A/N:
Oh please tell me Tsuna isn't out of character in this chapter.
Argh. I can't reply to your reviews yet. Gomen. Rush updates.
Anyway, go on. Hahaha.
Chapter Forty-Six
Tsuna coughed and blinked. Shrugging, he went on with his walk for Nighteye's room.
(That should've been an indication that something was wrong.)
"Ultimately, all of your organs are real." Tsuna informed while he sat on the provided seat for him while two pair of eyes are attentive on him. "They were all extensions of the damaged organs you had. For example, kidneys. Since half of your kidneys were raptured, all I needed to do was activate their cell activities and make it multiply on its own. Same with your left arm. The things intangible in your body are your bones."
"As what Reborn explained to me," Chiyo started off, sitting on the other side of Nighteye. "this flame's abilities are to construct and make illusions, and can be solidified if the user wishes to, as Tsuna added. Right now, the lower part of your spine is an illusion, as well as the bone in your arm. If you remove those, you'll be technically boneless in some parts and won't be able to sit nor use your left arm."
"It was unlike All Might's?" Nighteye, who was already sitting, questioned.
Tsuna nodded. "All Might-san only needed repairs and get his stomach made. Yours, on the other hand, need bones we could not make on the spot. I do not do calcium multiplication, to inform you. It's even a miracle I got that flame in the first place. Or you, awake and sitting as early as now. It should take days for you to wake up after ten full hours of being exposed and strained by the wound." He cringed. "My apologies. I'm not really good at this explanation thing. Reborn is usually the one who does the explanation."
"Why is he absent anyway?" Chiyo queried. "Was he called?" Pertaining to the hits since Reborn clarified to them that he's a hitman, and got dragged to heal by Tsuna.
(Chiyo will never ask how the heck did Tsuna come across a dangerous man. He has connections with Stain, and heard he talked with All for One, so why ask?)
"Most likely." He sighed before offering Nighteye a reassuring smile. "I'll train my mist flame for a month. Once I can do the solidification, I'll make the bones in your body actual, and you'll be as good as new."
"Recovery Girl, can you please leave us for a moment?" The man requested.
"Very well." Chiyo nodded before going down her chair and went for the door.
Tsuna looked down to his laps as silence rang between them. For a moment, he recalled the conversation he had with Izuku. The greenet told him that Nighteye had tried to change the future of All Might and the future for all of them, but felt helpless because he thought everything cannot be changed. But Izuku unknowingly gave the man hope. That it was all about Izuku's energy and things that made the change possible. And Izuku really felt overwhelmed with it, at the same time hollow. That something must have changed.
Tsuna couldn't say a word because he knows what that means. He changed something in the course. And he doesn't know if it was a good thing or a bad thing.
"Decimo." Nighteye called, black eyes staring at him. "Thank you."
Tsuna gazed at the man with a shy smile. "Please, don't mention it. I honestly thought that if I arrived earlier, I could've at least prevented your injury from happening. Besides, I promised Izuku I'll do anything to give you and All Might-san a change to talk. What made me think I really did the best thing was when Mirio-sempai expressed how worried he was for you. You are his teacher, after all."
"It must have been really straining for you to heal me."
He shook his head. "As long as you're alive, I don't mind, Sir Nighteye."
"Will you believe me if I tell you that I saw all of you in my funeral?" The man queried, looking down to his arms. "It was the last thing I saw in Recovery Girl's future before I closed my eyes, back in the operating room. I thought that was the last time I'll be able to open my eyes. But when I opened it again, I saw you."
He snickered. "I'm sorry?"
The hero cracked a small smile to his jest. "I really thought it was only Midoriya who could do it. Who could change the flow of the future, regardless of how you told me that you're an anomaly. I didn't factor you in. But here you are... Keeping me alive. Keeping us alive."
"I'm notorious in changing the future." He relied. "My friends had said so. They had... Seen futures where people die, someone gets a disease, or I die." He shrugged. "Whenever they tell me about it, I search for ways to change it. Sometimes, even if it's just a projection, I still try to change it."
"Have they predicted your future?" Nighteye queried.
Tsuna shook his head. "They could only see the event as a whole."
"Will you grant me of seeing it?"
The brunet looked down to his hands. "I... I don't think I want you to see my future, Sir Nighteye. My life in your perspective may look easy, but it's more complicated than you think. And I don't want to tangle you in it."
"I'm willing to know, Decimo."
