A/N:
I am so gonna disappoint a lot of readers with what I did to Vlad and Tsuna's fight. I want to apologize in advance, but I know it will be half hearted, regardless, I'll say thank you instead for reading this story up until this chapter. Hahaha! No sarcasm intended. Really. I'm just currently hiding under my bed and closing my eyes to ready myself for any reaction you'll write on the review.
I'll even encourage you to hate me, but I'm pretty scared to be hated. HAHAHA!
Anyhow, I am so sorry for being inactive for two weeks now. My mind is completely addled that I don't know what I should prioritize these days. I want to curse life, but then I'll realize I should probably curse myself instead. So in compensation with hopes of being forgiven, I'm updating five chapters, including this one. I haven't proofread them too, so please bear with me. I'm embarrassed as eff with my grammar errors.
Anyway, go on and thank you.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Deliberation. Since the exam is done, the students are told to go home to rest after Recovery Girl patched those injured. The teachers, who went against the students though, are expected to report their findings about the battle they have done. It was necessary to see who improved, who worked well, and who didn't pass.
For Eraserhead, he was fought head-on by Todoroki and Yaoyorozu and got handcuffed, so they passed. (Recovery Girl eyed him knowingly.) Ectoplasm was the same against Asui and Tokoyami. Ashido and Kaminari failed to escape nor capture Nezu. Present Mic was defeated by Kouda and Jirou. (Eraserhead hid his snicker while Midnight laughed outright at what happened to their friend.) Kirishima and Satou couldn't escape Cementoss.
Midoriya and Bakugou also escaped All Might, which was an improvement for the latter who likes to pick fight. Ojirou was able to call 'back up' with Iida as the bait to stall Power Loader from getting the former. Aoyama and Uraraka was able to capture Number Thirteen in an... Unusual way. Snipe was defeated by Hagakure and Shouji's teamwork. Midnight was able to scare Mineta, which drove the latter to take his partner and run away. While Vlad King surrendered.
"He what?" Ectoplasm spluttered, making some of them laugh. "No. Seriously, what did he do again?"
Vlad King sighed in resignation and amusement. "He negotiated with me to surrender instead of wrecking the castle. He does not want to fight me nor leave his turf."
"In other words," Recovery Girl summarized with a smile. "he made a third option."
She, All Might and Nezu shared a look while Present Mic, Eraserhead and Midnight did also. Always the third option.
"But the rules stated that it's either run or fight." Number Thirteen recalled, unsure.
"Let's just say that he found a loophole in the rules." Nezu remarked. "It is a test of judgement. We must remember that he is different from all of our students. He has more eccentric ways to win a fight none of us will thought."
"A complete and pure pacifist." Vlad King continued. "He even tried to come up with a plan with me to take over the world after he asked what's my purpose for being a villain."
"He really took it by... heart?" Midnight said between snickers.
"He honestly did. He also took consideration of my well-being, as well as me being my class's homeroom teacher and a villain who..." The Blood Hero winced as he felt his chest tightening at the simple gesture the kid did.
"Lost his path in life." Recovery Girl continued for him. "Before Sawada put the handcuffs on the Vlad King, he apologized for the cruelty of the world and for mistaking that his quirk is for evilness. He also stated that second chances are not limited to those who were given to. They are given to everyone who are willing to change their paths in life for the better good." The medic gave Vlad King a knowing look. "If Vlad was a villain, he will never be able to escape the student's grasp."
"No wonder Stain only demands his presence." Power Loader commented offhandedly.
"Regardless, since he put cuffs on Vlad King, he passed." Nezu nodded with a grin. "Remarkably as well. No damages nor casualties done."
"Then I should get going." Eraserhead bid as he stood up and started to edge away.
"Eraserhead, you're hurt." Cementoss pointed out.
"Shh!" Present Mic shushed to the hero as the injured one slipped out of the room. The blond grinned. "He wants his son to take care of him."
"O-Oh." Some of them blurted.
"Is that the reason why he never took medical attentions, except if it's really life threatening?" Snipe boggled. "To make Sawada take care of him?"
