Chapter Thirty-Three
Hitoshi is a smart kid. Since child, his parents have remarked how smart he is. His school performance are great. All except for acquiring friends. But he sees things others can't see. He observes. Like how Mayano uses her left hand to text on her phone while using her right to write. Or when Kudo looks to the right when he lies, Sarada uses contact lenses to see but has a pair of glasses on standby, Honda likes to put sticky notes on his books or desk so he won't forget, and many more.
So when he opened the door after hearing the doorbell ring, he stared at the brunet in front of him. He noticed the bag, the defeated slouch, the red eyes and nose, the tear tracks, and the hood worn over his head. He concluded right there and then, that Tsuna ran away from his place and had been crying all the way from there to his place. Of what reason, he doesn't know. And he doesn't want to pry because he knows Tsuna is hurting from how dim those caramel eyes are.
"Can I crush in for the night?" Tsuna asked with a small weak (so fragile) smile.
"Yes." Was his immediate answer before opening the door wider.
The brunet came in with his bag. Hitoshi took a pair of slipper from the racks and put it in front of Tsuna. A grateful smile was given just as the other wore it in. He ushered his friend inside his abode while the latter murmured his apology for intruding. Tsuna didn't bat an eyelash though, but still awed. He took some cushion and put it by the table before sitting on one. Tsuna followed his example, staring at his CDs and the old music player.
"You like classics?" The brunet questioned, looking back to him with some amazed spark in those eyes.
He quirked a smile, relieved that his friend cheered up a little. "Yeah. I listen to it sometimes."
"Wanna see mine? I have so many playlists." The brunet offered while giving him the orange phone. "See if you might like some, I'll exchange them with what you have on your phone."
He nodded as he accepts the gadget. "Have you eaten?" He glanced at the clock. "It's past eight."
"A-Ah." The brunet blurted. He appeared as if he didn't expect the question.
"I don't really cook, but whip us something." He shooed. He earned a pout that he snickered at.
"Shouldn't you be serving me?"
"I don't cook." He repeated.
He snickered when Tsuna stood up and went for his small kitchen. While the brunet grumble and murmur under his breath, he focused on the phone he has in his hand. He opened it. He wasn't surprised when he saw the lockscreen picture. It was Tsuna and Aizawa. It was obvious that it was taken after the awarding ceremony of Sports Festival. All of them remember how the brunet ran for their teacher who was going out the tunnels. He was all smiles and so excited while putting the medal over Aizawa's head, which explains the bandaged arms. What was amazing on the photo is how Aizawa smiled wide and proud on the camera while blushing a little out of embarrassment.
For someone antisocial and secretive over things, Tsuna's phone has no need for passwords or patterns to unlock. When he did slide it upwards, he was greeted by a different homescreen picture. It was a family picture of heroes Young Lion and Seven, with a small Tsuna, around two or three, on their laps. Hitoshi had searched the couple over the internet after he officially met the brunet and his adoptive parent. They were great heroes, although humble to the point that they shy away from the camera. Given Tsuna's vigilante tendency and growing up with Eraserhead, who is an underground hero, it was expected.
He checked the apps in the phone for a moment. Super minimalist. Not a single game, nor a social media app on site. He did notice some news app and a song downloader. He proceeded to go for the music player. Like what Tsuna said, he has a lot of playlist. All categorized to languages. There are Italian, French, American, Korean and Japanese. There's even a lullaby playlist. There are some that has some English Alphabet in them that sounded Italian too. What caught his attention was the 'Classics'.
He scanned it and noted how many there were. When he played one, he heard the tinkers in the kitchen pause.
"Max Richter." Tsuna whispered as he continued on. "Vivaldi: Recomposed."
"You memorized these?" He asked as he put the phone down on the table.
"Most of them." The brunet answered while carrying some bowls to him. "A friend of mine was really fond of playing piano, although he stopped playing when we met. I kinda inspired him to play again after he heard me humming some classics one day."
Hitoshi didn't comment on the 'was' as he watched Tsuna put the bowls of rice and noodles with soup. "But you memorized most of them."
"Habit." The other shyly admitted as he went back to the kitchen. "They've been my companion when I was in elementary."
