Chapter Thirty-Two

Tsuna stared at Naomasa, blinked his eyes and opened his mouth. "He what?"

"He permitted you to visit him." The officer repeated, as grieve.

He slumped on his seat and washed his hand over his face in exasperation. "Excuse me, but fuck. I haven't have a good night rest, I haven't seen Dad for two nights and I just did a whole thing with you guys, and now this?"

"I, as well, am shock when he requested it. I thought it will be Toshinori, but he didn't. I don't know what he wants with you. However, I think it won't be good." Naomasa opined.

He sighed. "Since it's a free pass, I can go whenever I want? Just like Chizome-san's?"

"Yes."

He nodded. "I'll think about it."

The police officer patted his back. "Good job yesterday, Tsuna. Glad you're back."

"I am too." He smiled.

It's near evening, and he just finished the SOP interrogation he had to answer with Naomasa. He was asked what happened to him during those two days and three nights. He relied what he experienced, since he cannot lie, and omitted some that will not be detected. He saw Katsuki, but he didn't approach the teen. Knowing the kid, he's affected to what happened to All Might. And now, he has been informed that All for One had permitted him to visit anytime. On what purpose, he doesn't know.

He's exceptionally tired, honestly. It's his first time staying up all night up until the late noon just for a rescue mission. His body can't cope up with the sudden change of sleeping pattern. His flames are almost at their reserves. He had applied first aid to those who needed it, healed the life threatening injuries on some heroes, and took a moment to see Best Jeanist with the help of Naomasa.

The hero took blunt damages. He fought head-on to All for One, but he couldn't do it. For some reasons, Tsuna found the same damage on Best Jeanist that he encountered on All Might's case. He had to do a serious thorough inspection on the hero while healing those affected areas. He only stopped after seeing him sleeping without pain. He told them he wants the other injuries to heal on their own naturally, because he cannot force the body to do repairs. The doctors understood. He was quite relieved that they were the same ones he worked with to All Might's case.

After a little briefing, Naomasa escorted him out of the room. Tsuna put his mittens inside his back pocket as he looked outside the window where the setting sun can be seen. He wonders where is Reborn now.

"Tsuna." He turned to his uncle, who has this small frown. "All Might wants to talk to you tomorrow. If it's alright? He's one of the firsts I informed of All for One's wishes of you. He wants to tell you about that man and their... History."

He offered an assuring smile. "It's fine, Uncle. Although, it's not like I'm prying, am I?"

"No." The officer answered, shaking his head. "The moment you offered your help to All Might without requesting any payment, from the USJ accident up until yesterday, we gathered that you need to know. It's not fair. Besides, that man wants to talk to you. You need to know what kind of villain he is."

He nodded in understanding. "Text me what time tomorrow. I think I'll be up before afternoon. Knowing Dad, he'll knock me out if I get up early."

"Damn right." Shouta, who was waiting for them by the lobby, replied after hearing what he said. The man's hair are floating, red eyes in a scolding glare. "You reckless brat."

"Give the kid a break." Hizashi chided.

Tsuna chuckled softly before nearing the man and hugging him, arms around the waist. "I'm home, Dad, Uncle Hizashi."

"Welcome home, Tsuna." Hizashi hummed from the side.

Shouta's quirk stopped and arms circled around him. He can feel the hero snuggling on him. "Good to have you back home, Tsuna. You scared me."

He rubbed his face on his Dad's shirt. "I'm sorry."

They stayed like that for a moment. Neither of his uncles said a worth, though they exchanged glances about the scene in front of them.

"You're cold." His Dad stated.

"I am." He sighed.

"Wait." Shouta said as he unfurled his capture weapon. "Can you hold this for me, Hizashi?" He handed it to the blond.

"Sure." Mic chirped, taking the weapon for the Eraser Hero to remove his black sweatshirt.

"Up." His Dad ordered, which he did by raising his hands. The shirt went over his hands then his head before it settled comfortably on his body. He visibly sagged at the comfort. "It's good you're still getting tall." The other relieved.

The brunet pouted. "Bad."

Naomasa chuckled as he moved to the blond hero's side. "I thought it was Tsuna who is spoiling Eraserhead all the time?"

"He is." Mic confirmed as they watched Shouta put the weapon around his neck before gesturing for his son to climb on his back. "But you know how he can be very protective over Tsuna. Especially after..." He waved his hands. "This."