Midnight and Present Mic muffled their snickered before the latter nodded. "Yes."
"Let's not dwell on that." Nezu cut off. "Let's move on to-"
Tsuna stretched his arms before sitting comfortably on his chair.
"Since you're here, it means your exam is done." Chizome remarked, sitting equally comfortable on his seat. "How did it go?"
He raised an okay sign with a smug look. "Aced them."
"I suddenly want to wipe that smug look on your face." The other threatened.
"Aw. Too bad there's a impenetrable glass between us." He mockingly lamented, making the ex-hero killer groan. "Now now. Don't be so anti-Tsuna. I brought cupcakes for us to celebrate my passing grades!"
The other scrunched his face in distaste. "I'm not fond of sweets."
"Considered that factor so I baked them myself." The brunet waved off as he put a white box on the table and opened it to reveal twelve beautifully decorated small cakes. He beamed. "Dad helped me with them. What do you wanna try first?"
"The first one on the left." Chizome answered. So he took a small plate and put the first cupcake there before sliding it under the small opening.
Since the exams were over, they were given a day to relax. His classmates invited him for a shopping day, but he declined and told him he's visiting someone. Some got the idea who it was, others told him to have a nice day. Iida, Shouto and Izuku talked to him about Chizome. So he told them what he knew about his acquaintance's situation. It's not bad, at least Stain has a bed to sleep on, a roof to cover his head, food to eat and a day to rest his mind from all the hero killing things he can think of.
And because he passed his tests, he opted to have a small 'celebratoon' just to rile up the ex-hero killer. His Dad helped him willingly and had fun decorating them. He also told the hero how suspicious Shouto and Yaoyorozu on him because both of them kept on snickering at the class's reaction in every surprise Shouta pulls out. The forest lodging where everyone can go, the logical ruse of the exam, and the remedial classes Kirishima, Satou, Ashido, Kaminari and Sero, who had failed the practical, have to attend.
So far, he's relieved that everything is doing fine and normal again.
"How are you and your Dad?" Chizome whispered after taking a bite on the cupcake. "You said you have a small misunderstanding since you started your OJT."
"We're fine. We resolved it." He assured as he opened his cupcake's wrap. "Do you want to meet him though? My Dad?"
"Who is he anyway?"
"You might now him since he's an underground hero. Eraserhead? Ring a bell?" He asked as he took a bite. He beamed. "Yehey! Success!"
"Wait. Were you trying to poison me?!" The other accused.
Tsuna laughed. "Of course not. I will never dream of doing that. It's immoral and disrespectful to the food. Not everyone can eat things like this, okay? Anyway, do you want to meet him? His cupcake is here."
Chizome gave him a deadpanned look. "You were expecting this, weren't you?"
"I guessed?" He shrugged as he stood up to go for the door and opened it. He looked around to see his Dad. And there he was, sitting pretty in front of the monitor. "Dad, your share is inside. Don't bother Uncle Naomasa's cakes."
"I wasn't." Shouta grumbled as he stood up.
Caramel eyes went to Naomasa who mouthed 'He was.' to him in a playful manner. He snickered as he let his Dad walk in. "You were, weren't you?"
He yelped when Shouta tickled his stomach. "You're persistent. I wasn't."
He narrowed his eyes at the man.
"Nope." Shouta negated. "Take your revenge at home."
He beamed before closing the door. "Okay!"
He immediately ushered his Dad to his previous seat before taking another chair to sit on. When he did sit, he noticed the tension between the two. He sweat dropped and decided to serve Shouta the same cupcake they ate.
"Okay. Let's make a deal, you two." He sighed, unable to gain both attentions. "Since I'm the one who put you two in the same room, we're going to have ground rules. Whenever we visit, we will become civil."
"Wha-"
He raised a hand to stop their reactions. "Chizome-san won't be hero killer Stain. Dude, you're done here already, forget about it. At least you have done your part. Let us do ours, yeah? Dad won't be Underground hero, Eraserhead. For once, relax. I'll tell you when there's something wrong outside. And I will be just Tsunayoshi Sawada, your middleman, not an aspiring hero nor a vigilante."