"Huh." He uttered, looking down to the phone. "Explains a lot why you have an old model."
"I won't trade it for the world." Then chopsticks were placed beside his bowl before a plate of eggrolls came next. "I didn't damage much. No worries."
Hitoshi blinked. "I don't really mind, Tsuna." 'Like how you don't mind me do stupid or say idiotic things.' "You can stay how long as you like. I'm not one to have visitors often."
Tsuna's smile was blinding and beautiful. "Thank you, Hitoshi."
They ate dinner while talking about what happened the other day. Tsuna apologized for worrying him and promised to make it up for him. If Hitoshi woke up with the brunet's hand lightly holding his pinkie, he didn't say much. He's just glad Tsuna is alright.
"He just went out." He said to Eraserhead. "He has his bag with him. He said he'll contact me first so I shouldn't call him for the meantime."
"Shit." The man cussed from the other side.
"Let me guess," He hummed as he leaned his back on the thin wall. "you can't contact him."
"No. He... He blocked me."
Hitoshi toyed the side of his lip. "I don't know if it was you or him, but it will probably take a while for him to come around."
A sigh. "Then it's a waiting game."
"You know if he went from a place." He stated as he stared at the folded futon Tsuna used for three days he was there. "He leaves a mark."
"Alright. Thank you, Shinsou."
"He's my friend." He answered. "I'll hide him away, even from you, if he asks for it."
"I know."
The call cut.
Izuku isn't really the type to have sleepovers. He was friendless since kindergarten. He doesn't know what friends normally do. Like hangout somewhere, play games, be sporty, or just talk about something common with them. That includes sleepovers.
So when he opened the door when the bell rang, and got greeted by Tsuna, he was utterly surprised. He looked to the side to see what time it is. It was already evening. What's wrong?
"Uhm. Hi Izuku." Tsuna greeted shyly, almost uncertain and afraid.
Green eyes widened a little. Tsuna has never been like that with him. "T-Tsuna."
"S-Sorry to intrude, but c-can I crush in for a moment? Oh wait. You should ask your Mom first." The other laughed nervously.
"I'll talk to her." He assured, determined. "Come in by the foyer first."
When Tsuna came in, he noticed the slouched posture and defeated air. It's as if the brunet is carrying a lot. It was something Izuku was surprised to see. It wasn't his friend at all. The brunet, amidst the danger they have faced so far, has always stood tall. He never backed down from the fight, risking his life to save him, Kacchan, Iida, and Todoroki. Even when Mineta was about to peep at the girls, answering enemies and heroes who cannot understand his point, and saving indiscriminately.
Tsunayoshi Sawada is a steel.
So what happened for him to be this gloomy?
The brunet smiled at him assuringly when he excused himself to talk to his Mom. He didn't like how dim those eyes were, so he hurriedly searched for her knowing she's about to cook dinner, he went straight there.
"Mom?" He called by the partition.
"Yes, Izuku?" His Mom, Inko Midoriya, responded.
"C-Can a friend of mine sleep here for awhile?" He asked quietly. His Mom swiveled around in record time, as if surprised. "I-It's Tsuna."
"Your classmate who saved you?" Inko queried. He nodded. "Sure sure. He's welcome to come in. A friend of Izuku is welcome to stay. Make him comfortable. Dinner will be ready in ten."
He beamed. "Thanks, Mom!"
He hurriedly went to the foyer to see the brunet still waiting. Tsuna looked up to him, as if he got snapped out of trance. He smiled at Tsuna and took a pair of slippers from the racks. The brunet smiled in gratitude before slipping his shoes off and neatly put it to the side. Izuku ushered him in.
He blushed when Tsuna looked in awe with their apartment after apologizing for intruding. Their house isn't that big. There are three bedroom rooms, the living room is attached with the dining room and kitchen, and he can say it's spacious. It was his home since he was a kid. He remembers playing hero with his Mom too.
"Have you been okay, Tsuna?" He asked in a small voice. "The last time I saw you was you were guiding people after delivering Gran Torino to Kacchan."
"I'm fine. Been here and there for them." The brunet replied with honesty before eyeing him proudly. "Nice save on Katsuki though. I saw you three flying."
