Chapter Twenty-Two

Recovery Girl stepped back with the other doctors, and gazed at the brunet who is waiting on standby. "Go on ahead, Decimo."

She watched as the teen blinked his eyes before nodding. The latter walked nearer and peered over Yagi's face before looking at the open torso. Sawada took a deep breath, hands laid in front of him. Right hand lit orange, while the other was yellow. Then she observed as the yellow hovered on torso before the orange went on top of it. Right before her eyes, the orange flames formed a shape of a stomach where the organ should be, before some kind of clotting happened.

It was incredible. It's like she's seeing the making of an organ right in front of her.

"Oh my..." One of the doctors exclaimed.

"This is incredible." She uttered in awe.

"There are more damages in his internal organs." Sawada hummed behind his mask. "Good thing I didn't use my quirk this morning. I have more than reserves to heal them."

She can't help herself from staring at the child. "This is more than enough, Decimo."

The brunet's eyes crinkled a little, an indication that he's smiling. "It's fine- Shit."

"Are you okay?" She asked before looking down. Her eyes widened. The forming tissues are disintegrating. "What is happening?"

"Shit shit shit." The brunet uttered, eyes turning orange. "Quirk residue? Damn it. If only I have-"

Chiyo looked up to the machines when they started to beep loudly. The blood pressure is lowering. Her heart raced as the heart monitor quickened and Yagi's mask started to fog. The doctors are panicking but didn't jump in without her signal. Even the anesthesiologist didn't say a word, but waiting for her to do it. She was going to tell this to the brunet when she heard him encouraging the other that it will be alright.

She stood there as Yagi's body glowed orange while Sawada's left hand adorned with three colors: red, yellow and blue. Her eyes turned back to what is happening in the open torso. It was the oddest phenomenon she saw. At the tip of the forming tissues is the color blue, followed by red before the yellow. The orange outline of the stomach is still there, a guide for the three other colors. It's as if the disintegrating tissue awhile ago didn't happen.

"What are those red and blue?" She asked for her and her team.

"The blue is tranquil." The brunet muttered. "It slows down the quirk residue that must be the reason why surgeons can't heal All Might-san's injury. While the blue slows down its process, the red is fighting it off with its own disintegrating power and guiding the yellow. Good thing I don't have cloud. It will be troublesome."

"Do you think..." One of the doctors trailed off, worried.

"It will be fine. It may take awhile but it will finish. I'll flush out the quirk residue in All Might-san's body as I heal him." Orange eyes turned darker. "With my own Dying Will."

Chiyo sat back with the others, and waited for the child to finish. In the long period, they have heard the child talking about mundane things to Yagi, encouraging him to fight. It worked wonders as Yagi glowed orange. She can't even see exhaustion on the teen too. Not one word escaped the child's mouth about being tired or he wants to swap as the assistant nurse dabbed his face with dry towel to remove the sweats.

The determination is blinding. So strong for a teen who is giving his all.

Four hours passed before Sawada's flames fused out and he withdrew his hands. Chiyo stood up to see what happened, and she's baffled. A healthy stomach is positioned on the spot that was vacated years ago. It's working with blood, no acids yet. The needed nerves are already attached too. It was a clean work. When she looked up, the teen is panting, as if waiting for an instruction while being asked by the doctors if he's alright.

"You can sit back now, Decimo. I'll tell you if something happens." She assured.

The brunet shook his head. "If I sit now, I'm gonna pass out. I need to know if it really worked. I don't want this to fail."

"I know you'll know if something happens, Decimo. Rest now. It's better you're well rested if something happens." She advised.

The panting child looked at her, the doctors then to their patient before nodding, resigning. "Alright. It's not like my intuition is alerting me something. I'm just paranoid. This is my first time doing something like this."

Chiyo removed the clamps with her assistant, before taking the needle and thread that was passed to her. "We all have our first time. For a teenager, you did well."

She saw Sawada slumped as the nurse rubbed his back soothingly. "Thank you. I'll heal the outside wound later."

"Rest well, child." She bid as she started to stitch.

The procedure wasn't long. It didn't take time for Yagi to get transferred to a good room. The doctors keep on checking his vitals, monitoring how the newly made stomach is working. If she's baffled, what more of them who don't know the nature of the kid's quirk?

Before the day came, they agreed that the surgery will take place on the weekends, a week after the brunet's visit to Stain. They informed Nezu about this, as she gathered trusted doctors and nurses to assist them. Nezu was skeptical at first, but after they explained the nature of the brunet's new found function in his quirk, he permitted it. As long as he is there to see what will happen.