"Why?" Chizome grumbled. "I don't want to see a hero."
"The feeling is mutual, Stain." Shouta gritted.
"Just for the heck of it. And I'm here to introduce my Dad to Chizome because my Dad deserve to know the person who won't even touch me in our latest encounter. Eep!" He shushed when the ex-hero killer tried to counter his allegations. "I know so because it was obvious. You were going after Iida-san and Shouto. You didn't even bat an eyelash to Izuku because according to what I heard, you acknowledged his capabilities."
The thin man huffed in annoyance. "Just give me those cupcakes."
Tsuna chuckled as he put another cupcake on the plate from the other side then to Shouta's, before his. "Let's have a civil, friendly talk. Set aside the differences. Just an experiment."
"Like these cupcakes?" Chizome asked while taking a bite.
"They are experiment. He was going to put salt in them." Shouta mumbled.
The hero killer confusedly stared at the hero. "You don't?"
The brunet burst into fits of laughter when his Dad stared at their 'host' in horror.
Just like that, they fell into a comfortable conversation about food and preferences. From that, they went to different topics. Whenever heroes and villains were about to enter the conversation, Tsuna will swivel the steering wheel for them. Sometimes, he'll catch both of their knowing looks that he'll answer with an innocent look.
The brunet knows that it will take time for like this to happen to other people. Heroes will never accept villains. The misconception of good and evil is so deep that it can't be pulled out without digging deep. It's not that he wants the world to change and be accepting. That will be stupid, suicidal and too delusional. Maybe just lower the crime rate? But then the balance of good and evil will be tilted that it won't be good for the world. Because when it tips, the good will become evil inevitably.
Tsuna was about to distribute the last of cupcakes when pain spiked in his head. He couldn't help himself from closing his eyes as he winced in hurt. He can hear his Dad and Chizome asking him if he's okay, but his intuition is trying to guide him somewhere. And he knows its urgent. His gut is churning in trepidation as his mind raced.
"I need to go somewhere." He bid as he slid his chair back.
"What is it?" Shouta asked as he stood up as well.
"Someone is in trouble." He answered hurriedly as he went for the door. "I don't know but my intuition is telling me to go somewhere. I'll be back after resolving it, Chizome-san." Then he opened the door. The officers are already alert, with Naomasa already standing. He scanned them. "Don't let anyone get my things here. Anyone who will take our cupcakes will have their hands burn by me personally."
"How are you going to get there?" His Dad asked.
"What else?" He pulled out one of the three gloves that he smuggled out, then his earphones. "I'm gonna bend the rules."
"You snuck those out?" Shouta exclaimed that he only grinned at.
"Here." Naomasa handed out a golden badge that he took. "Just for the day."
He nodded as he put it at the back of his pocket. He then looked back to Stain who is silently watching them. "I'll be back in a jiffy, Chizome-san. Don't miss me."
The man scoffed before taking his plate of cupcakes and turned around to go back to his room. "Don't bother coming back again if you break that."
Tsuna chuckled before walking for the other door as he put on his headphone. "I'll alert you where it is. Be on standby."
"Copy." Naomasa replied snappily.
"I can't come with you, can I?" His Dad queried as he went of the window and opened it.
"I'm gonna fly." He said before smiling reassuringly to the hero and the officer who followed them. "Vigilante code:"
"Do not engage a villain unless necessary." Father and son said at the same time.
He let his flames manifest. "I'm off."
He jumped off from the window before propelling himself to the sky. As he gets far, he started to contact those he knew who can be in trouble. Shouto is in the hospital, visiting Rei. Katsuki, who he took by surprise by calling to check on him, is on a hike with his family. Hitoshi is chilling inside his apartment. That left Izuku, who couldn't answer his phone. Knowing he's with Iida for the shopping trip, he contacted the president to know where they are.