He flushed as he opened the door for the living room. "T-Thank you. It wasn't possible if you didn't drop Gran Torino there as their distraction too."
Tsuna chuckled. "No worries. Oh. And your freckles are cute, Izuku."
He blushed redder as he whined. "Tsuna!"
"What? It's true! There's so prominent now that you're blushing." The other complimented as they go in.
"Dinner's ready." They looked by the dining room to see his Mom peering.
"Nice to meet you, Missus Midoriya. I'm Tsunayoshi Sawada, Izuku's friend and classmate." His friend greeted with a respectful bow. "I'm sorry for intruding."
"Nonsense. A friend of Izuku is always welcome." Inko dismissed lightly. Tsuna stood upright and smiled gratefully. "Come. Let's eat."
Izuku took Tsuna's bag and put it aside as his Mom ushered the latter to his spot. When he followed, he noticed white clothes on one of the brunet's back pocket. He looked up to see caramel eyes gazing at him with amusement. He smiled easily. Later. He'll ask things later.
Talking to Tsuna with his Mom was enlightening. There's a common ground. They love to share embarrassing stories about him. Some were praises and compliments like his academic performance. Sometimes the food he eats, his usual tics like hiding his head with his arms and mumbling about things he's analysing and excited about. He was blushing all the while and laughing too at some hilarious ones. The brunet is so animated and expressive that his Mom can't help getting awed.
After eating, both of them helped his Mom in cleaning. At first, Inko tried to usher them out. But Tsuna pointed out that he wants to at least compensate for the free food, accommodation and warm hospitality. He chuckled when his Mom relented and asked him to dry the dishes while Tsuna cleaned the table. The playful wink of the brunet at him was funny, especially when his Mom remarked that she saw the act. The two teens laughed.
Ushering Tsuna to his room was a mix of embarrassment and pride. The way those caramel eyes widened at his All Might posters, figurines and merchandises. Regardless of how cool and collected Tsuna is, there's still a cute side of him. Heh. He wonders if Kacchan saw this kind of Tsuna. They've been close since Tsuna defended him.
"This is cool." His friend gushed while hugging his bag. "It's like an All Might museum."
He flushed.
"Oh. Isn't this the merch we bought?" He eyed the poster Tsuna was pointing at. "I still have the pen I bought. Although it's in my room right now. I never used it since we bought it together."
"Yeah." He nodded before gesturing to the low table. "Go on. I'll go see if Mom had the bath running."
"It's fine, Izuku." Tsuna assured as he sat down on one of the cushions. "I'm not gonna soak. You know how I work."
The greenet couldn't help it. "What happened?"
The happy face contrasted the small sad smile. "Dad and I had a misunderstanding. My fault though. I'm just giving him space right now, so I went out. I don't want to burden him."
"It will be alright." He voiced, remembering those times Tsuna told him those. "You'll talk again eventually."
"I hope so."
They smiled at each other.
He let Tsuna go for the bath first before he did. Inko asked if they wanted some snacks, which he answered later before jumping inside the bathroom. While he soaked, as ordered by his friend who wants him to take his time, he thought of things that happened after they responded.
Granted, they'll really get a scolding in Yuuei for doing something reckless again. But the way Tsuna looked at him after praising him is so heartwarming. It's like getting scolded is worth it. But honestly, the brunet has been like that. Supportive for him. When his mother gets worried, Tsuna is a mix. He's worried, but he'll praise him too for being able to endure. It's so warm most of the time he does that.
Maybe having Tsuna running around is a help. Well, he is a help all the time. But it's just that his friend can turn something worst for the best. The last bout of All Might and All for One was like a miracle. All Might said so himself. His quirk was vanishing when he was fighting. But after Tsuna intervened with their talk, encouraged him to fight again and patted him on the shoulder, his quirk went a little strong. It was like he was given hope again. That, and all those who wished him to fight for victory.
Although Izuku didn't get Kacchan when the latter was taken, Tsuna jumped for the portal without any second thoughts. If it was anyone else, it will be the same. Just like when they fought Stain and he got almost kidnapped by that winged Noumu. Maybe he should tell him about Kouta's letter for him? He was the one who encouraged him to understand Kouta.
