring at the wall.

'I don't belong here in the first place.'

Katsuki tightly closed his eyes, asking himself what does the brunet mean by those words.