The surgery is a secret between them. Not even Eraserhead knew what they needed to his son, but Tsuna assured them that his adoptive father will not make a fuss, for he won't be injured in any ways. And while on surgery, he is to be called Decimo to preserve his private life. They respected the request, which made the brunet smile.

Right now, she's watching the child sleep on the settee in the lounging area. The brunet is completely worn out, just by the looks of his face. But the way his face is lit, as if he felt relieved, is evident. Such selflessness.

"A fine piece of work, isn't he?" Nezu asked as he stood beside her and watched the brunet sleep. "Just like father, like son."

"I don't even want to know how will Yagi repay him." She hummed.

"How many days will Toshinori remain under your monitor?"

"Probably a month." She answered. "The new stomach will have to be monitored, along with his food intakes. Sawada hadn't been clear if he had removed All for One's quirk residue on Yagi's body. We have to be sure that his organs won't get damaged too."

"Hm. That can't be right. We need him for the test exercise." Nezu worried. "Maybe we should get pointers from what happened to Tsuna's friend? He looks like someone who helped monitor her."

"Alright. Once he wakes up though. He exerted too much of his quirk." She reached out and patted the child's head.

Chiyo smiled when Sawada leaned to her touch.

Tsuna lowered his head as he hears Katsuki's yelling to Kirishima and Sero who were teasing him again as they went out of the room to go home. He focused on the lesson he's studying as the room kept on buzzing with noises of people leaving. He smiled to those who asked him why he's not going yet and didn't offer any answer.

It has been two weeks since he and Katsuki last talked. He kinda felt guilty for spilling his thoughts to the blond. The latter was even kind to accompany him in the arcade. When he saw how surprise the other was when he said his last words, he couldn't look at him in the eyes anymore. So there goes the no talk between them.

Ever since the ordeal with Stain too, he had permitted Shouto to join the others. At least he's socializing. Hitoshi stayed in his table though. They had been talking about mundane stuffs, and their spars. He had started teaching the purple head close combat fighting. The latter is more or less average in it, but improving for someone who never got into a fist fight against someone.

All Might is being monitored with his new body. The repairs were tremendous. He can eat well too, and started gaining muscle mass since he got discharged. His eyes remained the same though. It can't be helped that it was a result of his surgeries. But the hole on the left side of his torso has been healed too. That was the last thing he healed before he kept his distance.

Shouta and him had been rocky. Tiptoeing on each other. It even took Nemuri's and Hizashi's interventions to make them talk again. They had been at it since he visited Stain. Since he told his Dad about his hyper intuition. And regardless of his mental ability, he doesn't know how to approach. So he stayed low, spending most of his time with his parents or just visiting the forest for some training and climbing the mountains, especially that he had gained two more flames.

Rain flames and storm flames. Just when they needed them the most, they appeared. He panicked when he saw the tissues he was making were being destroyed. What more was the fact that he doesn't have anything against it. He is so thankful that they manifested at the right time, and he used them like how he guided the sun flames.

He ran a hand to his hair as he murmured the things he needed to remember about the lessons. Nothing is going right on his life now. It must be because of his mental age? He's getting older. It won't be long before he becomes fifty-six. Another year older. Another barrier added. He needs to apologize to Takeshi. He can't just add anyone, regardless of not forgetting them. He is a coward after all, so he pushes others away to not trouble them. Then he clings to the only thing that his sanity can hold on.

Helping others.

"Tsuna?!" He looked up to see Izuku running towards him. The greenet looked like he's about to burst into tears as he nears.

"Yes, Izuku?" He asked calmly.

"H-He said..." The greenet sniffled as tears ran down to his cheeks. "He said y-you healed him."

The brunet smiled, knowing what that means. "It was a pleasure, Izuku. No need to cry."

Izuku cried harder. "Thank you!"

Tsuna sat back as the other cried and cried. It was the least he could do to help, right?

After thirty minutes of crying, Izuku was able to breathe. The brunet invited the other to go home, which the greenet nodded at. Side by side, they went out of the room with their bags. The silence between them was the same, comfortable like any of those days.

He got a thank you again after they got to where they needed to split up. Instead of going home right away, Tsuna opted for the hospital. He greeted the usual staffs who know him well enough. He wrote his name with 'visit' on the side for the registry before going to the rooms. When he arrived to the bench, he put his bag there and just sat, staring at the space.

Like others had said, idle minds are devil's workshops. As he stares blankly, his mind swirled with thought. From his very first life up until his life now. At the same process, he closed his eyes and sighed.

"What am I even alive for?" He whispered to the empty hallway.

Shouta turned around to see his son passing by. The brunet mumbled a small announcement before walking for his room. The hero looked down to the ingredients he's preparing before he brought down his knife and washed his hands. There's something wrong.