"He didn't lose his mind, did he?" The officer asked as Tsuna sluggishly climbed on his Dad's back and snuggled closely. "It was Tsuna's first time getting in that kind of situation."

"They believe in each other." Hizashi answered as the two started to whisper between them. "Shouta said Tsuna will scold him if he loses his cool. When it's Tsuna, the same thing is said."

"I can't see them being apart." Naomasa stated. "It doesn't settle well."

"I wish I'm a toddler again." Tsuna voiced, pouting. "I want to snuggle with Dad."

"Too bad you're a grown up now." Eraserhead teased.

"Eh." The other whined, hiding his face on his Dad's right shoulder. "Meanie."

"Let's go." Present Mic decided before waving at Naomasa. "We're going. Thank you for looking after Tsuna for us."

"It's given. I'm also his uncle." The officer bid as well.

Tsuna was already asleep as they trekked home. Hizashi excused himself after he was sure the brunet was tucked under the blanket and on the bed, with Shouta staying to keep watch. The hero stayed there until it was time for him make his own dinner and eat. He went to his own room to rest. Somewhere along the night, he found himself with an armful of Tsuna, snuggling on his chest. He only sighed and snugged closer too.

Tsuna looked around the beach he was called out to. It was five in the afternoon, the same time Naomasa told him to meet All Might. The beach is clean, and no electronics or trash in sight since Izuku cleaned it for training. Maybe All Might called him here because the place is memorable? He wonders if Gran Torino told him that his flames are making his quirk grow again?

It's a good thing he was called out late noon. He was asleep till lunch. Shouta got dragged too and missed a Yuuei meeting. Nezu did excuse him for it, since he understood how shaken (not really, because the hero believes in his son's self-preservation) his Dad was, so he didn't bother them. Naomasa was probably a psychic since he texted him right after they ate lunch and washed the dishes. The rest of the time was used to unpack his bag from the interrupted summer lodge, and watching a full coverage of Nezu, his Dad and Vlad King apologizing to the mass about the recent incident on his phone. He knew his Dad won't tolerate it if he watched it on the TV. The man doesn't want him to stress.

He sighed as he listened to his lullabies. He missed it. Listening to music and just idly staring and watching things move. He already misses the past, even though it only turned upside down the other day. Because as time goes on from that point, everything will change.

He turned around when he felt his intuition alert him. All Might is coming down from the stairs, an arm heavily bandaged, along with his head. He smiled at the hero as he removed his buds and paused his music. The other smiled as well.

"Thank you for accepting my request." The hero expressed.

"I don't really mind." He waved off as he pulled a sheet from his jacket's pocket and spread it. "Since I figured this is going to be a long discussion, I brought a sheet to seat on. Beach is a good place to relax in, while relieving memories."

All Might's eyes glinted amusement and mirth. "Sure."

Tsuna placed the clothe on the sad before offering it. "Go on." All Might sat then he did so. "You talked with Izuku?"

"I did. He cried."

"You are his figure." He hummed as he stare at the sea. "In a sense, you're the reason why he grew into a remarkable young man who is willing to save others without any payment in return."

"How was yours?"

"Dad almost didn't want me out. But since I told him I have my mittens and you're with me, he surrendered. Generally, we're fine."

"He didn't comment on the... You know?"

"Haven't yet. But he'll probably do the same thing with Chizome-san. He'll come along if I decided to visit him for a purpose." He leaned in as he out his hands on his jacket's pocket. "Although, I'll do that if I'm really out of it."

"All for One is a scheming man." He glanced at the hero who is also gazing at the moving waters. "I have told you this back then. He has no qualms using means to shatter a person's will. Even if it means using those who are important to them. You heard him say her name, right? She's my late master. Nana Shimura, a friend of Gran Torino too.

"The origin is pretty simple. All for One is an evil man who gathered his force a long time ago and started the evil doings, having Japan in his mercy. His quirk is stealing quirks, and is able to give it to others when he doesn't need it. It is the reason why he's so powerful. He uses it to amplify himself and make others submit to his orders. You can imagine the things he had done to that time, up until now. Even the Noumus are oart of his diabolical creation.