Tsuna looked up. "Even if you'll see who I'm associated with? Of what kind of person I am. I..." He gazed at his hands again. "Do you believe in parallel worlds, Sir Nighteye?"
"Parallel worlds?"
"Like having possibilities?" He queried, peering at the man. "Imagine Nana Shimura didn't choose All Might-san as the inheritor of One for All, do you think you'll still be Nighteye? Or that he is still All Might-san, but he didn't accept you as his sidekick, what will happen? Imagine me not being a vigilante, but either a hero or a villain. What will happen if I'm a hero? What will happen if I'm a villain? Parallel worlds are series of actions that resulted branches of decisions made and more worlds that will happen. In a Mathematical sense, it's like Pascal's triangle that goes on and on.
"What I want to say, is there must be a possibility that something good or bad will happen if you see my future, Sir Nighteye. Regardless, I rather you not seeing it now because I might do something drastic if you tell me what will happen. I want to at least enjoy what I have now, instead of worrying for the future. So I'll have to decline."
The hero stared at him. "A payment. After you solidify my bones, I want to see your future and tell you what it contains as a payment for your help."
"Then I have two months." He surrendered. "Be warned though, the last time someone tried to see it, they couldn't." Like when Yuni tried, three days before he died.
"I understand." Nighteye nodded. "But do not misunderstood, Decimo. I'm not doing this to make you think that I feel obligated to pay your treatment on me. All Might had told me how bad you react after helping someone be saved. I want to do this because you wanted me and All Might to mend our bond. I know it was Midoriya's idea, but if you are not here, I won't be alive. I might be dead even."
He smiled. "I assume you have patched up?"
"Yes. He had told me what you did for him too. That time in Kamino too. And the USJ incident. We have apologized for saying hurtful words to each other. Really, thank you and Midoriya for this opportunity."
Tsuna shook his head. "You did a great job enduring things too, so thank you too."
They talked a little more by letting Nighteye gush about All Might. Before he said his goodbyes, he told the man that he'll be back to UA later and maybe come back tomorrow evening. The hero nodded in understanding. He checked on Eri who is still hugging Natsu from the day before. He fed the lion with his flames, patted the girl's head before heading for his 'room'. He took his duffel bag, and went for the reception to return the key. The nurses bid him goodbye that he smiled at.
Looking at the clock, he realized that his Dad is about to get back from UA. Tsuna immediately went for the door, just in time to see Shouta coming in. He hurriedly ran for the man and hugged him. The hero caught him automatically as he clung tightly. As if sensing his distress, his Dad rubbed his back while hugging him back.
He couldn't sleep last night after he talked with Izuku. The kid rattled his mind. He didn't think of the possibility. Kawahira had told him that the world has a constant number. When one dies, one borns. If he saved Nighteye, who died in his stead? He tightened his hold on Shouta as he gripped his phone. One life for a life. Can he take on the possibility of seeing those people he loves die? Not to see them again? See them get hurt? Suffer? Get jaded? Lose hope?
He hiccuped before he felt himself get maneuvered to sit somewhere. He buried himself to Shouta's shoulder, a hand on the man's beating heart. He closed his eyes to calm down and basked himself with the warmth.
Just no more...
No more of those future fiasco. No more of those world domination. He just wants to live his life with his Dad. With Hizashi, Nemuri and Naomasa. With Hitoshi, Izuku, Shouto and Katsuki. With Reborn and Natsu. To hold those people he dears. No more.
"Tsuna. You're fine." His Dad soothed. He felt a hand cupping the one on the man's chest. "I'm here. I'm alive."
"I'm scared." He murmured. "I'm scared, Dad. I don't want to lose you too."
"I know, buddy." He felt soft lips kiss his head. "I'll be careful next time. I promise."
Tsuna took a shuddered breath and nodded. "Love you, Dad."
"Love you too, Tsuna."
"Such a cocky crew." The other said, peering at them. "Even when-"
"Ka-tsuki!"
He took a step forward to brace himself from the Tsuna-impact. The brunet looped his arms around the blond's neck, then brought his legs up, causing him to catch the other's thighs with his hands. He looked up to his friend who smiled at him widely before laughing. He felt his irritation on the General Education Department ebbed away as he smiled a little on Tsuna's silly ways.
When Tsuna came back from the hospital, he felt off. Katsuki had to tail the other everywhere and force him to say something. He couldn't do the same thing to Deku or Kirishima, but at least he can force the other to say something, right? It did took awhile. Tsuna keeps evading the subject, waving off that nothing happened and proceeded to do his usual stuffs. There's also this one time that he saw the brunet in daze while doing his special move. He had to knock on the other's head to keep him focus, because if it wasn't that dangerous, he won't.