Tsuna had been quiet since they came back from Tartarus. And more withdrawn when he came back from school with a bag of plushies that one evening. The apartment has been hushed by then. Even when Nemuri and Hizashi came in. Yes, Tsuna entertained them, laughed and bantered with them. But still, it made him quieter. It was unusual.

Maybe it's his fault? For forcing his son to tell him things?

Recovery Girl had approached him last week, about All Might's recuperating health. For some reasons, they wanted to talk to his son but couldn't find a way to do it. Her, All Might and Nezu. They said he's distancing himself, avoiding them. All Might expressed how he wanted to say his gratitude. But couldn't do it because the brunet is not... Well. With all honesty, he tried to see what he could do. But he can't approach him too.

In homeroom, while everyone was attentive, some eyes stray to Tsuna's way, as if worried for him. Tsuna is alright though. He listens. Even the teachers said so themselves. There's nothing wrong with him. His grades were topnotch, third place in their overall standing. Except for Hizashi, because his best friend had pointed out the lack of energy. For someone loud, Hizashi has the keenest observation, and he said Tsuna is having a breakdown.

Shouta stood in front of Tsuna's door. He tried to listen for any noise, but he couldn't hear one bit. He raised his fist to knock, took a deep breath before doing it. No one answered, but still, he tried to open the door with the knob. It wasn't locked. He swung it open to put light inside the dark room. He noticed his son curled in a ball on his bed. He can hear shuddered breathing.

He stepped in, closing the door behind him. He sat on the bed and stayed there for a minute, taking in the cold temperature of the room. It's usually warm in the room. The apartment used to be warm too, light and lovely. But now, it's as if the sun never shine on it anymore.

"Dad?" A whisper.

"Hmm?"

"Did I worry you? I'm sorry."

Shouta's heart cracked. "Of course not, Bud."

He heard the other take a shuddered breath.

"Are you okay?" He can't help asking.

"I'm-" Another deep breath. "-fine."

He pursed his lips.

'He may not look like it, but Tsuna hides away his pain. He never voices anything and takes all the weight on his small shoulders.' Takeshi Yamamoto's voice echoed in his mind. 'He trusts you, but he has those tendencies. When you feel like something is wrong with how he acts, there is something wrong.'

"Tsuna." He called. "Don't hide from me."

"Wha-"

"I know there's something wrong." He stated. "You're not fine. You're not okay. Don't hide from me."

A shuddered breath.

"Don't you trust me anymore?"

The bed moved as Tsuna sat up, eyes wide. "Of course not! You're my Dad! I trust you with my life!"

"Then why are you hiding away?" He questioned, making the brunet go still. "I feel like you don't trust me anymore."

Caramel eyes closed. "I'm sorry." Then he took a shuddered breath, as if he's having a hard time relaxing. "Can I?"

Shouta waited.

The tear slid down from the left eye. "C-Can I cry?"

His heart throbbed in pain as he gently gathered the child in his arms and let him cling into him, like that one time he came in injured. "Cry all you want. I'll be here, Tsuna."

Sobs and hiccups filled the silent room. Shouta rubbed his son's back, hearing his murmurs of apology, questioning himself why is he alive, and why does he push away everyone. Why he doesn't feel like he belongs, that he's always the different one. Why he can't just let go. Tsuna's words never felt so wrong to the hero's ears.

What made Tsuna think like this? What drove him to his breaking point? To apologize for being strong and being different. To cry for being alive. For not letting go. To feel that he doesn't belong. It feels so wrong to hear such things. To hear him sound like he has been lonely. He always looked okay. He always sounded okay, even acted okay for years. Regardless of how he never socializes, he never stated that he was lonely or wanted company, except when his birthday comes.

To think that his son has been hurting.

"Tsuna." He called as he parted and took the child's face between his hands. He stared at those dimmed caramel eyes, letting out tears that could break millions of hearts. "Do not ever apologize for being alive and different."

Tsuna sobbed. "B-But-"

"I love you for being you. For being weird, eccentric, different. You're alive because you have a purpose to do. You have a duty to be my son, to be your classmates' pillar, to be the world's saviour. If you don't belong, it's fine. Because sometimes, those who don't belong fit in the group just the way they are. The trump cards. The blacksheeps who save the world at the very end.

"If you can't let go, then hold on. Hold on as much as you can. Because you'll know when to let go of the line yourself. No one is pressuring you to do it, Tsuna. Don't pressure yourself. Please." Shouta combed the fluffy hair. "I don't want to see you this sad, Buddy."

