Chapter Fifty-Six
Tsuna took the back of the greenet's shirt and pulled him.
"T-Tsuna?!" Izuku spluttered, tired expression lighting up a little.
"Bath first." He chirped as he applied sun flames. "There, energy. You don't want to go to bed with aching muscles, kid."
"But you don't soak." The other chirped.
"I'll soak if you do." He said as he pulled again.
"O-Okay." The greenet relented, walking properly next to him. "How was Endeavor-san?"
"He's fine." He answered as they entered the bath. "He got out today, that's why Shouto excused himself to go home."
"Was his injuries painful?" The greenet asked worriedly as he strips. "Todoroki said you spent five hours in the operating room."
"A little. But I have great doctors with me, so it was good. They told me what to heal and how to heal it." He took a towel and wrapped it around his waist before removing his pants. "I mean there were some complications and some wounds I wanted him to heal naturally, or at least be there for a day before Chiyo-san heal them. It doesn't feel good and satisfying in winning a battle when you don't feel your pains."
"Man. I'm learning some good things from you everyday, Tsuna." Izuku praised, causing him to laugh.
"Really now?" He queried before taking off his shirt. "Good to hear. At least I'm a good teacher or something." Izuku laughed and slowly died down that caused Tsuna to look back. "Is something wrong?"
"What's on your back, Tsuna?" Denki questioned, staring at his back too.
"What of it?" He asked, trying to look back.
"Has it always been there?" Izuku questioned worriedly. "That 'X' scar?"
"Ha?!" He exclaimed and went for the nearest mirror in the dressing room. "What the-"
Like what they've said, there's a big 'X' scar taking his whole back. It looks like a clean cut of something sharp- Shit. Tsuna realized what it was. No wonder it looked familiar. It was the scar Genkishi gave him. He can't help cursing a little. To think that it's starting already.
"Tsuna?" He looked at Izuku who is worriedly staring at him. "Are you okay?"
All of the others are staring at him too, with varied concern and worry.
He took a deep breath before smiling in an assuring way. "I'm fine. I forgot about it. It's the reason why I don't soak often." He tugged Izuku to the inside. "Let's go."
"Where did you get it?" Kirishima piped in, following them.
"It was from an enemy turned to friend." He answered as he took his place. "We had a little fight that went to far. He gave me this while I burned him." He gave a cheeky smile. "I won, of course."
"It must have hurt a lot." Satou pointed out.
He grimaced when he remembered how it felt. Although he was fourteen when it happened, he can still remember how painful it was. "Yup. But I have medics, so it was fine. Nothing I couldn't handle."
The topic circulated to scars his classmates acquired during their Elementary and Middle School. He was able to breathe because of that. He lasted until fifteen because he saw Izuku falling asleep. He hauled the kid to his feet, made him dress up before escorting him to his room. He ruffled the kid by the hair with a wish of good night and some sky flames, before closing the the door himself. He had a feeling that his classmate will dream something interesting that night.
He's slowly feeling weak, honestly. He had been dry coughing since two months ago, while his intuition is losing its touch. It's like he's going back to those times his flames were just out of their container and he's honing it for the best. When Reborn tried to suggest of making go back to its original state, he declined. They both know it's impossible. It's a good thing that his body isn't giving up on him yet. It will be troublesome if it does.
"What's up?" Reborn asked after noticing his expression when the hitman came in from the veranda.
He sighed from doing his usual homeworks. "Scars. They're reappearing on my body."
"Oh?" Reborn uttered, while hanging his hat on the hook with Tsuna's own fedora. "What appeared?"
"Genkishi's." Then he winced. "The others saw it. I think Izuku suspected something. He questioned if it has been there all along. Good thing I don't soak so much around them when we're taking a bath. I took that as my reason why they never saw it."
"You'll need to be careful as it nears then." His advisor hummed. "I've contacted Verde. He'll come by this week," Unreadable Onyx met calculating caramel-orange. "before their fight."
"Too bad I don't have all of them." He sighed as he focused on his papers.
"I rather you don't." His tutor remarked. "It takes tolls on the body. Remember what Lal said about the sky being able to open other flames boxes, but unable to wield their full potential?"