(X-surge is not a joke, and much scarier than X-burner. He petrified a dozen of Ectoplasm in seconds, without even looking, and let them wither in the air.)
Frankly, the blond didn't expect Tsuna to be very secretive of what he truly fears. He had confessed that he's afraid of ghost, when they came upon an advertisement about this movie, and when the others persuaded them to watch a ghost movie in the common room. He was the one hiding yet peeking at the movie. He remembers him making a coffee because the latter swore he won't be able to sleep after watching. Justified, Tsuna had eyebags the next morning. Eventually, he was able to extract it out.
He always thought that Tsuna just likes to help. But he didn't consider the fact that maybe... At some point, Tsuna is thinking of the consequences of his actions. Like if he did this, what will happen. Or what if he used this, will someone get hurt. But to be deeper, like worrying if someone died for the place of the person he saved... Is that even something teens in their ages has to think. Tsuna said 'Murphy's laws' with a big grin. When he searched what that was, he almost laughed at how the brunet looked so positive yet thinks highly pessimistic. That bastard.
To be blunt, he's really amazed with Tsuna's 'greatness'. Unlike when Deku does it, he feels relieved and proud for the brunet. Discriminating? He knows. But he doesn't have any long term insecurities on Tsuna, while he has some on Deku. When he heard about the Stain incident, he rose a brow. Tsuna's quirk is more on offense, he thought. He won't deny that the brunet knows first aid, since he usually patches up Deku and some of the guys who can't keep themselves alive. But to hear from All Might's very mouth, that Tsuna healed his not-so-incurable injury and with only his quirk in a surgery, he brought his hands down.
Then days prior, when he heard Tsuna spent ten hours to assist a surgery, he didn't bat an eyelash as his classmates did. Tsuna even told him what the brunet needed to do to make things right. For some reasons, their talk went to a mix of retelling what happened in the surgery and the educational part of the surgery. That was the same time he was able to extract the reason why the long face. At least the brunet feels alright now.
"You're fucking heavy." He lied as he started to walk.
"I'm a growing kid!" The other reasoned while taking his bag from him. "And it's a good exercise for you."
"I'm not a fucking twig." He scowled.
The brunet hummed. "Really?"
"I'm gonna drop you." He threatened.
"I take it back! I take it back!" The other said, hugging him tighter from the back, but not choking him. "I was just joking."
Red eyes kept their gaze on the road. A pouting Tsuna is not good for the heart, much worser than the beaming Tsuna. "Don't choke me."
"Am not." The other mumbled. "Na, Katsuki."
"Yeah?"
"What would you want for Christmas?" He looked back to the other who's sparkling curious caramel eyes are staring at him with anticipation. "And New Years? I heard your birthday is on April eight."
"What would you want?" He asked back.
"Eh. I asked first." The other sulked.
"Anything." He shrugged. He's not that picky anyway. If it's Tsuna.
"For me, hm..." He gazed back again to see the other smiling. "I think I'm fine with what I have for now."
"When's your birthday anyway?" He questioned. He doesn't remember hearing the brunet's birthday from anyone. They celebrated Mineta's three days ago.
"Hm? It's four days from now."
"Wha-"
"What are you doing here, Sawada?" They looked up to Iida who was staring down at them from the door of their dorm building. "Shouldn't you be in the supplementary classes for those who had interned?"
"Skipped it." The brunet chirped and patted him to let him down. He complied. "I want to spend more time with you, guys."
"You're going to have a bad record, Sawada!" Their class president exclaimed.
"It's fine." Tsuna waved off while tugging him for the stairs. "One absent won't hurt, as long as I'm within the campus. Anyway, let's go plan this song and dance number!"
He followed the brunet inside and deposited their bags where the others did. He stood a little away while Tsuna went on greeting the others. He can't help feeling like he's forgetting something important.
"Okay everyone!" Iida clapped, gaining their attentions. "The Culture Festival is just one month away. We don't have much time, so today I want to decide on a few things."
"First, music." Sero nodded.
"Well, then, shouldn't we do a song that's as well known as possible?!" Kaminari suggested.
"Let's do something groovy!" Mina cheered.
"One we can dance, to!" Hagakure cheered.