"It's just that... Things are being unbearable. My heart feels so heavy and- And I don't know how to remove it. I-I don't know what to do. Who to talk. I-I feel so guilty. I feel so accountable on some things I know I shouldn't be. I-I'm trying t-to compensate it by helping others. But it won't go. It's like I'm gonna burst if I keep it hidden. For years, it- It's at the back of my mind. An-And I..."

"Then do you feel okay right now?" He asked.

The brunet bit his lower lip, tears still falling. "A bit. I-It's like half of the load had been lifted."

"When it gets full again, come to me. I'm your family. We're partners, remember? We're a pair. You look out for me, I look out for you. And I'll always be here for you as you are for me. Like you've said, with our Dying Wills."

"Dad!" The brunet whined, hugging him again. "Don't ever leave me! I'm sorry!"

"I will never." He promised, hugging back. "Death has to take me away before anyone will."

They stayed like that for more minutes, Shouta whispering assurance to his vulnerable son. When Tsuna stopped crying, he asked him if he's going to join him for dinner. The brunet was blushing red as he nodded in answer. He kissed his son's head, earning a steam before he went out. Sometimes, his son is too adorable. Shouta can't help comparing the four years old toddler he took to the fifteen years old he is still keeping. Yup. Nothing changed. Still adorable.

He was preparing the ingredients when he felt some eyes on him. When he looked back to the door, he saw his son peering at him from the side, crouching and as if he's hesitating to come in out of shame and embarrassment. Shouta resorted to calling out the teen to help him with the cooking. A shy Tsuna came in. Heck. The brunet can't even look at him in the eyes without blushing, and always stuttering out a response when he asks him something.

They went through dinner without any hitch. He also forced him to work his homework and studying in the living room, while he watched TV and check his own paperworks. He hid his smiles whenever he hears his son muttering about who made Math and integrals.

At the end of the day, when he saw Tsuna sleeping on the couch and curled like a ball, he couldn't help himself from watching the kid sleep. He compared the now and then again, and nothing really changed. Tsuna just got taller, smarter and became more helpful, and he's still him. His adorable son. Regardless of his pasts, his knowledge and his power, Tsuna is still Tsuna. God. He should've known and realized that sooner.

After deciding what to do, he turned off the lights and picked up their usual blanket from the couch rest. Sliding beside his son is easy, cause the moment the brunet felt his presence, he moved to give accommodations. He put the blanket over them before wrapping his arms around his son. Tsuna followed suit, cuddling to him.

"Love you Dad." The child breathed.

"Love you too, Tsuna." He answered before closing his eyes to sleep.

"Tsuna hasn't come in yet." Sero murmured to Kirishima before glancing to the empty seat. "Do you think something happened?"

Izuku and Katsuki perked up from the whisper.

"Oh yeah. Aizawa-sensei came in but he didn't." Kaminari whispered back as Eraserhead scans his notes for the homeroom.

"First period is nearing already too." Kirishima remarked, frowning. "He even stayed back yesterday, like the past weeks."

"I saw him once in the park." Kaminari relied. "He looked problematic. I admit, I want to talk to him if he has problems,"

"But he always appears alright. I even saw him laughing with Koda and Satou the other day." Sero sighed. "Even I get worried. It's too different from the Tsuna we have been with for the past months."

"Oi. What are you three whispering there." Aizawa motioned to the three, who sat back immediately.

"We're wondering where's Tsuna, Sensei." Yaoyorozu said with her hand raised. "He's usually early or just in time. He's not this late."

"He'll be joining us soon." Just then, the door opened and a bleary brunet came in. Aizawa hid the lower part of his lips to keep his smile. "Speaking of the devil."

When Shouta woke up that morning, he watched his son sleep like a baby on his chest for awhile before moving. He had to pry off himself from the kid because a sleeping Tsuna is contagious. Even Hizashi pointed that out whenever they watched Tsuna sleep when he was little. They suddenly want to sleep beside the brunet when he has his eyes closed. He did minimal noises so he can't wake the other up as he moved around. Maybe the hyper intuition of the brunet made it possible.

Before he left though, he posted a note to where his son could see it. He wanted Tsuna to sleep more because he was clearly exhausted and finally able to relax after crying that much. He knows how relieving it is to ease the burden one feels. It was what he felt after Tsuna talked him out of Shirakumo's death.

And the sight of the kid looking refreshed, although still sleepy, makes him think that Tsuna appreciated the gesture.

"Morning." The brunet drawled as he strode in. "Sorry for being late, Aizawa-sensei. I kinda overslept."

"Go sit down already, Sawada." Their adviser gestured.

"Yes Sir." Tsuna nodded and walked in. He kept on blinking his eyes to remove the sleepiness.

'So professional.' The others thought after watching how the two interacted even though they're family.

"So, regarding your exams," Aizawa started off, just as the late student sat down on his seat. "those-"