"I know." He nodded. "That's why I stick to their basic. I just hope I have enough to make them useful for the incoming future. Add the fact that my intuition is slowly going away, I don't think I can make accurate plans anymore."
"That's why I'm here." He paused to receive the weak smack. "When we're together, we're mafia."
He chuckled. "I know."
He suddenly remembered how Kawahira described their pair, him and Reborn. The Ancient explained that everyone is a sole individual, but the brunet's elements have their own kind of groups. Maybe because they specialize the same thing. Like Takeshi and Hayato are the typical popular idols with their looks and own kind of talents, Ryohei and Lambo are the respectable duo who can do professional works with how good they are in their chosen fields (a doctor and a physicist chemical engineer), then Kyouya, Mukuro and Chrome are the protectors, the officer, infiltrator and agent. And then that left the two of them.
Byakuran, Yuni and Enma laughed at it honestly, while he was mildly offended and amused at the same time. Kawahira told them that whenever one Tsunayoshi Sawada meets one Reborn, it will always go down to the path of mafia. Not necessarily that they'll pull anyone to be Tsuna's guardians. It's just, one way or another, both of them storm the underworld with their unpredictable natures and mentalities. They're dangerous enemies when alone. If they're together, they're generally a two-man army, it's either they want peace because they had enough, or they want war because they're bored.
For years, it became a long time joke around them until they realized how true it was. Who were the plan makers of the mafia war for three years? Who made plans, back up plans and barked orders on sight? Who destroyed one family because they hurt the boss? Or when they almost nicked- nicked the greatest hitman? Who made the world cry when either or both of their names were said (fear and amazement, really). They were figuratively and literally mafia.
"You do the planning, I'll do the execution," Reborn smirked. "got it?"
"At it." He answered.
Dad: Up for a surprise?
Tsuna stared at the message Shouta sent him in curiosity and tried to tap on his intuition. The blasted ability refused to say anything, so he sighed and put his phone away before taking his gloves and closed the door. He feels a little great after a coughing fit that morning. It was one of those symptoms he needed to endure for the duration of his process. But what he really enjoyed was the startled look on Reborn.
Reborn has been really transparent to him since the hitman came to their new world. Well there are instances that Tsuna can't read the hitman, like when he suddenly apologized for the mafia things. It's rare to see Reborn openly express his emotion when it comes to Tsuna, and when he does, Tsuna relishes it. He could just cuddle the hitman to tell him he's okay. Heh. He remembers doing the same thing to his Dad. Maybe he should bunk with Shouta later? Pull in Reborn?
He likes that.
He was the last one to go out of the changing rooms. A cold shiver went down to his spine as he stepped out. He immediately wiped his gloves out from their hiding place and wore them. As he walked towards them, he started to blew on his hands to warm them up. It is the early week of December. He can call out his flames to warm him up, but he rather be cold now since he'll be in flames.
"Woah, Tsuna." He looked up to see Sero staring at him. "New addition?"
"Eh?" He exclaimed in confusion. "New addition?"
"I mean your vest." He looked down to his vest as Sero continued to explain. "I never saw it before."
"Oh." He gave a big smile and stood straighter. "Does it suit me?"
Sero grinned as Kouda looked over and nodded enthusiastically. "Yup. You look badass."
"Damn. I should've took my fedora with me." He joked before blowing to his gloves.
"Cold?" Shouto asked, sliding next to him.
He nodded with a wince. "Should've taken my blanket awhile ago."
It brought smile on the red-white head's face. "Get on my left side. You'll warm up."
"Thank you!" He expressed and latched on the other's left side. He sighed at the warmth. "God. I could've froze."
"You should've called me earlier." His friend chided.
"Don't worry. I won't stray away from you from now on." Tsuna hugged Shouto by the side with a cheeky grin. "I love you, my human furnace."
Those who heard him laughed, as Shouto draped an arm around his shoulder.
"Sheesh! Got a nice party atmosphere going around here, don't we?" They all turned to see who said those. It was Monoma. "You guys aren't looking down on us, are you?"