Kiyashi-Ward Shopping Mall. The moment Tsuna heard the name of the place, his intuition urged him to go there immediately. He made his flame boost more to get there faster as he contacted his Dad where the place is. He touched down in front of the entrance before going for a jog inside. He excused himself to those he bumps to as he followed his intuition. He was around the center of the mall when he saw them.
A familiar green being side hugged by a hooded man. He immediately jogged towards them, crossing the two palm trees and snaked a hand to hold the detached finger that could endanger Izuku as he put a heavy hand over Shigaraki's head.
"That's enough." He whispered.
"T-Tsuna." Izuku gasped, struggling to breathe.
"Let go, Tomura-san." He said soothingly. His intuition alerted him how the other froze. "Come on. Let him go. We don't want to alert anyone now, do we? He won't like it."
The hand slacked until Izuku got free.
"Go." He whispered to the greenet as Uraraka came in. There was conflict in those green eyes. "I'll be fine. Tomura-san won't hurt me." He took a hold of the hand and held it firmly before smiling at his friend. "Go. I'll be back later."
Izuku nodded before running for Uraraka who is eyeing him and the villain in his hand in worry. He smiled to his fellow brunette.
"Where do you want to go, Tomura-san?" He whispered.
"Away from here." The other mumbled.
"Okay. Lead the way." He hummed.
He waved a hand to his classmates who are looking uncertain as Shigaraki leads him away. Tsuna kept a hand on the other's while he removed his other hand from the villain's head. He was lead out of the place.
They stopped two blocks away from the mall, just as police cars came passing by. When they got into some alley, Tsuna let Shigaraki go and backed away. The man looked back to him, eyes wide. He appeared like he couldn't believe the brunet is letting him go.
Caramel eyes inspected the man in front of him in split seconds. Shigaraki Tomura is rather pale with dry skin. He has this shaggy messy and dry hair covered by his hood. His eyes are red and heavy with eyebags. Chapped lips and pretty thin. Lanky even with how slumped his shoulders were when they were walking. Right now, it's fully on his height because of astonishment.
It's not like Tsuna will put him to jail. Besides, it doesn't feel right to capture the man now. Shigaraki didn't put up a fight. And he will feel bad if he did that. Although, he knows he has to do it because he'll get scolded, and that there's an one hundred and one percent that the guy will attack them again. But he can't have it.
It's not right. Even his intuition agrees.
"Wha-What are you doing?" Shigaraki questioned, surprised.
"Letting you escape?" Tsuna blinked back. "Did you think I'm gonna put you behind bars? Of course not. That's not what I'm here for."
"You..."
"I'm here to save Izuku." He explained slowly. "I'm not here to take you to somewhere, Tomura-san."
"But you're a hero! You can't do something like- Like this!" The ash head yelled in indignation, hand making wild gestures.
"Well, I can." That made the other go still. He shrugged. "As I told you, I'm not here to take anyone to jail. I'm here to save Izuku. So you can go. Keep safe, eat something to stay healthy and keep you hands clean, because that's what you use to activate your quirk, right? Anyway," He angled his body to leave, offering a small smile. "I'm going. Nice seeing you."
"Uh."
He was about to leave when he remembered something. "Ah, Tomura-san." He called before standing straight and bowed waist down. "During your attack, I'm sorry for calling you a hypocrite. I was wrong. I should've known what were you trying to fight for." He stood straight again to see the other gaping at him like a fish. "Don't get me wrong. I know you'll say it's because I'm a hero and- excuse me- shits that I'm apologizing. But it's not. I'm saying this because it was my mistake. So yeah. See you around."
Tsuna activated his flames and flew off for the mall again. When he landed, Shouta and Naomasa were already there. The latter signalled the police officers to let the others to come after noticing him. Shouta only watched him from the side, knowing he'll be with him later.
He brought his headphones down and removed his gloves to meet his classmates who were running towards him. Izuku was the first one to arrive, worry all over his face and searching him for any damage. He hummed a 'thanks' to Uraraka for calling the police before ruffling the greenet's hair.