"In that case, we might consider four-on-the-floor and club rock in the style of new rave." Jirou remarked, looking thoughtful. "If we're doing dance music, we really should be turning towards EDM. But everyone's set on playing instruments, right?" She scanned the crowd. "Has anyone here ever played bass or drum?"
Katsuki only looked at them boredly as no one raised a hand. He didn't see caramel eyes glancing at him.
"I figured." The lady nodded before she elaborated. "First, even though the backbone of the band is the drums, my main instrument is the guitar, so my drumming is, frankly, a work in progress. If I have to teach a beginner drums while I also have to practice, one month is way too tight."
Someone made eye contact with someone, causing some brunet's eyes to gleam excitedly at the thought of one Bakugou playing.
"Ah! That's right. You were forced to go music class a while back, weren't you?" Kaminari asked, taking him by surprise when the blond turned to him.
"Eh?" He blurted.
"Bakugou, why don't you try playing the drums?" Sero suggested, offering him the sticks.
"Can't someone else-" He cut short when he saw gleaming caramel eyes watching him silently with anticipation and awe. He groaned quietly before taking the sticks. "Fine."
He sat by the drums and started to play them. He looked up when his classmates exclaimed how amazing he is and how perfect he is for the instrument. He suddenly remembered those people in the department of General Education. He was about to vacate the seat when he noticed Tsuna's awestruck expression. He looks like a kid who received the most beautiful gift for his birthday.
Shit. His heart fluttered. He silently preened to the fact that he's one of those people who can make the brunet give an expression like that. He realized that. While Half 'n half can make him friendly, Deku can relate to the brunet, and that purple head can make Tsuna excited, he can amaze the brunet with his sheer awesomeness. Unlike those people who were scared of him back in middle school, Tsunayoshi Sawada does not fear him but genuinely fascinated with the things he can do.
But before that-
"Just so you know, I'm not gonna accept this job because I want to do it. Not because I want to indulge those other departments. They don't deserve my courtesy." He voiced, glaring at all of them and unable to contain his irritation and anger. "It's sickening how they think that we're getting smacked by the villains because we enjoy it! Why do we have to concern ourselves with people's feelings?! If you're all so intent on pleasing everyone, then just quit! Because I'm gonna fight! It's not about indulgence! It's a battle! If you're on board, then get ready." He stared at Jirou then to Tsuna who looked like he realized something. "Everybody in UA," He drew an imaginary line by his neck as an emphasis. "I'll knock you dead with my sound!"
He found himself a handful of brunet as the latter leaped for him, while his classmates cheered. For some reason, Tsuna kept on murmuring 'thank you's before parting from him and moving away for the bathroom. Katsuki sat there in daze, questioning himself what happened to receive such gratitude.
He shook his head as he moved out of the drums and stayed behind while listening to them. He listened to them discuss more about what they needed to decide. He looked over to Tsuna who stood just a little behind. He noticed the wet face and somewhat red eyes. The blond blinked. Did he cry? Why?
"Oi!" He called out after Jirou gave a sample of her voice. "If you want, you can have Tsuna do a duet with you."
"Ha?!" The brunet uttered in surprise.
Katsuki took the other's coat and pulled him closer to their classmates. "I heard him sing. You can have him." Then he glared at Todoroki and Deku who blinked.
"K-Katsuki-"
"Oh yeah. I heard him sing too." Deku nodded, going along with him. "He usually hums, but he has good singing voice too."
Todoroki took the mic from the stand and walked for the brunet. "Here. Try."
"E-Erm..." The brunet hesitantly took the mic and looked at him.
"You sing, or no drums." He threatened.
He looked away when Tsuna pouted. He listened when the brunet started to sing though. If Jirou's voice was labeled husky and sexy by Kaminari and Mineta, Tsuna's voice was resonating. It has this gentle lilt and agility in it. Almost angelic but so honest. He won't deny that he blushed while listening to the brunet. He never really heard him singing. Tsuna will just mumble the song or hum it, but he never outright sings the song. Red eyes roamed around to his classmates. They were all enchanted and flushing a little.
Fuck yeah. Tsuna is hired.
"You have to sing!" Jirou exclaimed excitedly as the others cheered. "You have to sing, Tsuna!"
"I-I don't know how to play the guitar." The brunet winced. "Really. I'm okay with the staging thing."
"No! You don't need to play anything!" The lady placated with an easy smile. "We're both vocals. All you have to do is sing with me."
Caramel eyes glanced at him uncertainly before nodding to Jirou. "Alright. But don't hesitate to pull me out, okay?"