"Oh! You're here!" Kirishima noticed as Class B approached. "Nope! We're not looking down on ya! We're just excited!"
Monoma laughed softly. "I see... But too bad. The tides are surely in our favor this time! Come Class A!" Then the blond grinned at them maniacally. "Today's the day! We'll settle this rivalry once and for all!"
Tsuna sighed as the blond started to spat out some things his intuition didn't even try to understand nor process. Seriously, there's no such thing as rivalry between classes. Although Class A does have some high expectations on them, it doesn't mean it don't apply to them. It's just that Monoma has this villain antagonism on them, that runs so deep. It takes so much energy on Tsuna not to sock his fellow schoolmate on the face or stuff something on his mouth. So he opted to ignore him.
His eyebrow rose when he saw the paper his classmates were crowding at. He excused himself from Kirishima, Sero and Jirou, and took the paper with a 'survey'. Before anyone can say something, he burned the paper, dumped its ashes on the ground and stomped on it three times. He smiled angelically to his audience.
"Rubbish." He stated in a cold voice, making Katsuki laugh from a distance.
"That was savage." Yuuga complimented just as Shouta and Vlad King came in to see a deflated Monoma.
"Do I even want to know?" Vlad King asked in amusement, looking after his bouncing back student. "Anyway, we have a special guest today."
"Try not to look stupid in front of him." His Dad warned at them.
It elicited a lot of reactions as black eyes met his. There's a glint in those eyes. Tsuna cocked his head to the right in curiosity. His intuition is getting giddy on something.
"He's applying to transfer on the Department of Heroes." His eyes widened as a familiar purple head came up between the teachers. "This is Hitoshi Shinsou, from Class C of Department of General Education."
Purple eyes scanned them before they caught his. He gave a big smile that was reciprocated by a small one that almost says 'surprise'. Shit. No wonder his Dad asked him about a surprise or something. It was Hitoshi he was saying.
"Go ahead and greet everyone." Shouta prompted to the teen.
"I know I've already encountered many of you at the Sports Festival," Purple eyes surveyed them as Hitoshi started. "but you won't catch me thinking that we're all buddies now that we exchanged blows. I'm not some good natured person trying to tout a superficial sense of sportmanship. The fact of the matter is, I've gotten a late start and I've already been left in the dust by hundred of steps by you." Grateful purple eyes glanced at caramel eyes. "I'm sorry if I may sound desperate, but I'm not since I know I can be a hero. A great hero who can used his quirk to help others. All of you here today are obstacles I must overcome. I have no intention of going easy on you nor backing down just because you have the upperhands."
He grinned at that. Good. It means Hitoshi learned.
"Alright, let's get down to it then." Shouta cut off.
"Combat exercises!" Vlad King informed. "This time around, it's a battle between Class A and Class B. And the stage will be this section of Training Field."
Tsuna turned to see what kind of ground is it. It's the kind of busy construction sight with tall buildings, water tanks, a lot of pipes and areas to hide. Hm. Troublesome.
"Each side will split up into groups of four, and one team from each will battle it out at a time!" Vlad finished off.
"Today, Shinsou will be participating in two battles, one from Class A, and one with Class B." Shouta relied before turning to him. "Sawada, come here."
He was going to voice a complain but he relented and walked over, hands on his pockets. "Yes, Aizawa-sensei?" He asked as he stood beside his friend.
"You'll be the same with Shinsou since both of you are the odd ones." His Dad explained. "It's to be fair with you, is it okay?"
Tsuna shrugged. "Sure. I don't mind."
"Okay. In other words, out of five matches, there's a probability that there's a five on four, six on four or five on five." Shouta announced.
"That means the team with only four have a clear disadvantage!" Hagakure voiced in concern.
"Trying to integrate Shinsou, who has next to no experience, into your team of four will likes to be an even bigged disadvantage." His Dad negated. "It's true that the team of five or six have the numeral advantage, but they still have a handicap. Except for Sawada."
"Don't worry." Tsuna placated for the others. "I'll only go out when I think it's right. I don't want to be engaged in a battle." Then he raised a peace sign and waved it around. "Although it is a combat training and a hero work, I'm still me through and through. I'll try not to engage everyone directly."