"Thanks God you hold up on him." He praised, smiling reassuringly to the others. "He only talked to Izuku. No need to worry."
"But he threatened Midoriya and used the civilians as hostages!" Iida argued.
Tsuna nodded. "That's how a villain works, everyone. It can't be helped. And that's what a hero should take account for." He looked down to Izuku who looked shaken. "I think we all had a long day. Izuku will be needed for the station. Tsukauchi-keiji is here, so it will be alright. You all should go home in the same process. Any objections?"
"We can't come to the station, right?" Kaminari smiled in resignation. "No choice but to go home then."
"No worries, I'll make Izuku message Iida-san to alert all of you if he's safely home." He promised.
"Wait, Tsuna." Tokoyami called out before they dispersed. "Are you okay? You were the one who stirred him away."
The brunet got taken back with the sudden concern before he gave a smile. "Yeah. I'm fine. We just did a judgement test yesterday, so I ran away immediately before he can even think of engaging a battle with me. I told you, didn't I? Don't worry about me."
The others nodded, relieved before saying their goodbyes.
Tsuna led Izuku to his Dad and Naomasa. Naomasa ushered them inside the car to transport them to the station. The car ride was silent, except when Shouta asked Izuku if he's okay. The greenet nodded, leaning to the brunet, who gave solace. He met Naomasa's gaze in the rear view mirror.
When they arrived, they were ushered to get inside. Izuku was questioned first of what happened and such. Tsuna came next. He answered what he could answer and kept mum on those he can't answer with a lie. Naomasa and him stared at each other in a long time whenever he won't give a reply. It cannot be helped that the man's quirk is detecting lies. He's just like Tsuna in a way, that's why he knows he can't lie.
"Tsuna." The officer sighed. "Just tell me what happened, I won't put it on the files. I'll write that you flee on sight because you were required not to engaged."
The brunet went sheepish. "I had to let him go."
"It's the alien?"
He nodded. "And he didn't fight me when I asked him where he wants to go. He didn't struggle to get away from me, nor say anything. It's against my moral to take him in, even though he almost killed Izuku."
"What can you say then?"
"The threat was just a ruse." He relied. "So he can talk to Izuku alone and without him doing any suspicious things that will alert the civilians. Think about it, Uncle, why would he sit down and keep Izuku his captive when he can just take one of the civilians or just kill him immediately?"
Naomasa slowly nodded, understanding his reasoning. "It makes sense."
"Regardless of how legible he is to be caught, I couldn't do it because he didn't do anything damaging." He grimaced. "It's against my moral code. If he did something again to us, I'll be accountable."
"No." The officer negated, reaching out to give him a pat on the head. "It was right for you to not take him. There will be a lot of things he can do to hurt you if you did force him. It's a miracle you're alive. You and Midoriya."
Tsuna gave a small smile. At least he did the right thing. "That made me a little less guilty."
When they were going out, Shouta was already outside with All Might. Tsuna waved the hero in his thin form as Izuku ran up to him. The mentor and mentee talked a little while he, Shouta and Naomasa stood by the side and observed them.
"Glad you're alright, Tsuna." His Dad hummed.
He chuckled. "I won't do something you'll do, you know."
He yelped when the closest leg to his Dad got bended from the back. "That's for being cheeky. We're going back to Chizome, right?"
"Yup. I don't want to worry him." He answered.
Naomasa chuckled. "For someone who hated the vigilante for years, it's a surprise you're civil with him."
"Well, you've heard our conversation. He's more than what meets the eye." Shouta put an arm around the brunet's shoulders, a hand on the fluffy hair. "If we set aside our positions, at least."
The officer looked down to his little 'nephew' before nodding. "True- Ah. Missus Midoriya arrived."
They watched how tearful the mother was for her son. Before the two left with Sansa, another officer, Izuku bid his goodbye to him and Shouta. He only waved with a smile.
"Tsuna." All Might called as he joined them. "Thank you for arriving for him."
"It's nothing. I'll do the same thing to anyone I deem important." He looked up to Shouta who looked down to him. "Have you eaten dinner, Dad?"