"My quirk... The quirk I passed down to Young Midoriya somewhat came from him. He has this little brother who has a strong sense of justice, but known to be quirkless, weak and fragile. However, because he strives justice, it means he opposes his brother. We don't know if it was a show of kindness or just to make him submit, but All for One gave him the stockpile quirk that we have now. However, he didn't know that his brother also has a quirk."

Tsuna glanced at the man who is going down the beach. "A pass down quirk?" He asked in English. So much like Vongola. He remembers the man saying this to him back when they first had a talk about why he was different from his hero persona. But not the full details though. He knew the hero will appreciate it if he forgets. Didn't really expect that they'll have another discussion on it again.

All Might must have gotten the motive because he went along. "Yes. He was able to pass down the quirk that could oppose to his older brother. It is called One for All."

"All for One must be a ghost by then. Probably able to attain slow aging quirk." Like Daemon, although a literal ghost.

"Yes. I was able to defeat him five years ago. The same time he gave me that wound you were able to heal. But he must have survived, and now..." All Might took a deep breath to regain his calm. "He's using my master's grandson against me."

"Successor against successor." He muttered, remembering his and Enma's fight. "What I'm curious about is how was he able to get Shigaraki?"

"My master's husband was killed by All for One. It pushed her to the decision to distance her child from the hero society by giving him up to foster parents. She told us to never ever approach her son. If only I did... This won't happened."

"Maybe it's right that you kept your promise." Tsuna murmured. "Because one way or another, her child will know that she's a hero. He must've questioned why she pushed him away instead of taking care of him herself. If I were him, I'll hate her. I'll hate the hero society. And I'll hate you too. Probably chase you out of my home even."

All Might stared at him.

"Regardless of how you show him how great heroes are, a child's anger to his parent is no less greater than having a grudge to the world for taking the precious people in your life. He'll curse you for taking his parent away from him. He'll curse the hero society for taking her away. And he'll curse her for choosing her profession over him." He leaned back a little. "Family over profession. Family over job. Family over friends. Sometimes it's family and famiglia. But it will take a lot to balance those two. And that's what your master lacks."

The hero slumped in defeat.

"In a sense, both of them have faults, Yagi-san. We make decisions out of impulsiveness and emotions. Nana Shimura wanted protection for her son, but she didn't know the right choices. Her son wanted to have his biological parent's love, but he felt unwanted that's why he hates her, which resulted to Shigaraki's situation." He sighed. "It must have been hard on him. Living with his father who hated heroes."

"Your hunch on abuse is right then?"

"Maybe. Bad parenting too. Which where All for One was good at when he picked Shigaraki from the fall. 'Saved' him from the misery and turned him to someone as he is now, with the passed ideology." He can't help grinning. "One fucked up manipulative bastard."

"You already figured him out?"

"I was the second one he wanted to invite to the their league. He said I can be a vigilante for free, without anyone reminding the laws. He wants me to join them to change the society's view. That my power will be a great help. Did you get where he went wrong?" He questioned rhetorically. "I'm already a vigilante. I'm the one bending the laws to my likings. Society's view cannot be changed because they want everlasting peace. And my power, regardless of how remarkable it is and how it appears limitless, I'm still human. Healing people since your battle up until yesterday morning had me drained."

"Then what does he wants from you?"

"He probably wants to do a mind game." He hummed. "Maybe because I was able to help you, he wants to break me too."

"You should not visit him then."

He peered at the other with mock horror. "Reject a humble invitation? I wasn't raised to be that rude. And I told you, I'll only come to him once I'm gone with it."

The hero frowned. "Are you sure? You're a precious person to a lot of people."

He can't help blushing at the praise. "This is the reason why I don't want to be a hero or interact with a lot of people. We can't die without thinking how it will sadden them."

All Might chuckled. "You're peculiar, Tsuna."

"It can't be helped." He laughed along.

They talked more, subjecting past things. It was rather enlightening to talk to someone who have seen America like him. Although he deflected the questions by saying he was interested with the things to see in the said country, and he likes their variety of music. Thanks God the hero accepted that.

When they bid goodbye, Tsuna let the hero get inside the cab first before he walked away. He did explain that it was a common courtesy, not something to be thought of. Because he knows- No. They both know, that the hero's health and well-being are sensitive topics now. And Tsuna will do everything with his power not to let the hero question his life's worth. Regardless of how people perceive him, he is still the Symbol of Peace.