"The setting for this battle is 'the heroes move to surround the villain group and capture them'!" Vlad added. "Each team shall perceive the other as 'villains'! Once either team captures four members of the other, it's their victory!"
"Each team's camp, we've installed a 'wicked cute irredeemable prison'. The moment you imprison your opponent in there, they'll be considered 'captured." Shouta informed.
"It means rendering your opponent unable to fight close to your own base would be the most efficient. But that sure won't be easy." The furry guy in Class B commented.
"'Once either team captures four members of the others'... So that's the handicap, eh?" Katsuki remarked.
"Yeap." His Dad confirmed. "Not only do you have to team up with an inexperienced member, but also, even if you're a team of five, you'll still lose if four of you are captured." Tsuna was about to open his mouth to raise a question, but he closed it. But his Dad caught his miniscule action. "Yes, Sawada? Any question?"
"Prison break?" He winced, causing everyone to look at him incredulously. "But looks impossible since it is an irredeemable prison."
"Yes." His Dad answered, a little surprised with his question.
"Right. Sawada can do a prison break." Vlad listed off, causing him to look sheepish. "Don't be shy about it, Sawada. You were able to hold it off during the summer. It won't be impossible for you to do it."
"Seeing you're that guy's friend, it means you taught him things, didn't you?" Katsuki voiced, eyes flitting on him and Hitoshi. "You're not much of a dead weight as they said it."
Hitoshi grinned proudly. "That's why it's a hundred, not hundreds of steps."
"Then let's see if that guy has what it takes." The blond challenged.
"Alright then," Shouta called out while carrying a box.
"Time to draw lots." Vlad beckoned.
"Really? A prison break?" Hitoshi questioned as Class A and B took their queue in front of the teachers.
"If it wasn't an irredeemable prison, I could do it." He answered. "Natsu is a great distraction. While they focus on him, I can pick the lock and get them out. It's not impossible since it can be done in the real world. But we're students. If they put that up, a hero-in-training will lose his confidence over his capability if that happens. Wait here." He said as he removed his jacket went for Hagakure. "Hagakure-san."
"Tsuna-kun! Hi!" The invisible girl greeted cheerfully.
"Please have this." He suggested as he put the clothe around her shoulders and arranged it for her. "It's cold. We can't have you freezing on us."
The line literally stopped moving just to watch the two of them. A lot of the girls 'oh'-ed at how gentlemanly the brunet was, while the boys could only look at each other. Class A are already used to their classmate's protective and caring tendencies, while Class B is in culture shock. Awhile ago was the prison break, now this?
"O-Oh." The girl blurted before grasping his coat to cover herself. "You're so kind, Tsuna! Thank you!
He smiled. "No problem. You can use it till the activity ends."
"Okay!" The lady nodded.
He went back to Hitoshi who looked thoughtful. "I think I got your gist." The purple head remarked. "If they didn't do it as irredeemable, only a few will not quit. But, if we are skilled enough to defend, then it will be fifty-fifty. Fifty for offense, fifty for defense."
"Good." He praised with pride. "You got it."
"I'm not sure whether to look at myself as a hero material or a vigilante now." The other lamented jokingly.
He glared at him playfully. "At least you know what's dangerous to do and what's okay to do." Then he pouted as he stared at the capture weapon around the purple head's neck. "I should request Dad for a capture weapon too."
"Ha?! Where did that came from?!" Hitoshi exclaimed in hysteric and mortification.
"What?! I got jealous. You look like Dad." He scrunched his nose. "You even have the matching eyebags. I want in! Da-"
"Oi oi!" His friend laughed while pulling him back after covering his mouth. "We can share. We can share. Just not now."
Tsuna pouted after he was released. The capture weapon wrapped its other end around his neck until he got half. "I feel like you're Dad's legitimate son or something, and I'm not."
Hitoshi laughed before capturing him in a tight hold and gave him a soft noogie. "Give it up! Even if we both have the same habit, you're his son!"
"I regret not learning how to use the capture weapon." He huffed as he wrapped an arm around the other's waist.
"Why didn't you? You had plenty of time learning it."