"I promise!" The lady vowed before facing the others. "Now! We need guitarists! Two of them! I want to do it!"
"A-Are you sure about this?" Tsuna grimaced to him.
Katsuki thought of something. "Don't you wanna impress Aizawa-sensei?"
Caramel eyes flashed orange. "I do."
"Good." He smirked, and laughed when realization dawned on the other.
"You manipulative little-"
He'll ask why he cried later. For now, he'll try to evade the angry Tsuna.
Shouta peered at his son from the paper he is holding. Tsuna isn't down anymore. There's this incredible glow on the brunet since a week ago. He noticed it the evening after his class submitted what they wanted to do for the Culture Festival. Caramel eyes moved so he looked down to the paper.
"Sawada." He called, blinking at the note he made on the paper.
"Yes, Sensei?" His son responded.
"You have three non-consecutive absences in the supplementary classes." He glared at Tsuna who grimaced.
"The third one is the last one, Sensei." The brunet raised a hand. "Promise, cross my heart and hope to die."
"That's western culture." He pointed out.
"Do you want me to do seppuku?" His son queried earnest and innocent.
He glanced at Midoriya who clumped his mouth shut after letting out a small snicker. His mind quickly made some connections. The one who likes to do seppuku as an apology to Tsuna is Hayato Gokudera. Tsuna did say something about talking with Midoriya. Anyway, "No. I want you to attend your classes like a good student."
"Yes, Sir!"
He eyed the internship group. "Do anything you can do to haul him inside the classroom when it's time for your supplementary classes. Even if it means putting rope on him. He won't hurt you if you do."
"Aw. Why do you have to reveal my weakness, Sensei." The brunet sulked, causing his classmates to snicker.
He shook his head before signalling Tsuna to the door. "I'll need Sawada on something, wait for Present Mic."
"Yes Sensei!" The kids responded before he went out.
"What's up?" The brunet questioned as they started to walk. "Why do I feel like I may or may have something to help you with?"
"Midoriya and Togata wants Eri to come to the Culture Festival." He informed.
"Ah. Izuku told me that. He wanted to make Eri-chan learn how to smile on her own." His son nodded.
Shouta didn't mention that Tsuna said the same thing to Eri when they were talking about why Natsu has flaming mane. Since Eri woke up, Tsuna devoted most of his time with Eri to make her comfortable with him, Natsu, Reborn, and Shouta. Tsuna will patiently teach the girl simple things, like why his hair is brown while hers is white. Why Shouta's capture weapon furl and unfurl around Tsuna, or why can't Natsu say gao instead roar or meow (Is it plausible to say that it's what makes Natsu cute?).
Sometimes, when no nurse are near and Togata is out, Tsuna and Reborn will move the bed for the window and teach Eri about the stars and constellations. He was there when Tsuna told the child to take her time on growing up and learning thing. Take her time to learn how to smile. Because nothing is more gifting than feeling hopeful after a hardship. And honestly, Shouta is like seeing a father patiently nurturing his child in the embodiment of Tsuna and Eri. It's... Heart fluttering and heartwarming and so... Soothing. Even Reborn said the same thing while they watch the brunet sing lullabies to Eri and Natsu that one night.
'Take your time,' He says. 'you'll learn.'
"So, what about it?" Tsuna asked with a curious gaze on him.
"I'm gonna ask permission to Nezu, and I need you to back me up." He replied.
An excited gleam settled in those eyes. "Oh. Like a secret negotiation? I'm in! This is my first time backing you up on something." The the brunet giggled like a kid. "This is nice."
Shouta chuckled. "You're really into this."
"Wha- Of course! Just imagine how unbeatable we'll be. The great hero Eraserhead and his sidekick Vongola Decimo." Then he started to make 'woosh' and 'boom' sounds to mimic fireworks.
"Shouldn't I be the sidekick?"
"No way!" Tsuna shook his head vehemently. "I'm a support, Dad. Just a support. You take the main, I take the minors. You take all the fame, I take the shadow. And besides, all of my achievements are your achievements too. So why won't you be the main hero between us? I'll pound who ever says you can't."
"Even if it's Reborn?"
"Even Reborn."
He chuckled and knocked on the door. "I won't even be surprised if he feels hurt with that."
"Well, I'll do the same thing to you if you bully him too." Then Tsuna gave a smile. "I love you both with all my heart."
Shouta hid his flaming face to his capture weapon as he opened the door. He hopes Reborn heard that and he's blushing too.
(If only he knew.)