"Ah." He looked up from drying his curly hair when Tsuna blurted that out. "Go get your notebook and pen, Izuku."
His eyes widened in realization as he closed the door behind him. "Are you serious? Right here?"
"I promised you, didn't I?" The brunet smiled.
He quickly went for his bag to get the 'Tsuna's quirk' notebook, a mechanical pen and an eraser. He turned to his friend and sat in front of him. "Ready."
Tsuna chuckled. "Alright. So what do you want to know first?"
"The enhanced strength?" He guessed as he opened for a fresh page. "I have this feeling that your Dying Will is broad."
"It is." The other nodded, agreeing. "So enhanced strength. My quirk isn't really that flashy. It's like yours in a way, but I can lift heavy objects when I activated it, have to be careful with small ones so I couldn't grip them and break them. It honestly took me a lot of time to get used to it. But what I'm glad about it is, when I'm not in my mode, I could use the strength to make my feet go lengths and reach the destination I want to reach or breaking something I couldn't normally."
Izuku bobbed his head in understanding while writing those important info up. "There is no weakness?"
"None at all. It's probably because after I discovered it, I trained my body to accommodate it."
"You said the same thing that last time." He pointed out.
"It was the same with your training, Izuku. You can't inherit the quirk if you don't have the body. It will break you. Remember All Might-san's condition? He spew blood most of the time."
Green eyes widened in realization. "But now, he never does. Well, except when he has cuts."
"It's because his body couldn't handle your quirk. But since his operation, it hadn't been happening."
His eyes teared up a little. "Thank you."
"Ah. Let's tackle that one with my Dying Will. Because I know you want to know how it happened. Ready?" Izuku nodded. Tsuna coughed on his fist. "Like I've explained before, my Dying Will isn't fire. It's a flame. I don't really register it as a quirk since it's a manifestation of life force. Like our auras. It's fueled by our will. Like when you're in a cutthroat situation, and you're desperate, but because you don't want to die, you suddenly get this new found strength. For example, when you were fighting that guy who killed Kouta-kun's parents. Because you want to protect Kouta, your resolve locked and you got your Dying Will."
"You mean it literally means its name. Like whenever you say with my dying will, it means you really mean it. And it can happen to anyone."
Tsuna nodded. "Yup. But according to my source, due to the manifestation of quirk, it was gone. Not practiced for so long. In a sense, you can say that your dying will became your quirk. Because even dying wills have different functions in some senses."
"O-Oh."
"Before you dwell on that, it doesn't happen to anyone. It happens to those who are really desperate. The reason I was able to get mine is because I wanted to protect my parents."
His heart calmed. "Okay."
The brunet smiled soothingly. "Now. I'll give you the types."
"There are varities?" He gaped.
"There are. There are eight kinds of flames. You know the colors of the rainbow?"
"ROYGBIV?" He guessed.
Tsuna nodded. "Let's add black too, because when you add all of them, black will be the result. Other than the colors, they are associated with the weathers of the sky too. Like storm, rain, cloud, mist. Now ready? This will be short, yeah?"
"You've been asking me that."
The brunet smiled sheepishly. "It's my first time talking about this with someone else, so it's more of I'm asking myself if I'm ready."
"O-Oh."
"It's okay. Don't dwell in it." The other chuckled. "So let's go with red storm flames. It's disintegration. Remember when I scared you because the cave shook? It's because I used too much storm flames."
Izuku's eyes widened when Tsuna opened his palm and red flames sprouted from there. Not the usual orange they see.
"Remember Shigaraki Tomura-san's disintegration quirk? He can activate it with all fingers of his hand, but mine is more dangerous because it's at will. Like what I did to those rocks."
"O-Oh." Then he wrote everything. Damn.
"Next is blue rain flames." Then Tsuna's red flames went languid blue. The greenet gulped at how the brunet can control them at will. "Tranquil. More of numbness, sluggishness, slowing down an object or just weakening an attack. It's the thing I used to slow down the disintegration of the rocks when it almost got all the rocks and the ceiling." He noticed how Tsuna smiled in nostalgia, as if remembering something before shaking his head and changing the blue flames to yellow. "You saw me use this when I healed Stain. Yellow sun flames. It's causes activation, like activating the cells to close up the cuts. When we operated All Might-san, with Recovery Girl as our head doctor, I used all those three, with my original flames."