Tsuna looked over to the shortening lines and watched Shouta. "Well, Dad was the type to work at night and sleep at day when he wasn't a teacher yet. When he's awake, I sleep. When he's sleeping, I'm awake. So when there's time for him to rest, I rather he rest than do something tiring. I'll want those eyebags to get smaller, get a good food then have a leisure, then before he goes out, we'll spend some time together like cooking and eating dinner."
"That's why you never asked him to teach you about the capture weapon."
He nodded. "I never regretted it. Besides, if that one incident didn't happen, I won't be here. We had discussed the topic if I wanted to be a hero or not. I vehemently said no because I don't want to be a hero, another reason why he never taught me how to fight or use his capture weapon, except self-defense and how to disarm cause he can't leave me behind defenseless. In a sense, if I wasn't a vigilante by then, I will be your typical civilian who'll you'll meet after the USJ incident."
"Ha? Why so?"
"Because I'll be flying over to kick the villains' asses for touching and injuring my Dad." He glanced at the other who is staring at him. "World be damned, just not my Dad."
"Sawada! Shinsou!" They both perked up to Vlad's call. "Come here!"
Since they were still wrapped together, they walked at the same time towards the teachers.
"Alright you two," Shouta beckoned as they offered the boxes. "go ahead and draw yours. You'll join the teams of each number you pull."
"You take for Vlad-sensei first, while I'll take for Aizawa-sensei." He decided, earning a nod. "On three."
"Really?" Hitoshi deadpanned as they put their hands inside, earning amused looks from the adults.
"One..." He said instead, not minding the comment. "Two... Three!"
Both of them took out their balls and peered at it.
"I got three." He looked over to his friend's. "Awtsu. Five."
"Don't tempt it." His friend chuckled as they let the balls go back to their boxes.
"But how would I know you got my teachings in you if I don't fight against you." He stated as he unfurled the capture weapon so they could exchange. "A good teacher must see the progress of his student."
"Watch my fight then." Hitoshi waved off as they put their hands inside the new boxes in front of them.
"Hmp. One... Two... Three!" He pulled out a number looked over his. "Oh. Two. What's yours?"
"One." The purple head laughed.
He gaped before groaning in dismay. "Seriously?! Why hate me Fate?!"
Hitoshi laughed again before tugging him. "Come on. Let's greet those we're teamed up with. Let's spar later to compensate."
"I never know Sawada can be like that." Vlad motioned to Eraserhead as they put the boxes aside. "It's almost like he's a different kid."
"If there is someone who's excited to see Shinsou in Hero Department, it's him." Eraserhead responded as they watched the two greet their teams in both sides. "Sawada-"
"No need to be formal." Vlad assured.
Eraserhead nodded. "Before I even took Hitoshi under my tutelage, Tsuna told him that his quirk can be villainous, but it can be for heroes too. So he encouraged and supported him to get better grades to apply for transfer. When they had free time, they go to the rooftop of our apartment and Tsuna will teach him hand to hand combat there. They exchange notes and they'll do visualized training. We might see Hitoshi here as a handicap and inexperienced, but I don't think he won't know what to do."
"I'll take you on that." Vlad noted before calling out to the students. "Listen up!"
Tsuna looked over to the two teachers.
"You'll start in your own areas." Shouta instructed. "The time limit is twenty minutes. If you're unable to finish the match in the amount of time, the team with more members remaining wins. Group one of both side, go for your areas."
"Hitoshi!" Tsuna called out and ran for the purple head who has his mask on.
"Yes?"
"Trust your teammates." He reminded and put a fist on the other's chest. "Don't lead, but have their opinions. Have faith in your instincts, yourself and do your best. No one inspects you to do it right, but it's not bad to surprise them with what you can do. Got it?"
Caramel blinked when purple eyes flashed. "Yes, Tsuna."
His intuition pushed him, causing him to smile. "By the way, welcome to the Department of Heroics."
Hitoshi smiled wider. If those purple eyes flashed again, Tsuna dismissed it as a trick of the light. His intuition didn't say anything either ways.
(But at the back of his mind, he knew there's something in there.)