When Tsuna reached his apartment building, his intuition alerted two things. One is warning him of what he is about to see, and two is uncertainty. He frowned at the indication. If his intuition is like that, it means the situation inside their home will either make him happy or distress him. He decided to hurry up. When he put the key on the hole and was about to turn the knob, he noticed there are two people inside. He decided to open anyway.

He announced his arrival casually, closing the door behind him. Taking off his shoes, his gut, not his intuition, advised him not to put it by the racks. He did. Removing his jacket as he wandered in, he came upon with a sight. His Dad sitting by the couch while Reborn is at the other, with the center table between them.

"Reborn." He called, taking the hitman's attention. "Nice to see you."

An incline of head.

"Who is he, Tsuna?" Shouta questioned, no visible tone.

Tsuna gulped. "He's a hitman I met during what happened the other day."

"Can you explain to me why he's here?" Black eyes darted to him in question.

His intuition nudged him, making him purse his lips. "He's family."

Both men turned to him in shock.

"I-I'll explain." He elaborated, getting nervous. He's not ready, dammit. "But can I talk to Reborn first, Dad?"

"Fine." The hero relented, making him wince. It was cold. "I'll be in the kitchen."

He and Reborn watched the man stood up and walk for the dining area. Tsuna turned to Reborn and nodded to the balcony. The hitman stood up and went ahead. The brunet closed the sliding door behind him, feeling the cool breeze hit him once again.

"I came at a wrong time?" Reborn questioned.

"No. You're welcome to come anytime." He smiled apologetically. "It was my fault. I should've told him first. But you're still welcome to come anytime."

"That's your Dad." He nodded. "You don't look alike."

He chuckled. "You're a hitman, figure that out."

Reborn hummed with a smirk. "Then I have to figure out your number too."

He smiled cheekily. "Yup. Ain't that nice? A challenge for you."

"Maybe after I come back from Italy. I've been gone for two weeks, prior to my finished mission." Onyx eyes stared intently at him. "I don't like having unpaid life debts, so I will abide to your wishes."

"I only said one visit, Reborn." Tsuna appealed. "And you're welcome to come back. If you don't want to, it's fine. I'm not forcing you."

"And do not have an explanation why you introduced me as a family even though we only met three nights ago? I cannot accept that." The hitman huffed. "After you explain to him, you have to give me an explanation too when I come back. Got it?"

"Roger." He affirmed before snickering. "You're demanding."

"Get used to it. I'll be going." Then the hitman handed him a card that he took. It was a calling card. "I have a feeling that you'll need that. If something happens, call me."

"Thank you." He expressed.

Onyx eyes stared at him for a sec before the hitman put a hand on the railing and went over it. Tsuna looked down to the paper he has in hand. He marvelled the elegant handwriting, memorizing the number before stashing it away. He exhaled a breath before turning back to the door.

He is so fucked up.

Shouta stopped what he's doing when he felt Tsuna's presence. He turned around to see the brunet stiff. As if that was enough, his son went for the living room. He left the ingredients he was chopping to follow. He noticed Tsuna sitting on the spot 'Reborn' previously occupied. For some reason, as he sat across the other, he has this forbidding feeling in his gut.

"I'm sorry, Dad." Tsuna started off, biting his lip after. "For everything and for this."

He kept quiet.

"T-This will be hard to take, but I think you deserve to know this now."

His brows furrowed at the cryptic words. "What are you saying, Tsuna?"

The brunet took a deep breath before staring at him intently. "Eleven years and six months ago, a villain attacked a mall where Nana Sawada and Tsunayoshi Sawada had gone to, to do some shopping. During this event, one incident happened. Three years and nine months old Tsunayoshi Sawada died after getting struck by a falling beam."

His eyes widened. "What?"

"During that time, the Tsunayoshi Sawada in the parallel world, died with a gun shot by the liver at the age of forty-four. A strange phenomenon occurred. As if he didn't die, three years old Tsunayoshi Sawada opened his eyes with a different soul inside him." Then the brunet sat up with straight posture, squared shoulders and gave out this authoritative aura of an important person. "And I am that Tsunayoshi Sawada."

"This is not a good joke, Tsuna."