His jaw dropped.
"Since All Might-san told me the history of your power, it's safe for me to say that All for One was the cause of the injury."
"H-He told you?"
Tsuna grimaced. "He said I deserve to know because I helped him."
Izuku nodded. "You do deserve it. You've been a great help for us."
A hand was waved. "Don't mind it. Anyway, so the operation. Since All Might-san doesn't have a stomach, I used my orange flame as a guide, forming a stomach before I activated the cells to form layers of tissue."
His jaw dropped once again.
"When those tissues I created began to disintegrate, I developed my storm and rain flames. It was probably a left over quirk that All for One used to keep All Might-san like that. To tease him and reveal his form like what he did that night."
"H-How did you stop the disintegration?"
"I used rain flames to slow it down followed by storm flames to disintegrate it back, then the yellow flames to create the tissues again. I also used the same method to his other organs. Except for the eyes." Then Tsuna offered a peace sign. "It might sound easy to control, but it took me hours to do it. The rain and storm flames suddenly sprung out when I needed them, but it doesn't mean I could control them that well that time. I haven't trained my rain flames, you know."
"But it's still amazing." He breathed. "What if you can use them as attack and defense? You'll be powerful."
Tsuna shook his head with a modest smile. "Vigilante, remember?"
Izuku can't help sighing in amusement. "Got it."
"Now let's go for the remaining five that I hopefully don't have. Green lightning flames for hardening. Example, if I want to throw you a crumpled paper, it won't get hurt. But if I reinforce it with lightning flames, it will become solid and it will hurt once I throw it to you."
He wrote that out. "So if you enforce a house with lightning flames, it will become harder?"
"Impenetrable. It's usually used for defense. Then there's violet cloud flames. It's propagation. Like I can make a lot of crumpled paper. It's actually like the cloud that multiplies a lot. Then the indigo mist flames for construction. For example, I want an All Might hoodie, I don't really need to buy one. I'll just make it in front of me. It's usually used for illusion, but the user has the ability to make it solid."
"Like own your own hoodie without buying anything?" He boggled. Tsuna nodded with a chuckle. "That's so cool!"
"If I get it, I'll make you an All Might poster." The brunet vowed. "So last two. Black night flames are more on transportation. Like Kurogiri-san? Black Mist-san? But not a mist, more of a complete portal. Then my orange sky flames that can harmonize."
Izuku paused from his writing. "Harmony?"
"Yup. Balance. For example, Hagakure-san's invisibility quirk. If I can harmonize that, she can make things go invisible. Or your quirk. If I harmonize with it, I can have it not hurt you for a long time. It's the reason why I was able to guide the storm and rain flames."
"But it burns and turns to ice?"
Tsuna nodded. "It's like a normal fire with a classification of soft flames and hard flames. You know chemistry, right? That kind where hot water freezes the quickest and ice melts the easiest?" Izuku hummed in response. "Let's say that I can put my flames into negative state, causing it to be crystal, instead of complete ice. I'm not the original maker of that though. It was a pass down."
The greenet wrote that out. "Your gut feeling?"
"Hmm?"
"We kinda gathered that you have this strong sense of gut feeling." He elaborated.
"Hyper intuition." Tsuna named patiently. "It is like a gut feeling as you said. But in my case, it's like having this weird alien inside my head that tells me if someone is lying or something is going to happen. Sometimes it's a pain in the ass. However, most of the time, it's the reason why I can save more people I can't imagine saving."
"That's the reason why you were able to find me?" He queried.
"Yup. It's actually a picky alien. He knows who to trust and not. So whenever you're in trouble, it always tells me where to find you."
He blinked before his eyes widened in wonder. "You mean-"
"Like in elementary and middle school? Kind of. We're more similar in a way, Izuku." The brunet smiled.
His eyes watered. "Thank you."
"Shh." Tsuna dismissed, patting his curly hair. "You're always welcome."
They stayed up all night talking about quirks and hero costumes. When they went to sleep, Izuku didn't mind the hand gripping the hem of his shirt all night.