"Not yet." The other replied.
Tsuna hummed. "Let's go to Chizome-san first before we go home. You don't have to come with us, Uncle Naomasa. You're tired with this case now. You need the rest too. And besides, it's just Chizome-san. He won't hurt us."
The officer stared at him before looking at Eraserhead who nodded. He can't help releasing a breath in amusement. "You take everyone to consideration, Tsuna."
"It's my work?" He laughed while pulling out the badge from his back pocket. "Thank you for this. Don't worry. I didn't show it to anyone yet. I mean that was really cool. From civilian, to vigilante, then a hero before I became a police officer for a day."
The three men chuckled.
"Come on. Let's get an officer to drive us back to Tartarus." His Dad ushered.
"See you tomorrow, All Might-san." He bid with a wave before jogging after Shouta who got an officer to drive for them.
Chizome looked 'chill' when they requested for his presence. Well, it was near dinner time so the man is still awake. Tsuna told him a quick summary of what happened, censoring some parts by changing them with the terms both of them know, since the whole debacle is a secret. The ex-hero killer scolded him for not seizing the moment, but he pointed out that it was against his morals. Chizome huffed, took the remaining of his cupcakes for dessert and gave them a nod of goodbye when they bid farewell. Tsuna promised another visit somewhere in the summer, which the other scoffed at.
Tsuna and Shouta went home, a little excited for dinner. What they wanted to make were already planned out. By the time they got inside, Tsuna was already running for the kitchen to have the chopping job. He laughed when Shouta grumbled about doing the washing and ripping job. They were about to finish the preparation when their apartment phone rang.
Shouta took the phone and answered it. When Tsuna got beckoned to come, he left his finished product and took the call. It was Naomasa, expressing his gratitude for saving All Might. He denied the claim, gaining his Dad's attention, who was already starting to cook everything. The officer explained that All Might unknowingly told him that he was the one who helped the Symbol of Peace, because the hero told him that he was helped by Decimo. Tsuna could only laugh nervously since he is widely known now as Decimo in the police station instead of his true name, to hide his complete identity. He did assure his uncle that the help was not waged. Naomasa said he knows, that's why he's saying thank you as a compensation instead.
His family knows him too well.
He received a message from Izuku that he and his mother got home safely, while eating dinner. He told this to Shouta, who told him that he was called early for a meeting about the forest lodge. He winced at that. Right after dinner, Shouto messaged him if he's okay and he heard what happened. He replied he's fine and asked about his visit to Rei. They texted back and forth without rising the topic again.
The father and son were relaxing by the living room when Hitoshi called him to check. He can't help laughing when Shouta's face scrunched up with how many people were calling him, as he answered the purple head's questions. The reason for the calls was, the young man connected the dots of why the brunet called that mid-afternoon after hearing the news about the mall temporarily closing. After Hitoshi, he was bombarded by text messages from Class A who knew his number. He answered all of them diligently, to Shouta's chagrin.
He was about to sleep when his Dad knocked and came in with a phone in hand. When he took it, it was Hizashi and Nemuri in a joint call. He smiles apologetically to Shouta who waved off, mumbling about his son becoming a celebrity without him knowing. After a small check up on how was he, he returned the phone to his Dad without cutting off the call. He knows they'll be talking for a while
It was midnight when his phone rang up. He groggily took it and answered under his covers. The only things he remembered were a worried Katsuki, a question of how was he and Izuku, and he should sleep. He woke up with his phone in hand.
(They're so lucky he's used being checked by a lot of family members when he was Vongola Decimo.)
(Byakuran and Xanxus call in the middle of the night, by the way, to annoy him and check up on him discreetly, respectively.)
(Those, and Reborn's insane, chaos-filled logic trained him enough to be lax about this kind of things.)
(Example: The whole family checking up on him just because Reborn told Yuni he got injured. Which is in fact, not true because he was holing inside his office, sorting out the missions he needed to distribute and check.)
(That happens all the damn time.)