"Shouta Aizawa, why would I joke about something like this?" Tsuna questioned. "I know... I know you've questioned a lot about me. Wondered things. The reason why I'm so mature when I was four is because I am forty-five at that time. The reason why I was able to do first aids on my parents, call the police while at it, even intimidate the intruder of my home. Not even a genius four years old can do that-"

"If he doesn't have a knowledge of them." He uttered, the forbidding feeling getting stronger.

Tsuna proceeded to tell him everything. From what is the parallel universe, the tri-ni-sette and how different the world he came from and the world they are now existing at. He discovered that there is mafia, and is still alive. They uses flames that were explained to him months ago. And the Vongola is the mafia he's affiliated with.

The brunet told him the history of Vongola in his world. The ancestors, the general outline of the evidents that took place that became their history, until it came to his story. The child, whose life energy were sealed for his own protection, causing him to become clumsy and unable to comprehend his life. How he was known to be Dame-Tsuna for his uselessness and stupidity. He described himself with a grimace as a friendless coward, bullied individual who does not have the voice to defend himself from the jeers and insults, and the ability to fight for his safety.

But because of his heritage and bloodline, he was chosen to become a mafia boss of Vongola after the three heirs died in tragic ways, and the remaining is illegible to inherit since he is only Vongola by name, not on blood. The fourteen years old teen got thrusted to training by his tutor who's name is Reborn, and gained friends left and right with the chaos his tutor did. He fought for others safety, almost got himself killed a lot of times.

A fight for life with the Kokuyou Gang. Ring battles against Varia. The fiasco of ten years after he officially becomes a mafia boss with the Millefiore. Old blood conflict with the Simon. And the representative battles for the life of the Arcobaleno. Then he worked hard for the sake of their safety, fulfilling a promise to destroy Vongola's bloody history, and changing their world for the better until he's forty-four years old. From civilian to mafia boss then a vigilante group leader.

'When one starts, two changes everything and keeps it like that until it reaches nine. And ten is the one that changes everything back to where it started. To one.'

Encompassing sky. Vongola Decimo.

The intellect, judgement, maturity, power, and experience. The knowledge of how cruel the world can be for a person. Innocence versus taint. Not only killing for the sake of their safety, but for the sake of the future.

Shouta doesn't want to believe. He wants to deny everything he's learning about the brunet. It was surreal. Too unbelievable. Too fictional. But how can he deny if he can see the genuine emotions? The happiness, sadness, anger, bitterness, misery, worry and even nostalgia. How his voice differ in every event. How those caramel eyes glaze at the memories he's visiting inside his mind.

So to cope, his first reaction was to excuse himself, get his capture weapon and yellow goggles before opening the balcony and jumped from there to get to the other building. He ran off. He didn't look back. His mind is racing with thoughts after thought. Tsuna's story matches all of his questions. The maturity, why the anti-social personality, why be a vigilante, those viewpoints in life. Even the strange things he does, the traditions, the celebration, and the medical knowledge on some points.

All this time he was taking care of a middle aged man inside a child's body. A man who have gained a lot of accomplishments in life. A man who was hailed to be the saviour of humanity. A man who had experienced a person within his ages should not have gain.

Not even one Shouta Aizawa, the Eraser Hero: Eraserhead, can gain.

He sorted out his mind at the very top building he could find. As he calmed down, he decided that he should talk about everything with Tsuna first. Because even if he thought things through, he cannot do it alone. So he went home.

Only to find their apartment room void of anyone. He called out to Tsuna in a formal way. There was no answer. Dread entered his gut as thoughts ran through his mind. He checked every room to see if the brunet was there. Even the bathroom. But not a soul nor a single familiar physique of the man in teen's body was there. When he checked the kitchen, he noticed some plates of food covered, on the top of one of them is a note. He immediately went over to check.

He recognized the handwriting. Tsuna's scripts are elegant, as if practiced with ease. But the message on the paper is saddening.

'I'm sorry. -TS'

Shouta took a seat on his usual seat and sighed.

"I should be the one saying sorry, Tsuna." He whispered.

(He didn't see how Tsuna's face fell when he excused himself.)

(He didn't see the tears running down those cheeks when he opened the balcony door and went out without a word.)

(He didn't notice the tear stains on the note.)

(It was too late for him to realize that Tsuna never stopped him when he went out.)

(His phone can't be contacted anymore.)